Spitsbergen Cabins & Canines

Husky Expedition

Husky Expedition

A 3 Day Husky Experience In The Wilderness

Friendly Canines

Friendly Canines

Harness Up Your Team Of Dogs

Picturesque Location

Picturesque Location

Relax In A Cosy Wilderness Cabin In Foxdalen

Catch A Glimpse Of The Aurora Borealis

Catch A Glimpse Of The Aurora Borealis

Settle Your Dogs & Look Out For The Northern Lights

Additional Experiences

Additional Experiences

Add To Your Arctic Experience By Joining A Guided Snowmobile Tour

Spitsbergen Cabins & Canines

This break will give you a unique Arctic experience. Fly to Svalbard, the northernmost airport in the world serviced by a scheduled airline, collect your husky dogs and head off with your guide for a 3-day mushing expedition into the polar wilderness. Days are spent immersed in this wild landscape that is home to the polar bear and previously the domain of hunters and trappers. Nights are spent in a comfortable, modern cabin as far away from civilisation as you can imagine.
 
Please Note: No previous experience of husky mushing is necessary but a reasonable level of fitness and a love of dogs is essential.
DAY 1 Oslo
Fly to Oslo. Overnight Comfort Hotel Runway Gardermoen, Oslo Airport.
DAY 2 Longyearbyen
After breakfast take the morning flight to Longyearbyen. Self-transfer to the Radisson Blu Hotel Polar for one night. The hotel is situated in the centre of this Arctic outpost and within easy walking distance of the Svalbard Museum. Choose to relax and acclimatise to your surroundings or pick one of the exciting winter excursions.
DAY 3 Cabin & Canines
After an early breakfast you will be driven to the husky home in Bolterdalen. Here you will be given your protective clothing for the trip and an introduction to dogsledding. Help harness the dogs and prepare the sleds (2 people per sled). The dogs will be eager to depart. When you do, the only sound will be the panting of the huskies and the scrapping of the sled skis against the snow. Heading inland, the wide, beautiful Adventdalen grows narrower and the mountains come closer as you follow the riverbed into the valley. A visit is paid to the ice cave in the Scott Turner Glacier and lunch is taken in the snow igloo, as the dogs rest. After lunch, don helmets and headlamps and descend into the ice-cave. Here, melting ice-water has created swirling channels and sparkling crystal formations running deep into the glacier and now frozen in time. Simply mesmerising! The Arctic adventure continues with a thrilling downhill mush before arriving at the simple, cosy cabin in Foxdalen. By now you will know your dogs by name, have an insight to their personalities and appreciate their quiet strength and endurance. Settle the dogs for the evening and help prepare the fire and dinner, before an evening in the company of your fellow human explorers. The dogs and guides keep an eye out for any passing bear and depending on when you travel, you could witness the northern lights or the midnight sun overhead.
DAY 4 Cabin & CaninesThe next day you will head with your team of huskies towards Jansonhaugen, then continue into Eskerdalen, and if possible, make your way to Sassendalen, before stopping for lunch.  Then after a long day behind the sleds, you arrive at Juvahytta. Your cabin has electricity, bedrooms with bunk beds, lounge room and kitchen. After unharnessing and feeding the dogs it will be time to relax and unwind beside the roaring fireplace. Or perhaps the sauna outside might tempt you, with its big window offering views of the sky.
DAY 5 Longyearbyen
After breakfast you will head back towards Longyearbyen, taking a different return route. A light lunch will be served before returning your canine friends to their home. You will head back to the Radisson Blu Hotel Polar to reflect on the amazing experience you have just had.
DAY 6 UK
Breakfast and self-transfer back to the airport in time for your return flight home.
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel
This hotel was originally built for the Lillehammer Olympics and then transported to Svalbard, where it has become the world’s northernmost full service hotel. Recently refurbished, there is a wide range of warm contemporary rooms to choose from – all with free Wi-Fi. Restaurant Nansen features a la carte Arctic specialities and has panoramic windows looking out to Isfjord and Hiorthfjellet. Barentz Pub & Spiseri is a relaxed and informal meeting place for locals and visitors and offers a light menu. If that is not enough then there are also outdoor hot tubs and jacuzzi’s available for warming up after a day of activities.
95 rooms • Arctic dining with panoramic windows • Informal atmosphere
Snowmobile Safari To Camp Barentz
Following a full briefing, drive, (in pairs) deep into the Advent Valley. Travelling at a relaxed pace, you will stop to swop drivers and to hear about the region that you are driving through. Steeped in history there are old mines, WWII sites and early scientific sites to be found. Keep an eye out for the Svalbard reindeer, which is a common to the area. Stopping at Camp Barentz, you are served warm drinks in the wooden cabin, before heading back towards Longyearbyen.
Tour Available: 11th February - 17th May
Duration: 3 hours
Prices are for driver/passenger 
£196/112 pp
Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari
During the Polar Nights the sun never shines on Spitsbergen. In additional there are days where the moon is a constant presence or disappears completely. Experience the unique ‘blue light’ and atmosphere on a Snowmobile safari across the frozen landscape. With only the glistening snow to light your way you have every chance of seeing the Northern Lights, whatever time of day.
Tour Available: 27 November - 14 February
Duration: 3 hours
Prices are for driver/passenger 
£220/100 pp
Dog Sledding In Bolterdalen
Dog sledding has long been a part of life on Svalbard, and this is your chance to experience a slice of day-to-day living with these remarkable animals. After receiving an introduction to mushing, help to harness the huskies. Then, driving in pairs and swopping half-way, follow river beds and reindeer tracks, as you head out into the varied Arctic wilderness. On your return to the camp, meet the latest additions to the pack.
Tour Available: 1st January - 25th May
Duration: 4 hours
£195 pp
Northern Lights Dog Sledding Safari
Help to harness the dogs and lead a thrilling husky sled excursion into the wilderness. Travelling under the starry skies, dancing aurora or shimmering moonlight, take turns to mush and enjoy the scenery from the sled. Despite the darkness it is astonishing how much you can see during this time.
Tour Available: 01st November - 10th February 
Duration: 4 hours
£152 pp
Champagne Tasting
This champagne tasting evening is housed in the ‘Nordpolet’ cellar store, where the miners and administration staff came to collect their quota of alcohol. Knowledgeable waiters will share the history and guide you through the tasting of three champagnes accompanied by specially prepared canapés. Minimum of 4 people.
Tour Available: All year
Duration: 1 hour
£65 pp