Cruising to Pyramiden, an deserted Russian mining city close to Longyearbyen, is among the hottest excursions in Svalbard. On the way in which, you additionally get to see a large glacier, go whale watching, and in the event you’re actually fortunate, you could possibly even spot a polar bear.
In keeping with Nationwide Geographic, Pyramiden is among the high ten finest ghost cities to go to on the earth.
Why Cruise to Pyramiden:
- Tour a ghost city within the Arctic circle
- See the superb Nordenskiold Glacier
- Mail a postcard residence from Pyramiden
- Attempt Russian vodka on the lodge in Pyramiden
- Get your passport stamped with a Russian stamp
- Have an opportunity to see whale, arctic fox, reindeer, and possibly even a polar bear
We attempt to keep away from excursions and tour teams as a lot as attainable once we journey, however this appeared like a must-do whereas we have been in Svalbard. In the course of the summer time months, when the fjords are comparatively ice-free, you may get to Pyramiden by boat.
Some boats take all day to make the spherical journey journey from Longyearbyen. Nevertheless, there’s a firm, Arctic Explorer, that may zip you forwards and backwards to Pyramiden in a lot much less time.
We selected Arctic Explorer as a result of their boat, the Aurora Explorer, is the “quick boat.” It completes the journey to Pyramiden and again in simply 6 hours, with fast aspect journeys to Skansbukta and Nordenskioldbreen.
The way to Cruise to Pyramiden
On the Cruise to Pyramiden
At 12:45 pm we have been picked up from our lodge and pushed to the Longyearbyen harbor. It was right here that we boarded the Aurora Explorer.
The Aurora Explorer is a big catamaran that holds roughly 100 individuals. All seating is indoors, which is an efficient factor, as a result of even in the course of the summer time months it may be fairly chilly. There are tables and chairs lining the perimeters of the boat, prime seating with the most effective view out of the home windows. Line up early to get these seats. There are additionally rows of seats, just like airplane seating, down the middle of the boat.
On board the boat is a café and a toilet.
Whereas the boat is in movement you’re free to stroll outdoors on the decks to take pictures and benefit from the view. Simply be sure you costume warmly! The air hitting you is bitterly chilly, even in the summertime.
At 1 pm the boat left the Longyearbyen harbor. We bought caught within the middle seats since we have been one of many final on board, but it surely wasn’t an enormous deal since we bought up so many instances to go outdoors and take pictures.
Skansbukta
It took about one hour to get to our first cease, Skansbukta. For quarter-hour we drifted within the bay, having fun with the views and hoping to identify a polar bear. We by no means did get to see a polar bear however we did spot a whale that surfaced just a few instances.
Nordenskioldbreen
One of the best a part of the tour was Nordenskiold Glacier. This was superb. Nordenskiold Glacier, additionally known as Nordenskioldbreen, is a glacier that’s huge in measurement. While you stand proper in entrance of it, it’s exhausting to understand the total extent of simply how massive it’s. Nevertheless, while you see it from a distance (which you’ll from Pyramiden) you possibly can actually see simply how huge it’s.
Conveniently, a sailboat parked proper in entrance of it. The sailboat is dwarfed by the enormity of the glacier.
Judging by the quantity of people that got here out on deck to see the glacier, this was a spotlight for a lot of on board.
Visiting Pyramiden
Pyramiden is an outdated, Russian mining city that was deserted in 1998. Now, it’s a ghost city within the arctic. In the course of the previous 20 years, the buildings have been vandalized and fallen into disrepair. Seagulls have made nesting websites of the buildings. Uncared for buildings sit silent, their paint peeling and their home windows damaged. And the statue of Lenin nonetheless watches over the city.
For me, visiting Pyramiden felt melancholy and just a bit bit creepy. I stored feeling like I used to be on the film set of “The Shining.”
We disembarked the Aurora Explorer on an outdated, rickety dock. Metallic plates cowl the spots the place the dock has rotted away, creating an odd patchwork of creaky wooden and rusted metallic.
A bus drove us a brief distance to the Pyramiden signal, the place we met up with our tour information. For about an hour and a half, our big group adopted this very candy woman with a really quiet voice. It was tough to listen to what she was saying so sadly we missed loads of the historical past about this place.
The view from the highest of city was superior. Off within the distance was Nordenskiold Glacier, and from right here, we bought a a lot better appreciation of simply how huge it’s.
Strolling by the buildings was very attention-grabbing. The individuals who lived right here simply bought up and left, leaving issues behind. Potted vegetation now droop, nonetheless clinging to their useless leaves. Large flakes of paint hold from the ceiling and litter the ground. Photographs nonetheless hold on the partitions and cans of meals nonetheless sit on the cabinets of the principle kitchen.
The tour of Pyramiden ends on the Pyramiden Lodge, which really is working immediately. Eight individuals stay and work in Pyramiden. On the lodge, you possibly can mail a postcard residence from the submit workplace or have Russian vodka or beer brewed in Barentsburg on the bar.
