
Svalbard Cruises
North of the Arctic Circle and halfway between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard’s dramatic coastline and fjords are largely ice-free during high summer providing incredible …
Discover MoreOne of the Arctic Regions ‘wildlife hotspots’, alongside around 3,000 polar bears and the indigenous Svalbard reindeer, during the summer months arctic fox, walrus, seals and whales can be seen.
Activity peaks during high summer when the island plays host to a coterie of migratory wildlife, including millions of birds who come to breed on Svalbard’s famous bird cliffs.
In spite of its northerly latitude and proximity to the North Pole, Svalbard has a mild climate due to the moderating influence of the Northern Atlantic gulf stream.
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/ 3,280 ft rising from sea level, while other parts of Svalbard tend to be more wide and open.
60% 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. An advantage of it being so off the beaten track is that the majority of the land is still pristine and unsullied by either roads or other human activity.
North of the Arctic Circle and halfway between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard’s dramatic coastline and fjords are largely ice-free during high summer providing incredible …
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 MoreThere are many trips to Svalbard to choose from, varying in length and route as well as size and style of ship. Why not contact us for more options?
Svalbard is first mentioned in Icelandic texts in the 12th century, yet it was Dutchman Willem Barentsz who officially discovered the archipelago in 1596 while searching for the Northeast Passage.
Whaling: News of healthy whale and walrus populations soon got out following Barentsz’ discovery, triggering the first ‘oil rush’. The strong European demand lasted from approximately 1600-1750 and took bowheads whales to the brink of extinction.
Trappers: Russian Pomors from the White Sea area followed the whalers. Hardy to Arctic conditions, they exploited the winter furs of arctic fox and polar bears from the early 18th century to the mid-1800s. The 71 remains of the trapping stations are the most visible traces of that period.
Explorers: The remains of former expeditions are some of Svalbard's most famous cultural heritage sites. Of the 35 sites, of particular interest are the bases from where early explorers set out to attempt to reach the North Pole. Remains from the various balloon expeditions can still be visited, while the 1926 mooring mast for Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile’s semi-rigid airship Norge still stands at Ny-Alesund.
Mining: Not even Svalbard’s remote location left it immune from coal miners during the demands of the industrial revolution. Heavy setup costs and the short operating season caused many projects to fail, leaving impressively sized installations still very much visible. A few mines still operate today.
The extraordinary light on Svalbard can be categorised into 3 phases, as the year progresses:
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.
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 …
Discover MoreSvalbard 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 MoreThe largest and only permanently populated of Svalbard’s islands, Spitsbergen is where all the activity and life happens. The beating heart of Spitsbergen itself is the town of …
Discover MoreAt the height of summer when wildlife populations and activity are peaking on Svalbard, there are few other parts of the Arctic which offer the same combination of easy access and …
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.