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Svalbard Tour Packages

An escape to Svalbard promises to be an adventure you’ll never forget! Journey to this Arctic archipelago in winter to chase the northern lights, or travel in summer for the midnight sun. These Svalbard tours include your accommodation, guided excursions and airport transfers, all arranged by your own dedicated travel consultant.

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About Your Svalbard Tour

Whether you’re whizzing across snow-dusted landscapes or learning to drive a dog sled, you can expect the extraordinary in Svalbard. What’s more, exciting activities like this are already included in your tour package. With insider knowledge from your local guides, you’ll get the most out of your trip to Arctic Norway.

When you book a partially guided tour of Svalbard with Nordic Visitor, you’ll get: • An authentic travel experience operated by a trusted company • A dedicated travel consultant who will arrange your entire trip • Excursions led by experienced professional guides • Handpicked accommodation for a relaxing stay • 24/7 phone support during your trip for peace of mind

Nordic Visitor has made it easy to plan your Svalbard holiday. Begin your adventure by following these simple steps: 1. Pick your favourite Nordic Visitor tour 2. Confirm your package 3. Check your confirmation email 4. Book your flights 5. Get ready for your trip

Why Choose Nordic Visitor

Trusted local travel experts

Established in 2002, Nordic Visitor has been designing tours in Northern Europe ever since. Using their insider knowledge of Svalbard, your regional travel consultant will arrange your trip for you. What’s more, you can rest easy knowing that each part of your package is quality-tested by us.

Great reviews

Nordic Visitor is dedicated to the best service quality, and this is reflected year after year when TripAdvisor awards us with their Certificate of Excellence . We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travellers say they would recommend us to friends and family.

You are in good hands

You can reach us 24/7 throughout your trip. If anything unforeseen crops up, get in touch and a travel expert will be available to assist you. This includes minimising any disruption to your itinerary. So you can explore with confidence, safe in the knowledge that support is just a call away.

Hassle-free experience

Pick any of these Nordic Visitor Svalbard trips and we’ll take care of the details for you. Your dedicated travel consultant will book your accommodation, guided excursions and airport transfers before you get there. This means that from the moment you touch down, your experience will be seamless.

Full financial protection

With Nordic Visitor, you have peace of mind knowing your tour arrangements with us are 100% financially protected. Your payments are safeguarded as we comply with European Union laws on Package Travel regulations. This guarantees you a refund in the unlikely event of insolvency.

Customisable tour options

These Svalbard tours already include handpicked activities, but we know that your travel wish list is unique to you. So why not personalise your itinerary with optional extras, such as guided hikes or snowmobile rides? Plus, you’ll have the option to extend your stay with additional nights.

Customer Reviews

Nordic Visitor may be a new name in Svalbard tourism, but we’ve been around for a while in the Nordic countries. In Norway and beyond, we’ve established a great reputation with our local suppliers and guests from all over the world. It won't be long until you can read new reviews here! Maybe yours will be next?

Your Svalbard Vacation Highlights

Dazzling ice caps and rugged fjords are waiting for you in this remote archipelago where the polar bear is king. Visit Svalbard and you could…

• Spend time in Longyearbyen , the most northerly town in the world
• Chase enchanting and colourful displays of the northern lights in winter
• Go wildlife-watching on Spitsbergen , home to Arctic foxes, polar bears and reindeer
• Learn about the history and culture of these islands when you tour the Svalbard Museum
• Soak up jaw-dropping scenery with endless daylight, thanks to summer’s midnight sun
• Try your hand at mushing on a dog sledding excursion to the Adventdalen Valley
• Join a guided snowmobile tour , where you’ll glide through untouched landscapes
• Immerse yourself in nature when you stay at the remote Isfjord Radio Adventure Hotel
• Find out why Svalbard is a perfect place for one of the world’s Global Seed Vaults

Frequently Asked Questions About Svalbard Tour Packages

If you want to know more before planning your trip to Arctic Norway, don’t miss the answers to these frequently asked questions about visiting Svalbard. For even more information, check out this handy Svalbard Travel Guide .

To learn about our booking process, payments and more, please read these FAQs and booking terms .

1. Where is Svalbard?

You’ll find the island chain of Svalbard located around halfway between Northern Norway and the North Pole. This Norwegian archipelago lies well within the Arctic Circle.

The region’s 9 main islands are scattered between latitudes of 74° and 81° N. Spitsbergen is the largest of these islands. And its capital, Longyearbyen, sits at a latitude of 78° N, making it one of the world’s northernmost settlements.

2. Is Svalbard a country?

Svalbard isn’t a country, but it’s been part of the Kingdom of Norway since the Spitsbergen Treaty came into effect in 1925. This connection is why all flights to Svalbard are via Norway.