A number of individuals on our boat spent the evening on the lodge. I don’t know what else you’ll do on a go to right here, however an in a single day keep is unquestionably going off-the-beaten-path.
By the way in which, you aren’t allowed to wander round Pyramiden by yourself, simply in case you wander throughout the trail of a polar bear.
We noticed a number of arctic fox wandering across the lodge and it’s quite common to additionally see reindeer.
After the tour of Pyramiden, it’s a 1.5 hour experience within the Aurora Explorer again to Longyearbyen.
In whole, this tour lasted 7 hours from choose as much as drop-off at our lodge.
Wish to See Extra? Try this video:
Is the Cruise to Pyramiden Price It?
We have now blended emotions about this cruise. Tim and I are glad that we noticed Pyramiden and the view of Nordenskioldbreen was undoubtedly the spotlight of the day.
Strolling by the city of Pyramiden and the deserted buildings was fascinating. Nevertheless, the tour of Pyramiden was disappointing. We have been caught in a big tour group and will barely hear our information, so we bought virtually nothing out of the tour. The tour is run by Pyramiden, not by Arctic Explorer.
Arctic Explorer was nice. The employees was pleasant, every thing ran on schedule, and the boat is comfy and quick. I’m glad that we picked this firm. We couldn’t think about spending all day doing this one tour.
Tyler and Kara thought all the tour was boring. We didn’t see many different youngsters on the cruise. The truth is, we noticed only a few youngsters throughout our total go to to Svalbard.
In regards to the Cruise to Pyramiden
We used Arctic Explorer for our tour, however on the time that I’m updating this submit (June 2022) they don’t appear to be providing excursions to Pyramiden. After we did this in 2018, we paid NOK 1800 per individual and all the tour took 6 hours.
For firms providing this tour from Longyearbyen, go to the Go to Svalbard web site.
What about Seasickness?
Seasickness was not a difficulty for anybody on board the cruise throughout our go to, at the very least from what I seen. Nevertheless, the ocean was very calm.
The catamaran may be very steady. It did rock and roll for a brief time frame once we cruised out of Adventfjorden, however this solely lasted about 10 minutes. Nevertheless, situations can change and there’s the prospect that you could possibly have rougher situations throughout your cruise.
What We Wore
We did this cruise on the finish of June. Common daytime temperatures in Longyearbyen have been 6 to 7°C (within the low 40’s).
We wore lengthy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a fleece, and a heavy winter coat. We additionally wore a skinny pair of gloves and a hat. Even with all of this clothes, it was very chilly to be out on deck for prolonged intervals of time whereas the boat was shifting. It was additionally colder in Pyramiden than it was in Longyearbyen.
Even in the event you plan to do that in the summertime, carry a heavy coat, gloves, and put on a number of layers (even when it feels “heat” in Longyearbyen). In case you have windproof clothes, contemplate carrying this for the cruise.
Extra Excursions from Longyearbyen
We did two extra excursions throughout our time in Svalbard:
We spent at some point kayaking throughout Adventfjord and mountain climbing up Hiorthfjellet, one of many highest mountains within the space. In the event you like mountain climbing, the hike up Hiorthfjellet is among the finest to do in Svalbard.
Kayaking Adventfjord and Mountaineering Hiorthfjellet: A One Day Journey in Svalbard
You may as well kayak in entrance of an energetic glacier, our “coolest” expertise in Svalbard.
Glacier Kayaking in Svalbard
Extra Info to your journey to Svalbard & Norway:
SVALBARD:Plan the proper go to to Svalbard with our Svalbard Journey Information. We even have articles about the most effective issues to do in Longyearbyen, what to pack for Svalbard in the summertime, and the way a lot does it price to go to Svalbard?
BEST OF NORWAY: For a listing of high experiences in Norway, don’t miss our Norway Bucket Checklist. If you’re a hiker, we even have a mountain climbing information with 14 epic day hikes to do in Norway.
NORTHERN NORWAY ITINERARY: On this 10 day Norway itinerary, street journey by Senja and the Vesteralen Islands, two lovely off the overwhelmed path locations, and spend a while within the Lofoten Islands.
LOFOTEN ISLANDS: For an summary of the most effective issues to do, learn our Lofoten Islands Prime Ten Checklist. Get a lot of journey planning recommendation in our Lofoten Islands Itinerary. For recommendation on the place to remain, learn our Lofoten Islands Lodge Information.
BEST OF NORWAY ITINERARY: On this information, we share two other ways to plan a ten day journey that features each the Lofoten Islands and southern Norway.
NORWAY TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Norway is among the most lovely international locations we now have visited. Don’t miss our article Northern Norway in Photographs to see some beautiful pictures of Norway. Our articles about Ornfloya and the Better of Norway in Photographs are additionally stuffed with lovely pictures.
Is your journey to Svalbard a part of an even bigger journey to Norway? Learn all of our articles about Norway in our Norway Journey Information.
