A globetrotter confessed his trip to the « strangest place on the planet » left him utterly « mind-blown ».
Phil Carr, a seasoned traveller who frequently shares his worldwide adventures on social media, took to TikTok to recount his experience in Longyearbyen, Svalbard – a Norwegian archipelago nestled in the Arctic Ocean.
« My mind has been blown, » he stated in a caption accompanying his video, adding: « The most northerly settlement on Earth, and it’s quite easy to come and visit! »
He kicked off his clip by stating the town is just « a few miles south of the North Pole », humorously suggesting it’s so far north that « even Iceland may as well be on the equator and is « so remote that even the Scottish Highlands look like they’re in central London ».
Despite its breathtaking landscape, Phil exclaimed: « It’s brutal, it’s dangerous. » Enjoying a pint of beer, he went on: « I was here in the polar summer so it was a permanent daytime and a balmy six degrees [Celsius]. »
On the flip side, he clarified any winter visit would be in « permanent darkness » and « at 78 degrees north it can get a little bit nippy ». Phil revealed the first piece of information he received upon arrival concerned safety around polar bears, meanwhile.
« If you leave the clearly marked safe area, you must either be armed or with someone who is, » he said. « There are thousands of polar bears on the island and people – like every other creature here – is very much on their menu. »
Phil continued, sharing footage of a luxury dining experience and his visit to the North Pole Expedition Museum – where he highlighted further the potential risks of encountering a bear, but reassuring if you « stick with an expert you’ll be fine ».
He then delved into Svalbard’s mining past and mentioned no visa is needed for entry. « It’s Norwegian, but it’s kind of not, » he tried to clarify. « You fly up here from Norway for a couple of hundred pounds return, but Svalbard is a bit like international waters.
« Norway are like custodians of the island – they protect the wildlife, the landscapes, ensure fair opportunities for all countries and guarantee it stays demilitarised so the US and Russia can’t exploit its location. »
Phil then felt compelled to share some « serious advice » about the dangers one might encounter in Svalbard if you « do something stupid ». « You can get into a lot of trouble and fast, » he warned, before listing the various activities tourists can indulge in.
« There’s boats, bikes, trekking, snowmobiles – just book, » he suggested. Phil’s first stop was the Global Seed Vault, also known as the ‘Doomsday Store’, which he found terrifying for a different reason. « Tunnelled deep into the mountains is where they store seeds from all plants and crops on Earth, » he disclosed. « The seeds might be needed after a regional natural disaster somewhere on Earth – or brace yourselves – a meteor strike. »
Phil concluded by lauding the « amazing » pubs and restaurants on the island, attributing their charm to a blend of global tourists, locals, hardcore explorers, scientists, and workers. Despite the chilly climate, Longyearbyen offers camping facilities, bunk houses, hostels, and hotels, with Phil shelling out approximately £230 per night for his stay.
The town also boasts schools, a ski slope, a leisure centre, a tax-free shopping centre, and many more amenities, according to Phil. « Probably my main bit of advice if you come here is to make sure whoever you’re coming with is equally as excited, » he closed. « Don’t drag anyone here against their will – we’re a long way north, it’s very isolated and they probably wouldn’t enjoy it. »
« Wanted to do this for years, » one TikTok user penned in response to the video. « It looks so remote that there’s not very much to do other than what’s in this video, BUT I’d still really want to go, » confessed a second. « I just can’t justify spending like £950 on it. Wonder what their nightlife is like. »
« There is a reason I follow you and I love the fact that you are expanding boundaries, » hailed a third TikTok user. While a fourth admitted: « This looks like heaven. » Elsewhere, and contrary to Phil’s claim, others suggested the most northern settlement on the planet is in fact Alert, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada.
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