Although the Svalbard Archipelago is nominally a part of Norway, it couldn't be more different than the prevailing view of Europe as a boring and safe place to visit. Svalbard is the realm of the Polar Bear. If you set foot out of the main town of Longyearbyen then you will need an armed guard to protect you in case you encounter one of these fearsome predators. There are more than bears here though: Svalbard reindeers, Arctic foxes, walrus and leopard seals all eke out a living in this barren environment that is plunged into the black polar night for weeks on end in the harsh winter.

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Frozen into the remote Templefjorden in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is probably one of the most unique hotels in the world. The Noorderlicht is a wooden Dutch schooner that is almost 100 years old. Known as 'The Ship in the Ice' it is a haven of warmth in this frozen wasteland! You can reach the Ship in The Ice by dog sled, or by snow-mobile: either way you will need an armed guide to protect you from marauding Polar Bears!