Arctic Warnings Or Dangers

MY EVER RELIABLE VAN ....NO WORRIES..

by DennyP

Previous Next

MY EVER RELIABLE VAN ....NO WORRIES..
by DennyP
THE MIDNIGHT SUN AT HAMMERFEST AT...
by DennyP
REINDEERS EVERYWHERE...NO HASSLES..
by DennyP
ALWAYS USE A STRONG MOSQUITO REPELLANT...
by DennyP
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE CROSSING IN NORWAY
by DennyP

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

ALWAYS HAVE A STRONG MOSQUITO REPELLANT

by DennyP

ARCTIC CIRCLE Whenever travelling within the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden and Finland ...Always carry a strong Mosquito Repellant Always..I couldn't beleive how big and hungry they were and to not be covered when they are out is a disaster. I really felt sorry for all the animals that have to cope with these annoyances all the time. .It is imperative to wear long sleeved shirts and trousers and make sure that you have ALL exposed areas of skin covered with a strong repellant..They can really make you so uncomfortable at night.

'Kiruna Safaris' grossly overpriced!

by dee29

I stayed in Kiruna and wanted to see the northern lights. all over the city there is advertising for the Aurora Skystation in Abisko. I have just got back to Kiruna from a trip to the Abisko Skystation, and I want to tell you all not to waste your money. We paid over 1600kr (about US$235) each for this tour from Kiruna. The operator of the transportation, Kiruna Safaris, just hired a minibus, and loaded eight people onto it, and drove to Abisko and back. At Abisko we were simply given the standard treatment at the Aurora Skystation which actually costs only 495kr: see http://www.auroraskystation.se/nightvisit/. So we paid the tour operator Kiruna Safaris over 1100kr each for the privilege of going in a minibus shared between eight, and a soggy sandwich, when a /taxi/ would have been marginally cheaper! At the skystation itself, we expected something more than the cold sandwich and tiny...

Beware of Polar Bears!

by tini58de

At first I could not believe it, but it definitely is true:Polar Bears are an acute danger in Svalbard - and even in settlements like Longyearbyen you are not safe! There is a warning out that you should always carry a rifle when leaving the settlement - and that is no joke at all! All over you can hear about encounters with polar bears - and many times they are fatal! To the people - not to the bears!

Environment

by JohnniOmani

Everyone knows that the Arctic is beyond freezing cold. White out conditions can cause huge problems for a person even if the person is only walking across town for 15 minutes. The term white out strongly applies to the Arctic because when storms hit not only do they bring minus 70 degree winds but they cause a white out scene that is out of this world. You cant see 1 foot in front of your face and it can be extremely dangerous not to mention out on the land which can turn fatal in an instant. I remember walking home after playing basketball at night and a white out condition came out of nowhere, I spent 35 minutes struggling to make it home (usually a 5 minute walk) against the wind and snow. I actually went up to the wrong house and didnt realize it was the wrong house until I wiped snow of off the side of the house and realized that my house was a different color ! I didnt even know...

Basic advice for the tempted VTer to Tiksi

by Ekahau

Here is some advice for those who might be tempted to go to Tiksi.1) Fly with the Pevek–avia company from Moscow. 2) Do not go there until July 1. 3) Book a room at the Moryak hotel. 4) Do not take old dollar bills with you: in Tiksi, they are afraid and reluctant to exchange them for roubles. 5) Make sure your papers are in order, for Tiksi is in a border zone.

Be careful when hiking outside a village...

by globetrott

Be careful when you take a walk outside the large villagesPolar-bears might look cute in the Zoo - but here they are absolutely dangerousand during the winter they also sometimes come down to the villages at night

Take care of the...

by lukeduke

Take care of the environment!!!Compared to the continents the human destroyment is still very limited. But especially tourist often forget or don't know that the nature is extremely fragile. It takes much longer to recover, so even vegetal waste can take years to be neutralised. Pic: a place with extreme waste is the left russian settlement of Grumantbyen.

There's really nobody who...

by lukeduke

There's really nobody who wants to hurt you. The only danger are the polar bears. 2 years ago 2 student were killed by a polar bear only 1 km away from Longyearbyen. They were not carrying a rifle. But nowhere it is so easy to get one. You can wander into the shop and rent one, crazy! However it's not very wise (but I did it...) to do so. Best is to have a guide with you.Another Danger: the weather, it can really change from blue sky to complete fog in 1 minute. Be aware!The water is lethal because it is so cold, always wear a protection suit. Pic: this is the brochure, that you receive when boarding onto the airplane to svalbard.

Summer: be prepared for lack...

by Darby2

Summer: be prepared for lack of sleep during the long days under the Midnight Sun. I can fondly remember fishing the Blackstone and Ogilvie rivers in broad daylight at 2:00 AM!Insects: Mosquitoes and blackflies can be a problem early in the season- May, June, July. After August is the most comfortable time to travel. Bring lots of insect repellant. Fuel: Scarce and expensive on the Dempster. Gas available at Dawson, Eagle Plains, Fort Macpherson, Inuvik.Wildlife: Bears (blacks and Grizzlies) can be a problem along the Dempster, especially near their berry patches in july and August, although I never saw or encountered any. I did see several moose and lots of Arctic foxes.Water: for the most part it is safe to drink from most streams, but to be sure always boil beforehand.Auto Problems: Carry a couple of spare tires-you are travelling on gravel highway- smooth in most areas allows speeds...

Watch out for the mighty...

by 2rs

Watch out for the mighty Polarbears!You are advised to never travel outside the setlements without carrying a weapon to protect yourself against polarbears.They might look cudly, but they are mean and fast if they feal threatened.

Explore the World

The Place

Reviews and photos of Arctic attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Arctic sightseeing.

Experience Arctic

307 Tips and Reviews
446 Photos

Questions and Answers

Q: I suddenly mused that it might/should be more interesting to check out the Canadian North, the Inuits etc instead of checking out...

A: Sheherezad, I think “Into the Northwest Passage” tour is definitely unique and is the kind of tour that you’d remember for the rest of your life. I’d say, go for...

Read 8 Replies

Arctic Hotels