A Boat Trip to an Abandoned Russian Mining Island

The highlight of my trip to Svlabard was an overnight trip from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden, a near-abandoned Russian mining settlement reached via boat.

I booked with Arctic Explorer because it offered the better schedule, though other companies offer full meals onboard (such as BBQ whale) while we just had complimentary coffee + biscuits and snacks for purchase. Cost for two r/t tickets to Pyramiden was NOK 3,400 ($413) and easily reserved online.

We booked only a couple hours before our trip and had no trouble calling the office after to arrange a pick-up from our Airbnb. Everyone knows everyone in Longyearbyen.

A bus driver who looked like a veteran seafarer with a full white beard picked us up and brought us to the boat dock.

Veteran seafarer with white beard briefing tourists near bus labeled "TURBUSS" at Pyramiden dock, surrounded by mountains and colorful buildings.

We departed midday from Longyearbyen and our departure was delayed a bit due to a late arriving vessel. The boat makes a morning trip to Barentsburg, another Russian mining village, before returning to Longyearbyen and continuing to Pyramiden.

Boats docked at a harbor in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, with snowy mountains in the background, illustrating the departure point for cruises to Pyramiden.

Passengers boarding an Arctic cruise ship at a dock in Pyramiden, with a yellow pilot boat and mountainous landscape in the background.

Logo of the Arctic Explorer boat, featuring a blue background with the text "ARCTIC EXPLORER," representing the vessel used for trips to Pyramiden and surrounding Arctic regions.

Interior of a passenger boat with red and blue seating, preparing for the journey from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden, featuring a television and large windows for scenic views.
Coffee station onboard Arctic Explorer cruise, featuring coffee and hot water dispensers, tea selection, and biscuits, with a marine life poster in the background.

Coffee cup on a tray table, highlighting onboard beverage experience during Arctic cruise to Pyramiden, with emphasis on simple refreshments like coffee and snacks.

Interior of Arctic Explorer boat with red seats, coffee cups on table, and scenic view through window.

Compact bathroom setting featuring a white toilet and a modern sink with a chrome faucet, illustrating onboard facilities for travelers.

Our journey to Pyramiden took 2.5 hours on the way out because we traced our path along the coast of the Billefjorden and stopped at the beautiful Nordenskioldbreen glacier, where ran into a whale.

Waves trailing behind a boat on the Billefjorden, with cloudy skies and distant mountains, illustrating the scenic journey to Pyramiden.

Scenic view of the Billefjorden coastline with rugged mountains and glacial waters, reflecting the natural beauty encountered during the Arctic Explorer cruise to Pyramiden.

Scenic view of Billefjorden with rugged mountains and cloudy sky, highlighting the natural beauty encountered on the journey to Pyramiden.

Scenic view of Billefjorden with steep, layered cliffs and calm waters, reflecting the journey to Pyramiden and the surrounding Arctic landscape.

Coastal view of Billefjorden with layered mountain range and low-hanging clouds, illustrating the scenic landscape encountered during the journey to Pyramiden.

Glacier landscape in Billefjorden, Svalbard, with cloudy skies and calm waters, showcasing the natural beauty experienced during the Arctic explorer cruise to Pyramiden.

Scenic view of Billefjorden coastline with layered mountains and glacier under cloudy skies, highlighting Arctic landscape during cruise to Pyramiden.

Nordenskioldbreen glacier in Billefjorden, showcasing icy blue tones and crevices, with calm waters reflecting the glacier's surface.

Seagull floating on calm Arctic waters near icebergs, depicting the natural beauty encountered during an expedition to Pyramiden.

Nordenskioldbreen glacier with icy blue hues and rocky shoreline, showcasing the Arctic landscape during a cruise from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden.

Nordenskioldbreen glacier backdrop with rocky shoreline and calm waters during Arctic exploration near Pyramiden.

Polar bear on rocky terrain near Nordenskioldbreen glacier, reflecting the Arctic wildlife experience during a cruise to Pyramiden.

Polar bear resting on rocky terrain in the Arctic landscape near Pyramiden, showcasing the region's unique geology and wildlife.

Polar bear resting on rocky terrain near Nordenskioldbreen glacier during Arctic explorer cruise to Pyramiden.

Scenic view of Billefjorden with icebergs and layered mountain ridges under cloudy skies, highlighting the Arctic landscape en route to Pyramiden.

Panoramic view of Nordenskioldbreen glacier in Billefjorden, surrounded by mountains and cloudy sky, showcasing the Arctic landscape during the cruise to Pyramiden.

Nordenskioldbreen glacier in Billefjorden, showcasing icy blue and white hues against dark rocky formations, with floating ice fragments in the water.

Our guide onboard, Liga, did a wonderful job explaining the history, biology, geology, and zoology of the region.

Interior of a boat with red seating, passengers listening to a guide, and large windows showing the Arctic landscape outside during a journey to Pyramiden.

Finally we docked in Pyramiden and were ushered onto a bus for our tour.

Abandoned pink building with smokestacks along the coast of Pyramiden, surrounded by barren hills and reflecting in the water, illustrating the historic mining village visited during the Arctic explorer cruise.

Abandoned buildings and industrial debris in Pyramiden, with Nordenskioldbreen glacier visible in the background.

Abandoned industrial buildings and debris on the shore of Pyramiden, Svalbard, with a backdrop of rugged mountains and a cloudy sky, reflecting the historical remnants of the Russian mining village.

Next up: an amazing tour and overnight in Pyramiden

I’ll include pictures of the return voyage as well, since I am not going to do a separate post:

Dock and pier at Pyramiden, with a boat moored and snow-capped mountains in the background, illustrating the Arctic exploration journey.

Scenic view of the Billefjorden coastline with snow-capped mountains and calm waters, highlighting the natural beauty encountered during the Arctic Explorer cruise to Pyramiden.

Abandoned dock in Pyramiden featuring rusted crane, wooden pier, and nearby boat with glacier backdrop, illustrating the historical mining site in Svalbard.

Boat docked at Pyramiden with Nordenskioldbreen glacier in the background, illustrating the scenic journey from Longyearbyen.

Abandoned wooden cabin on a hillside in Pyramiden, with grazing reindeer and a distant polar bear, illustrating the remote Arctic landscape during a cruise.

Abandoned Russian mining building in Pyramiden, with two polar bears grazing nearby on a grassy hillside. Polar bears grazing near abandoned mining ruins on a hillside in Pyramiden, with remnants of machinery and a distant building, highlighting the region's history and wildlife.

Coastal view of Pyramiden, with mountains shrouded in clouds and distant buildings along the shoreline, illustrating the remote Arctic landscape explored during a cruise from Longyearbyen.

You can see the journey back the following day was much clearer and we again ran into polar bears. The direct journey back from Pyramiden only requires 90 minutes.

5 Comments

MeanMeoshReply
July 14, 2017 at 10:02 am
Forget the whale – you got a picture of a polar bear! How cool is that?
Kate Reply
July 14, 2017 at 10:31 am
Did you need a Russian visa? We just returned but only got a single entry visa.
- Matthew Reply
  July 14, 2017 at 11:16 am
  No visa necessary.
Four Wheel Drive IndiaReply
July 15, 2017 at 8:50 am
Nice! Thanks for sharing this article. I found the useful information about the trip from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden.
Rajasthan Tourism BureauReply
January 20, 2018 at 2:05 am
Thanks for sharing such a nice pics and informational post….