Augusta Bay

Ships moor or anchor offshore, and, when conditions allow, Zodiac tenders take passengers to the shoreline.

Svalbard is Norway's name for the archipelago containing Bear Island and Jan Mayen, though it is more commonly known as Spitsbergen. Almost as large as the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen remains virtually untouched wilderness, with 3,500 people living across five communities.

Just 600 miles from the North Pole, this genuine High Arctic archipelago is defined by rugged peaks, expansive tundra, glaciers and ice caps.

Rich wildlife once attracted whalers and trappers in great numbers. Discerning visitors now come for vast Arctic seabird colonies and the opportunity to watch and photograph Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and, of course, Polar Bear.

Shoes should be removed before entering most Svalbard buildings, including certain hotels and shops. In public premises, a prominent rack laden with dirty walking boots makes the convention clear.

The Norwegian krone (NOK) is used as currency, including within the Russian settlements.

Norwegian is the official language and Russian is also spoken in Barentsburg. Almost everybody employed in tourism can speak English.

Svalbard has an excellent internet service because NASA rents bulk capacity for its experiments on undersea fibre-optic cables running along the seabed to mainland Norway.

The relevant Norwegian or Russian public holidays are observed in each settlement, alongside several noteworthy local festivals:

• At the end of January, Polar Jazz runs for 4-5 days and features jazz, blues and bluegrass.
• Sunfest Week takes place around March 8th to celebrate the polar night's end.
• The Blues Festival at the end of October provides a suitably blues-focused welcome to the approaching winter.
• Around 14 November, arts festival KunstPause Svalbard marks the beginning of the polar night.