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🌎  Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands 🇸🇯

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4.9
(22)

📍  Moffen

✈️  Lakselv Airport, Banak (LKL)

🚗  1.1 KM

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Moffen Island, located north of Svalbard, is a critical nature reserve renowned for its large walrus haul-out and is exclusively accessible via expedition cruise ships operating in the high Arctic. Independent or solo visits are not possible, and landing on the island is strictly prohibited due to severe environmental protection regulations. A 300-meter exclusion zone for vessels is enforced around the island from May 15th to September 15th to protect the walruses and nesting birds, ensuring visits are always guided observations from a respectful distance aboard a ship. A visit to Moffen is integrated into a multi-day Svalbard cruise itinerary, with typical costs ranging from several thousand dollars, and ships usually spend a few hours cruising past for wildlife viewing. The best time to visit is during the Arctic summer months (June-August) when cruises are operational and ice conditions permit access.