3. Is Svalbard worth visiting?

If you love off-the-beaten-path adventures, Svalbard’s rugged landscapes should definitely make it onto your travel wishlist. Skip one of those expedition cruises, and instead choose to have an authentic travel experience organised by local experts. On our carefully curated trips, you’ll really get to know the region.

With around just 2,600 people making their home in Svalbard, much of the island chain is pristine wilderness. Think vast glaciers, Arctic tundra and wild fjords.

The archipelago’s fauna doesn’t disappoint either. Not only is this a land where polar bears roam, but you might also glimpse Arctic foxes, seals and reindeer. Come summer, migratory birds arrive and get ready to start nesting. Plus, take to the water and you could spy some of the whale species that swim in the seas around Svalbard.

Why not combine your Arctic escape with other regions of Norway? Get inspired by these top Norwegian vacation spots .

4. Are there polar bears in Svalbard?

Yes, polar bears live in Svalbard year-round. In fact, the islands, and surrounding Barents Sea, are home to about 3,000 of these majestic creatures. This is higher than the number of people that live in the area!

It’s worth remembering that these are wild animals, so you aren’t guaranteed to spot a polar bear. Of course, their presence here also means that outdoor excursions must be with a guide who knows what to do if you come across one. Read more about the measures to protect both polar bears and visitors in this Svalbard travel guide .

Choose a Svalbard tour with Nordic Visitor, and rest easy knowing that we only use handpicked local suppliers with experienced professional guides.

5. Can you see the northern lights in Svalbard?

Absolutely! Svalbard is one of the best places to see the northern lights in Norway . Why, you ask? Well, to see the aurora borealis you need darkness, clear skies, high solar activity, and low light pollution. With its remote position in the Arctic Circle, where there’s lots of solar activity, Svalbard ticks all of these boxes.

If you want to chase the aurora, then the winter months of February and March are an ideal time to visit. This is because the long polar nights mean you’ll have a greater chance of seeing the northern lights.

Find out more about hunting for the aurora in this guide to the northern lights in Norway .

6. Can you visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?

Svalbard’s Global Seed Vault is not open to visitors. But it is possible to join a sightseeing tour from Longyearbyen, which stops outside the entrance. From here, you can see how the structure is built into the permafrost. You’ll also be able to admire the art installation above the door into the vault.

7. What is there to do in Svalbard?

No matter when you visit, there’s plenty to see and do in Svalbard . But it’s worth bearing in mind that travelling in summer or winter will change the type of activities you can do during your trip.

For instance, from mid-Novermber to late-January the sun doesn’t rise, this is known as the polar night. And while this is great for spotting the northern lights, you’ll miss out on the epic views. Visit from February into spring though, and you can combine hunting for the aurora with other activities.

Come to Svalbard in winter and you could:

• • Go on a snowmobiling expedition to a remote Arctic hotel
• • Try husky sledding through snow-blanketed valleys
• • Chase breathtaking displays of the northern lights

On the other hand, travel to Svalbard between mid-April and mid-August and you’ll experience the midnight sun. This natural phenomenon is when the sun doesn’t set near the poles.

The longer days and less snowy conditions of summer are best for:

• • Taking boat trips along the rugged coastline
• • Exploring the untouched wilderness on guided hikes
• • Learning how to drive a dog sled with wheels

There are also a few things you can do year-round near Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s capital. Delve into the local culture when you visit Svalbard Museum or the North Pole Expedition Museum. Or take a guided day tour into the surrounding countryside to see key sights, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

You could also grab a pint at Svalbard Bryggeri AS, the most northerly brewery in the world. And there’s Camp Barentz, a restaurant designed to look like the cabin of William Barentz, one of the first people to discover Svalbard.

Check out these other top things to do in Svalbard. And find out more about the best time to visit Norway , with tips on what to do and where to go.

8. How do I get to Svalbard?

The easiest way to get to Svalbard is by getting to Oslo or Tromsø on mainland Norway and taking a connecting flight to Svalbard.

Your travel to and from Svalbard isn’t included in these packages, but we’d be happy to assist you with organising your flights from Oslo (3 hours) or Tromsø (1.5 hours). If you’d like to split your journey with nights in either of these cities, just speak to your travel consultant.

Oslo is the nation’s capital, so you’ll find there are direct flights here from several worldwide locations. Based on the flight schedule and time of year, you could fly direct to Oslo’s airport (OSL) from the likes of:

• Amsterdam (AMS)
• Dubai (DXB)
• Dublin (DUB)
• Edinburgh (EDI)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• London Heathrow (LHR)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York City (JFK)
• Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG)
• Keflavík, near Reykjavík (KEF)
• Zürich (ZRH)

Tromsø is a smaller airport, which serves fewer destinations. But it’s handy for reaching Svalbard if you’re already in Norway, or are coming from elsewhere in Northern Europe. Depending on the time of year, there are nonstop flights to Tromsø from airports such as London Gatwick (LGW), Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) and Zürich (ZRH).

