Svalbard Miscellaneous

Fuel

Diesel fuel is available in both places, Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund; it may be cheaper in Longyearbyen or in Ny-Ålesund.

Health

Hospital and dental services are available in Longyearbyen.

Pets

There are strict rules on bringing pets to Svalbard, including a complete ban on cats and ferrets. Dogs may be allowed by special application.

Expedition Support and Chartering

A number of private and commercial charter operators work out of Longyearbyen, and boats of many sizes and standards can be seen. We have no direct experience with these operators, so you should carry out your own checks.

Fun and / or Informative Reading

Champagne and Polar Bears: Romance in the Arctic

Phyllis and John met the author, Marie Tièche, and Hauke Trinks, a German professor, at a remote station on Nordaustlandet at the start of their 13-month stay. The book vividly describes life there and the development of their relationship.

Bear Island

A murder mystery by Alistair MacLean, written in the early 1970s and set on Bjørnøya.

Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic’s Edge

Jill Fredston and her husband are avalanche specialists in Alaska in winter. In summer, they row along demanding coastlines, including those of Norway and Svalbard.

Ice Bears & Kotick: Rowing on Top of the World

The story of two young British men who row a traditional open Norwegian boat (oselvar) around Svalbard.