It's time to reward yourself with a trip you'll never forget. Many travellers have already visited mainland Norway, but don't overlook Svalbard, the cherry on top.
The Arctic archipelago Svalbard is situated halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Edgeya, Nordaustlandet, and Spitsbergen are the three largest islands. Svalbard is a region that is not integrated into the Kingdom of Norway. The largest city in Svalbard is Longyearbyen, which is also where most foreign visitors arrive. Many arctic creatures, such as polar bears, arctic foxes, and reindeer, use it as a breeding place. Whales, seals, and walruses are only a few examples of aquatic life.
As soon as you leave the Norwegian mainland and fly north over the Barents Sea, the magic begins. You are stunned by the view down there and will be glued to the windows for at least 30 minutes till the plane lands at Longyearbyen! It's hard to explain, but the Arctic scenery has a certain allure. It's so cold, so desolate, and so breathtaking. You might experience Nothern Lights for the first time even before arriving at Longyearbyen.
Things you must experience while visiting
1. Boat Trips to Experience Arctic Wildlife
Boat day cruises are the finest approach to observing the animals in Svalbard's icy wildness. It's advisable to take smaller RIB boat tours that can go up much closer to the wildlife if you want to see a specific animal, even though you also see loads of animals on the boat journeys to the three villages in Svalbard.
There are boat cruises tailored to find each of the many different creatures that can be seen from boats when visiting Svalbard, including polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, the arctic fox, arctic terns, and other birds. Therefore, if there is a certain animal that you want to see, your best option is to book a specific tour.
2. Witnessing Northern Lights and Midnight Sun
The top item on the bucket lists of many tourists in Svalbard is to witness the Northern Lights. Because the sun is so far below the horizon in Longyearbyen during the Polar Night, you can see the Northern Lights during the middle of the day. This amazing natural phenomenon cannot be turned on and off like Netflix, so give yourself lots of time to enjoy it! To significantly increase your chances of seeing this amazing green spectacle, we advise blocking off several days.
In Svalbard, often known as the Midnight Sun, the sun never sets from May to September, so you may take advantage of the warmth even at night. Polar darkness, which occurs from November to January, is the polar opposite of that.
The ideal time of year to visit Svalbard to view the Northern lights is during the polar night season. The Aurora Borealis can be seen best during this time because the sky is nearly always black. After all, the sun never rises in this region.
You may frequently combine additional activities like snowmobiling, dog sledging, hiking, or possibly a fine-dining experience with watching the Northern Lights.
Midnight Sun Season: April to August
Northern Lights Season: October to February
3. Snowmobiling
If you want to travel all the way inland into the valleys and glaciers, snowmobile tours are a fantastic way to experience Svalbard. You may also see polar bears, arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, numerous birds, and other wildlife. Snowmobile safaris to Tempelfjorden or the East Coast are a fantastic experience, offering beautiful nature and one exciting experience.
Numerous companies provide snowmobile excursions to various regions.
No prior snowmobile driving experience is necessary, however, you must have a current driving licence. The necessary equipment, such as snowsuits, helmets, boots, etc., is given.
Full winter (mid-October to mid-May)
Price ranges between €200 and €360 per driver (passenger is significantly less).
4. Ghost Town
Svalbard used to be administered by no one particular government, and any country was welcome to come and establish a colony there. Russia made the decision to construct Pyramiden (called for the pyramid-shaped mountain at its base), the purest manifestation of communism that was humanly possible.
The greatest communists in every profession—from doctors and nurses to shopkeepers and miners—were chosen, and they were transferred to live in peace in Pyramiden on Svalbard. Pyramiden was shut down in 1998 after 53 years of operation as a result of declining coal prices and a plane tragedy that claimed the lives of 141 of its passengers. You may now visit Pyramiden to see all the abandoned communist-era structures and historic mines that remained intact after the city was shut down.
One of the most fascinating things to do in Svalbard is to visit an abandoned Russian mining town. You can get there by snowmobile in the winter, but it takes two days to travel there and back, so boat tours are much more popular in the summer.
5. Svalbard Museum
The museum covers every aspect of Svalbard's history, detailing everything from trapping and whale and walrus hunting to coal discovery, arctic exploration, the establishment of the Svalbard Treaty, and even up to the present day of tourist and scientific study.
Many of the various species of animals that can be seen here are displayed in the centre, which also shows all of them.
It will take around 1-2 hours to complete the entire exhibit because there is a lot of reading involved, but overall, the timeline was brilliantly organised to give you a thorough understanding of how Svalbard came to be!
6. Go Kayaking
Kayaking is a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the Arctic environment. Few sports are as tranquil and thrilling as kayaking in a Svalbard fjord.
Various programmes combine kayaking with escorted tours of intriguing locations, such as the long-abandoned town of Hiorthhamn.
7. Magdalenefjord
Magdalenefjord is a beautiful fjord that Willem Barents initially found. English whalers arrived here in the 17th century and constructed a whaling station.
Due to its breathtaking glaciers and recognisable mountain peaks, it has grown to be one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Svalbard in modern times. The area may now be conserved and explored responsibly because heavy fuel-carrying ships are no longer allowed as of 2015.
The most well-known tourist destination is probably Gravneset, which is famed for its arctic beach and spectacular vistas. Several shorter cruises stop at Gravneset and the Magdalenefjord, a well-liked kayaking location.
8. Sarkofagen hike
The mountain ranges that dominate a big portion of Svalbard are among the most distinctive and striking sights you'll encounter when you first arrive in Longyearbyen.
A walk to Sarkofagen is unquestionably something that should not be missed because it is surrounded in all directions by breathtaking vistas and distinctive Arctic terrain.
The mountains you might have seen elsewhere in Norway are nothing compared to the lunar scenery of the moraine. If you're fortunate, you might also run into 60 million-year-old fossils while travelling!
