Camping

«The Svalbard Experience» means different things for different people. However, for many people it may be to get close to nature. On guided trips and activities in the wild there are plenty of opportunities to do so, and for travellers that don’t want to leave Svalbard’s nature even for a night’s rest in a hotel bed, the simple luxury of a night in a tent may be just what they need.
While enjoying the cosy mood camping in a tent can offer, one should be aware that camping in Svalbard requires several extra precautions in terms of safety. One needs to be keenly aware and well-prepared especially concerning polar bear safety, which requires both specialised training and knowledge to be ensured properly when camping. There are also a range of laws and regulations concerning nature preservation and cultural heritage in Svalbard which one must be mindful of. See the Governor of Svalbard’s website for more information.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of guided activities and trips where one may spend a night in the wild tenting together with a professional and competent guide from a local activity provider that can ensure that camping is done as safely as possible. Additionally, one may luckily also enjoy camping in Longyearbyen at Longyearbyen Camping which during their season through Svalbard’s Polar Summer has safety measures in place to ensure their guests’ polar bear safety. In season, they’ve got an electric fence surrounding the campsite, but outside of their season guests wanting to camp at the campsite need to have their own safety equipment and be responsible for their own polar bear safety in camp.

As the birds come back to Svalbard with the Polar Summer, the “oasis” next to Longyearbyen Camping wakes up as well after the long winter season, and with a fantastic view of Isfjorden from the shoreline there are few places in Longyearbyen as idyllic to enjoy the midnight sun from.
Feel welcome to visit the world’s northernmost campsite, and enjoy the Polar Summer season for all that it’s worth!

We strongly recommend everyone that considers camping with tents in Svalbard to familiarise themselves properly with information from the Governor of Svalbard concerning safety in Svalbard.