40 | ARCTIC CIRCLE: SVALBARD
www.nitravelnews.com
September/October 2023
TICKING OFF THE BUCKET LIST
Natasha heads to this remote, yet easily accessible island in the Arctic circle
Svalbard has very strict regulations aimed to protect its unique environment. For instance, Section 73 of the Svalbard Environment Act stipulates that traffic on the archipelago ‘does not harm, pollute or in any other way damage the natural environment or cultural heritage or result in unnecessary disturbance to humans or animals.’ This means that venturing out of Longyearbyen must be with a licenced tour operator. A good starting point is Svalbard Adventures , a local company based in Longyearbyen. ‘We have done business here since 1994 and we have a long experience in both hospitality and the extreme nature,’ says Benedicte Klyve, Marketing Manager at Svalbard Adventures. ‘Everything we do is grounded in our respect for Svalbard’s visitors and environment. We recognize sustainability as one of our most important priorities.’ It is safe to say (pun intended) that the
only dangers facing humans are polar bears. Although sightings are most common outside Longyearbyen, you must be prepared to bump into one in town. At 3,000, the polar bear population outnumbers the humans, and they roam freely throughout the region. This is why
BY NATASHA WARCHOLAK
AS holidaymakers are ticking off their post-Covid bucket-lists, unobvious holiday destinations have recently garnered substantial interest. Svalbard, located between mainland Norway
and the North Pole, has firmly established itself as a new tourist destination attracting those fed up with the Costas del Fish and Chips. Svalbard is remote, but easily reached from Norway by plane. With the summer temperatures hovering around zero, Svalbard is also an escape zone from Europe’s now regular heatwaves.
Why go
At 79 degrees north of the equator, almost everything is Svalbard is northernmost. Down the main street you will come across the northernmost supermarket or the northernmost hairdresser. Then there is the northernmost museum, the northernmost petrol station, the northernmost cash machine, or the northernmost brewery. Svalbard is also home to The Global Seed Vault - a secure backup storage for the world’s crop diversity. The reasons to go are many, but the very reason to visit Svalbard is its nature and wildlife: the combination of tidewater glaciers, mountains, polar deserts, ice sheets and tundra, inhabited by birds, arctic foxes, bearded seals, walruses, Svalbard reindeer, five species of seals, and 12 species of whales, is second to none.
Svalbard is a bucket-list destination for many
people and there’s a good reason for that! Over 60 % of Svalbard is covered with ice and the whole archipelago has permafrost all year around. This makes Svalbard a very different place to visit,’ says Benedicte Klyve, Marketing Manager at Svalbard Adventures.
To see and do
Svalbard’s capital Longyearbyen is a gateway to the Svalbard archipelago. There is no shortage of seasonal activities catering even to the most jaded traveller. The most common offerings include safaris, northern lights hunting, exploring ice caves, tour of the island on a snow mobile or ATV, or hiking.
it is best that you join a tour with a guide who is knowledgeable of the bears’ movements. Reindeer and sheep are also a common view in Svalbard, as are arctic foxes, seals, whales and walruses. Interestingly, to protect the native bird species, Svalbard said no to cats. While the wilderness beckons, the capital Longyearbyen is also worth your time. It is home to The Svalbard Museum, The North Pole Expedition Museum (formerly known as the Spitsbergen Airship Museum), or the Svalbard Brewery (bookings are necessary). The aforesaid Global Seed Vault, while closed to the public, is buried deep into a mountain, and the natural permafrost offers natural conditions to keep the seeds safe. It can be seen on the way to Gruve 3 – a defunct coalmine-turned visitor attraction (pre-booking is necessary).
Food and drink
No trip to Svalbard would be complete without giving the local food a proper go. The local supermarket (yes, the northernmost one) is a good starting point with its vacuum-packed
reindeer or whale snacks. In restaurants, the menus are full of reindeer, seal, whale, and ptarmigan - the only bird on Svalbard which does not migrate. Vegetarians and vegans take heed: Svalbard is no place for non-meat eaters. Although pizza and burgers can be found in most food places, the food in Svalbard is as local as possible. It is probably a reason why the food festival Taste Svalbard taking place in October (in 2023, it’s October 4 – 8) is so highly rated by the foodies. Svalbard boasts two breweries - Red Bear
in Barentsburg, and Svalbard Bryggeri in Longyearbyen, one of the largest wine cellars in Scandinavia, and a bottle shop with varied selection of both imported and local drinks. The fun fact is that alcohol in Svalbard is rationed: every resident of Svalbard gets a special ‘alcohol card’ with their monthly alcohol quota.
When go
Svalbard is an all-year destination but you need to make sure you come prepared. Around the time of winter solstice it is pitch black 24/7, while it is polar opposite (pun intended) around summer solstice: the sun hangs in the sky all night long. In between, the archipelago is covered in mysterious twilight. Whenever you decide to visit, make sure you make the most of the Arctic Night or the Midnight Sun – and be prepared that your sleep patterns will suffer.
Getting around
With slightly over 40 km or 25 miles of road and no public transport there is no getting around as such. To get into Longyearbyen from the airport, there are buses scheduled with every arrival at Longyearbyen Airport. The airport bus drops everybody at their respective hotels. Beyond the capital’s boundaries, nature reigns.
Practicalities
• the local currency is the Norwegian Krona, but like many northern countries Svalbard is fast embracing the cash-free culture. As a result, very few places accept cash; • to keep up with the old mining traditions, shoes are banned indoors in most places, with many establishments take pride in being ‘shoe- free environment’; • alcohol can only be bought in special off-
licence shops; non-residents need to show their passport and return ticket when buying a few cans or bottles. Locals face monthly limitations when buying alcohol (see the aforementioned alcohol card);
• like most Scandinavian destinations, Svalbard is not cheap – but certainly one of the most rewarding ones; • for the brave hearts, Svalbard hosts the Spitsbergen Marathon held at the beginning of June (registrations for 2024 are already open).
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