We have now been doing expeditions in Svalbard for more than a decade and many guests have been asking about new routes and longer trips. So, for the summer/autumn season of 2026, we are very happy to announce this new itinerary, taking a group to part of the Nordre Isfjorden National Park – to Dickson Land.

Dickson Land sits between two mighty fjords - Billefjorden and Dicksonfjorden - and holds within it a dramatic blend of Arctic wilderness and history. On the eastern edge lies Skansbukta, where a short-lived gypsum mine operated in the early 1900s. Harsh conditions and isolation forced its closure by 1930, but rusted machinery and a decaying boat still mark the shoreline - ghosts of a different time.

To the west lies Kapp Wijk, which served as a base for exploration and scientific observation in the 1920s. A few huts and structures remain, bearing quiet witness to the human struggle to gain a foothold in the polar regions. Further north stands Pyramiden, one of the most striking relics in Svalbard. Founded by the Swedes in 1910 and later taken over by the Soviets, it became a model mining town - with schools, theatres, and a swimming pool - until it was abruptly abandoned in 1998. Today, it's a surreal and well-preserved monument to Soviet ambition in the polar north.

While Dickson Land is uninhabited today, its landscape tells a clear story: one of human effort, Arctic extremes, and the shifting purpose of this remote and powerful land - from industrial frontier to wilderness sanctuary.

The trip begins with a boat transport to Billefjorden, all the way to Skansbukta, our starting point. This is a beautiful one-hour ride before we put our backpacks on for the first hike. Over the next seven days, we will move through the wild heart of Dickson Land, our steps leading us to the coastline of Dicksonfjorden, passing Kapp Wijk and then heading towards Pyramiden. We cross valleys shaped by glaciers, climb rugged ridgelines, descend into hidden basins, and ford icy rivers. Because we carry all the gear on our backs - food, tents, and other equipment - we can set up camp in a new location each night.

We are in polar bear territory the entire time. To ensure safety and comply with local regulations, our group maintains a continuous night watch – a meaningful experience in itself. Sitting alone under the midnight sun, surrounded by silence and quiet camp, is something that stays with you long after the expedition ends.

On the final day of trekking, we are picked up by boat in the area of Pyramiden and taken back to Longyearbyen. The return journey by sea offers a chance to spot Arctic wildlife, such as walrus, seals, different seabirds or even whales, with breathtaking Nordenskiöld Glacier staying behind us.

As with any demanding expedition, the exact route remains flexible, allowing us to adapt to changing weather, glacial river conditions, and group dynamics. We will cover 80+ km. The focus is on moving safely, steadily, and immersing ourselves fully in this unique experience. The terrain is challenging, with steep ascents, descents, and unpredictable river crossings. Weather in Svalbard can shift quickly, even in summer, with typical temperatures ranging from 0°C to +15°C.

This expedition is not suitable for first-time hikers or those without experience hiking with a heavy backpack for a full day. If you’re unsure, we recommend joining one of our less demanding trips before attempting this one.

Itinerary:

Day 1       Arrival in Longyearbyen, supper and briefing. Lodging at guesthouse/hotel.
Day 2       Packing the equipment. Last minute shopping. Lodging at guesthouse/hotel.
Day 3-8   Boat trip out and start on our trekking expedition. Sleeping in tents. 
Day 9       Getting to our boat pick up point, trip back to Longyearbyen. Dinner and lodging at guesthouse/hotel.       
Day 10     Breakfast and journey home.

Day 1

Arrival in Longyearbyen. Your guide will meet you at a local guesthouse, where you'll spend the first two nights. You'll meet the rest of the group and be served dinner. The guide will go over the expedition plan using a paper map and explain the daily routines for the trek. The guide will also review your personal outdoor equipment to ensure you have everything you need and that it meets the standards required for the Arctic environment.

Day 2

After breakfast we will do the last preparations and pack all our equipment for the trip. You will be teamed up with 1 or 2 other expedition members with whom you will work together and share a tent on the trip. There will also be time to make your final personal preparations and adjustments before the journey starts. Your guide will also go through safety routines, polar bear watch routines and how to handle the dog in the best way possible (if we can bring one!).

