Pilot Episode
Svalbard
2,000 people, 3,000 polar bears — where it all began.
The dart adventures were born up here. 2,000 people, 3,000 polar bears — where it all began.
Svalbard is the Arctic archipelago tied to the very origin of Travel by Dart — the frozen edge of the map where an impossible expedition somehow came together and proved that authentic dreams find support. It remains one of the most remote and otherworldly places I have ever pointed a camera at.
This is a short note while I write the full account. Press play above to watch one of the earliest chapters of the journey — the cold, quiet place where the whole idea started.
Svalbard: traveler questions
Why is Svalbard special to Travel by Dart?＋
Svalbard sits at the heart of where it all began. The Arctic expedition that launched the whole concept was made possible when Svalbard's tourism board believed in two guys chasing an impossible dream. Without that leap of faith, there might be no Travel by Dart.
Are there really more polar bears than people?＋
That's the local legend, and it isn't far off — only around 2,000 people live here, scattered across a frozen archipelago where polar bears genuinely outnumber residents. You don't leave the settlement without a rifle and a guide.
What is Svalbard like to visit?＋
It's one of the most remote, otherworldly places I've ever filmed — endless Arctic light, glaciers, and a stillness that's hard to describe. Watch the episode above for a look at where the dart adventures were born.