Svalbard in Summer

Svalbard's summer months of June and July are characterised by a frenzy of wildlife activity as every creature capitalises on this narrow window of time. The receding ice also allows ships to navigate further north and to the less-visited eastern side of the region, opening up even more thrilling opportunities to explore.

Planning Guide June 2026 Cruises July 2026 Cruises

5 reasons to visit Svalbard in Summer

Experience the midnight sun, the extraordinary phenomenon of 24 hours of daylight that the whole Arctic experiences during the Summer months
Enjoy the excellent wildlife encounters: hungry polar bears, walruses hauled out on ice floes and opportunistic Arctic foxes around the bird colonies
Each June and July, Svalbard plays host to over 3 million migratory birds who come to breed and take advantage of the brief, productive Summer. A feast for birders!
As the ice recedes with the onset of Summer in Svalbard, it allows greater access by ship into the smaller fjords, and the chance to explore the archipelago’s far north
These warmer months, when the land becomes free of snow and ice, offer fantastic opportunities for hiking and exploring the tundra on foot

Swoop says

By June and July, wildlife activity on Svalbard is at full throttle and at its most thrilling. I also love the opportunity for extended hiking on land.

Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Arctic

Svalbard in Summer

Svalbard coastline

Bear sightings can happen anywhere in Svalbard

SWO_3_John-Newby_ALL_Kayak-Svalbard-July-banner2

Kayaking in Svalbard

The stunning mountains and glaciers of Svalbard

A close-up of a reindeer in Svalbard, the Arctic

Witness reindeer close-up

A walrus haul-out

Flowers on the beach in Svalbard

A wild reindeer roams across Svalbard, the Arctic

See wild reindeers

Svalbard from the deck of an Arctic ship

Capturing beautiful scenery from the ship

Admire glacial ice close-up

Svalbard has rich summer flora

Our best Summer cruises to Svalbard

Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.

Quest for the Ice Bear

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

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Svalbard Wildlife In-Depth

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

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Into the Polar Bear’s Realm

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

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Svalbard Explorer

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

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Svalbard Basecamp Adventure

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

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Spitsbergen Circumnavigation

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

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Swoop says

Summer in Svalbard is sensory overload: 24-hour daylight, bursting blooms and a high chance of spotting walrus, whales and polar bears. We’ve explored during this peak season, so we can help you find a voyage that delivers optimum off-ship time and wildlife encounters.

Planning your Svalbard expedition in Summer

What are Summer conditions like in Svalbard?

Summer in Svalbard is defined by abundant light, life and access to the wildest corners of the archipelago. With the midnight sun in full swing, daytime is constant and there's no real night – just bright light lasting through the early hours and extending your opportunities to explore.

Temperatures during these months remain cool at around 3°C to 7°C (37°F to 45°F) during the day, but the snow begins to retreat. Fjords open up, sea ice breaks apart and expedition ships can reach further into Svalbard’s dramatic coastline. Some areas will still have patches of ice, particularly in the north and east. By early July, ice-choked Hinlopen Strait usually becomes navigable, allowing circumnavigations of Spitsbergen.

14th July Glacier on Svalbard

What wildlife might I see in Svalbard in Summer?

June and July offer some of the best chances to spot polar bears. As the sea ice thins and breaks up, the King of the Arctic is often found around any lingering ice pockets, on the coast, or up in the pack ice, which many ships will sail north towards to help maximise sightings.

Reindeer and Arctic foxes are active, making the most of Summer. Walrus lounge on beaches and on isolated ice floes. Cetaceans begin to appear more frequently in the fjords – keep a particular eye out for beluga whales.

Cliffs and shorelines transform into noisy, chaotic nesting sites as migratory birds return in their thousands. Little auks, guillemots, kittiwakes, skuas and fulmars are all part of the spectacle.

Bear on ice floe