Svalbard Travel Forum

Due to connecting flights in Oslo I worry about notable delays and cancellations flying to/from Svalbard. Does the Longyearbyen-Tromso flight differ from others because of its extreme location or weather (in early summer)?

Is Longyearbyen accessible on foot (or by bicycle) from the camping without weapons, or the nearby airport bus is suggestible/mandatory due to bear danger?

Thank you very much.

Don't know muut how they handle connections to Svalbard. You should ask SAS. They are the ones that fly to Longyearbyen.

As for weapons. Polarbears can be found anywhere on Svalbard. Particular places to be aware of them are on the beaches (they look for seals), or anywhere where they can smell food. Old campinggrounds are therefore not a good idea, since they can smell of food.

However: The following is clipped from Longyearbyen Campings own website (http://www.longyearbyen-camping.com/index_start.php?lang=en)
--- start of clip---
Polar bears: Longyearbyen Camping is not fenced (a polar-bear-proof fence would be quite a massive and ugly construction) and has no alarm systems. Basically, each user is responsible for one´s own safety. If nevertheless almost all users abstain from special safety measures (alarm system around tent, armament) against potential polar bear encounters on the camping-site, then the reason is the very low probability of such an incident on the camping-site, at least within our summer season. When the Icefjord gets free of ice gradually around mid-June, also the number of bears in this area is sinking, compared to winter and spring. The terrain around Longyearbyen Camping is fairly open, with permanent light in addition during the summer season. Also on the camping-site itself, somebody is active at almost all times of the day due to the permanent light. Furhtermore, the small coastal road passes the camping-site on the shore side, on which there is a little traffic at any time of the day – and practically every local has a cellular phone. All these factors result in a very high probability that a polar bear – should it appear here close to the roads around Longyearbyen at all in summer – would be reported to the police very soon. Normally, there is such an alarm maybe twice per summer for the whole area of Longyearbyen.
---Clipped suspended---

---clip continued---
On Longyearbyen Camping, there has been no polar bear during our summer season at least since 1985 (opening of the service-building, no records at hand from earlier times). So in general it can be assumed that a dangerous close encounter with a polar bear is fairly unlikely in all those areas where people and especially car drivers are around at most times of the day, who would report a bear straightaway to the police. This applies to the settlement itself and to the road out to the airport and a little bit beyond. Of course, there remains a residual risk, as everywhere in life – for this, everybody of us has to make individual evaluations and take precautions. Most of us, for instance, take part in the car traffic every day, inspite of the thousands of people killed in accidents every year – this is a familiar risk which we seemingly don´t think much about. On the camping-site, it is up to you yourself to take individual precautions. Be aware, however, that some well-proven precautions like trip-wire alarm mines and guns, highly recommendable when you are alone out in the wilderness, bear risks in themselves also for people. Therefore, the use of alarm systems with explosives (alarm mines, flares, ammunition) is forbidden on the camping-site. Fire-arms may be carried and stored away only unloaded and separated from ammunition. Possessors of alarm equipment, fire-arms and explosives have to make sure that any damages to third parties – including also children – are excluded.
---end of clip---
You can also have a look at this site:
http://www.longyearbyen-camping.com/index.php

Good luck, and lucky you for getting to go to Svalbard.

Jon

Hallo,

delays or cancellations of Svalbard flights are rare - due to storm maybe 2-5 flights per year, due to fog maybe 10 flights per year.
Longyearbyen Camping has a detailed website, which answers also your safety questions: www.longyearbyen-camping.com.

God tur !