4-day Hiking Expedition Nordenskiold Land

© Miguel Arques, Amalie Halleland, Jo Even Kolstad

Difficulty level 5 out of 5

*Minimum 4 (out of 8) participants 

• 29.07.2025 - 01.08.2025
• 4 days (3 nights)
• 18 years

Distance & Elevation: total approx. 50 km distance, 1000 m elevation gain

All participants are used to hiking and carrying their own rucksack. Weight 15-20kg (personal and communal equipment and food for all days). We recommend that you read through our proposed equipment list before departure. There are no trails or bridges, we will be finding our own path over tundra, scree slopes, and rivers.

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We recommend that you read through our proposed equipment list before departure, which you will receive upon confirmed booking.

Price includes:

• Transport round trip
• Food
• Tent
• Sleeping mat
• Guide with necessary safety equipment

Recommend to bring:

• Sturdy, walked-in hiking boots
• Warm change of clothes in a dry bag
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Backpack
• Sleeping bag*
• Snacks for yourself

​*NOK 600 sleeping bag rental

After booking confirmation, you will receive our complete recommended equipment list for this expedition.

Larger luggage can be stored in our storage or in your accommodation's luggage room.

Extra clothing and equipment: Arctica

Glacial valleys and breathtaking coastlines

Behind the small town of Longyearbyen lies Nordenskiold Land; a vast expanse of countless glacial valleys, flanked by imposing, barren mountains.

The short Arctic summer offers a glimpse into the subtle riches of Svalbard’s tundra - reindeer often graze in the sparse yet diverse vegetation, while large bird colonies in craggy outcrops overlook the fjords. With each passing day, the midnight sun surfs ever closer to the horizon, casting a warm hue over the land.

Exploring the Arctic wilderness

We will spend 4 days in this great outdoors. With our tents, we will set out on a through-hike winding its way through valleys, along coastlines and over mountain plateaus, making camp in a different place each night. Along the way, we may encounter some wildlife, as well as come across old cultural remains from Svalbard’s past.

The days and route are adjusted according to weather and conditions.

Day 1 - Preparations & start from Endalen to Fardalen

Good planning, nice tour mates and careful preparations are half the trip! It is therefore important that all the participants are in place in Longyearbyen the day before. The guide will pick you up at your choice of accommodation at 8:00 in the morning. We will then get acquainted with each other, and the guide will check everyone’s gear and make sure all brought the necessary equipment, as well as brief you on the planned route and give you an updated weather forecast. We will pack and prepare the rucksacks. Those who need to supplement their equipment can still do so in one of the outdoor shops.

Around noon, we will be dropped off by car at the end of the road in the valley of Endalen. From there, we hike about 7 km up the valley and over a moraine to the next valley called Fardalen. In Fardalen we make our first camp in the early evening. We set up camp routines, a bear watch schedule, and prepare and eat dinner together.

Day 2 Fritham - Bodalen - Colesdalen

We begin the day early for a long hike of around 15 km. After breakfast we take down our camp and hike down Fardalen (vally). By lunchtime, the wide open valley of Colesbay will come into view. We continue to follow this valley down towards the sea, by late afternoon reaching the abandoned Russian mining settlement at its shore. We make camp close by, and after dinner we can explore the area.

Day 3 Colesdalen - Grumantbyen - Grumantdalen

From Colesbay, we follow the old coal railway along the coastline to Grumant, an abandoned mining town wedged between imposing bird cliffs. We then hike up the valley of Grumantdalen to our next camp on mountain plateau, below the small glacier of Grumantbreen. The distance is around 14 km, with a total elevation of around 600 m.

Day 4 Fuglefjella - Bjorndalen - Pick up

We set out over the mountain plateau of Fuglefjella, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Isfjord, before descending down to the valley of Bjorndalen. There, after crossing the valley river and having walked around 14 km, we reach the coastal road where we get picked up to go back to Longyearbyen.

The length of each day, trip, and activities may change due to weather conditions, encounter with polat bears and the composition of the group. If necessary, the days and the trip can be shortened, or conversely, if time and energy allows, we can make small scenic detours to some small mountains or vistas.