Polar Bears Polar bears are completely protected on Svalbard and must not in any way be approached or disturbed. Keep a safe distance from any bears you may come across, as they are very quick and are known to attack suddenly without warning. Use caution and avoid all contact. Do not pitch tents where polar bears usually travel. Always set out “snublebluss” (tripwire warning flares) around campsites. Polar bears get quickly overheated when being chased so one must never follow after a polar bear on a snowmobile or boat. Never feed a polar bear. At campsites, all food, garbage and toilet waste must be kept at least 100m from your sleeping tents and in a way so that it can be seen from the tent opening. We recommend taking tours with local guides who are familiar with the area.

Weapons
Polar bears are essentially everywhere on Svalbard – also during the summer. We therefore recommend that you bring a weapon with you on all tours outside of the settlements. Large-bore rifles are absolutely the best defence against polar bears. If you do not have any weapon training, you should only go on organised tours with local guides. Weapons may be rented locally. A signal pistol is recommended for scaring away the polar bears. If you are going to spend the night in a tent or under the open sky, the campsite should be secured with "snublebluss" (tripwire warning flares).

Notification and insurance
People travelling on their own outside of the settlements and the area around Nordenskiölds Land – Dickson Land, must notify the District Governor on Svalbard of their plans. For safety reasons, we recommend that no matter where or how long you intend to take a walk that you tell someone about it. The District Governor can compel visitors to purchase insurance or provide a bank guarantee to cover expenses in the event there is a need for a rescue operation.

Rivers
There are tremendous amounts of water in the rivers from June to August. The rivers grow fast as a result of precipitation and the melting snow. The rivers are often wide, icy cold and difficult to cross.

Pack ice and glaciers Travelling on pack ice and glaciers involves tremendous risks. If you go on a glacier you should go with a guide or at least go in a group so that all the participants are connected by a safety rope. Remember to bring crampons (ice spurs) and an ice axe.

Equipment and clothing
If you would like to participate in an organised tour, you should ask the activity provider about what type of clothing and equipment you will need to bring with you.

Clothing: During the winter use the warmest and best you have. Several layers of wool, as well as windproof outer garments, is important. This will still not be enough, however, if you are going snowmobiling. But on organised snowmobile excursions, the necessary clothing and equipment is usually included. Snowmobile equipment can also be purchased or rented locally. During the summer, we recommend clothes appropriate for a typical autumn tour in the Norwegian mountains.

Footwear: There is plenty of uneven terrain on Svalbard, and solid shoes and mountain boots are highly recommended. The large amounts of snow and ice melting during the summer cause rivers and streams to swell and large areas to become wetlands. Rubber boots are therefore very important during this period. During the winter, it is important to wear as warm footwear as possible.

Going on a tour alone? Remember a map and compass and bring an emergency beacon if you are going on a long tour.