Meet our Russian comarades in the west - Barentsburg -Better Moments

Surrounded by high, rugged mountains and the enormous Nordenskiöld glacier, lies the abandoned Russian town Pyramiden. It is beautifully located in Billefjorden, north of Isfjorden. On this trip, we will spend two whole days in this breath-taking area. We will use our comfortable boat to get there, drive bicycles around the town, and hike in the historical area.

Better Moments #1 TripAdvisor 2016

The abandon town Pyramiden is beautifully located in Billefjorden. Surrounded by high, rugged mountains and the enormous Nordenskiöld glacier. On this trip, we will spend two whole days in this breath-taking area. We will use our comfortable boat to get there, drive bicycles around the town, and hike in the historical area.

 Day 1

You will be picked up at your hotel and taken to our boat. After a quick safety demonstration, we start sailing out on the enormous Isfjord. We will head north, towards the Billefjord and the Nordenskiöld glacier. During this ride we will have a great chance to see wildlife, especially birds. Our guide will tell you stories about the things we pass, and we will have time to take photos. When we arrive at the glacier we will serve you a lunch. This ice-blue glacier is very active and it often calves, meaning that ice breaks off the front and falls into the fjord, leaving the sound of thunder behind. This area is also a typical summer habitat for the polar bears, and sometimes we get to see this majestic animal here.

We will continue the boat ride towards Pyramiden and check in at Hotel Tulpan, before we get ready for an afternoon bicycle tour around the settlement. Pyramiden was abandoned in 1998, and since then, it’s like time has been standing still. Besides some small modifications, the town is very authentic. All buildings are still standing like they did the day the Russians left, but mother nature has slowly started to take back what used to be hers. A local Russian guide will take us on a tour and show us the inside of some of the most interesting buildings. In the evening, we will eat a Russian dinner at the hotel, and enjoy some traditional Russian drinks.

Day 2

After breakfast, we will get ready for today’s hike. Our goal is the entrance of the old Soviet mines, located high up, on the side of the mountain Pyramiden. We will follow the old funicular system, that was used to transport the miners up to the entrance. During the entire hike, we will have an amazing view over the old ghost town, the Nordenskiöld glacier and the rest of Billefjorden. At the top, we will enjoy an expedition lunch before we start the decent back to the hotel. Late afternoon we’ll join one of the boats back, and arrive in Longyearbyen at 6pm.

We require a minimum of 4 persons on this trip.
"Dyreliv"