There will be time for some last minute shopping and looking around in Longyearbyen.

Day 3

After breakfast the trip starts. We’ll be transported by boat across Isfjorden, heading all the way into Billefjorden. This scenic fjord, nestled on the northern side of the great Isfjorden, serves as our gateway into the true Arctic wilderness. Upon arrival at Skansbukta, the boatman will safely land us on the shoreline. We’ll take some time to explore the old hut and the wreck of a mining boat, silent reminders of the area’s industrial past. From there, our trek begins: through the delta of the Skansdalelva river, working our way up the valley towards the large waterfalls at its head. Tonight will be our first night in tents.

Boat ride: duration approx. 1-2h according to weather conditions.

Day 4
When we wake up, we’ll be greeted by a stunning view from the Frostisen glacier again, looking back from the moraine towards the Skansdalen valley, with the sound of rushing meltwater filling the air. Above us, the rocky crown of a nearby jagged peak rises sharply into the sky. Most of the day will involve a mix of ascents and descents, taking us across another river deep in a new valley. We’ll cross a broad, rocky mountain pass before reaching small meadows beside a clear mountain creek, where we’ll set up our second camp.

Day 5 to 8

Full days on the trek. We’ll make our way through this wild landscape, experiencing the lingering summer and the oncoming autumn. Conditions can vary, from heavy winds and chilly temperatures to warm, sunny days. But no matter the weather, this vast and powerful land will give us a true taste of how raw and impressive Arctic nature can be. We plan to stay at each campsite for just one night, always moving forward to seek new adventure. Because we carry everything in our backpacks, we have great flexibility in choosing our route, allowing us to reach places that are otherwise difficult to access. Some days might take us high onto grassy terraces above broad valleys, where old reindeer antlers lie scattered around. Other days, we may swoop down into river corridors to continue our journey between the surrounding mountains. We’ll cover many kilometres across varied terrain: from soft tundra covered in mosses and lichens, to rocky glacial moraines and steep, shifting scree slopes. Every day will bring its own challenges and rewards, in a landscape that feels untouched and endless.

Day 8

This day is a little bit special, because we will travel light! We will climb up one of the mountain tops around Petuniabukta, with just light backpack, leaving our tents behind. If the weather allows, we will once again get the spectacular view over the fjords with many mountain tops around, and hopefully some surrounding glaciers too. We return to our camp and enjoy the last night.

Day 9     
Final day on the trek. We pack up our camp as usual and start our way to the pick up point, where the boat will meet us around lunch time and take us back to Longyearbyen. After arriving at the port we will all be transported back to the guest house for a hot shower and a good dinner.

Boat ride: duration approx. 2h+ according to weather conditions.

Day 10
Breakfast and journey home. 

The weather can vary during the day, and with respect to the safety of our guests, we reserve the right to make any necessary changes to our trip. We always recommend to accommodate for weather delays when booking flights. 

Items marked with * can be provided by Turgleder on request for free or at an additional cost. Any additional cost is given in parenthesis. Information about equipment you need must be conveyed to Turgleder minimum 1 month before the trip.

 Please note that this is the minimum required clothing and equipment for this holiday. You are of course welcome to bring other clothes and equipment in addition to this, but you will carry it on your back.

 You should pack your clothing in waterproof bags to avoid equipment from becoming wet during the tour.

 If you choose to bring your own sleeping mat, it must be suitable for camping on rocks and uneven terrain. A foam mat (roll mat) should be possible to pack and strap onto your backpack. If you also have an inflatable mat, you can bring that and combine it with the roll mat, that you can hire from us (this combination ensures extra comfort).

You are of course welcome to bring your own tent on this trip. The tent, however, must be mountain/trekking tent, ready to be pitched up on rocky or uneven terrain, having strong enough tent poles, cords and pegs.

Please do not forget your camera with extra batteries and memory card(s) or powerbanks and charging cables.

