There are so many highlights in this fascinating country that it is impossible to list them all here. Our travel consultants will discuss your interests and be able to put a specific itinerary together for you, but below are a few must see’s!
Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen, the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. The small Arctic town is inhabited by nature enthusiasts who live close to severe climatic conditions with the High Arctic wilderness right on their doorstep. Longyearbyen is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most Svalbard adventures, where the Arctic wilderness starts in the town centre and never ends.
Pyramiden
Pyramiden a mining community founded by Sweden in 1910 and sold to the Soviet Union in 1927. Named after the pyramid-shaped mountain of the same name nearby, Pyramiden is now visited by seagulls, polar foxes and, not infrequently, polar bears. Tourists visit by boat in the summertime and by snowmobile in winter.
Seeing Pyramiden is like stepping into a time machine. The architecture and buildings are so well preserved that many visitors feel like they are ‘Back in the USSR’. When the mine was closed, and the settlement abandoned, everyone left in a hurry. Cups left on tables, newspaper clippings on the walls and skis abandoned in the corridors. The beautiful indoor swimming pool and painstakingly made cultural centre both feature Soviet-era architecture and bear witness to the settlement’s golden days.
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