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Green sky

4-day northern lights adventure in Svalbard

Child 4,590
Min. age 10
per person 7,590 nok
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Green Sky

There are few phenomena that capture your imagination in such a way as the northern lights, but the green lady can only appear on a dark, clear sky. We recommend studying the northern lights forecast for Longyearbyen, which indicates the likelihood of northern lights the next three days. Svalbard has more to offer than solely seeing the lights. We have designed a 4-day adventure filled with popular activities combined with extraordinary accommodation. Discover Svalbard in the polar night and ensure that you go home with a thrill to come back and explore more of the Arctic.

Day 1

Welcome to Svalbard! When arriving in Longyearbyen airport we recommend using the shuttle bus to Basecamp Hotel. This is the starting point of your adventure.

Basecamp Hotel is located in the center of Longyearbyen. The bus stops right outside our characteristic hotel, and here you are met by the receptionist who welcomes you and shows you around. Everywhere in the hotel you will find historical objects and information on human activities on Svalbard through the ages.

During the dark season, the northern lights can be seen in clear weather throughout the day. Therefore, check the weather forecast for your stay, it gives a good indication of when the magical green light is dancing across the sky.

We recommend a a walk in Longyearbyen to get to know this Arctic city. There are cosy café’s and bars, maybe stop for a drink? The receptionist is also helpful in recommending and reserving tables at one of Longyearbyen’s many good restaurants.

Basecamp Hotel

Day 2

Has the Northern Lights danced across the sky while you slept comfortably? The rooms at the Basecamp Hotel are warm and cozy, but now it’s time to dress in warm clothes and eat a tasty breakfast before today’s adventure – dog sledding.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to our dispatch room, where you will receive clothes adapted to the trip. Fangststasjonen is located about eight kilometers outside Longyearbyen, and here you will be greeted with eager dog joy. Our Alaska huskies are excitedly waiting to join today’s trip.

The guide gives a good introduction to how we harness the dogs and how the sleds are driven. Everyone is involved in rigging the dog teams, and we promise a fun experience with a lot of energy.

Outside the dog yard lies the Arctic wilderness waiting. With head touches and a lot of speed we drive out into the Arctic darkness. Outside the city there is no light pollution, so the conditions are optimal for taking in stars and northern lights.

We end the trip with a hot drink around the bonfire at Fangststasjonen, where the guide tells stories from the time when hunters sought happiness on Svalbard.

After hours in the company of dogs and nature, it is nice to return “home” to the Basecamp Hotel. Maybe relax with a book or a game before dinner. We are happy to help with reservation of tables.

Breakfast included
Basecamp Hotel

Day 3

A tasty breakfast is served from 7AM.

Today our aim is to visit an ice cave or to find a mountain top with a view. The route will be determined by the snow- and weather conditions. All participants will be given a head torch and snowshoes/crampons depending on the ice- and snow conditions. It is time to get ready to explore the outdoors! Duration is about five hours and we return to the hotel around 3PM.

This evening we recommend visiting Huset restaurant, and the reception hosts will be happy to help out with table reservation.

Breakfast included
Basecamp Hotel

Day 4

Breakfast is served from 7AM and latest check out is at 11AM.

This morning we recommend a visit to Svalbard Museum to learn more about the history of Svalbard before your flight departure. There will also be time for a last stroll through the center of Longyearbyen, or perhaps you prefer a steaming and comforting mug of hot chocolate in one of the local cafes? The moment has arrived to say goodbye, but hopefully you are already thinking of visiting us again once the midnight sun has arrived.

The airport shuttle bus stops outside your hotel approximately two hours before your flight departure. Ask the receptionist for the correct departure time.

 

Breakfast included
Every day on request
4 days
October-February
min. 4 participants
Basecamp Hotel

Price information

What’s included?

Activities and meals according to the program.
Transport to and from your hotel/guesthouse in Longyearbyen for all activities.
Accommodation in double room at Basecamp Hotel.

ADDITIONAL Expenses

Personal spendings, drinks with meals, private equipment, travel insurance and airport transfer.
Single room supplement of NOK 850 at Basecamp Hotel.

MORE THAN TRAVEL

As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen’s efforts to be climate neutral, we add an additional CO2 and environmental investment of NOK 250 per guest.  This is donated in its entirety to do good projects contributing to a sustainable future in our destinations.

GROUPS

Would you like to have your board meeting, conference event, incentive group, private guiding or even a kick-off event in the middle of the true Arctic? Contact us to tailor your adventure.

Clothing and equipment

Keep warm for the whole northern lights show. If you go inside to warm up, you can bet the northern lights dance across the sky the seconds you are inside. In Norway, we have a saying “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.” We dress in layers and always use wool. Our packing tips:

  • Spacious shoes with room for two layers of woolen socks. Air is the best insulation!
  • Two layers of woolen underwear as base layers.
  • A woolen sweater, fleece jacket or light down jacket and pants are excellent mid layers.
  • The outer layer shall protect you from the strong cold wind.
  • On cold winter days, a thicker down jacket or parka will make you the winner in crisp air.
  • Warm buff for your neck, warm and windproof or lined hat, warm and windproof mittens or gloves.
  • If you want to take photos it is essential to have a pair of thinner gloves to care for your fingers.

Good to have with you is indoor shoes or extra woolen socks, leisure wear and casual clothing for dinner, toilet articles, a backpack of around 35 liters for personal belongings, snacks and water during the day trips.

Note

Physical requirements & clothing

The guide is the main responsible for guests and security on each trip. All participants are responsible to dress properly for the trip, and to have sufficient level of physical fitness. If the guide consider that a participant does not have proper clothes or physical fitness level for the activity, he or she can decide that the participant cannot take part in the trip due to security reasons. The dog sledding trip in this itinerary is not suitable for persons suffering from back pains or pregnant women. Basecamp takes no responsibility to any health issues, due to neglecting this advice.

Northern lights

The northern lights at Svalbard can appear on a clear sky from October to March. The biggest challenges you will meet are the weather and the solar activity during your stay. Both factors are unpredictable and more time at the destination will increase your chances to see the northern lights. We can never guarantee that you will see the lights, but you are for sure looking forward to a different kind of holiday.

your itinerary

The Northern light adventure can be tailored for groups and families of minimum 4 persons and from 6 years of age. Because of different capacity in Basecamp Hotel and for the different activities, we may change days for the listed adventures. This is to make sure that you get to participate on all the excursions.

weather conditions in svalbard

In Svalbard, weather conditions can change quickly. We can meet heavy winds, snowstorms or thick fog, crevasses and lack of snow or ice. This means we might need to make changes to the planned route, and find adjust the planned trip after the current weather conditions.

age limit & temperature limits

Due to safety reasons there must be minimum one adult per child on the dogsledding trips arranged by Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen. The minimum age for taking care of children on a dogsledding trip and to travel by yourself is 16 years.

Age limit for dog sledding with Basecamp Explorer:
Children from age 6 years can attend a 4-hour dogsledding adventure along with parents, and the temperature limit is -15 degrees.
Children from age of 8 years can participate in a day-trip dogsledding along with parents, and the temperature limit is -15 degrees.
All dog sledding trips require that you run the dog team yourself, with supervising from the husky guide in advance.

Northern Lights

Dogsledding

Do-Good & Environmental Investment

Packing list: What to pack for Svalbard?
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