9. When should I organise my flights?

We recommend checking what flights are available before booking your Svalbard tour. But it’s best to wait until after your travel consultant has finalised the arrangements for your trip to purchase your flights.

Once they’ve been in touch with your tour confirmation, you can go ahead and make plans for getting to Svalbard.

10. How many days do you need in Svalbard?

To get the most out of your time in Svalbard, you’ll want to allow at least a few days here. Around 4 to 7 days is a good length of time for exploring the area.

With 4 days, you’ll have 2 full days for venturing out into nature. Plus, you might also have time for sightseeing in Longyearbyen on your travel days.

Meanwhile, a week will allow you to head even further off the beaten path. For instance, you could go on guided multi-day excursions by boat or snowmobile, depending on the season. And when you return to Longyearbyen, you’ll have time to see the local attractions and enjoy even more activities.

11. Do I need a visa to visit Svalbard?

Depending on where you’re travelling from, you might need a visa for your trip to Svalbard. This is because, although Svalbard isn’t in the Schengen Area, it’s part of the Kingdom of Norway, which is.

This means if you’re a resident of a country with a visa requirement for the Schengen Area, and you’re travelling to Svalbard via Norway, you will need a visa. Whether or not you require a visa, a valid passport, or other accepted form of ID, are needed to enter the region.

Before you travel make sure to check the rules for entry and residence on the Governor of Svalbard’s website.

12. Can I choose the arrival date?

Yes, you can pick the start date that works for you on these partially guided Svalbard packages.

You can begin summer tours, from May through September, on any day of the week. The tours from February to April or May aren’t available to start on any day, but there are still plenty of dates to choose from.

Each package has an online calendar where you can see up-to-date availability and take your pick from possible departure dates.

13. Can I customise my tour?

Of course, these Svalbard itineraries have been designed so you can tailor your getaway to suit you. When booking online, you can customise your own trip with optional activities and extra nights.

To find out what additional excursions are available, check out the tour page for the trip you’re interested in. Or ask your travel consultant about the activities that would work best for you.

Your options include snowmobiling and dog sledding. Plus, there’s a sightseeing tour from Longyearbyen where you'll see glaciers and some of Spitsbergen’s more historical sights. And why not extend your stay by adding extra nights to your trip?

If there’s something specific you’d like to arrange in Svalbard, just ask your dedicated travel consultant.

14. How should I dress in Svalbard?

When it comes to dressing for Svalbard, it’s worth knowing that the region's name means “cold coast” in Old Norse. Svalbard’s location within the Arctic Circle means that no matter when you visit, you're likely to experience unpredictable weather. And while it can be surprisingly mild on a calm summer's day, temperatures can also drop well below freezing at any time of year.

This means you’ll want to be prepared for all seasons, whether you’re travelling in summer or winter. Layering is the best way to dress for these varied conditions. And this way you can add and remove items as you need them.

Here’s an example of a packing list for Svalbard to get you started:

• Warm and waterproof hiking boots with good grip
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Warm synthetic or down insulated jacket
• Woollen or fleece jumpers
• Thermal baselayers
• Cosy hat, scarf/neck warmer and gloves
• Thick hiking socks
• Indoor shoes
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel adapter (type C or F)

For extra warmth, disposable hand warmers to put into your gloves are also a good idea. And if you need any special equipment for an excursion included in your tour package, it will be provided as part of the activity.

Get in touch with us and a regional travel expert will be able to answer any questions you might have about travelling to Svalbard. Now’s the time to start planning your dream Arctic getaway.

Our Scandinavian phone number is +46 8 666 23 30

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Blog Articles

7 top things to do in svalbard, 7 incredible things to see and do in norway, best time & place to see northern lights in norway, how to visit svalbard: layers, layers, layers.

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Svalbard Tours & Trips

Find the right tour package for you through Svalbard. We've got 72 trips going to Svalbard, starting from just 6 days in length, and the longest tour is 25 days. The most popular month to go is June, which has the most tour departures.

72 Svalbard tour packages

• Christmas & New Year

Svalbard, Longyerbyen and Oslo - 7 days

• Ocean Cruise

In polar bear country

Around Spitsbergen

Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic (2024), Operated by Quark

Introduction to Spitsbergen, Operated by Quark

Circumnavigating Spitsbergen | In the Realm of the Polar Bear | 2024 (MS Spitsbergen)

West Svalbard and the Polar Ice Edge

Polar Bear Express - Southeast Svalbard

Svalbard In Depth - Land, Sea And Ice

The Ultimate Expedition | Circumnavigating Svalbard (MS Spitsbergen)

10 Days Natural Wonders Of Svalbard Expedition Micro Cruise on MV Vikingfjord - 12 Guests Only

Svalbard Explorer Photography Expedition Micro Cruise with Paul Goldstein - 12 Guests Only

Spitsbergen, East Greenland and Iceland - Southbound

Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway in Depth

West Svalbard

Svalbard tours starting in:.

