Destination guide
Norwegian Arctic & Svalbard
"Gateway to the High Arctic"
Specialist coverage
Coverage requirements
Svalbard sits between 74°–81°N, far beyond the reach of standard travel insurance. The archipelago has a small hospital in Longyearbyen, but most expedition itineraries venture into uninhabited wilderness where polar bear encounters, glacial terrain, and sea ice present real risks. Norwegian rescue coordination (JRCC) provides SAR, but costs are borne by the traveler.
Primary requirement
Search and Rescue cost coverage (Norwegian JRCC operations)
Additional requirements
- 2 Polar bear encounter / wildlife incident coverage
- 3 Medical evacuation to Tromsø or Oslo ($100,000+ recommended)
- 4 Expedition vessel delay coverage (sea ice disruptions)
Regional risk levels
Recommended medical evacuation coverage by region
West Spitsbergen (Longyearbyen area)
Moderate risk Rec. Coverage $50k – $100k
East Svalbard & Nordaustlandet
High risk Rec. Coverage $100k – $250k
Circumnavigation / 80°N+
Extreme risk Rec. Coverage $250k+
Booked for Norwegian Arctic & Svalbard?
Most operators require you to have insurance finalized 90 days before departure.
Get compliant quoteCoverage checklist
- Medical evacuation
- Repatriation
- Trip cancellation
- Delay & missed connection
- Baggage protection
- COVID-19 coverage