Bear Island

Sea and weather conditions determine the landing, with Zodiac boats taking guests ashore from vessels lying at anchor or moored offshore.

The Norwegian designation Svalbard covers this island group, including Bear Island and Jan Mayen, though many people know it as Spitsbergen. Almost as large as the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen remains largely pristine wilderness, with 3,500 residents living in five communities.

This High Arctic archipelago lies just 600 miles from the North Pole and is shaped by stark mountains, wide tundra, glaciers and ice caps.

Rich animal life once attracted trappers and whalers. Modern visitors come to see immense colonies of Arctic seabirds and to watch or photograph walrus, reindeer, Arctic fox and polar bear.

Removing footwear is expected before entering many buildings across Svalbard, even some shops and hotels. Public premises usually signal the custom with an obvious entrance rack crowded with muddy walking boots.

Norwegian krone (NOK) is accepted across the islands, including within Russian settlements.

Norwegian has official status, Russian is spoken in Barentsburg and English is understood by virtually everyone employed in the visitor industry.

NASA’s rental of major capacity on undersea fibre-optic cables connecting the seabed route to mainland Norway for Svalbard experiments gives the islands excellent internet service.

Norwegian or Russian public holidays are followed according to the settlement, supplemented by a small number of notable island festivals:

• At the end of January, Polar Jazz presents jazz, blues and bluegrass over 4-5 days.
• Around March 8th, Sunfest Week marks the return of light after the polar night.
• Late October’s Blues Festival uses blues music to welcome the onset of winter.
• Scheduled around 14 November, KunstPause Svalbard is an arts festival aligned with the start of the polar night.