• Longyearbyen (26)
• Helsinki (5)
• Fully Guided (67)
• Explorer (51)
• Ocean Cruise (43)
• Family (35)
• Personalized (14)
• Small Group (18)
• 10 Day Tours (22)
• 2 Week Tours (21)
• 3 Week Tours (7)
• Spring 2024 (8)
• Summer 2024 (34)
• Fall / Autumn 2024 (8)
• Winter 2024 / 2025 (1)
• Spring 2025 (6)
• Summer 2025 (21)
• Fall / Autumn 2025 (2)
• Winter 2025 / 2026 (1)
• April 2024 (3)
• May 2024 (11)
• June 2024 (21)
• July 2024 (19)
• August 2024 (8)
• September 2024 (8)
• October 2024 (1)
• November 2024 (1)
• December 2024 (1)
• January 2025 (1)
• February 2025 (1)
• March 2025 (1)
• April 2025 (2)
• May 2025 (7)
• June 2025 (12)
• July 2025 (11)
• August 2025 (8)
• September 2025 (2)
• October 2025 (1)
• November 2025 (1)

Travel Styles

• Seniors (17)

THE 10 BEST Svalbard Tours & Excursions

Svalbard tours.

• Nature & Wildlife Tours
• Hiking & Camping Tours
• Private Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Adventurous
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Green Dog Svalbard

2. Poli Arctici

3. Hurtigruten Svalbard

4. Better Moments

5. Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions

6. Husky Travellers

7. Svalbard Adventures

8. Spitzbergen Adventures

9. Polar Dream Travel

10. Svalbard Husky

11. Arctic Adventures

12. Henningsen Transport & Guiding

13. Svalbard Villmarkssenter - Day Tours

14. Backyard Svalbard

15. Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen

16. Longyearbyen Guiding

17. Discover Svalbard

18. Escales Polaires

19. Secret Atlas

20. Grumant Arctic Travel Company

21. Spitzbergen Outdoor Activities

22. Polar Permaculture Solutions

23. See & Explore

24. Svalbard Trekking - Day Tours

25. Better Moments Svalbard

26. Svalbard Adventure Group Fjordsafari RIB Boat

27. FatBike Spitsbergen

28. Svalbard Bus and Taxi

29. Svalbard Kayak

30. Arctic Explore

What travelers are saying

• Poli Arctici
• Green Dog Svalbard
• Polar Dream Travel
• Husky Travellers
• Arctic Adventures
• Svalbard Husky
• Polar Permaculture Solutions
• Spitzbergen Outdoor Activities
• Svalbard Wildlife Expeditions
• Better Moments
• Hurtigruten Svalbard

Bookings & Enquiries

More polar bears than people, reindeers, mining town history, picture perfect glaciers, dog sledding, snowmobiling, Franz Josef Land- a remote archipelago, polar nights with Northern Lights/ Aurora Borealis and midnight sun in the summer. An Eldorado for nature-based activities!

Tour Standard

Basecamp Nordenskiöld Svalbard

5 days - Independent adventure tour | True Arctic Wilderness.

Svalbard Northern Lights Adventure

4 days - Silent Esledding, Gourmet Food & Ice Cave Adventure in Spitsbergen

Magic of the Arctic

5 days - Boutique stay in Svalbard | Rib boats | Glacier exploring

Oslo, Bergen and Svalbard Express

14 days - Visit Oslo, Norway in a Nutshell, Bergen then voyage to Svalbard

Oslo, Bergen and Svalbard Express Deluxe

15 days - Visit Oslo, Norway in a Nutshell, Bergen then voyage to Svalbard

Spitsbergen Arctic Darkness

4 days - Out of this world 24-hour darkness, Arctic adventures and dogsledding

Spitsbergen Arctic Summer

4 days - Arctic adventures, pristine nature and glaciers

• Pre or Post Cruise

Svalbard Northern Lights for Thanksgiving

4 days - Make this Thanksgiving unforgettable in Svalbard, Arctic Norway.

WHY TRAVEL TO SVALBARD?:

Arctic tours and voyages are our speciality and as Svalbard is the northernmost part of Norway, this is a destination we know well. With its open landscapes, sparse vegetation and endless glaciers, a trip here will certainly make you feel on top of the world!

Svalbard (also knows as Spitsbergen & Spitzbergen which is the main islands' name) combines as a station for Arctic research, climatology and a perfect adventure holiday destination. Dog sledding, glaciers, boat cruising, polar bears, the midnight sun and the beautiful Northern Lights/ Aurora Borealis are highlights on your adventure to Svalbard.

Summer and winter are both excellent for visiting Svalbard, each with their unique characteristics- summer in perpetuity of light and winter with a country lit up by Northern Lights around the clock (conditions permitting) Svalbard is the only permanently settled place on earth where you can experience dayside Northern Lights. On our Spitsbergen Northern Lights tour , you can experience this unique winter atmosphere of Svalbard and its Polar Nights.

