This High Arctic wilderness dog sledding expedition in Spitsbergen takes you about as close to the North Pole as you would ever hope to get in the Winter and early Spring.  You will follow in the footsteps of historic explores, mushing your own team of dogs just like Amundsen did when he reached the magnetic North Pole in 1904.

The experience starts in the northernmost city in the world (Longyearbyen) and takes you north east into spectacular scenery of the Svalbard mountains. Departures run from the end of March to mid April, so although the Northern Lights are not likely, by this time, there will be more daylight hours you have to enjoy some stunning Arctic landscapes and be on watch for polar bears, of which some two thousand or more are resident in Spitsbergen.

In Longyearbyen, you will be staying in a hotel designed in the form of an old trappers lodge. You will have a chance to see something of the town and become attuned to a quite different way of life from most peoples' temperate home.

The next day you will kick off your Arctic adventure with a briefing from your expert local guide; after which you will be taken to meet your team of working Alaskan huskies and shown how to harness and handle them before you set off.  You will be responsible for your own pack of dogs throughout the expedition and will soon start to develop confidence in managing your own dog team.  By the end of the 4 days you should feel a bond with these incredibly resilient animals.

During the 4 days you will spend away form the lights and bustle of Longyearbyen, you will be able to live and feel that arctic wilderness around you. You will spend two nights in a tent, which will give a true taste of what is was like for historic polar explorers.  In contrast, the other two nights will be spent in a modern luxury hotel, which was a former radio station.  During the days, you will dog sled through beautiful snowy landscape, travelling beside glaciers and amidst ice covered mountains which dominate the landscape of Spitsbergen.

In the tented camp you will sleep in expedition tents with warm sleeping bags. As a guest you will join as an active participant, helping your dog sledge in deep snow or steep hills. You will also be engaged in helping to set up the camp, melting water and preparing dinner for guests and dogs. Your team of dogs will be your polar bear guards for the night.  This tented camp will be your base for two nights (Day 2 and Day 5), in a scene reminiscent of legendary polar explorers like Captain Scott - who sat through the winter, waiting for their chance to set out for the poles.  Here you will be able to absorb your surroundings in a land of complete silence, far from the trappings of modern daily life.

In stark contrast, your accommodation for the other two nights (Day 3 and Day 4), you will be sleeping in a boutique hotel and former radio station, which until a few years ago was an important telecommunications link between the Norwegian mainland and the inhabitants of Svalbard.  You would hardly recognise the interior now however, which is newly renovated and tastefully decorated, facilities of which are to a very high standard.

This is a true Arctic wilderness experience which provides a complete dislocation from the modern world.

Taking part in this trip requires careful preparation. It is important that you are in good physical condition, as aside from walking and sledging, you will be required to perform a number of tasks on the trip (as mentioned above). You will also need to be prepared to take care of your own team of 6 huskies. This means feeding and harnessing the dogs, making peace if they argue, as well as helping the guide and other participants when it is time to set up or pack up the camp.