Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide [Paperback]

Andreas Umbreit (Author)

Book Description

Series: Bradt Travel Guide | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

The Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen (locally referred to as Svalbard) is an antidote to modern-day life. Svalbard: The Bradt Travel Guide introduces ecotravelers to this fascinating part of the world; its intriguing land features, and the magical display of northern lights make it ideal for cruises, wilderness exploration, wildlife watching, and extreme sports. The guide is packed with essential information on travel preparations and local knowledge for those braving the Arctic elements.

This guide features:
>All the islands of the region that make up Svalbard territory, including Franz Josef Land and the tiny volcanic island of Jan Mayen
>Nature and conservation, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and migratory birds
>A survival guide to the Arctic with advice on getting outfitted for exploration
>Getting there and traveling around, cruise options and internal travel by skidoos and sleds
>A wide range of sports, including climbing, hiking, trekking, skiing, riding, and hunting
>A background to the climate and geology of the region

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A mass of useful information.' The Express --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

The original wilderness encompassing the archipelago of Svalbard (commonly known as Spitsbergen) is a vast region of ice and snow where you can travel for weeks without meeting a soul. Lying as close to the North Pole as can easily be reached, its climate and wildlife are unique in Europe; this is the home of the arctic fox, the reindeer and the polar bear.

Polar-travel specialist Andreas Umbreit brings his in-depth knowledge to update the only general guide available for visitors to Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen and Franz Josef Land. With detailed sections on natural history, safety, and red tape, it is essential reading for researchers, independent visitors and those on organized tours.

*Wildlife and the environment
*Local regulations: tour permission, insurance and other red tape
*Natural hazards, safety equipment and proper preparation
*Independent travel
*Cruise routes

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 3rd edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841620920
• ISBN-13: 978-1841620923
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,533,856 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Travel > Europe > Norway

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Suitable for information only - not for a travel guide, August 23, 2006

By 

M. E. Spierling (Vancouve, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

I purchased this book as a travel guide however it is more suited for those arm-chair readers. Having just returned from this region on an Artic cruise, many of the landings on my itinerary are not covered in this book. And many of the destinations in this book are rarely visited so I would not recommend this book as a travel guide to Svalbard. You will find more useful information on the search engines.
The author devotes too many pages on technical information rather than as a practical guide. Other travelers on the cruise had the same comment about this book being impractical.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The author gives a lot of information on the islands, February 7, 2008

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

This fascinating Travel Guide was written by long-time Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen resident and tour operator Andreas Umbreit. The book covers the Svalbard archipelago, Jan Mayen Island, and the Russian-owned Franz Josef Land Islands, giving such important information as the geology and geography of the islands, the climate, wildlife and conservation, history, and practical information. The later covering such useful information as getting there, tours, health and safety, and so forth. As an added bonus, the book contains quite a few, breathtakingly beautiful color pictures from that Ultima Thule.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating book. The author gives a lot of information on the islands, focusing primarily on Spitsbergen. Indeed, even Longyearbyen city is discussed, giving such useful information as accommodations, getting around, shopping, eating, and so forth.

Now, even with a place as small as Spitsbergen, it is quite likely that the author missed out on some locations. Or, perhaps, being a tour operator, he focused on those locations that he gives tours of, and knows best. But, that said, I think he did a very good job of covering a good deal of information on those islands. I really enjoyed this book, and don't hesitate to recommend it to anyone interested in those northern islands.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide to this archepelago for hikers and cruisers, May 2, 2009

By 

Tillie Traveling (Northwestern Connecticut) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spitsbergen: Svalbard, Franz Josef, Jan Mayen, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide (Paperback)

I am circumnavigating Spitsbergen on a small ship in June/July, 2009 and wanted a detailed general guide. This fits the bill and provides good information not only for those seeing it mostly from the water but also for intrepid hikers who want to camp out. I heartily recommend this. Useful with The Arctic: A Guide to Coastal Wildlife, 2nd (Bradt Guides).