OUR SVALBARD TOURS CAN INCLUDE:

For a true taste of all that Svalbard has to offer in summer, join a Hurtigruten Spitsbergen and Polar Bears on MS Nordstjernen voyage , getting into the far-reaching fjords of Svalbard, in search of Polar Bears. You will experience an extraordinary Arctic landscape, glaciers and bird cliffs.

If you are looking for adventure, our independent Basecamp Nordenskiöld true Arctic wilderness tour is suitable for both singles, couples and groups. Stay in a true hunting cabin- but with modern comforts while exploring arctic nature and beauty with options for treks, kayaking, glacier walks and much more.

Svalbard Expedition

Home » All Tours » Svalbard Tours

Adventure of a lifetime: Svalbard

From dog sledding tours and polar bears to the northern lights tours, our travel package to svalbard has it all.

When we heard about Svalbard for the first time we thought “but how can anyone enjoy living on an island where there are more bears than people?”. The truth is that Svalbard has a community of upbeat and lively individuals of different nationalities, which makes Longyearbyen a city full of life. There is a great variety of tours, from Snowmobile tours to Bird Watching tours, Northern Lights and Midnight Sun tours. Most of the tours in Svalbard depart from Longyearbyen and they are only available seasonally. Due to this reason, your tours might only be available during a certain part of the year. Take a look at our travel package below to know more.

See the pictures:

What can you expect in svalbard.

Svalbard has a small town called Longyearbyen and some places you should visit. Longyearbyen is where you’ll be staying most of the time, unless you want to take a snowmobile excursion tour to Pyramiden, where you can take a tour visit the bunker where all the seeds in the world are kept. Or, if you prefer, why not doing a tour to the east coast to look for polar bears? Or a dog sled tour to the Ice Cave?

Example of a trip to Svalbard

What to expect.

We recommend aN 8 day trip. Five of those days are spent in Svalbard and two of which are spent in Norway, in transit. Svalbard is a remote archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean, known for its pristine natural beauty and unique wildlife, including polar bears, reindeer, and Arctic foxes. There are many tours available in Svalbard, ranging from boat tours to snowmobile tours to hiking tours. During the 5 days in Svalbard you will have the opportunity to carry on different tours, such as:

• Snowmobile tour to see polar bears
• Dog sledding tour with husky dogs to the ice cave
• Boat tour to see walruses and sea lions
• Flora and Fauna Tour of Svalbard
• Northern Lights Hunting Tour

These are just some examples of the tours you can take. Svalbard is a dream location for those who enjoy adventure tourism, whether traveling alone or with a partner.

Some other tour examples

Boat tours: Boat tours are a popular way to explore the fjords and coastline of Svalbard. These tours can take you to places that are inaccessible by land, and offer the opportunity to see wildlife such as seals, walruses, and whales. Some boat tours also offer the chance to go fishing or visit remote settlements.

Snowmobile tours: Snowmobile tours are a thrilling way to explore the snowy wilderness of Svalbard. These tours can take you to remote locations where you can see glaciers, ice caves, and other natural wonders. You may also have the chance to see wildlife such as reindeer and polar bears.

Hiking tours: Hiking tours are a great way to experience the rugged beauty of Svalbard up close. You can hike through valleys, across glaciers, and up mountains, and see wildlife such as Arctic foxes and reindeer. Some hiking tours also offer the chance to visit abandoned mining settlements.

Northern Lights tours: Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis. There are many tours available that will take you to the best spots for viewing this spectacular natural phenomenon.

Dog sledding tours: Dog sledding tours are a unique way to explore the snowy landscapes of Svalbard. You can experience the thrill of mushing your own team of dogs, and see the wilderness from a different perspective. Some dog sledding tours also offer the chance to stay in remote cabins or tents.

Get in touch to know more

Your contact is important for us.

Svalbard is a unique location and trips to Svalbard should be planned in advance. In order for us to create your itinerary, it is important that you tell us a little about yourself and what you would like to do in Svalbard. That way, we can plan accordingly.

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Svalbard, Norway

You are here, about svalbard, why travel to svalbard.

It's difficult to find a better place than Svalbard to meet the wild nature and explore hidden places in Norway. Located between the mainland and the North Pole, Svalbard is one of the most famous points for travelers all over the world for Northern Norway tours . The largest islands in the area are Spitsbergen, Nordaustlandet, and Edgeoya.

Often called the land of frozen fjords, Svalbard boasts sparkling glaciers and ice-cold mountains, all making for a perfect place for those who are looking for the wildlife of the Arctic. It is the best place in Norway for spotting polar bears, Arctic foxes, and a wide population of seabirds. The Svalbard community has as little as 2700 people, which, according to some last research, is less than the local population of polar bears!

