Will Copestake Arctic Kayaking - Summer View Full Screen Itinerary

Today you will arrive at Longyearbyen Airport. Waiting in the small airport terminal is a Polar bear! You know you have arrived in the right place. Your driver who will ferry you the short 10 minutes into Longyearbyen town itself will also be waiting for you, look out for your name on his/her paging board. Once at your hotel, check-in to your authentic trappers style room and make yourself at home. 

Once you have had the time to freshen up, why not explore the town centre and visit one of the museums, learn more about the islands truly interesting history through the centuries and pick up some last minute items you may require from the array of outdoor shops. 

Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant with your guilde Will Copestake. This will be a relaxed and informal dinner and great chance to get to know Will and the others in your group. After an early dinner it will be time to return to your room before a comfortable night in your hotel. Tomorrow is an early start...

An early rise for a delicious breakfast - make sure you fuel up as you are heading out into the wilderness today. 

Meet up with both Will Copestake and your local Norwegian guide at 9am in your town centre hotel. At this point you will have a short briefing about the coming trip and required equipment. Shortly after this you will be provided with dry rescue suits to put on, you will then head to the shore to board the boat. The journey out to Nordenskiold Lodge is effectively a boat safari. Travel towards Billefjorden and finally Nordenskiold Lodge and marvel at the views. On the way, you might see some arctic wildlife,  birds such as puffins and marine mammals such as seals or even belugas are not uncommon sightings.

After a while you will arrive to the inner part of Billefjorden, where you will find the wonderful Nordenskiold Lodge in the middle of the glacier moraine. The lodge is right at the front of the mighty Nordenskiold glacier, sitting in a truly spectacular setting. This will be your basecamp for the next 3 days. On arrival you will settle into your rooms and enjoy a lunch on the terrace if the weather is good.

The afternoon will be used to familiarise yourselves with your equipment and learn more about the kayaking techniques you will need to employ over the coming days. 

This evening dinner is served accompanied by an array of exciting stories from your guides and cabin hosts. 

After the tasty breakfast, you will jump into the dry suits and pack your kayaks. Your aim is to paddle towards the north to Rundmosepynten, across Petunia bay and continue to the Russian mining town Pyramiden.

After stretching your legs at this remote old mining town and enjoying an expedition-style lunch in the ghost town (over which your guides will explain many stories), you will get back into your trusty kayaks and start the return trip back to Nordenskiold Lodge.

After a fresh day on the blue sea, a warm dinner will taste better than ever. You will be able to warm yourselves totally in the sauna in the evening and the most adventurous of you can try a quick swim in the ocean! Remember if is 24 hours daylight at this time of year so why not take the chance for a midnight dip?

After breakfast this morning, you can warm your muscles before dressing again into the dry suits and heading back to the sea. Today is an exciting day, you paddle along the bright blue glacier front to the other side of Adolfbukta. This is truly a wonderful experience reserved only for a few intrepid souls. Paddle along the floating glacier ice and marvel at 'the nature'. If you are lucky you might come across some seals lying on the ice and some curious individuals might even venture close to the kayaks to see who you are.

At Brucebyen, about 5 km from the Lodge, you get a chance to step out onto the shore, stretch your legs and enjoy an expedition-style lunch. Before the evening draws in, you and the group will return to the Nordenskiöld Lodge, once back in the warm you can relax by the fire or warm up the sauna and enjoy a tasty dinner and glass of fine wine. 

Today is your last day in the wilderness on Spitsbergen.

In the morning after breakfast, you will head out to the sea for the last time by kayak. This morning will be like saying goodbye to this magical place, with this in mind all your senses are heightened. Your guide will cut across the water with you on a short trip to the glacier front, this is a great chance for some photos. Keep a look out for seals or even some belugas.

You are back at the lodge for a final lunch and then it is time to pack your bags and head to the boat. The last boat safari towards Longyearbyen and civilization will be a fitting close to what has been some of the best days you have ever experienced in the wilderness. 

On arriving back in Longyearbyen you will either be taken by transfer vehicle to the airport for your return flight home or check-in for an additional night back in the town centre. Speak to your Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions travel planner to finalise your arrangements.