Vacation in the Arctic: the North Sea sweeter warm

Why do people go to rest in the Arctic? This question is asked Layfhaker Andrey Nikolaev.

Is vacation in the Arctic leaving the comfort zone?

"Comfort zone" - a fashionable phrase in the internet. But what is behind this? Each is its own. If you get out of your comfort zone - this is a vacation in the jacket, but not in a bathing suit, then the answer - "yes."

But Svalbard is not as cold as people think. The temperature in February - 12-15 ° C below zero. Feels Like -5 ° C.

At low temperatures and dry climate, people rarely get sick, and die on the archipelago altogether prohibited. Spitsbergen operates such a law. If someone is very sick or has an accident with a potentially fatal outcome, the patient should immediately forward by air or by sea to another part of Norway. If you do not have time, spend a funeral still on the "mainland". These forced measures due to the fact that in the permafrost body does not decompose, and attract the attention of predators such as polar bears.

If you are out of your comfort zone means immersion in another culture, in this regard, Svalbard, of course, can not be compared with variegated Asia. Here, people do not litter, take off their shoes at the front door. Do not spread drunkenness, no terrorism and the homeless do not occur natural disasters.

The language barrier is flattened. The archipelago is inhabited by 2500 people from more than 50 countries. You can easily find someone who speaks your native language, or to practice any other.

There are going to amuse vanity meeting with a real polar bear?

The hallmark of the Arctic polar bears really are. Spitsbergen them three times more than men.

In addition to the unique fauna, the northern lights, icebergs, World Seed Vault hopper to the characteristics of such a trip can be attributed her of status.

Just imagine: to visit the Arctic Circle! For many people, visiting places such as the intersection of the equator and the Greenwich meridian, Everest, Darién Gap, Antarctica, the Arctic, and other unique points of the planet, has a huge value. And they will boast that conquered them, or not, it depends on the person.

What is taught such travel?

In my opinion, sent by people who want to live in such travel. People who are looking for answers to the deep questions that seek up and develop.

In the Arctic, you can find privacy: there is the effect of "fish eyes", you can look at ourselves and start to see wider.

In the Arctic go for inspiration. After the return of many life changes for the better.

Do I need a visa to the Arctic?

If we talk about Svalbard, then the contract in 1920, he designated for Norway. But all of this treaty, States parties have the right to carry out commercial and research activities in the conditions of full equality.

Thus, Svalbard is a visa-free zone for travelers from Ukraine and Russia. However, the archipelago there are no direct flights, it is necessary to transplant, for example, the Oslo airport, and therefore need a Schengen visa.

When to go?

The minimum temperature in February - minus 20 ° C. In July, the maximum - + 4 ° C.

Accordingly, in the summer at your disposal sled dog race, ATVs, kayaking, trekking, cruises and icebergs. From the animal world can contemplate walrus, reindeer, polar bears, toucans.

In February, you can catch the retreat of the polar night and northern lights. But the chance to see toucans and walruses are much lower. Quad bikes are replaced by snowmobiles. You can ride on a special Arctic machine - snoukate or go down to the glacial cave. Just right for a tourist-extremals.

Where to live and what to eat?

The largest settlement in the archipelago - the capital of Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen.

There is a population of about 2000 people. And there are all conditions for comfortable travel: hotels, Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a supermarket. You can pay cash in dollars and euros, and a bank card.

Tourists who love to eat, probably will attract local restaurant. There offer meat dishes whale, walrus and reindeer. Spitsbergen even has its own brewery.

Of attractions - the World Seed Vault, where in case of nuclear war, the seeds are stored all important for plants of mankind.

What to bring?

Specific requirements for equipment not.

Necessary usual warm clothes and personal medicines, if they are you may need.

It is though very remote, but it is a civilized place.

With whom to go?

I think that this place is not for a single journey.

For the majority of the activities of the company is needed. You can ride a dog sled alone, but a group of more interesting: higher speed, even the dogs themselves competitive spirit appears. With the snowmobile is the same story.

And, you can find a polar bear, and it would be nice to have a number of guides with a gun and a special repellent device.

Rent alone snoukat is not cheap, and to sit in the evening by the fire in the company of a lot more fun. Another thing is that to find travel companions are not so simple.

I once went to Svalbard in the company of the children of the community of travelers Follow Your Dream Expeditions. It is a community of like-minded people who organize travel to the most interesting places of our planet. Surprisingly, I have gained a lot of friends, and soon with the boys go on a trip to Greenland.