Getting to Svalbard
In spite of Svalbard being geographically closer to the North Pole than to Norway, it's surprisingly straightforward to get there. There are regular daily scheduled flights between…
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Six reasons to book a Svalbard cruise
- An undisputed mecca for sighting Arctic wildlife – polar bears, walrus, arctic fox and reindeer – and millions of migratory birds
- The most accessible region of the High Arctic, Svalbard’s mountainous stronghold offers the best of The Arctic in microcosm
- Experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun, and the glittering otherworldliness of the pack ice – Narnia made real
- Cruise past breathtaking landscapes, from snow-clad mountains rising from the sea to magnificent fjords and calving glaciers
- Immerse yourself in the archipelago's rich history, from the pioneering days of whaling and trapping, to the race for the North Pole
- For keen walkers, photographers and kayakers, Svalbard offers one of the world’s most spellbinding backdrops to pursue your passion
Swoop says
Whether you’re a birder or botanist, a photographer or trekker, a historian or hedonist – Svalbard’s astonishing multifacetedness is the ultimate Arctic crowd pleaser.
Nardus Erasmus Arctic Sales Specialist
What our customers think of Svalbard
Highlights of Svalbard
World-class wildlife watching
Svalbard is a living Arctic sanctuary, where wildlife thrives against a backdrop of ice and rugged landscapes. Polar bears roam the ice edge, walrus haul out on remote shores and reindeer and Arctic foxes traverse the tundra.
Beneath the waves, while whale numbers are still recovering, minke, beluga, and fin whales in particular are regularly sighted, while the occasional blue whale makes a majestic appearance.
In summer the skies come alive as millions of migratory birds arrive to nest, making Svalbard a true birding paradise.
Bears on the ice at Baffin Island
Sublime landscapes
Gliding along Svalbard’s wild coastline feels like entering a silent world sculpted by ice and time. Towering, snow-capped mountains even in summer rise dramatically from the sea in serried rows, their jagged peaks mirrored in glassy waters.
With over 60% of the archipelago cloaked in permanent ice, glaciers dominate the landscape, thundering as they calve into iceberg-strewn channels. Further north, the world transforms into an ethereal expanse of pack ice – a delicate crust of frozen sea – a magical never-never land.
A zodiac cruises beside Monaco glacier
Midnight sun
Experience the magic of Svalbard’s midnight sun, where summer reveals a world bathed in daylight 24 hours a day and the sun never sets. This surreal phenomenon might playfully shift your sense of time, but it quickly becomes exhilarating, opening the door to extended days for exploration.
With constant daylight, the opportunities for wildlife sightings – when they are at their most active during the summer months – and taking in your extraordinary surroundings at all times of day, are endless.
View of the pack ice
Swoop says
In over 20 years of polar travel, very few moments come anywhere close to the excitement of landing on the pack ice and being the most northerly ship on the planet at 82 degrees north.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
The Pack Ice
To be found off Svalbard’s north coast in summer, the pack ice stretches out to the horizon as a seemingly endless dazzling crust of pristine otherworldliness.
It is broken only by narrow leads of dark, icy water. The silence is profound, punctuated only by the occasional groan of shifting ice.
These frozen expanses are also well-known hunting grounds for hungry polar bear in search of ringed seal, and a day or two in the pack ice regularly features on many voyage itineraries.
Photographing a polar bear on the pack ice
History
Svalbard’s history is a gripping Arctic saga with many fascinating chapters. From Russian Pomor trappers who hunted walrus and fox centuries ago, to Dutch and British whalers. It was from Svalbard that explorers launched their bold expeditions in the race to be first to the North Pole. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, coal mining came to Svalbard.
Today, remnants of hunting camps, settlements, ships and mines continue to tell stories of survival, ambition and human ingenuity at the edge of the world.
Hiking to an old trapper's hut
Epic hikes
Svalbard offer some of the Arctic's most stunning hiking terrain.
At Alkhornet, home to thousands of nesting kittiwakes and other birds, you can hike across colourful tundra with grazing Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes hunting beneath the cliffs.
Alicehamna beach, situated on Raudfjorden, offers treks past an historic trapper’s hut over striking reddish sandstones, while in the south of Spitsbergen you can hike at Burgerbukta. This is located within Hornsund fjord and offers easy walking and views of Hornsundtind, the highest mountain on the island.
Hiking in Ny London, Svalbard
Planning your Svalbard trip
Svalbard Ship Guide
In the absence of hotels, exploring Svalbard by ship provides unparalleled access to the archipelago's remote coastlines and icy fjords. Due to its popularity, Svalbard offers the …
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Svalbard Landing Sites
Expedition cruising is all about active exploration off the ship. Trekking across the Arctic tundra, watching for spectacular wildlife, studying Svalbard's fascinating history or …
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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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Swoop says
Daily scheduled flights via Oslo make Svalbard easier and cheaper to reach than almost any other Arctic region. For even easier and more seamless travel, many of our voyages include direct charter flights to Longyearbyen from Oslo, Helsinki or Paris.
Getting to Svalbard: FAQs
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Can I add a stay in Longyearbyen before or after the cruise?
Yes you can, even if you have charter flights included in your Svalbard cruise package.
While you’ll typically have a few hours available to explore Longyearbyen, either immediately before or on the morning you disembark, this will only allow you to explore the town itself, church and museums, and won’t give you enough time to take part in some of the more exciting summer excursions on offer, which include:
- A visit to an ex-working coal mine
- Dog sledding on wheels
- An evening of good food and stories
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What happens if my flight is delayed? Will I miss the ship?
As the ship can’t wait for late individual passengers who are delayed in transit, your best course of action is to arrive at least one day before your trip starts.
As well as sewing in natural contingency in case of flight delay, it will also give you time to get over the journey and adjust to the new local time, so you’ll be ready to make the most of your trip from Day 1 of the voyage.
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Is there a pre-cruise hotel stay included with Svalbard cruises?
Yes, many Svalbard cruises include a pre-cruise hotel stay as part of the cruise cost, which depending on which ship you choose may be in Oslo, Helsinki or Longyearbyen.
These packaged cruises simplify logistics for guests by arranging the pre-cruise hotel, and often also include charter flights to Longyearbyen (as scheduled flights are limited and can be at unsociable times).
They also often include all drinks while onboard, and some also include the staff gratuity.
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How early should I book a Svalbard trip?
We strongly recommend booking at least 10-20 months in advance, to ensure you’re able to secure your first choice and a well located cabin. Why risk having to compromise on such an important trip, so book well ahead.
Plus, most ships reward early bookers with a generous early booking discount, which is always appreciated, and may mean that a cabin upgrade is more achievable than you had thought.
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Are there any last-minute Svalbard deals?
From time-to-time, some ships may offer limited, last minute discounts on sub-optimal departure dates or itineraries, but the choice will be limited, and you’ll need to be flexible with your travel dates. Plus, by this stage, flight prices will be high, if they are even still available as with so free flights they do get booked out.
The smarter and less risky tactic is to book as early as possible, when you’ll be able to secure the highest early booking discount.
Walrus hauled out on the ice
Bears exploring the sea ice
Stunning glacier face
Photographing the pack ice
Navigating through pack ice
Glacier calving at Svalbard
Guillemots at Alkefjellet
Reindeer at Svalbard
Walrus colony with kittiwakes
Curious foxes on Svalbard
View across the Arctic tundra
Kayaking on a mirror lake
Kayaking close to a glacier
Polar bear roaming on the snow
Walrus in Svalbard
Ready to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
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