Basecamp Explorer

Few places make you feel smaller, in the best possible way.

Paddling beneath the towering Nordenskiöld Glacier is about as close to the raw forces of Arctic nature as you can get. The sound of drifting ice, deep blue glacier walls and the silence between every paddle stroke create a feeling that is difficult to describe. And impossible to forget.

And after the adventure?
You return to Nordenskiöld Lodge, arguably the most spectacularly located lodge in Svalbard. Remote, quiet and surrounded by nothing but wilderness.

This is the Arctic at its most powerful.

📸 Malin Hanning

Norway’s National Day at the edge of the Arctic 🇳🇴

Today is about freedom, togetherness, traditions and celebrating life in one of the world’s most beautiful countries.

And most importantly, today belongs to the children. They are the future, the next generation who will shape and carry our country forward, while also protecting a sustainable Arctic where wildlife and people continue to live side by side in harmony.

Happy Constitution Day from Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen ❤️

We are incredibly proud to share that Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen has been nominated for the Condé Nast Traveller UK & US Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 in the categories:

✨ Tour Operator or Specialist
✨ Hotels

To be recognized among some of the world’s most inspiring travel experiences is something we truly do not take for granted, especially from a place as remote and wild as Svalbard.

For more than 25 years, we have been dedicated to creating authentic Arctic adventures, meaningful encounters with nature, and unforgettable stays at the edge of the world. This nomination belongs just as much to our passionate team, guides and hosts as it does to all of you who have travelled with us over the years.
If you have explored the Arctic with us, or simply believe in what we do, we would be incredibly grateful for your vote.

Your support means the world to us. ❤️

→ Vote for Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/vote-readers-choice-awards

📸 .hanning

Now we take the journey to the water.
Exploring by boat opens up a completely different perspective. From the sea, the vast landscapes rise around you: raw, powerful, and untouched. Glaciers stretch toward the horizon, mountain peaks tower above, and the silence is broken only by the sounds of nature itself.

Seals resting on drifting ice. Walruses gathering along the shore. Whales moving silently through the deep, sometimes surfacing right beside you. And above it all, a sky filled with life. Countless birds that migrate north each summer, turning the cliffs and coastline into a vibrant, living spectacle.

It’s close, it’s real, and it’s unforgettable.
This is the Arctic, seen from the water, felt in every moment.

📸 Malin Hanning

Thank you to everyone who chose to spend Easter with us in the High Arctic.
We’ve covered countless miles on skis, behind dog sleds and across vast landscapes by snowmobile, under clear skies and bright Arctic sun.

Easter in Svalbard is about reconnecting with what truly matters. Pushing yourself in raw, untouched nature, and then slowing down. Finding warmth, calm and enjoy friendship, whether around a campfire at Isfjord Radio or in the quiet of a late sunset.

It’s that contrast that stays with you.
And that, perhaps, is what adds something extra to life.

📸 Bence Kondor

25 years. A lifetime in the Arctic.
Rafael – a Svalbardian, a polar guide, a legend.
Today, we honoured our guide Rafael with the Medal for Long and Faithful Service, marking 25 years with Basecamp Explorer.

We honor him for loyalty, competence, time, and dedication.
He was there from the very beginning. When everything was new, uncertain, and had to be figured out from scratch. He helped build something entirely unique at 78° north and never stopped showing up when it mattered.

He has taken people further than they thought possible.
Across ice, into storms, through the unknown and always back home.
Not because it was easy. But because it had to be done.

Rafal leaves his mark.
In the stories.
In the way things are done.
In all of us.

Even though our goal has always been to leave no trace, his footprints will never disappear.

Thank you for 25 years. We keep go🤍

The Arctic rarely comes with perfect conditions and that is exactly what makes it real.
Expeditions here challenge you, both physically and mentally, as weather, wind and wilderness set the terms.

Last week, our guests on Trapper’s Trail experienced this first-hand. Strong winds swept across the landscape as the team travelled by dog sled, spending the night in the open wilderness. These are the moments that define Arctic travel: Raw, demanding and unforgettable.

"Even though the weather was tough, it was a great trip. Marta and Pavel are incredibly professional guides who truly know what they’re doing. I’m glad I got to experience this."

📸 Jan Nielsen

Would you travel 100 km by snowmobile into the Arctic wilderness… just to spend the night here?
This winter, our Boundaries Beyond expedition takes you deep into Svalbard’s untouched landscapes. Across frozen valleys and vast snowfields, all the way to Isfjord Radio, a remote outpost on the wild west coast where the Arctic Ocean meets the tundra.

No roads.
No crowds.
Just the silence of the High Arctic.

A journey for those who want to go a little further.
Ready to push the boundaries?

Today, on International Polar Bear Day, we pause to honour one of the Arctic’s most iconic and powerful inhabitants.

The polar bear is more than a symbol of the North. It is a keystone species and a vital indicator of the health of the entire Arctic ecosystem. In a rapidly changing climate, its future is closely linked to the choices we make, as travellers, operators and global citizens.

At Basecamp Explorer, operating in polar bear territory is both a privilege and a responsibility. Through our collaboration with we stay closely connected to the latest research and conservation efforts. Our guides receive direct updates from scientists, ensuring that the knowledge we share with our guests is grounded in science and respect.

For us, this partnership is not about symbolism. It is about commitment: to responsible operations, to education, and to protecting the fragile environment we are fortunate to work in.

Today we celebrate the polar bear.
And every day, we work to help safeguard its future🐻‍❄️🤍

📸 Chris Michael