Arctic Tourism Traffic Strategy Notes on Arctic Tourism
visa
Svalbard is under the jurisdiction of Norway. However, tourists from China, as citizens of the States parties to the Svalbard Treaty, are free to enter the country and engage in legal production and business activities within the scope of observing Norwegian laws. But you still have to apply for a Schengen visa. There is no direct flight from China to Longyearbyen, so we have to start from Norway.
Climate
Due to the warm current flowing through the Gulf of Mexico, the climate of Svalbard is much milder than that of Canada, Greenland and Alaska. We arrived in August, when it was extremely dark, and the temperature was around 1 degrees all day. In winter, when the temperature in the same latitude in Canada is as low as MINUS 4-5 degrees, it is only MINUS 1-2 degrees here, and it is still dry and cold.
Transportation
The straight-line distance from Longyearbyen to the North Pole is only 1333 kilometers. In addition to cruise ships, tourists can fly directly from Oslo or Tromso, Norway to Longyearbyen. At present, both Nordic Airlines and norwegian air shuttle Airlines offer regular flights to Longyearbyen. The flight time from Tromso to Longyearbyen is less than two hours, and it takes about three hours from Oslo.
Pay special attention to
Svalbard has a population of about 2,5, but there are more than 3,5 polar bears. It is said that residents here meet more than a dozen hungry polar bears every year. According to local laws, anyone who goes out to explore the city must carry a rifle and know how to use it. This is why the explorer in the title picture carries a rifle.
Route recommendation
Our route surrounds Spitsbergen (the largest island in Svalbard).
Today, the face of most areas in Spitsbergen has not changed because of human visits. Several settlements on the island are blocked by towering peaks and perennial ice and snow, and there are no roads connected. It is difficult to connect these isolated towns without boats. Cruise ships sail along the winding coastline, dock from time to time, and visit the natural landscape and cultural heritage along the coast, which is the most pleasant way to visit Svalbard in summer.
The route around the island can experience almost everything we imagined in the Arctic: polar bears, large glaciers, blooming tundra and cool fjords, colorful cabins, lost Russian mining areas, cold scientific research stations and a group of crazy working scientists.
The route will also go to two inaccessible places: one is to cross 8 degrees north latitude to Muffin Island, and the other is to the east of Svalbard Islands, which is more than other places on the island.
tips:
All the voyages of polar cruise ships can only be used as reference. Considering the actual weather and hydrological conditions of the destination, the routes and related activities may be changed. We're exploring!