Basecamp Hotel

An evening spent around a campfire in Africa with the oldest of the Maasai in 1998, led Svein Wilhelmsen to create a responsible tourism company supporting local people and conservation projects. In 1999, Basecamp Hotel in Svalbard opened, offering guests a cosy and atmospheric retreat in central Longyearbyen.

Decorated in traditional trapper style, this lodge-style hotel, has bags of character. Driftwood-fashioned furnishings as well as maps, pictures, seal skin and fur fill the property, capturing the region’s adventurous spirit and illustrating Arctic life, both past and present.

Each of the quirky 16 rooms with private bathroom offer views over the town and of the mountains. A hearty breakfast is served daily and complimentary hot drinks are available all day so guests can relax and thaw out after outdoor adventures. A small bar, serves beer, wine and a selection of spirits and the glass-roofed Cognac loft is often a cosy place to spot a sky filled with Northern Lights.

The surrounding wilderness begs to be explored. Dog sledding and snowmobiling are popular in winter, while sailing, kayaking and hiking tempt summer visitors to discover the wild.

Determined to leave a positive footprint, wherever it operated, the Basecamp organisation supports projects including reforestation and securing land for wildlife to flourish. Book your stay at Basecamp Explorer with Where The Wild Is and we will make a donation to the Foundation.