Svalbard- Last stop before the North Pole

Longyearbyen, Norway is easily reached by air. The northernmost... something! This remarkable city is home to the world's northernmost airport, school and bank. The ruggedness of this town conceals warmth and comfort, or "hyggligt" as it is called in Denmark. This is the essence of Nordic hospitality.

Arriving in Longyearbyen, you are instantly immersed in a different world. You can immediately feel the Arctic cold air as soon as you land. Signs at the airport warn passengers that they're far from home, and remind them to keep an eye out for bears. Hjorthfjellet is a snowcapped mountain on the opposite side of Adventfjorden, towering above the airport. The languid ice glaciers can also be seen in the distance.

When you arrive, the expedition ship is waiting. The mandatory safety presentation will be followed by an exercise in the lifeboat. You can then head out to the decks and toast with champagne as your ship departs civilisation for an adventure.

North West Svalbard was declared a National Park by the United Nations in 1973. It is one of Europe’s largest protected wilderness areas. The first settlements of Svalbard can be traced back to this area. William Barents, named for the Dutch legend that discovered the Barents Sea was the first expedition to reach the Svalbard ice coasts. Barents noted the sea had become safe for humans. However, when he first arrived on Svalbard in 1596, he was surprised by the number of seals. In less than a decade English and Dutch whalers arrived in the area to ravage wildlife. The area is located where land, water, and ice meet, making it the perfect place to catch the gentle giants. Smeerenburg, a Dutch settlement in the Netherlands is where the whales are dismembered for oil. The foundations and remains of the blubber ovens dating back to the 16th Century can still be seen. These sites and others, like Ytre Norskoya, in the surrounding area, reveal the darker side of the industrialised slaughter. Many miles from their homes, hundreds of men who had hoped to make it big in life were laid to rest.

The only remnants of the time are the human bones and a few other fragments. Slowly, the region was reclaimed by nature and has become a haven for those who love it. Although the summers are harsh, the Arctic poppy flower and purple saxifrage bloom. The islands are home to seabirds such as eider ducks and geese, who return with their young to raise them. Watch out for the polar bears and walruses that roam this wild region.