Svalbard Cruises
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard distils the best of the Arctic into one remarkable archipelago. In high summer, largely ice-free coastlines reveal calving …
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Six things to know about Svalbard
- The Svalbard archipelago sits halfway between Norway and the North Pole and is home to the world's northernmost continuously inhabited town, Longyearbyen
- ‘Svalbard’ is the name of the archipelago, while Spitsbergen refers to the largest island in the group. The next largest islands are Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya and Barentsøya
- 60% of Svalbard’s landmass is permanently covered by ice; less than 10% has vegetation
- Because of its high latitude, Svalbard experiences four months of total darkness each year – the Polar Night – and in summer four months of 24/7 Midnight Sun
- Deep inside a mountain just outside Longyearbyen, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault plays a crucial role by storing backup seeds for worldwide agriculture
- A firearm must be carried by anyone leaving Longyearbyen for protection against polar bears, while cats are illegal to protect fragile native bird species
Swoop says
Surprisingly, over 40 nationalities call Svalbard home because the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 lets citizens of any signatory country live and work there without a visa or work permit, giving Spitsbergen’s main town of Longyearbyen a rich and thriving multinational society.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
Our most popular Svalbard voyages
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…
- 15 Days
- $14,081
Explore the fjords and ice of Svalbard keeping a close watch for polar bears onboard an exceptional expedition ship. Spend time on deck, on land and in zodiacs with the hugely experienced guides learning about the history, geology and wildlife…
- 9 Days
- $8,890
An intimate summer expedition circumnavigating Spitsbergen on a 12-guest micro ship. Feel connection to nature, with a sense of solitude and scale, which is harder to find on larger ships. Explore rarely-visited islands, glaciers and the polar desert in search…
- 12 Days
- $21,500
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…
- 11 Days
- $9,761
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
- $14,181
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
- $6,250
Experience the Arctic’s legendary wildlife aboard an intimate micro expedition ship, amidst a pristine backdrop of calving glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. With an unmatched sense of ‘expedition’ and a deeper connection to nature, you build your own adventure, searching for…
- 10 Days
- $17,500
Circumnavigate Spitsbergen on board a choice of two 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
- $12,290
Circumnavigate Spitsbergen on board on a comfortable expedition ship and in the company of specialist guides. Travelling on a smaller ship allows you more time to explore, and some late-season departures benefit from stunning autumn light. Ask about special guest…
- 12 Days
- $11,890
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 flight from Oslo to Svalbard, spend seven…
- 11 Days
- $17,600
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…
- 20 Days
- $10,000
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…
- 11 Days
- $18,695
Spring travel in Svalbard is a real treat, particularly on board a 12-guest micro ship. Revel in being one of the earliest visitors with the whole archipelago largely to yourselves. Explore iced fjords, a landscape still shrouded in snow, and…
- 8-10 Days
- $12,500
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
- $3,300
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
- $4,800
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
Start off in Akureyri, then cross the Arctic Circle as you sail north across the Denmark Strait and along Greenland's immense eastern coastline. The final leg of the voyage is across the Greenland Sea to Longyearbyen. This is a truly…
- 14 Days
- $8,300
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…
- 11 Days
- $6,000
View over the tundra on a hike
View across the Arctic tundra
Hiking along the coast
Svalbard has rich summer flora
Bears exploring the sea ice
Hiking in Svalbard
Kayaking at Alkefjellet
Navigating through pack ice
Visiting an historic hut
Guide to Svalbard
Wildlife
Svalbard offers exceptional wildlife observation opportunities due to its high concentration of polar species during the Arctic summer. Expedition cruises navigate the pack ice edge and coastal fjords, constantly on the lookout.
A highlight for many visitors to Svalbard is to observe polar bears roaming across the ice, or hunting on sea ice floes. You can also expect to see haul-outs of walruses along gravel beaches.
Offshore waters host various cetaceans, including humpback, minke, beluga, and occasionally blue whales.
Shore excursions provide chances to spot native species such as the short-legged Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes.
Millions of migratory seabirds, including Brünnich’s guillemots and little auks, nest in vast numbers along vertical cliff faces. Alkefjellet, in northern Spitsbergen, is a prime spot for seeing this amazing spectacle.
Polar bear with whale carcass
Geography
Svalbard’s landscape is marked by its variety and the stark contrast between the different areas of the archipelago. Spitsbergen’s west coast has dramatic fjords and mountains rearing to over 1,000m/3,280ft rising from sea level, while other parts of Svalbard tend to be more wide and open.
Sixty per cent of the landmass is covered in ice, less than 10% has any vegetation, and trees are totally absent. Nearly two thirds of Svalbard is protected and consists of several nature reserves, national parks and bird sanctuaries.
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The stunning mountains and glaciers of Svalbard
Midnight Sun
The extraordinary light on Svalbard can be categorised into three phases, as the year progresses:
- Polar Night (26th October - 14th February) is when there’s 24-hours of darkness and its possible to see the Northern Lights in the middle of the day
- Twilight period is between the seasons when the area experiences an eerie, blue light
- Midnight Sun (15th April - 26th August) describes the phenomenon of 24-hour daylight
Solfestuka marks the return of the sun after the dark winter is celebrated. The whole town gathers on the steps of the old hospital at 12:15 to await the first rays peeping over the mountains.
Fish drying out of reach of dogs and bears, Longyearbyen
Customer reviews of Svalbard voyages
I will tell my grandchildren that we had a barbeque on the front upper deck and got to 82 degrees north! Read the full review
Travelled: July 2018
Dianne & Jim Spry - United Kingdom
The best moments was getting in the Zodiacs, not once but twice a day. Read the full review
Travelled: July 2018
Dianne & Jim Spry - United Kingdom
Kayaking in the thick brash ice by a big glacier, on a beautiful sunny day was a highlight....but then again, so was when the walrus popped its head up out of the water right in front of me when in the zodiac! Read the full review
Travelled: June 2018
Leslie & Nancy Steenbeke (Grossman) - United States Of America
Swoop says
Cruising around Svalbard is the ultimate High Arctic expedition. You'll be sailing through one of the planet's last pristine wildernesses, guided by experts to maximise your experience of the geography, nature and wildlife.
Plan your trip to Svalbard
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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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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Arctic Cruises FAQs
Our expert team are ready and waiting to answer your questions. Whether it's about a specific ship, the best time to travel, or even what clothing is best for the Arctic, we're …
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