Crossing Svalbard East to West

At 15:00 we meet at Mary-Ann's Polarrigg for an information meeting. We then head to our nearby warehouse to pack up equipment and go over the final details before the evening ends. Bring all your equipment to the meeting place. You can leave personal belongings behind, but try and limit how much extra gear you bring with you on expedition. There will be an opportunity to take a trip to the city's sports shops for last minute purchases. If you want to take a map with you on the expedition, we recommend buying one at the Svalbard Museum next to the University, or in the town's grocery store. Packing may take a few hours, so bring some food and drink with you. NOTE: Dinner and accommodation are not included, and are arranged on an individual basis. Arrival dates in 2027 will be April 14 (departure 1) and April 28 (departure 2).

We will meet at the agreed place in Longyearbyen for a final briefing. After that, we will drive towards the East Coast by a tracked vehicle or snowmobile. The transport takes a few hours but it will be the last hours of sitting still for the week, so enjoy it! Out at Agardhbukta, we will prepare the equipment. If the weather allows we will start skiing on the same day or we will set up camp for the day. In that case, it will be an evening where we establish camp routines and look out for polar bears. We set up daily stages of between 15 and 25 kilometers and set up camp every evening. Most of the day is spent skiing, but we have a leisurely pace and take timed breaks along the way. We will plan the route with the weather in mind and take the path of least resistance - we want to get the best out of the expedition and the route can be adjusted along the way. Upon arrival at the campsite, everyone helps to set up tents, dig cold pits, and build living walls if necessary.

We start the day with coffee after an exciting first night out, where you may have been a polar bear guard for the first time. This is the day we aim to climb the first glacier of the expedition. The glacier has a "gentle" climb, so it's a soft start to the expedition, but we still have to watch out for dangerous cracks. Along the way, we eat the daily expedition lunch, we adjust the pace according to the group, and we use the time we need for reconnaissance and surveys of the terrain. The goal for the day is to set up camp in Lundstrømdalen.

The days vary on a long ski expedition, covering long distances at a slow pace, allowing you to take in all the scenery. Maybe we go 25 kilometers one day, or maybe the snow is heavier and we settle for 20. As we go we continue further into Reindalen (the reindeer valley), we really get to experience one of the classic, long and wide valleys on Svalbard. Like yesterday, we will be walking all day in an area that is prohibited for scooter traffic, so here we can walk in peace.

It will be oatmeal again for breakfast, and now that your body is getting used to being out, you certainly won't say no to an extra spoonful of porridge. We continue towards the west in Reindalen and gradually take in one of the smaller side valleys. Now the terrain will begin to change, and the mountains are coming closer. After the majestic Reindalen, we head north up Semmeldalen towards Grøndalen, which we follow westwards towards Barentsburg. We will not enter Barentsburg, but we will ski as far East as the city. When we arrive, we follow our normal camp routines that we have gradually become so familiar with.

At the top of Grøndalen (the green valley), we can sense Grønfjorden (the green fjord) in the distance. Today's stage continues down Grøndalen towards Grønfjorden and the west coast. Its incredibly beautiful. As we approach the coast, the destination of the expedition, Grønfjorden, is only a small mountain ridge away. But we will still have the last camp to ourselves in the arctic wilderness tonight. We´ll camp with a view of the sea and the mountains around us. Being our last night with a bear guard, we´ll let the group members argue about who gets the last watch.

After more than a week on expedition, we move on in the direction of Barentsburg. Down in Grønfjorden will we board the boat that will take us back to Longyearbyen. This transportation takes approx. 4 hours with beautiful views. Once back in Longyearbyen, it's time to pack out the gear and take a shower before we meet in the evening (20:00/21:00, 8/9 PM) for the final dinner. Afterward, a good night's sleep awaits in a well-deserved soft bed. NOTE: Accommodation is not included and must be arranged on an individual basis.

Today its time to travel home... unless you want to stay longer in Svalbard. There are many exciting things to do in Longyearbyen, and we are happy to help you find activities to do if you wish! The first possible departure dates in 2027 will be April 23 (departure 1) and May 7 (departure 2).