Making the most of Ravdfjord
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships moor or anchor here, and depending on conditions Zodiacs will carry passengers to the shore(line).
Sightseeing
Svalbard is the Norwegian name for this archipelago, which includes Bear Island and Jan Mayen, although it is normally called Spitsbergen. Almost as large as the Republic of Ireland, Spitsbergen has 3,500 residents across five settlements yet remains a virtually unspoilt wilderness.
Rugged mountains, broad tundra, ice caps and glaciers make this a true High Arctic archipelago, only 600 miles from the North Pole.
Abundant wildlife once drew huge numbers of whalers and trappers. Today, discerning visitors discover vast Arctic seabird colonies and opportunities to enjoy and photograph species such as Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox and, of course, Polar Bear.
Raudfjord lies on West Spitsbergen's northern coast. This beautiful fjord is dominated by dramatic glaciers and favoured by Ringed and Bearded Seals. Flourishing seabird colonies occupy its cliffs and shoreline, while surprisingly rich plants thrive in sheltered places.
Food and shopping
Visitors are expected to remove their shoes before entering most Svalbard buildings, including certain hotels and shops. At public premises, the prominent entrance shoe rack covered in dirty walking boots makes this requirement obvious.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK) is the currency, including within the Russian settlements.
Staying connected
Norwegian is official, with Russian spoken in Barentsburg. Practically everyone employed in tourism can speak English.
Svalbard has a top-class Internet connection because NASA rents bulk capacity on undersea fibre-optic cables running along the seabed to mainland Norway for its local experiments.
Opening Hours and
Each settlement follows the relevant Norwegian or Russian public holidays, while a few local festivals are worth noting:
- At January's end, Polar Jazz brings a 4-5 day festival of jazz, blues and bluegrass.
- Sunfest Week, around March 8th, celebrates the close of the polar night.
- The Blues Festival at the end of October provides an appropriately blues-themed way to mark winter's approach.
- KunstPause Svalbard is held around 14 November, with this arts festival timed to coincide with the beginning of the polar night.