PROGRAM IN DETAIL

DAY 1   Arrival, sightseeing, photo-excursion and preparations

On arrival, I (Marcel Schütz) welcome you at the airport and accompany you to your accommodation in the centre of Longyearbyen. After lunch, you will get to know the diversity of the northernmost city in the world on a detailed sightseeing-tour. Feel the special atmosphere of this extraordinary settlement and enjoy a guided tour in the local museum. We also head out into the valley and focus on beautiful photo-stops, amazing landscapes, Svalbard Reindeer and a lot more interesting photo opportunities that await us. In the early evening we prepare for the next days snowscooter-safari. Dinner in the Roald Amundsen Restaurant and overnight in the hotel in Longyearbyen.

DAY 2     Snowscooter-safari, Longyearbyen – Pyramiden

After a good breakfast we start our multy-day snowscooter trip to Pyramiden. We will pack our luggage and camera equipment on the sledges and after a thorough introduction into the handling of the snowsooters, we are ready to head north towards Pyramiden. Depending on the weather- and ice situation Marcel Schütz will decide the exact route. Anyways, the trip to Pyramiden will take several hours and we will have a lot of breaks and photo-stops during the trip. There is no rush, we will rest, take pictures and enjoy the beauty of this breathtaking landscape and the wildlife. Arrival in Pyramiden will be in the early evening. A guided tour awaits us with a lot of insight and behind the scenes knowledge of the once flourishing metropolis of Russian coal-mining on Spitsbergen. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Pyramiden.

DAY 3   Snowscooter-safari, Pyramiden & surroundings

The surroundings of Pyramiden offer countless possibilities for photo opportunities: Foxes, reindeer, seals and possibly polar bears in and around Mimer, Adolf or Petunia bay and Billefjord. The amazing landscape under the mighty Nordenskiöldbreen- the largest and most impressive glacier in the Isfjord area, is worth exploring. If the weather is suitable, we will head towards the untouched Dicksenfjord, with again very good polar bear chances next to all its impressive landscapes. All trips and excursions are dependent on weather- ice and snow conditions. Always, we will seek and find our best opportunities on the current day. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Pyramiden.

DAY 4   Snowscootersafari, Pyramiden – Longyearbyen

After a rich Russian breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head again out into the nature. Depending on the weather- and ice conditions, I will suggest a route over frozen fjords, glaciers and valleys, which at the end of the day brings us on different tracks back to Longyearbyen. We take a lot of time to explore again all interessting details on our way back. Lunch in the field and dinner in Longyearbyen. Overnight in the hotel in Longyearbyen.

DAY 5   Relaxing morning and dogsledding in the afternoon

We spend the morning in Longyearbyen. Time to rest, safe your pictures, and work with the already taken pictures from the past days. After lunch we head out with our four-legged friends, the huskies. We get to know the life of the mushers and go out into Adventdalen on dog sleds. Feeding and petting of the dogs included for all who want to. Dinner in Longyearbyen and overnight in the hotel.

DAY 6   Snowscooter-safari to the east coast of Spitsbergen

Another day, many more highlights! Today we head east to a very big glacier system in central Spitsbergen. We drive trough valleys, blue ice formations, moraine landscapes and then over the snow-covered glacier plateau to „Mohnbukta“ on the east coast of Svalbard. We are greeted by one of the most impressive glacier fronts and pack-ice as far as the eye can see. Who knows? Maybe the king of the arctic- the polar bear awaits us. Lunch in the field and back to Longyearbyen in the evening. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Longyearbyen.

DAY 7   Snowscooter-safari to Van Mijenfjorden & Barentsburg

After breakfast, we head out to explore the wild west of the Nordenskiöld-Land. Todays destination is the Russian coal mining settlement Barentsburg which lies by Grønfjorden. The route takes us over remote mountain passes and beautiful valleys to Van Mijenfjorden. We enjoy lunch in the white nature before we continue in the afternoon towards the coal mining town. After arrival, we check in to our hotel and enjoy the great Russian hospitality. Before dinner, we have time to explore Barentsburg on an interesting sightseeing tour through the settlement. Overnight  in the hotel in Barentsburg.

DAY 8   Snowscooter-safari via Isfjord Radio and back to Longyearbyen

After breakfast, we are packing a last time our sledges. On a nice journey around Grønfjorden over glaciers and through beautiful valleys, we approach the west coast of Spitsbergen. The landscape there is stunning and we also have good chances to encounter again a lot of Svalbard’s wildlife. Lunch in the remote radio-station (Isfjord-Radio) at Kapp Linné. In the afternoon we are heading back to Longyearbyen. Multiple photo stops on the way and possibly the visit of Colesbay, another Russian historical sight. The route takes us further along Fardalen and over the Longyear-glacier back to Longyearbyen. Farewell gala dinner in the Roald Amundsen restaurant and overnight in the hotel.

DAY 9     Travelday back home

After breakfast there will be time for your own leisure in Longyearbyen. Depending on your flight schedule, I will offer a private transfer to the airport and wave goodbye. Flight back home.