Spitsbergen Dog Sledding adventure

Why Join This Excursion:

• Dog mush your own team across pristine Arctic spring landscape, as part of this totally unique 5 day High Arctic boys own adventure


• A highly interactive, authentic, physical Arctic experience


• Comfortable accommodation on board ship, with heartily food and hot showers


• Stunning light in the spring months as the sun reappears in these high latitudes, as well as fresh snow


• Compact 5 day adventure from door-to-door, perfect for those short on time


• Easily accessible by plane from London via Oslo


• Stay onboard the only hotel ship frozen overwinter in an Arctic fjord
  

Trip Overview
Follow in the footsteps of Fritjof Nansen and the other early Arctic explorers with this unique long weekend High Arctic adventure in Spitsbergen (March - May only) combining the exhilaration of mushing your own dog team across a pristine spring Arctic landscape of snow, glaciers and mountains, then spending two night's very memorable sleeping aboard The Noorderlicht, a two-masted wooden schooner frozen into Tempel Fjord over the winter months. The ship itself has modern facilities, including hot showers and bar, otherwise this is as authentic an Arctic experience as it gets and a real boy's own adventure.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 London/ Oslo/ Longyearbyen
Depart London and fly via Oslo to Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen, which lies deep inside the Arctic Circle, approx. 600 miles from The North Pole. Longyerabyen is the most northerly airport in the world serviced by regular scheduled flights. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 2 Dog Sledding/ Tempel Fjord
Meeting your guide in the morning for a short briefing before packing and leaving civilization. You will be transported as a small group by bus to the dog kennel located outside town, where the expedition begins. At the kennel, 90 happy Alaskan huskies are waiting your arrival. The guide will give a short lesson in the basics of dog sledding. Participants are responsible for their own dogs, and must take part in work tasks during your 3 day dog sledding expedition. This interactive aspect is an important part of the overall trip and certainly will bring you closer to your dog team. We now mush into the white open landscape, and arrive at the boat stuck fast in the ice after a long day behind the sledges. Lunch will be in the field and a well-deserved three-course dinner will be served in the evening after arrival at the ship.

Day 3 Dog Sledding
First we feed the dogs before enjoying breakfast ourselves and then it is time for a whole day of exploring Tempel Fjord and its surroundings, a stunning, pristine location. Mushing on Svalbard is an experience that touches your soul, with the wide open landscape and the breathtaking scenery. Only the panting of the dogs and the scraping of the sled runners against the snow break the complete silence. We will again spend the entire day with the dogs and return to the ship in late afternoon for a good dinner.

Day 4 Dog Sledding/ Longyearbyen
This is your last day of mushing. An early start to make the most of the day. Late in the afternoon you will reach civilisation again and arrive back into Longyearbyen in time for a hot shower and perhaps some cold drinks. Overnight in Longyearbyen.

Day 5 Longyearbyen/ London
Depart Spitsbergen flying back to London, arriving back in the evening

NOTES:
Driving dogs can be very different under differing conditions. For example, when the snow conditions are difficult, helping the dogs may be necessary, especially when it is warm. On other days, the snow conditions might be better, but the weather colder, when it is very important to bring warm and suitable clothes.

Min. group size of 2 & max of 10 travellers.
Minimum age = 15 years old

The Boat
The following boat is available for this cruise:

Norderlicht

Dates for 2009

Frequent departures every Tuesday from late February until mid-May with weekend departures available upon request(Friday - Tuesday).

**Please note weekend expeditions carry a supplement.

Please note: The minimum group size is 2 people and the minimum age for participants is 15 years old

Guide Price for 2009
£1,675.00 per person

What's included?

• 3 day dog sledding adventure on full board basis


• 2 nights accommodation on board the Noorderlicht in Twin bunked bed cabins with shared bathroom


• Your own dog team


• Outer clothing for the dog sledding provided


• Highly experienced local guides who will accompany you throughout

What's not included?

• All flights and travel arrangements getting to and from Longyeearbyen


• Accommodation and food in Longyearbyen at the beginning and end of your expedition


• Any additional accommodation, excursions or services not mentioned in the itinerary


• Gratuities

To discuss this trip, for further details or to check boat availability, please either:

Call 01285 880981
Email voyages@steppestravel.co.uk

Steppes Travel cruise destinations include: Alaska, Amazon, Antarctica, Arctic, Baja Mexico, Galapagos, Papau New Guinea, Nile

Spitsbergen Dog Sledding adventure

Noorderlicht