What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Arctic? Cold or polar bears, maybe both? Today, we’ll be talking about the Svalbard Arctic travel precautions. Those interested can listen carefully.
Visa 
Svalbard is under Norwegian jurisdiction. But as citizens of the signatory countries of the Svalbard Treaty, Chinese tourists can enter freely and engage in legitimate production and commercial activities within the framework of Norwegian law. However, we still need to apply for a Schengen visa – there are no direct flights from China to Longyearbyen, we need to fly from Norway.
Climate
Due to the Gulf Stream, the climate of Svalbard is much milder than Canada, Greenland and Alaska. We arrived in August, during the polar day, with temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius all day. In winter, when temperatures in Canada at the same latitude drop to minus 40 or 50 degrees Celsius, it is only minus 10 or 20 degrees Celsius here, and it is dry cold.
Transportation
The straight-line distance between Longyearbyen and the North Pole is only 1333 kilometers. In addition to taking a cruise, tourists can fly directly to Longyearbyen – from Oslo or Tromsø in Norway. Currently, both Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air offer regular flights to Longyearbyen. The flight time from Tromsø to Longyearbyen is less than two hours, and it takes about three hours from Oslo.
Special Notes
The population of Svalbard is about 2500, but there are more than 3500 polar bears. It is said that local residents meet dozens of hungry polar bears every year. Local law stipulates that anyone venturing out of the city must carry a rifle and know how to use it – this is also why the expedition team in the title picture is carrying rifles.
Recommended Routes
Our route circles Spitsbergen (the largest island in Svalbard).
To this day, the vast majority of Spitsbergen remains unchanged by human visitation. The island’s few settlements are separated by towering mountains and perpetual snow and ice, with no connecting roads. It would be difficult to string these isolated towns together without a boat. Sailing along the winding coastline on a cruise ship, and occasionally landing to visit the natural landscapes and human heritage along the coast, is undoubtedly the most pleasant way to travel in Svalbard in the summer.
The circumnavigation route allows you to experience almost everything you can imagine about the Arctic: polar bears, large glaciers, blossoming tundra and clear fjords, colorful wooden houses, lost Russian mining areas, cool research stations and a group of scientists working madly…
The route will also take you to two places rarely visited by people: one is to cross 80 degrees north latitude and reach Moffen Island, the other is the east of Svalbard – which is more desolate than any other place on the island and has more characteristics of the Arctic high latitude region.
Tips: All polar cruise itineraries are for reference only, and the itinerary and related activities may change due to actual weather and hydrological conditions at the destination. We are on an adventure!
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