During your Svalbard trip, you also have the unique chance to see the beauty of ice-crystal landscapes and to seek the Northern Lights , the particular natural phenomenon that is possible to be seen even during the day in this region.

To make your Norway winter travel fully comprehensive and cover more places around, make sure to visit the biggest city, Longyearbyen, which has a range of local places for eating and cultural exploration. Nearby you can also visit Longyearbyen, Sveagruva, Ny-Alesund, and Barentsburg, which are also charming places to travel to while you're in this part of Norway.

Despite the fact that Svalbard means "cold coasts" (and this is really one of the most impressive frozen lands in Norway), you can warm up with the charming and benevolent atmosphere, inspired by the beauty around!

Must-do's on Svalbard Norway Tours

• Be inspired by wild nature in Svalbard
• Try to catch the Northern Lights
• Have a look at permafrost nature

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Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway in Depth

12 days | explore the arctic on the ocean explorer, spot polar bears and discover the magic of spitsbergen.

This 12-day northern expedition aboard the Ocean Explorer will take you through the many amazing sights, sounds and snowy landscapes of the Arctic. As you explore icy Spitsbergen – the largest island in Svalbard – and its outlying islands, search for local wildlife like lumbering polar bears, noisy walruses and huge colonies of seabirds. Discover the array of wild, natural landscapes as you hike tundra laced with wildflowers, see the cliffs and shores of Alkefjellet and snowshoe through the abandoned whaling sites of Smeerenburg. Get a unique perspective of the rugged western coast as you pass by untouched fjords, glaciers and many different shades of ice. With an expert Expedition Team by your side, you'll have the best chance to spot local flora and fauna and learn all about the history and geology of this fascinating place along the way.

Trip overview

• Take a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Arctic aboard the Ocean Explorer and experience the unique 24-hour of sunlight of a Northern summer.
• Discover some incredible landscapes on Spitsbergen, from the northernmost city of Longyearbyen and the brilliantly blue 14th of July Glacier to the breathtaking fjords and mountain cliffs of the sea.
• Scour sheets of ice in search of the elusive polar bear – the ruler of the Arctic – with your expert Expedition Team by your side giving you the best tips and opportunities.
• With endless daylight, there will be endless wildlife-viewing opportunities – elusive Arctic foxes, breaching whales, lounging masses of walruses and colonies of seabirds dot the cliffs of Alkefjellet.
• Choose to get even closer to this amazing environment with optional activities like hiking and gliding along pristine waters between icebergs in a sea kayak.
• As you'd expect, temperatures in the Arctic are very cold. A warm parka, waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks will be provided, but you should also bring base layers and lots of warm clothing. Please see the trip notes for further important information about what to bring.
• Depending on the weather, you’ll be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so ensure you’re dressed appropriately and keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed to make wet and dry landings from the boat and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships have a lot of stairs, so please hold on to the handrails if the seas are rough.
• The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure, and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area.
• This trip takes place during the time of year when Spitsbergen enjoys 24-hour daylight. Just one of the benefits of this is that incredible wildlife can be seen at any time of the day – be prepared to be awake at any time to not miss out on exciting animal sightings.
• Polar bears are among the most incredible and appealing animals on the planet but are also powerful predators with little fear of humans. Therefore, it’s necessary to know the guidelines surrounding any contact with Polar bears. Follow your leader’s instructions and do not stray from your group – your leader carries equipment to protect you.

Tervetuloa! Welcome to Finland. Your arctic adventure begins in Helsinki. Known for its extraordinary architecture, Helsinki is a great place to spend time exploring the many museums, galleries and restaurants. If you arrive with time to spare, maybe relax at a Finnish sauna or wander the vibrant Design District before retiring to your hotel.

• Hotel (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

This morning, you'll meet your group and transfer to the airport to board your private charter flight to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen’s largest settlement. Enjoy some free time to explore before climbing aboard the Ocean Explorer, your home for the next 11 days. As your ship sets sail, enjoy your first view of the island’s rugged, glacier-topped mountains that rise majestically from frigid waters. This is also the perfect evening to get to know your group over a drink, play some games or explore the ship's many fun amenities.

• Expedition Cruise Ship (1 night)

When you arrive in Longyearbyen, your luggage will be transferred directly to the ship while you have some free time.

Due to port logistics, it's possible you'll need to board the vessel by a Zodiac, rather than from the pier.

Over the next few days, you'll cruise around this magical island in a constant search for wildlife. Your expedition will cover western Spitsbergen as well as stunning fjords to the north. From polar flora to immense glaciers, the natural landscape here is just as varied as the wildlife.

