An Italian tour guide's experience of avoiding the pandemic in the Arctic.

As a tour guide, Valentina Miozzo had fewer job opportunities during the pandemic. With no more international trips, Valentina had to make ends meet by focusing on building her travel blog and promoting accommodation services. However, "online travel" wasn't enough; she missed the feeling of traveling and discovering new cultures.

And luck came her way in September 2020 when Valentina received an invitation to manage a resort in... the Arctic. For many, the harsh climate of the far North would be a cause for concern, but Valentina didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately accepted the offer.

This isn't Valentina's first time moving abroad; she lived in London for three years. Over the years, she's often chosen destinations in warm climates like India, Indonesia, Senegal, or Southeast Asia. Moving to a frigid place like the Arctic is a new experience for Valentina.

“My life revolves around travel. I’m away from home for six months a year. Going to the Arctic was never in my plans, but this is a fantastic opportunity to explore new lands,” the owner of the travel blog Viaggiare Libera shared with CNN.

In October 2020, Valentina packed her bags and left Emilia Romagna (northern Italy) to move to Kongsfjord (Norway).

The Arctic and its unique features

In stark contrast to their bustling hometown, Kongsfjord has only 28 residents.

“The nearest supermarket is 25 km away, and the hospital is 321 km away. The local airport is too small. In winter, there are strong winds and ice everywhere, so residents only go to the grocery store once every two weeks because the bad weather makes travel too difficult,” Valentina recounted.

Before setting off, she had already decided that she would have to leave behind the conveniences of city life. She knew she would be going to an isolated place where everything was scarce and difficult to access.

“I just moved here and I experienced the polar night. December and January have no sunlight at all; I have to live in complete darkness for two months. It was a fascinating experience. It's not as bad as people think; in fact, living in sunlight 24/7 is even worse,” Valentina shared about the changes in weather.

From mid-May to mid-July, Kongsfjord experiences no sunsets, and its inhabitants must adapt to the intense sunlight all day long. For newcomers, this is certainly a challenging experience.

“The light, the shadows, and even the climate—everything is new to me. It’s my first time experiencing what it’s like to live in the tundra. Everything around me is white—the snow and ice, and all the animals that live here,” Valentina said excitedly.

The best news is that Kongsfjord has not recorded any cases of Covid-19. Life here continues as normal, and people don't have to wear masks every day.

Experience a new form of travel.

After living and experiencing the remote far north, Valentina realized that travel doesn't need to be luxurious and glamorous; what matters is the experiences we gain in new places.

"Before the pandemic, many people traveled with the mindset of needing to show off, boasting about their travels, and taking lots of photos to post on social media. Travel gradually lost its value in terms of self-discovery."

Now, the pandemic will certainly change the way we travel. Exploring cultures and interacting with people will be limited, and tourism will gradually shift towards nature and the natural environment to understand and preserve long-standing values."

Valentina herself has been pursuing sustainable travel since 2007: traveling for deeper exploration, focusing on quality rather than quantity, traveling at a slower pace, and experiencing things more thoroughly.

No... homesick

Valentina's time living in the Arctic was supposed to end in April 2021, but she decided to stay in Kongsfjord for another two months to extend her experience in this harsh region.

In the near future, she will move to the Svalbard archipelago, located in the far north of Norway and home to polar bears. After Svalbard, Valentina will move to the Lofoten Islands and take over another holiday home.

Sharing her thoughts on returning to Italy, Valentina said she would consider going back home in the fall if the pandemic situation is under control and travel becomes convenient again.

"I chose my current profession because it allows me to travel while working. I've developed a wonderful relationship with the people of Kongsfjord. I will definitely return to visit them in the future," she said.

Bo Di