This was hands down the most exhilarating part of our trip to Svalbard. A day of dog sledding, with the reward at the end being entering an ice cave. 
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that most of the dogs were rescued from Alaska. The owner of the company flies to Alaska to rescue these dogs. All of the dogs seemed very happy, healthy, and excited to be running.
On both sides, each direction that we looked, we had mountains. It was pure white everywhere, and I had to learn quick how to apply the brakes.
Many times where the snow was thin, I also had to help the dogs by pushing one foot against the snow.
Previous to this, my closest experience to dog sledding was watching the 90s film “Iron Will”. Growing up in Canada it’s never something that tempted me, but having someone else book the trip, forced me to try it, and it’s something that will be forever treasured. It’s probably my best experience in Svalbard, as nothing else quite allowed me to feel so immersed in the natural environment. 
As if the dog sledding wasn’t enough I had the opportunity to visit an ice cave. The entrance was small, which meant I had to crawl in backwards. Once inside the cave was a bit larger, and I was surrounded by ice. Some of the ice was only a year old, while the older ice was decades old. I explored the cave up until the point where there was a steep drop-off, and it was too dangerous to go deeper.
Best of all after finishing the cave, I had the return journey with my pack of beautiful dogs.
If in Svalbard dog sledding should absolutely be on your to do list. It’s by far the most authentic way to experience the North Pole.
