Monacogletscher

Subject to conditions, passengers tender by Zodiac from a moored or anchored ship to the shoreline.

Norwegians call the archipelago containing Bear Island and Jan Mayen Svalbard, though it is generally referred to as Spitsbergen. The region is almost as large as the Republic of Ireland. Its five settlements hold 3,500 people, leaving Spitsbergen a largely pristine wilderness even today.

This High Arctic island group stands just 600 miles from the North Pole, characterised by rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, glaciers and ice caps.

Whalers and trappers once came for its abundant animals. Today's discerning travellers are drawn by immense Arctic seabird colonies and chances to see and photograph Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and, inevitably, Polar Bear.

Before entering most Svalbard buildings, including some hotels and shops, remove your shoes. A public building will usually make the practice clear with a conspicuous rack full of dirty hiking boots.

The area uses Norwegian krone (NOK), including its Russian communities.

Norwegian has official status, although Russian is used in Barentsburg. English is spoken by virtually everyone in the visitor industry.

An undersea fibre-optic cable connection to mainland Norway provides Svalbard with first-class internet. NASA rents bulk cable capacity for experiments conducted in the archipelago.

Norwegian and Russian holidays are followed by their corresponding settlements, supplemented by several notable local events:

• At January's end, Polar Jazz is a 4-5-day festival covering jazz, blues and bluegrass.
• Sunfest Week takes place around March 8th and celebrates the end of polar night.
• The end-of-October Blues Festival uses an appropriate musical theme to acknowledge winter's approach.
• Timed for the start of polar night, KunstPause Svalbard is an arts festival around 14 November.