
Getting to Svalbard
Svalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway. Surprising then, that getting there is quite so straightforward, with regular flights from Norway to …
Discover MoreFew places in the Arctic offer such a wide range of ships to choose from: tiny yachts, small ships with between twelve and sixty passengers, Russian vessels and some of the most luxurious expedition ships in the world.
Choosing a vessel with large amounts of deck space, or even your own balcony makes a huge difference to your experience. The most popular cabins are in high demand and so booking 12 to 18 months in advance is recommended. Ships with the highest ice-class ratings are most able to navigate through the channels, so favour these in your selection. Some trips will visit Svalbard as well as other regions, giving you an even richer view of the region.
You can typically expect two landings per day, always accompanied by your onboard expedition team whose first job it will be to sweep every site for polar bears.
Traveling by zodiac you might cruise across the snout of the 14th July glacier in Krossfjorden, explore the bird cliffs off Fugelsongen, or delve into hidden coves. Some of the best wildlife experiences occur whilst on these versatile little boats. For the even more adventurous, at many of these sites it is also possible to paddle in kayaks, snorkel, and dive.
On shore you will be able to explore the Arctic tundra; keeping watch for arctic fox, hare and reindeer. Selected voyages may also allow you to don snowshoes or skis to travel across the snow.
The scenery of Svalbard is spectacular and dotted around the archipelago there are Russian mining towns, abandoned whaling stations and trappers huts dating back over the centuries. All of these make for fascinating landings when explored with expert guides.
As the name suggests these shorter trips (7-10 days) offer an excellent introduction to Svalbard, with daily off-ship excursions and good opportunities for wildlife sightings.
These longer trips (11-14 days) not only improve your chances of wildlife sightings, but the later departures also offer the opportunity to do a full circumnavigation of Spitsbergen.
While Svalbard has more than enough appeal to keep you captivated, there are also some spectacular longer trips (14-24 days) which combine Svalbard with its near neighbours.
From the ship you are likely to spot king eider, fulmars and puffin. Under the waves there is an ever present chance of beluga, humpback, minke and blue whales, while orca are also regular visitors. There are more polar bears here than there are people, and while we can’t guarantee sightings you would be unlucky to not see a bear, especially on the longer trips.
Walrus regularly haul out at sites such as Poolepynten, and Brunnich's guillemots nest in their thousands on the vertiginous cliffs at Akerfeldt. Nesting sites attract arctic foxes and the open tundra, despite being in permafrost, is perfect for reindeer.
Svalbard is unrivalled of the polar regions in the spectrum of expedition ships offered. While small yachts can be chartered, there are expeditions on small ships with cabins for just 12 passengers, as well as twin-mast schooners for between 16 and 32 passengers. Larger, ice-strengthened ships fall roughly into three size categories: small (up to 70 passengers), medium (90 to 150 passengers) and large (200+ passengers).
It is important to consider the style of expedition too. Expedition teams operate in different ways on each ship, with adventures like kayaking or snowshoeing only available on specific journeys. Getting the right balance of all this is the key to getting the best out of your time in the archipelago.
Svalbard is geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway. Surprising then, that getting there is quite so straightforward, with regular flights from Norway to …
Discover MoreIn the absence of hotels and infrastructure once you depart Longyearbyen, an expedition ship offers the best means to explore Svalbard's ragged coastline, while acting as both your…
Discover MoreExpedition cruising is all about active exploration - trekking the arctic tundra, watching for wildlife, studying Svalbard’s history or sailing through sea ice, and accompanied …
Discover MoreWhile Svalbard may be an almost year round destination, the changing weather, number of daylight hours, amount of ice and snow conditions through the year all have a marked effect …
Discover MoreOur team of experts are ready to help you with any questions about a trip to the Arctic. Call us now to start your journey.