Svalbard, almost on top of the World

The last stop before the North Pole is Svalbard at 78 degrees north. Svalbard is also known as Spitsbergen, a group of islands in the Arctic Ocean belonging to Norway. I will show you some reasons for wanting to go there, like the polar nights with the midnight sun or the winter in the pitch dark.

During the pandemic, our traveling has been entirely restricted, and the government recommended travel in our own country. I do not mind traveling in Norway, but not to brag, I have been almost everywhere in this country. As a child, my parents liked to drive around and rent small cabins, later, with the boy’s choir that I sang in from age 10. We used to have up to 60 concerts a year, all over the country. As an adult, I have traveled independently or with a partner.

There was one place, though, that I had not visited yet, and that was Svalbard. Within two years, I have been there twice. The first time was in midsummer, and I loved it, but I also had to experience it in the dark season.

Longyearbyen

When you arrive in Svalbard, the main town is Longyearbyen. This is where you should have a base for your trip. You also have to know, you might not walk outside town without a shotgun because of the polar bear, and you need a license for carrying one. Therefore, you need a guide when hiking outside the town. The picture above is Longyearbyen at midday in the winter.

Things to do in the summer on Svalbard

I went with the Green dogs for a summer dog sled one of the days. When arriving at the dog farm, you get to know the dogs and hold the sled while the guide picks out the dog team. Green dogs make trips in both the summer and winter, on a snow sled, of course. You also get to steer the sled if you want—a bumpy but excellent experience.

Barentsburg

Barentsburg is a settlement run by a Russian mining company; however, most workers are Ukrainian. It must be interesting how they cope with the present situation. Different countries have owned this settlement and have been in Soviet/Russian hands since 1932. You feel you are back in time when you come here, in both the Soviets architecture and the unsmiling people.

Pyramiden

Pyramiden is a Russian ghost village. Originally it was built up by Swedes but sold to the Soviet Union in 1927. The mining was closed when the Soviets fell, abandoned the town. Today the Russians try to make it a touristic spot. They have made one of the dormitories into a hotel. It is a strange place; even though the buildings are not too old, you can see the decay. One of the buildings has become a “bird mountain” where the birds have made nests everywhere they find a place. Here and in Barentsburg is the only places on Norwegian soil where you will find a statue of Lenin.

Things to do in the winter

There are also things to do in the winter, but it is a shame that you don’t see the beautiful nature around you. There are some Ice caves to visit, but the big thing to do in the winter is dog sleds and ride snow scooters. Late in the winter, you can ride the snow scooter to other settlements from Longyearbyen. One is hoping to see the famous polar light, Aurora Polaris. I did not see it in Svalbard but had seen it in Tromsø some days before arriving at Svalbard.

If I should recommend summer or winter, I have to say summer. There is much more to do in the summer, and you get to see the beautiful landscape up there. You can also take the boats to see the other settlement on the island. On the other hand, if you like it cold, really cold, and have not experienced a dark season before, go for it; it is so strange.