Expedition Meets in: Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway
Currency: Norwegian Krone
Population of Svalbard Approximately 3,000
Official Language: Norwegian
Season: Annually in April

While Svalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway, it is not as difficult or inaccessible as you might think. It is surprisingly straightforward and easy to get there with regular flights from Oslo and Tromsø. Svalbard only has one airport at Longyearbyen and flying time from Oslo is 3 hours, 2 from Tromsø.

Norwegian airlines has approximately 3 weekly flights to Longyearbyen throughout the year which increases in peak season, March – August. SAS airlines has daily flights to Longyearbyen throughout the year, via Tromsø. In peak season, the number of flights increases to several flights per day, some of them directly from Oslo. These can however be at odd times and you may find yourself arriving at midnight or needing to layover in Oslo to meet your connecting flights. It is still worth booking these flights early as they can fill up quickly.

There is no boat service or ferry service to Svalbard except for the cruise ships.

Longyearbyen is only small so you can walk around downtown easily. There are no street names here, just 40km of paved roads. During the Polar Summer, you can borrow bicycles at the Tourist Information Centre. There are two taxi companies who can also get you around town, into the valley, to the airport and Nybyen and a car hire company called Arctic Autorent which is located at the airport.

The airport shuttle is extremely convenient as it stops at all the hotels and guesthouses and corresponds with all arrivals and departures. You need to pay in Norwegian kroner or by credit card as the shuttle does not accept foreign currency.

They say there are are more snowmobiles than people, and it’s the main choice of transport during the winter for the locals.

It’s important to dress appropriately in the High Arctic with frostbite being one of the most common injuries in Svalbard. The weather can change very quickly at any time of the year.  Strong winds make the actual temperature lower than the measured temperature. You can expect the average temperature for the summer months (mid-May to September) to be around 3 – 7 ˚C.

Bring a warm parka, windproof jacket and woollen underwear, as well as mittens and a hat. The terrain in Svalbard is uneven and rocky so you will need waterproof and solid walking shoes/mountain boots. In the summer, snow and ice melt leads to increased levels in rivers and streams so if you plan on any hikes, bring rubber boots and/or gaiters for crossings.

You can buy clothes and other equipment at the many sports stores in town at tax-free prices.

You should also bring indoor shoes/slippers or warm socks. It is tradition to take off your shoes when visiting someone’s home and when entering hotels/accommodation, shops and offices. This dates back to the when coal mines were in the middle of the settlement and by taking off your shoes, you avoided dragging coal dust into the houses, hotels and shops. Most places who request you to take off your shoes offer slippers.

Safety while travelling in Svalbard is a little different to other destinations – The climate is rough, the weather can change rapidly and polar bears outnumber people.

Good preparation and a conservative approach is key in order to maximise your enjoyment in Svalbard whilst minimizing these risks.

It is critical if you are venturing out of town to go with professional and local tour operators. Arctic Guides are well qualified to take care of your safety. They are able to assess weather conditions, avalanche risk, ice conditions, polar bea risk and a range of other factors. Further, guides leading tours outside of the safe zone in Longyearbyen always bring the required equipment for polar bear protection, as well as long range communication systems.

Keep in mind that you should not venture out from the settlements in Svalbard without being properly equipped or qualified. In Longyearbyen there is a safe-zone within which you do not have to carry any equipment for polar bear protection. You can get a free copy of the safe zone map from the tourist information office in Longyearbyen. In fact, it is illegal to leave town without a gun (and knowing how to use it!) It is also illegal to kill bears unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.

It’s an old custom to leave your home unlocked in Svalbard (& crime is almost non-existent here) so if a bear shows up unexpectedly you always have somewhere to retreat but chances of running into a bear in town are extremely low! If a bear is spotted anywhere near people or town it is usually chased away by helicopter and EVERY effort is made to avoid encounters.

There is a public hospital in Longyearbyen but everyone has to pay for consultation/admission at the hospital. This also applies to citizens of the Nordic countries. It is important to have appropriate trip insurance with medical coverage in case you need to receive medical treatment.

Most people like to extend their trip a little bit (3-4days) after their expedition to do some sightseeing in Svalbard as there’s lots to see and do.

Summer Activities include:

• Dog-sleeding (on wheels!)
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Wildlife viewing
• Biking
• Boat trips (best for seeing Polar Bears)
• Visit Barentsburg & Pyramiden
• Coal mine tour

Being part of Norway, the currency in Svalbard is Norwegian Krone (NOK) but you don’t really need much cash as everyone takes credit card. (If you are travelling from outside of Europe, make sure your card has a chip and a 4 digit pin – ideally a VISA or mastercard as these are accepted everywhere) If you need cash, you can take some out at the Longyearbyen Centre. There is no where to exchange money so you either need Kroner or credit card. 

Svalbard is exempt from VAT and all goods are tax free!

Tipping is not common in Norway but of course, will be  appreciated. People working in the service industry make a decent wage, meaning they aren’t reliant on tips to subsidize their income so keep it for exceptional service. There isn’t a standard amount to tip but rounding up your bill to the nearest 10 or 100 NOK is a great way to show your gratitude.

Tipping your Last Degree Expedition Ski Guide is customary but optional.

Norway uses the standard Euro plug socket with two round prongs so you can use adapter types C or F. You might like to consider purchasing a reliable universal adapter that gives you all the options. Also it’s VERY important to note that Norway operates on 220V. If this differs from your home, buy a voltage converter to avoid frying your devices! For instance the standard voltage in the US is 120V and some older devices won’t handle a 220V supply.
We suggest bringing a power strip with you (that you will leave in Longyearbyen while on expedition) if you have multiple devices you would like to charge meaning you’ll only need one adapter.

Tap water in Norway is always safe to drink and the local water in Longyearbyen is filtered from the lake and is excellent quality, so fill up your reusable bottle and enjoy!

Wifi is readily available in Svalbard and almost every cafe and restaurant will have access points and hotels in Longyearbyen offer free wifi and have fairly speedy connection considering you’re in a remote part of the world! If you have a Norwegian SIM card or roaming, you will also have service on your phone.

Travellers going to any destination should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.

Consult your doctor or travel clinic in your home country for updated information on immunisations specific for Norway.

Consider getting a vaccination for rabies which has been recorded in foxes, seals and reindeer in Svalbard.