Even if you don't have the guts to hike the remaining 850 km to the North Pole, a few days in Svalbard will be an unforgettable experience. There are at least 500 polar bears on the main islands of Svalbard. In winter their roaming area is very large and you may not see any.
In summer, when there is much less ice and snow, there is a bigger chance to see them. Enjoy the dog sledding, glacier caving, snowmobiles, and other exciting activities on the islands. In summer the sun does not set, while in winter the sun does not rise for many weeks. Winter is spectacular with the Aurora Borealis, but temperatures go down to -40C.
From Norway's capital, Oslo, the daily flight stops at Tromsø in northern Norway to pick up a few travelers. From here it is a 60 minute flight to the small airport outside the village of Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard.
An airport bus will be waiting and drop you off at your hotel or guesthouse. Do not hike outside the village without a guide with a gun as polar bear attacks are real and happen almost every year.
See more of Svalbard in my book, Frozen Zone.