In Spitsbergen, there is no shortage of natural beauty. The tundra can be surprisingly colourful in summer, with wildflowers bursting for a taste of sunshine. Each day, you’ll see something interesting, whether it's an ever- changing gallery of spectacular icebergs, a polar bear resting between hunts, or an abandoned historical site from centuries ago. Each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice, so there is no fixed itinerary. However, some of the places you may visit include the 14th of July Glacier, Smeerenburg, Alkefjellet and the Hinlopen Strait.

The island offers multiple opportunities for wildlife photography. Since most of Svalbard’s Arctic ecosystem is uninhabited and well-protected, this remote archipelago is one of the world’s best places to spot polar bears against stunning natural backdrops of mountains and ice.

The towering cliffs of Alkefjellet provide homes to thousands of Brunnich's guillemots (thick-billed murres). You also may come across a walrus haul-out, which is a moment you won’t soon forget. Witness the intimate gatherings of giant pinnipeds as they haul out together on small coastal strips.

If you’re itching to experience a more intimate view from the water, you can also opt to book sea kayaking or paddling excursion adventures.

• Expedition Cruise Ship (9 nights)
• Breakfast (9)

It's time to say goodbye to your Expedition Team and shipmates today as your adventure has come to an end. Your adventure finishes in the historic frontier-style settlement of Longyearbyen after breakfast. From here, transfer to the airport for your return group charter flight to Helsinki. If you'd like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

This trip will finish at Helsinki Airport. We recommend staying an additional night in Helsinki in case of flight delays. If you want to book onward flights from Helsinki on this day, please contact your sales agent for further information about the arrival time of the included charter flights.

11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners

Expedition cruise ship, Zodiac

Hotel (1 night), Expedition cruise ship (10 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

Your voyage is operated by our partner, Quark Expeditions onboard the Ocean Explorer. All accommodation and transfer arrangements as listed in the itinerary are also operated by Quark Expeditions or their local representatives.

This trip starts and ends in Helsinki. Charter flights between Helsinki and Longyearbyen are included. Ship embarkation will begin on the afternoon of Day 2 in Longyearbyen The trip ends on arrival at Helsinki airport on Day 12. We recommend staying an additional night in Helsinki in case of flight delays.

BOOKING CONDITIONS To confirm your reservation, a deposit of 25% (unless indicated otherwise at time of booking) of the total invoice amount is required at time of booking. Balances are due 120 days prior to departure. Please refer to our "Booking terms and conditions" page on our website for all Quark Expedition terms and conditions. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-intrepid/booking-conditions

ADVENTURE OPTIONS Kayaking must be booked prior to departure and incurs an additional cost. Spaces are limited so please enquire at time of booking. Some previous, recent experience is essential. Hiking is also offered on some itineraries. This activity is at no additional cost and do not need to be pre-booked.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Check back later or explore reviews for similar trips.

Polar Bear Tour

A number of our Svalbard cruises afford you the possibility of spotting a polar bear. Experience these living emblems of the Arctic for yourself, check out our wide selection of polar bear tours.

Region: Arctic

Destinations: Svalbard

Where to see polar bears

Seal’s dread, whale’s bane, ever-wandering one – all of these are names for the sometimes terrifying, often elusive, always majestic polar bear .

But where is the best place to see these amazing apex predators?

Svalbard, otherwise known as Spitsbergen, is among the top locations for spotting polar bears. In fact, polar bears are one of the primary reasons thousands of tourists embark on voyages to the Arctic, especially the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

Though nobody can guarantee you will spot a polar bear, there are a number of Svalbard cruises devoted almost exclusively to finding and viewing these magnificent animals.

Polar bear tour basics

Though polar bears can be found all over the circumpolar north, our polar bear tours focus on northern Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard island group.

But polar bears can be as dangerous as they are beautiful, so expedition guides armed with powerful rifles supervise all landings. Passengers are cautioned never to approach a polar bear, and sometimes landings are canceled if a polar bear is seen close to (or approaching) the landing site.

This is because polar bears are carnivorous hunters and can be aggressive if they feel threatened. Caution is paramount, as is understanding of our limitations. Nature calls the shots in the polar regions, and most polar bear tours only manage one or two sightings.

The lure of the polar bear tour

But if polar bear trips cannot ensure a sighting, why do so many people continue to book tickets? The reason, perhaps, lies in the reputation of the creature itself.

For many people, the polar bear is so linked to the Arctic that it functions virtually as a stand-in for the land itself: indomitable, exotic, deadly if not respected. Also, polar bears have fascinated and frightened humans since our earliest days.

The Saami and Laplanders would not dare speak the creature’s name, giving it a number of nicknames to avoid angering it. Inuit called polar bears “wandering ones,” Kets called them “grandfathers,” and their Latin name, Ursus maritimus , translates to “sea bear.”

In other words, polar bears have meant many different things to many different cultures. Not surprising, then, that polar bear tours continue to pack in the passengers.

What powers the polar bear

At the end of the day, however, polar bears are animals just like us – albeit at the top of the Arctic food chain. They sleep (around 20 hours a day), they mate (in the spring, like many animals), and they eat (a lot).

