Autumn family adventure - Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen

Bring your family or friends on a 4-day autumn adventure with us. Accommodation at Basecamp Hotel, fall in love with Svalbard's magical nature while hiking the Plateau Mountain and enjoy a dog sledding trip on wheels.

Day 1
Welcome to Svalbard!

The easiest way to get to Basecamp Hotel is by the shuttlebus from the airport, and tickets can be purchased on board the bus. When you arrive at the hotel, the receptionist will be ready with a map of the city, and will be happy to help you reserve a table for dinner. You can look forward to exploring our trapper-inspired hotel with exciting pieces of Svalbard history on the walls.

We recommend you to embark on a walk around Longyearbyen on your own and explore our little town.

Day 2
The definition of a good morning is a good breakfast, and it is served in the Traveler's Club at the Basecamp Hotel.

After a good breakfast, our Arctic nature guide will pick you up at the hotel at 09:00, and take you to Bolterdalen and our Trapper’s Station, approx. 10 km outside the city. At the Trapper’s Station you will be greeted by 90 huskies who are eager to get to know you. The guide will show you how to harness the dogs and steer the carriage. Together with another guest you will prepare your own dog team. We start off with some compulsory dog ​​cuddling before readying the team for a ride across Adventdalen. During the trip you can take turns controlling the dogs. Children under the age of 16 must be passengers together with an adult.

The dogs express their enthusiasm by barking and howling, but as soon as the dog team runs out of the kennel, they become completely quiet and focused on their job. Now we can feel the interaction between the dogs and the driver while enjoying the Arctic nature.

Back in the kennel, we will put the dogs back, and after some more cuddling we will return to the city. Take the time to enjoy lunch in one of the city's restaurants and enjoy the Arctic surroundings, the rest of the day is spent exploring Longyearbyen.

Day 3
Imagine the sense of achievement one gets from hiking the beautiful mountains that tower over Longyearbyen, and the reward is an absolutely fantastic view. This is exactly what we will experience today! Pack your day trip backpack with an extra layer of warm clothes and remember to have some space for clothes if you get warm on the way up and have to undress a bit. Bring lunch, some snacks, and most importantly a bottle of water. The guide will pick you up at the hotel at 10, and together you will have a look at the route and the weather conditions for the day.

The terrain we are going to hike in is sometimes steep and rugged, so it is important to have good hiking shoes that are waterproof and stable. Walking sticks are also good to have. There will be several shorter and longer stops along the way, so it is important to follow along, as there are opportunities to see reindeer, polar foxes, grouse, and fossils that along the way that elevate the Arctic hiking experience. Your guide is a wandering encyclopedia who is happy to share their knowledge of Svalbard's history and nature.

Around 3 pm you will be back at the hotel and the reception can assist you with making dinner reservations for the evening.

Day 4
After a delicious breakfast and a quiet morning, there is still time to wander around the city on your own before the shuttle bus passes the hotel. Check-out is at 11:00 and about two hours before your flight departures, the airport bus starts its pick-up round. The receptionist is up to date on the shuttle bus times.

The minimum age of participation for this activity is 6 years.

As part of Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen's efforts to be climate neutral, we are adding a CO2 and environmental investment to our overnight trips. The amount is donated in its entirety to good projects that contribute to a sustainable future at our destinations.

Can't find suitable dates or do you have special requests for your trip? Contact us at spitsbergen@basecampexplorer.com for alternative dates and tailor made adventures.