Miniguide til Svalbard

Kanadiske Jeff er nok Nomadens mest bereiste - han er så godt som alltid på reisefot. Hvordan han klarer å kombinere alle sine turer med alle sine skift i butikken er fortsatt uvisst, men det kan ha noe å gjøre med at han detaljplanlegger sine reiser opptil tre år i forveien. De siste årene har han tatt med kameraet på turen og har blitt en særdeles dyktig reisefotograf. Han er sannsynligvis også den i Norge som har besøkt flest UNESCO-steder (nesten 400 UNESCO-mål).

Foto og tekst: Jeff Parks 

 

There are not many places left in this world where you can experience the feeling of being an explorer. A real explorer, like the ones a century ago. On Svalbard, however, you can get pretty close. Follow in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen and experience first-hand the true beauty of the stark polar landscape. The sheer size of the region is staggering and the polar landscapes truly breathtaking. Ice mountains give way to shimmering seas where giant sparkling icebergs slowly shift in the current, many no bigger than a breadbox, while others tower above you the size of a 40-story skyscraper.

The summer months are, of course, the most popular time to visit. When the sun never sets, and the temperatures are the most comfortable. However, visiting in the shoulder seasons offers an opportunity to experience both the summer and winter highlights, not to mention fewer tourists. If you are lucky enough to be treated with decent weather, daylight is blindingly bright, (bring sunglasses) and nightfall means the best opportunities for northern lights performances.

Whether you decide to explore by foot, snowmobile, dogsled, or car, you get a real sense of true isolation. One of the best ways to explore is by boat. If you are not already booked on a pre-packaged cruise ship, then don’t forget to at least set aside a day for a local cruise. Henningsen Transport offer day cruises along Isfjorden. If weather permits, sailing Isfjorden in march provides memories not soon forgotten.