Turgleder will provide:

• Tents (for 2 participants each)
• Stoves, cutlery and cooking equipment
• All breakfast and dinner meals (oatmeal mix + dry packs)
• Safety/communication equipment: weapons, flare gun, emergency beacon, first aid kit, InReach and sattelite telephone etc.

Equipment that you do not need on the expedition can be stored in Longyearbyen.

- Items marked with * can be provided by Turgleder on request for free or at an additional cost. Any additional cost is given in parenthesis. Information about equipment you need must be conveyed to Turgleder minimum 1 month before the trip.

- Please note that this is the minimum required clothing and equipment for this holiday. You are of course welcome to bring other clothes and equipment in addition to this.

- You should pack your clothing in waterproof bags to avoid equipment from becoming wet during the tour.

- If you choose to bring your own sleeping bag, this needs to be a warm winter sleeping bag with minimum comfort temperature >/=-20Celsius.

- If you choose to bring your own sleeping mat, it must be suitable for camping on snow. A foam mat (roll mat) should be thick /insulated enough for use on snow (≈14mm). If you also have a inflatable mat you can bring that and combine it with the roll mat, that you can hire from us (this combination ensures extra comfort).

- You are of course welcome to bring your own skis on this trip. The skis must, however, be mountain/expedition skis (back country skis) or touring skis. Racing skis or other narrow and/or short skis will not do the job. The skis are vital on this trip and anything other than mountain/expedition skis or touring skis are not considered safe to use on this trip.

- Turgleder can provide a modern expedition ski package;
The package contains modern light weight expedition skis (Åsnes Amundsen) and poles (Åsnes Horgi/Vidda), skins and boots (Alfa Polar A/P/S or Alfa Quest A/P/S). The price for hiring the ski package is NOK 2700 for the whole trip.

-Please do not forget your camera with extra batteries and memory card(s)

Turgleder will provide:
- All group equipment like, tents, stoves, cutlery and cooking equipment, pulks (sledges for equipment transport).

also all neede safety/communication equipment as weapons, flare gun, emergency beacon, first aid kit, InReach and sattelite telephone etc.

Equipment that you do not need on the expedition can be stored in Longyearbyen.

Dates for 2026

• 7th - 16th August

Min. 4 and max 10 guests + guides
Private trips are available on request from 1st May to mid June.

The price includes:
Guide, all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 10 (except lunch and dinner day 2), some equipment (specified in equipment list), 3 nights lodging in Longyearbyen, 6 nights in tent, search and rescue insurance.

Lodging:
Single rooms are available for an additional NOK 900 per day, total NOK 2700 for 3 nights.
The nights in tents, teams of 2 to 3 persons will share one tent.

The price does not include:
· Travel to/from Longyearbyen
· Extra activities in Longyearbyen
· Lunch and dinner day 2
· Personal equipment (please check the equipment list)
· Snacks to eat between the meals (we recommend sweets, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, cheese, dried meet etc)
· Travel insurance
· Any unforeseen expenses due to delays due to weather or safety considerations.

We would like to encourage you to stay a few extra days in Longyearbyen to explore the town and the surroundings. We recommend that you stay one or more days after the trip also as a security for weather related delay coming back to Longyearbyen from the skiing trip.

If you need more information about this adventure before you make your reservation/booking, please feel free to contact us via Booking@turgleder.com or call us on +47 90855556 (Liv).

When you are ready to book, please go to “booking” under the «general information» tab and fill in and submit the booking/registration form. When we receive your booking/registration form we will reserve a place for you and send you a booking confirmation also including some questions if necessary and a waiver/disclaimer of responsability. When all details regarding your participation are in place, we will send you an invoice. Your reservation is valid for 7 days after the invoice is sent. The waiver/discalimer of responsability must be signed to be accepted as a member on this expedition.
For more information, please see our booking terms and condition under the “general information” tab.

Note: If you do not receive a reply right away, please be patient with us. We might be out on other adventures without any internet connections. However, if you have not received a response within 3 days, let us know.