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 …
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Top reasons to go on a Svalbard expedition cruise
- Venture into the lair of the polar bear – they outnumber humans up here
- Hold your breath as you get thrillingly close to walrus, reindeer, arctic fox, seals and whales
- Gaze up at soaring cliffs teeming with millions of nesting birds
- Sail among the sea ice through magnificent fjords and past creaking glaciers
- Experience the wonders of the midnight sun as day blends into night
- Daily scheduled flights via Oslo make Svalbard easier and cheaper to reach than almost any other Arctic region.
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The stunning mountains and glaciers of Svalbard
View across the Arctic tundra
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Bears are a very real threat here
Bears exploring the sea ice
Svalbard's stunning scenery
Walrus in Svalbard
Trekkers cross the Arctic ice
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Svalbard's stunning scenery
A bearded seal in Svalbard
Hikers prepare to explore Svalbard
Brunnich's guillemot nesting site in Svalbard
Cruising off the coast of Spitsbergen
Polar bear spotting from the bow of your sailing ship
Choosing your expedition cruise to Svalbard
Vessels
Few 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.
Svalbard coastline
Landing sites on Svalbard
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.
Alkefjellet bird cliffs, home to tens of thousands of guillemots
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.
Zodiac cruising in Svalbard
Introductory Svalbard cruises
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.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This popular introduction to Svalbard is keenly priced and, with numerous early season departures, guarantees plenty of ice. Sail onboard one of the newest ships in polar waters and spot bears from the plentiful deck space. Optional kayaking and hiking…
- 10, 11 or 12 Days
- $8,451
Scouting Svalbard’s ice floes for wildlife by zodiac and on foot, cruising the magnificent 14th of July glacier and reaching the world’s most northerly settlement at Ny Ålesund are just some of this 10-day voyage’s many highlights. There's also the…
- 10 Days
- $6,652
Let the midnight sun guide the way as you sail north to Phippsoya, just 540 miles from the geographical North Pole. En route you'll experience calving glaciers and teeming colonies of seabirds, walrus and whales, all while keeping a sharp…
- 8 Days
- $4,450
Sail to Svalbard aboard a sleek, elegant and all-inclusive expedition vessel in serious comfort. Not to be confused with a cruise, this is definitely an expedition with daily landings and a serious emphasis on wildlife sightings and experiencing the real…
- 10 Days
- $11,019
For anyone keen to experience Svalbard’s rich Arctic wildlife and spectacular scenery while travelling comfortably, this is a good option. Travelling in the company of naturalists on board a modern state-of-the-art ship, equal attention is given to your experience both…
- 8 Days
- $10,903
In search of a whistle-stop Arctic experience? This is the shortest Svalbard voyage available. Walk the tundra, experience calving glaciers and reach 80 degrees north while keeping a close eye out for Svalbard’s megafauna: polar bears, walruses and reindeer. All…
- 7 Days
- $7,790
Truly escape the modern world and explore Svalbard on board a schooner. Sail north through the melting spring ice, spot wildlife and learn about the archipelago’s rich history. Highlights include the Monaco Glacier, 17th century whaling settlements, close encounters with…
- 8 or 11 Days
- $4,200
Explore the fjords and ice of Svalbard keeping a close watch for polar bears onboard a choice of three truly exceptional small expedition ships. Spend time on deck, on land and in zodiacs with the hugely experienced guides learning about…
- 9 Days
- $6,990
Setting sail from Scotland, this iconic journey island hops its way northwards before bisecting the Arctic Circle and spending time exploring the captivating Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The little-visited islands of Fair Isle and Jan Mayen are a real treat,…
- 10 Days
- $2,900
Using the ship as your comfortable ‘basecamp’ and travelling slower to enable more time for exploring each location – on foot, by kayak and through the lens of your camera – this is an ideal trip for the active traveller seeking quality…
- 8 Days
- $4,450
For a stellar introduction to all Svalbard has to offer, travel on board a modern X-Bow ship with a maximum of just 130 guests while accompanied by one of the best expedition teams in the business. Complimentary charter flights and…
