Svalbard Wildlife
At 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 …
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Five reasons to visit Svalbard in Spring
- Witness Svalbard’s spectacular Spring landscapes of frozen fjords and snow-covered mountains, creating dramatic contrasts and pristine photographic scenes
- May marks the start of the season, which means fewer ships and visitors. It's a special time when you’ll have the area largely to yourself
- There are prime wildlife-spotting opportunities, including polar bears among the ice, reindeer and Arctic foxes on the tundra, and walruses and seals hauled out on ice floes
- Travelling at the tail end of the sea-ice season – cruising the ice edge, exploring frozen fjords and sailing into the pack ice – is a thrilling experience
- There's also a real sense of exploration travelling in May – being one of the first to visit, and when variable conditions add to the authenticity and adventure
Swoop says
I love May in Svalbard for the pristine quality of the scenery and the excitement as the archipelago reawakens after the long polar night.
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic
Our most popular spring voyages to Svalbard
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
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
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
- $7,267
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
- $6,890
Experience the best of two contrasting Arctic regions as they get ready for summer. Beginning in Reykjavík, this audacious voyage by expeditionary icebreaker ship arches north across the Arctic circle following the dramatic, ice-choked coastline of east Greenland, before steering…
- 17 Days
- $36,860
May is springtime in Svalbard and for those travellers looking for pristine, fairytale snowy landscapes, icy fjords and a world – and wildlife – re-awakening after the long winter slumber, it’s a magical time. Travelling onboard a small ship with…
- 9 Days
- $6,290
For the Rolls-Royce of expeditionary cruising in Svalbard, travel with the original pioneers of polar exploration on this trip. Traversing Svalbard aboard one of the most advanced small expedition ships afloat and accompanied by your unparalleled onboard expedition team, expeditionary…
- 10 Days
- $14,420
This Arctic journey begins in Iceland's vibrant Reykjavík and remote Westfjords, including Djúpavík's herring factory and whale-rich Húsavík. Cruising north, discover volcanic Jan Mayen and explore Svalbard's historic, glacier-carved fjords. The voyage culminates at the North Cape, Europe's northernmost point,…
- 14 Days
- $18,932
Experience Arctic summertime at its best on this immersive expedition, travelling aboard a modern X-Bow ship built for a smoother ride through polar waters. Keep watch for walruses, whales and, with luck, polar bears as you venture towards the sea…
- 8 Days
- $5,495
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
- $3,100
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
Svalbard in Spring
Spot polar bears on the ice
Pack ice in Svalbard
Reindeer in Svalbard during springtime
A hut surrounded by snow
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White landscapes of Svalbard
Weaving among the ice by zodiac
Admire the snow from your Arctic ship
Walrus on the snow
A walrus on the ice, Svalbard
Planning your Svalbard expedition
What are Spring conditions like in Svalbard?
May is a glorious time to visit Svalbard. From April 20th, you can experience the midnight sun bathing the icy wilderness in golden light 24 hours a day, with daytime temperatures rising to around 25°F (–4°C).
Many fjords are still sealed with sea ice, and the mountains hold onto their snow, giving the scenery a fresh, untouched quality. This blanket of white may limit longer hikes earlier in the month, but by the end of May it's melting fast, revealing more of the varied terrain.
If you're drawn to dramatic sea ice and snowy landscapes, Spring is the perfect season to experience Svalbard.
What wildlife might I see in Svalbard in Spring?
As Svalbard's frozen landscape slowly stirs to life, May is a dynamic time of year – but wildlife sightings still require patience and a little bit of luck.
Polar bear mating season is in full swing, with males engaged in dramatic courtship battles. Females may be seen travelling with last year’s cubs, while ringed seal pups – key to a bear’s Spring diet – are being born on the ice. Walrus are also pupping at this time, often spotted hauled out on the pack ice's edges.
Humpbacks are the most commonly seen whales in May, though minke and other baleen whales may also appear as they begin to follow the receding sea ice northward. Bird cliffs start to bustle with nesting activity later in the month, once the snow melts from their ledges.
Swoop says
Spring in Svalbard offers something few travellers get to experience: true Arctic stillness, dramatic light and snowy scenes. And because we’ve seen it all first-hand, we’ll help you choose the trip that gets you closest to the ice and wildlife – all without the guesswork.
Our most popular Svalbard cruises in May 2026
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
May is springtime in Svalbard and for those travellers looking for pristine, fairytale snowy landscapes, icy fjords and a world – and wildlife – re-awakening after the long winter slumber, it’s a magical time. Travelling onboard a small ship with…
- 9 Days
- $6,290
For the Rolls-Royce of expeditionary cruising in Svalbard, travel with the original pioneers of polar exploration on this trip. Traversing Svalbard aboard one of the most advanced small expedition ships afloat and accompanied by your unparalleled onboard expedition team, expeditionary…
- 10 Days
- $14,420
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
- $7,267
This Arctic journey begins in Iceland's vibrant Reykjavík and remote Westfjords, including Djúpavík's herring factory and whale-rich Húsavík. Cruising north, discover volcanic Jan Mayen and explore Svalbard's historic, glacier-carved fjords. The voyage culminates at the North Cape, Europe's northernmost point,…
- 14 Days
- $18,932
Experience Arctic summertime at its best on this immersive expedition, travelling aboard a modern X-Bow ship built for a smoother ride through polar waters. Keep watch for walruses, whales and, with luck, polar bears as you venture towards the sea…
- 8 Days
- $5,495
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
- $3,100
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
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
- $6,890
Experience the best of two contrasting Arctic regions as they get ready for summer. Beginning in Reykjavík, this audacious voyage by expeditionary icebreaker ship arches north across the Arctic circle following the dramatic, ice-choked coastline of east Greenland, before steering…
- 17 Days
- $36,860
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
Our most popular Svalbard cruises in May 2027
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…
- 11 Days
- $7,267
May is springtime in Svalbard and for those travellers looking for pristine, fairytale snowy landscapes, icy fjords and a world – and wildlife – re-awakening after the long winter slumber, it’s a magical time. Travelling onboard a small ship with…
- 9 Days
- $6,290
Experience Arctic summertime at its best on this immersive expedition, travelling aboard a modern X-Bow ship built for a smoother ride through polar waters. Keep watch for walruses, whales and, with luck, polar bears as you venture towards the sea…
- 8 Days
- $5,495
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
- $6,890
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
- $3,100
Explore Svalbard in other seasons
Discover more about Svalbard
Svalbard Ship Guide
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…
Discover MoreGetting 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 MoreReady to Book Your Arctic Adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
