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Deep within the Arctic Circle, just 1000 kilometres from the North Pole, the Svalbard Archipelago is a breathtakingly beautiful collection of dramatic islands, deep fjords, imposing glaciers and polar wildlife – including reindeer, walrus and the mighty polar bear.  Indeed, with an estimated 3,000 polar bears living on the Svalbard archipelago, this is the only place in Europe where polar bears can be seen living in their natural habitat.

Home to the region’s capital, Longyearbyen, the world’s most northerly post office at Ny Alesund and the extreme Russian mining outpost of Barentsburg, Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago and is a surprisingly colourful place. With few roads outside these settlements and the main way to see more of the island is on foot, snowmobile or by boat.

Expedition cruises depart Longyearbyen regularly throughout the summer months, giving wonderful opportunities to explore the coast, witness huge glaciers, visit the small settlements and watch the fascinating wildlife beneath the midnight sun. This is also the time to join mini-expeditions hiking and kayaking on the mountains and in the fjords.

Winter, the time of Polar Nights and Northern Lights may be an unusual time to visit, but offers an exciting range of winter activities, from snowmobiling, to husky sledding and spending a night sleeping in a boat frozen into an icy fjord. But bear in mind, in a land where Polar Bears outnumber humans, anyone travelling on land should be accompanied by a specialist local guide.

Map of Svalbard

Areas of Svalbard

• Remote Eastern Svalbard

• Western Svalbard

Places to Visit in Svalbard

• Longyearbyen

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Svalbard Travel Guide