- 8 Days
- $13,895
Svalbard in depth
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.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Travelling at the height of summer, this trip is the longest of any Svalbard cruise and offers the best possible conditions for thrilling wildlife encounters. Your circumnavigation of Spitsbergen includes huge glaciers, epic bird cliffs and ice-choked channels. Plus, there's…
- 14 or 15 Days
- $15,088
Circumnavigate Spitsbergen on board a choice of three small ships and in the company of specialist guides. Travelling in such small groups allows you more time to explore, and some late-season departures benefit from stunning autumn light. Ask about special…
- 12 Days
- $8,790
Maximise wildlife sightings with the chance to circumnavigate Spitsbergen island. Search for walrus, arctic fox, whales and of course the ‘King of The Arctic'. Sail through the Hinlopen Strait and visit abandoned trapping stations and experience glaciers up close all…
- 12 Days
- $16,795
Delivering a whopping 12 full days of exploration under the midnight sun, this voyage appeals to both wildlife enthusiasts keen to boost their chances of sighting Svalbard’s captivating fauna and the slow traveller who wants to get under the skin…
- 15 Days
- $23,495
Trips to Svalbard & other regions
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.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Introductions to the High Arctic don’t come much better. Traverse wildlife-rich Svalbard via East Greenland’s towering icebergs and autumnal tundra, then continue on to Iceland. Aurora sightings are possible at any point.…
- 15 Days
- $14,983
Beginning in Svalbard before sailing west across the Greenland Sea and exploring Greenland’s long eastern coastline to finish in Iceland, this is an audacious Arctic journey of startling diversity and contrast. Spectacular landscapes, towering glaciers and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters all…
- 13 or 15 Days
- $22,295
This comprehensive Arctic triumvirate encompassing Svalbard, East Greenland and Iceland offers the best of the Arctic: some of the best wildlife viewing with spectacular scenery, unspoiled fjords, gigantic icebergs and Inuit communities. You may also be lucky enough to see…
- 14 Days
- $11,495
Beginning deep inside the High Arctic and finishing in subarctic Iceland, we like this voyage for its diversity, sense of journey and extended time exploring East Greenland. Zodiac cruising among towering icebergs, glimpsing the Northern Lights and tracking musk oxen…
- 14 Days
- $11,892
Reach the top of the world in serious comfort onboard a state-of-the-art luxury, hybrid-powered icebreaker. Travel north through icebound waters and join the exclusive list of intrepid explorers who have visited the geographical North…
- 16 Days
- $37,160
At 81 degrees north Franz Joseph Land’s 191 glaciated islands are as far from the tourist track as it gets, as such visitors are very few. Expect challenging ice, a flexible itinerary and wildlife sightings. This is expedition cruising at…
- 14 - 15 Days
- $11,148
Start off in Svalbard, then travel southwards along Greenland's immense eastern coastline before crossing the Arctic Circle to finish by exploring the island's south on this voyage of epic proportions and superlatives. A truly comprehensive – and rarely offered – trip introducing…
- 14, 15 or 21 Days
- $8,350
Travelling in luxury aboard an outstanding expedition ship, we love this trip for its unusual combination of Svalbard and Norway’s northern tip, plus its focus on top-notch service and cuisine. After a hassle-free charter flight from Oslo to Svalbard, spend…
- 11 Days
- $17,600
Swoop says
Svalbard is the perfect introduction to the High Arctic, with its dramatic scenery, calving glaciers and wildlife-rich tundra.
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About Svalbard
Wildlife on Svalbard
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.
Bear sightings can happen anywhere in Svalbard
Svalbard ships
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.
Plan your trip to Svalbard
Svalbard Ships
In 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…
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Svalbard Landing Sites
Expedition cruising is all about active exploration - trekking the arctic tundra, watching for wildlife, studying Svalbard’s history or sailing through sea ice, and accompanied …
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When to visit Svalbard
While 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 …
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