SOVIET FOOTPRINTS IN THE ARCTIC SNOW

DAY 1 - Longyearbyen

  • Meet-and-greet at Longyearbyen Airport and introductory briefing about the region, the route and the set of rules to observe while travelling around the Svalbard Archipelago.

  • Short orientation and sightseeing tour around and about Longyearbyen and traditional Arctic dinner at our hotel.

  • Overnight in Longyearbyen.

DAY 2 - Barentsburg

  • Westbound excursion to Barentsburg, the second-largest settlement on Svalbard, with a population of about 470 inhabitants, almost entirely made up of former Soviet citizens.

  • Since 1932 the Barentsburg coal mine and the namesake settlement have been controlled by the once Soviet and now Russian mining state-enterprise Arktikugol.

  • This unique geopolitical status (once shared with Pyramiden and a few other mining hamlets on the archipelago) means that here you’ll feel more like back in the USSR rather than in a Scandinavian country.

  • Barentsburg highlights include: the second northernmost Lenin monument on our planet (the first one being in Pyramiden), the northernmost diplomatic representation in the world (Russia still maintains a consulate here), the über-interesting Pomor Museum (mostly focussed on the obscure Pomors – early Russian settlers from Novgorod and the White Sea), a quaint wooden Orthodox church and, of course, a vast plethora of Soviet-era architectural shapes and monumental artworks.

  • En route to Barentsburg we’ll also stop in Grumant and Colesbutka, two abandoned Soviet mining settlements, read great photo opportunities for USSR-buffs and urbexers alike.

  • Overnight in Longyearbyen.

DAY 3 - Pyramiden

  • Northbound excursion to Pyramiden, yet another abandoned coal mining settlement originally founded by Sweden in 1910 and then sold to the Soviet Union in 1927.

  • Pyramiden, whose name derives from a nearby pyramid-shaped mountain, was closed in the late 90s and has since remained largely abandoned with most of its infrastructure and buildings still in place, the cold climate preserving much of what has been left behind; this includes the world’s northernmost Lenin statue, a wide array of Soviet-era signs, original socialist-style apartment blocks, a rich industrial-mining heritage and a surprisingly well-functioning USSR hotel, where we will obviously spend the night.

  • Overnight in Pyramiden.

DAY 4 - FAREWELL TO THE ARCTIC  

  • After enjoying a last Arctic meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Longyearbyen Airport for your trip back home and/or your connection to yet another exciting Arctic destination such as Franz Josef Land or Novaya Zemlya.

  • You can also prolong your stay on the Svalbard Archipelago and indulge in adventurous snowmobile or dog-sledding adventures around the isles; please contact us to learn more about this option.

  • End of the tour.

1995 €

INCLUSIONS
Double/twin-room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Svalbard (car/minivan/boat), all activities and entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.

EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.