Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dangers & Annoyances
Don't let your desire to see Svalbard's symbol, the polar bear, blind you to the fact that a
closeencounterwiththeseiconiccreaturesrarelyendswell.Asthesignsontheoutskirtsof
Longyearbyen attest, polar bears are real danger almost everywhere in Svalbard. If you're
straying beyond Longyearbyen's confines, you're strongly advised to go with an organised
tour. Walk leaders carry a gun and know how to use it. Standard equipment too, especially
if you're camping, are trip wires with flares and distress flares too - to fire at the ground
in front of the bear, not to summon help, which could be hours away. The last bear fatality
was in 1995, but it happened only 2km from Longyearbyen…
Tours
For reasons of security and sheer logistics, it's difficult to arrange independent trips on
Svalbard and we endorse the governor's advice that you should book organised tours
through recognised operators. Fortunately, there's a huge range of options. The official
tourist information website (
www.svalbard.net
)
lists dozens of tours and we detail but a
sample of the most popular ones.
SVALBARD TOUR COMPANIES
The following are the main companies offering tours around Svalbard, starting with
day excursions from Longyearbyen to longer boat cruises and multiday expeditions
out into the wilderness. All of the following operate in both summer and winter.
Arctic Adventures ( 79 02 16 24;
www.arctic-adventures.no
)
Small company
offering the full range of activities.
Basecamp Spitsbergen ( 79 02 46 00;
www.basecampexplorer.com
)
Basecamp
Spitsbergen mainly offers winter activities, including a stay aboard the
Noorderlicht,
a Dutch sailing vessel that's set into the fjord ice as the long freeze begins each au-
tumn. It also offers winter and summer stays at Isfjord Radio, the ultimate remote
getaway on an upgraded, one-time radio station at the western tip of Spitsbergen.
Poli Arctici ( 79 02 17 05;
www.poliartici.com
)
Poli Arctici is the trading name
of Stefano Poli, originally from Milan and with 13 years of experience as a Svalbard
wilderness guide.
