In January 2020 I booked a 4-day photographic expe...

In January 2020 I booked a 4-day photographic expedition by snowmobile through a guide from Visit Svalbard (Oddgeir Sagerup, SEE & Explore AS). Unfortunately in mid March the Norwegian authorities blocked access to Svalbard. From this point onwards my calvary began. I informed the guide that I could not reach the island and requested the cancellation of my trip. He always refused, forcing me to cancel on my side and imposing a 50% penalty on the advance paid at the end of January. I would have been satisfied with 80% of the costs, but not 50% as they imposed.
In addition, Mr. Sagerup, always confirmed the tour when it was clear that you could not stay, despite the impossibility to reach Svalbard.
In short, after numerous fruitless e-mails, I contacted Visit Svalbard, who answered me evasively to my request, and then disappeared without giving me an answer.
In conclusion, Visit Svalbard and SEE & Expolore AS, have a poor financial reliability, they lack the insurance coverage typical of tour operators and are very uncooperative. BE CAREFUL TO ADVANCE MONEY FOR EXCURSIONS, THEY ARE UNRELIABLE, DISHONEST AND IN THE MOMENT OF DIFFICULTY THEY DISAPPEAR WITHOUT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS!!