9. Dog Sledding
There is no better way to experience the exhilaration of the first polar explorers if you visit Svalbard in the winter than to go dog-sledding across the mountains and glaciers!
You'll even learn how to operate the sledge on your own, so you can take your dog team on an excursion!
You can choose from a huge variety of tour lengths, locations, and other possibilities in Svalbard, ranging from short day trips to week-long expeditions into the tundra.
You will learn how to drive the dogs while mushing on this full-day adventure, and you'll also get to walk inside an ice cave!
Winter (mid-January to mid-May)
Price: €300
10. Svalbard Brewery
There are two breweries in Svalbard, one in Longyearbyen and the other in Barentsburg. They are unique since they are using glacier water to produce their beer. Every beer enthusiast should visit these locations, which are the two northernmost breweries in the world. The modest pub where the tour and tasting are held is perched above the production area of the artisan brewery, which is situated on the outskirts of Longyearbyen. Visitors can join a guided tour and, of course, sample the beers made in the area.
11. Postcard from the top of the world
Even though Longyearbyen is the world's most northerly city, Ny-lesund, a village at the summit of Svalbard, is also accessible by boat.
Formerly a mining community that served as the starting point for numerous Arctic expeditions to the North Pole, Ny-lesund is today primarily a scientific hub where Arctic experts from all over the world congregate. However, it also has a post office and is a fully functional town, so why not take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance to send a postcard from the top of the world?
One of the coolest things to do in Svalbard and a great keepsake is to collect a special stamp for your passport here.
Season: Sunny winter & Polar summer months (May-August)
12. Barentsburg
When coal was found here, Russia decided to establish certain mining villages in Svalbard and one of those communities is still in use today!
Barentsburg is entirely owned and run by the Russian government, its residents are either Russian or Ukrainian nationals, they are paid in Russian rubles, and Russian is the language of instruction.
Barentsburg is accessible by long snowmobile tours in the winter, but boat trips are the most popular method to see this mining town. When you arrive in Barentsburg, a local Russian guide will show you the town's unusual mix of architectural styles and offer you some free time to explore.
Season: Polar Summer months (May – October)
Price: €195
13. Duty-Free Purchasing
Visiting all the boutique stores in Longyearbyen is one of the top activities for shopaholics to do in Svalbard. Svalbard is a tax haven, so you won't pay taxes on your purchases here and costs are far lower than on the Norwegian mainland (which is quite exciting for someone who has recently visited Norway)!
Everything from food to booze, perfume, sports gear, mementos, and luxuries may be purchased for less money here than on the Norwegian mainland. Though they do have lots of outdoor apparel and equipment, keep in mind that you are still on an island in the Arctic Archipelago and cannot truly purchase items like phones and laptops.
14. Global Seed Vault
To safeguard the future of agriculture around the world, the Global Seed Vault was constructed in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, over 100 metres into the side of a mountain, 130 metres above sea level.
This so-called "doomsday seed vault" is special because it is buried in permafrost, a layer of the earth that is permanently frozen and keeps a low temperature of -3 to -4 degrees Celsius even if the electricity were to go out.
If necessary, it can keep 1.5 million seed samples, saving humanity!
Although many tours take you outside the door where you may take pictures of this cool attraction, you cannot visit inside the Global Seed Vault.
Best Time to Visit
Since there are a limited number of tour spaces available, you should reserve your spot at least two months in advance if you're visiting during the summer (June to September), since the places do tend to sell out and Longyearbyen could grow monotonous without tours to get you out of the town. Even if it's not the summer, I still urge you to make reservations at least a few weeks in advance since otherwise, your selections will be limited. Svalbard tours are relatively expensive.
The first thing you need to know is when you are going to visit before you even begin organising your activities. There are three tourism seasons in Svalbard, which is just one of the many unusual features of this region.
1. Polar Summer (mid-May to the end of September) is the busiest time of year, including 24 hours of daylight, and numerous boat cruises, but no snow-related activities.
2. Northern Lights Winter (October to the end of February): Most peaceful time of year with little daylight and lots of snow-related activities, but no boat cruises because of the frozen sea ice.
3. Sunny Winter (March to mid-May): There are 24 hours of daylight, some winter sports are still possible, and summer boat cruises have begun.
Where to Munch and Shop?
There are great options in Longyearbyen – Shops, Cafes and NightClubs. Some of the good restaurants are Kroa Restaurant, Coal Miner’s Bar and Grill, Restaurant Polfareren, Fruen Café and Rabalder Café and Bakery. For Shopping the biggest market is Svalbardbutikken.
Where to Stay
Since Longyearbyen is the main town and the point of departure for all tours, it is where almost everyone lodges when visiting Svalbard. Since there are fewer hotels here than in other tourist destinations, you should reserve your hotel rooms well in advance (particularly if you're travelling during the summer).
Top Hotels and Places to Stay:
1. Radisson Blu (good base for activities!)
Cost for 1 Night: INR 19,446
2. Basecamp Spitsbergen (has its activities)
Cost for 1 Night: INR 31,159
3. Funken Lodge
Cost for 1 Night: INR 33,650
4. Coal Minerʻs Cabins (budget option)
Cost for 1 Night: INR 8, 342
Cost for 1 Night: INR 22,077
6. Svalbard Hotell – The Vault
Cost for 1 Night: INR 23,239
Cost for 1 Night: INR 28,593
Cost for 1 Night: INR 12,642
Also, there are many camping options as well to explore the raw experience.
You should plan your vacation to Svalbard well in advance, whether you want to go to see the northern lights on a polar night or take a boat tour throughout the Svalbard archipelago. Since you can't do anything adventurous without taking a tour (and they sell out quickly).
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