Today will be a busy day from the moment you land in Longyearbyen. Whether arriving on an early flight or having come the day before, we’ll hit the ground running with essential expedition preparations. We’ll gather to discuss any last-minute updates, then move on to testing the gear you’ll rely on in the field—stoves, tents, pulks—ensuring everything is in working order for the journey ahead.

Polar bear safety is a top priority, so we’ll take time to refresh our emergency protocols, covering bear watches, setting up the tripwire system, and handling the flare pistol and rifle. Once we’re confident in our systems, it’s time to pack the pulks, double-check everyone’s personal equipment, and fine-tune skis, bindings, and any other necessary gear.

Today marks the real start of the expedition. We meet our local agent in Longyearbyen, who supports us with logistics and provides the insulated suits and helmets needed for the snowmobile transfer. After a final briefing and equipment check, we load up and begin the three-hour journey east, travelling in pairs and sharing the driving. The route takes us across wide valleys and frozen fjords with the sharp outline of Svalbard’s mountains ahead.

At Agardhbukta, the mountains rise on our left and the sea ice opens to our right. Here we say goodbye to our drivers — a quiet, slightly daunting moment as the machines turn back and the only sounds left are wind and skis. From here, we begin our first ascent west towards the Hellefonna massif, aiming to reach high ground beneath its main summits.

By evening, we expect to meet our northern team, already ten days into their own journey. It’s a lively mix of old and new faces, and a chance to refine camp craft, ski movement, and daily routines as we settle into the rhythm of the expedition.

We make a steady ascent up the Sveigbreen glacier, gaining height gradually as the terrain opens into the upper basins of Hellefonna. Depending on conditions, our route takes us either over the Hellefonna plateau and down the Innerbreen glacier, or via the Såtebreen glacier into the Oppdalen valley. Both options offer expansive views across the eastern ranges and a good sense of scale within the glacier systems.

By late afternoon, we establish our second camp near the base of the Såtebreen. The descent into Oppdalen brings some welcome downhill skiing and a change of pace after the climb, with wide views from the high plateau of Hellefonna before dropping back into the valley.

We start the day with a gradual descent into the broad valley of Reindalspasset — passet meaning “the pass” in Norwegian. It’s a wide, open glacial corridor, more than eight kilometres across at its widest point. From the valley floor we begin to climb again, heading up onto the Bermesterbreen (breen meaning glacier), following a steady line over compact snow and ice.

The route continues across the Drønbreen and then onto the open expanse of the Rugaasfonna, an icefield or snowfield typical of this part of Svalbard. From here, a smooth descent takes us over the Kokbreen glacier and back into Reindalspasset.

By late afternoon, we establish camp once more in the valley, surrounded by the glacier systems we’ve crossed during the day — a reminder of the scale and isolation of the terrain we’re moving through.

Today we spend the full day travelling through the vast Reindalen valley. It’s one of Svalbard’s broadest valleys — a long, open corridor carved by ice, stretching for tens of kilometres between low ridges and isolated nunataks. The terrain here feels different from the previous days: wider, quieter, and with a slower rhythm as the valley draws us gradually towards the coast.

The travel is steady, crossing frozen rivers and undulating snowfields with only occasional climbs. This is a day to settle into efficient pulk travel — refining pacing, navigation, and teamwork across long, open ground.

As we move further east, we gain our first glimpse of the sea — a thin silver line on the horizon that marks the edge of the island. Camp tonight is set within the Reindalen system, where the scale of the landscape becomes most apparent: vast distances, soft light, and the quiet sense of isolation that defines Svalbard’s interior.

We continue west through Semmeldalen and into Skiferdalen, following broad glacial valleys that gradually narrow before opening once more towards Colesdalen. The landscape shifts throughout the day — from long rolling snowfields to steeper terrain where the valley sides close in and the sense of scale returns.

As we gain height, new views of the coast begin to appear, looking out towards Colesbukta and the frozen expanse of the fjord. It’s a striking contrast to the inland ice we’ve travelled through — the light sharper, the air carrying a hint of the sea.

By late afternoon, we find a suitable site for camp with views down towards the coast, marking the transition from Svalbard’s high interior to its outer valleys.

Our final big day on skis begins with the ascent towards Longyearpasset — a steep climb that marks the last major effort of the expedition. We take a steady, measured pace, hauling the pulks up through the pass that links the outer valleys with the glacier systems above Longyearbyen. The views from the top are worth the work: behind us lie the long valleys of Semmeldalen and Colesdalen, ahead the sweeping descent of the Longyearbreen glacier.

From the col, we begin our final ski down the glacier, winding towards the valley that leads back to Longyearbyen. The landscape changes quickly — from the quiet of the high ice to the first signs of the settlement below. By late afternoon we reach town, where the sound of engines and the sight of buildings feel almost out of place after days on the ice.

Once back, we unload and dry equipment, then gather for a final meal together. It’s a time to reflect on the journey, the challenges faced, and the rhythm of expedition life that’s carried us through the Arctic landscape.

This day is kept flexible to allow for changing conditions or to make the most of a suitable weather window. Strong winds and poor visibility can quickly alter plans in Svalbard, so maintaining a reserve day gives us the freedom to move safely and efficiently within the conditions.

If the weather allows, this may become a summit day — an opportunity to climb one of the surrounding peaks for views across the glacier systems and out towards the coast. Otherwise, it’s a chance to rest, make repairs, review navigation, and consolidate camp routines.

Days like this are an essential part of expedition life, balancing ambition with patience and using the time to stay organised and ready for the next stage.

After breakfast, transfers to the airport mark the end of the journey. Bags are packed, flights checked and we say our big goodbyes.