Time-Lapse Tuesday: Life in Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen may look like a snow-dusted dream enclosed by mountains and glaciers, but for the town's 2000 residents, living in one of the world's northernmost settlements comes with its own challenges. When the sun sets in October, it does not rise over the town again until March – a whole 4 months later! The streets carry no names, only numbers, and owning a cat is forbidden due to the presence of endangered Arctic birds. Speaking of wildlife, roaming polar bears occasionally pay the town a visit, driven by hunger or curiosity. 

But like the bears, most who see Longyearbyen are simply passing through; a brief respite before making their way further north into the Arctic. 

Getting There

G Adventures runs a number of departures to Norway encompassing a wide range of departure dates and activities to cater for different tastes. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours — check out our small group trips here.