Longyearbyen in Svalbard is the northernmost inhabited city in the world. It is a 100 miinutes flight towards the North Pole from the northern Norwegian city of Tromso. Longyearbyen is an old mining town and is a great place for an out of this world holiday experience.

During summer there is perpetual sunlight - although you may experience some snow even in July. During the cold winter months the sun never rises in this city.

A live webcam picture taken at 1pm on Friday, February 4 shows a ship in Longyearbayen harbour. Another picture taken from the same camera at 6pm shows that the ship has sailed. Despite perpetual darkness, life goes on in Longyearbyen. People drive around in their snow scooters and children attend school even though it may be dark outside.

SAS has daily flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo and Tromso. Since there are not many flights to Oslo from the Middle East, you can take Norwegian Airlines from London to Tromso. The demonstrations in Tahrir Square getting you down? The snow blizzard in the US affecting your travel plans? The cyclone in Australia bothering you? If you want to get away from it all and experience a different kind of holiday then go to Longyearbyen. Don't worry, your creature comforts will be well taken care of at the Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen in Longyearbyen. You may even get to see a polar bear.