Indeed, eating and finding food are among their main occupations. Many pictures taken on polar bear tours capture them in the act of doing just that. If you’re still wondering where to see polar bears, start by following the food.

Polar bears prefer a diet of seals, though they are far from picky: Reindeer , musk oxen , crustaceans, caribou, walruses , birds, bird eggs, whale carcasses, plants, and even other polar bears will do. When they’re fortunate enough to catch a seal, they consume mainly the calorie-rich blubber and skin, leaving the red meat and its abundant protein to their cubs.

Polar bear range and ranges

To find enough food, polar bears spend much of their time roaming great distances. Hunting leads them all over the Arctic, though polar bears are thought to have preferred feeding areas called “home ranges.”

Changing conditions in their home range, however, often compel polar bears to travel hundreds of miles in search of better food choices. These journeys can take some time, as polar bears are not fond of keeping up a fast pace.

Though polar bears can be elusive, their wide-ranging hunts explain why they can be found all over the Arctic. Svalbard polar bear tours, however, offer the highest probability of a sighting due to their careful search of key polar bear ranges.

See the polar bear for yourself

Reading about where to see polar bears is one thing, but seeing one in person is another. And seeing a polar bear in the Arctic rather than a zoo is best of all.

A number of our Svalbard trips give you the possibility of spotting a polar bear. To find out more about how you can experience these living emblems of the Arctic for yourself, check out our wide selection of polar bear tours.

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• Food and drinks experiences

Dog Sledding

• Sightseeing and lectures
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Ice Cave visits

• Northern Lights adventures

Photo safari

• Expeditions
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• Polarjazz Festival 3. - 6. February
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• Longyearbyen Pride 7. september

Isfjord Radio Music Festival 6. - 8. September

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Funken Lodge

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Direct flights to Svalbard from Oslo and Tromsø

You are here: Information > Travel Information > How to travel to Svalbard

Both  Norwegian  and  SAS  offers flights to Svalbard. The flights from Oslo takes about 3 hours, from Tromsø about 1 ½ hours.

Passport or ID-card 

Due to Svalbard being outside the Schengen area, identity control is performed for all guests travelling to and from Svalbard. This also includes Norwegians. All guests, both Norwegian and foreign citizens, must bring their passport or national ID-card.

Read more about the rules and regulations for passport and visa  here .

Norwegian normally has weekly flights to Longyearbyen throughout the year, directly from Oslo. In peak season, March – August, the number of flights increases. Book your tickets with Norwegian  here .  SAS  normally has several flights a week to Longyearbyen throughout the year, both directly and via Tromsø. In peak season, March – August, the number of flights increases to several flights per day, some of them directly from Oslo. Book your tickets with SAS  here .

Accommodation

Information about the various accommodation offerings in Svalbard can be found  here .

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• How This Remote Norwegian Archipelago Became a New Travel Hot Spot

Svalbard, a former Norwegian mining town on the fringes of the North Pole, has been transformed into the world's most extreme luxury getaways.

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And while cruise companies from Seabourn to Hurtigruten have started sailing here in recent years, intrepid travelers have been skidding across Svalbard Airport’s single-lane runway via Tromso since 1975.

In a place where frostbite comes with the territory, frills and this frozen frontier are hardly acquainted—or so you’d think. But you’d have thought wrong. In fact, a growing number of increasingly luxurious lodges and restaurants have made accessing this frigid but undeniably sublime landscape not only feasible but downright comfortable.

It’s designed as a warm womb, a place to thaw after dog sledding, snowmobiling, glacier hiking, and polar bear spotting. Guests here remove their shoes when they enter the hotel and replace them with stylish wool slippers, a tradition dating back to the Longyearbyen’s mining days.

Originally, Funken Lodge included an indoor shooting range next to a wine cellar, and although they’ve ditched the shooting range, it still holds one of the Arctic’s largest and rarest selections of Champagne.

The lodge’s elegant restaurant, Funktionærmessen , focuses on ingredients like king crab, caviar, and arctic char with truffles, served with Champagne or cocktails from the lodge’s eponymous bar. Locals consider the drinks here to be the best in town, with cocktails like a John M. Longyear, named after the town’s founder (made with vodka, espresso, long pepper, and chocolate). 

But the settlement’s most high-end dining experience is undoubtedly Huset . Inside a building that formerly housed a community center, post office, hospital, and school, guests get a 16-course meal to rival anything served at a certain Danish restaurant that rhymes with “coma.” It only seats a lucky dozen.

Dinners here start with an Arctic charcuterie plate of cured reindeer heart and topside served atop its antlers. The chef’s fermentation methods combined with Svalbard’s unique proteins means diners are walloped by strong, punchy flavors, particularly the Svalbard seal on a chickpea pancake topped with blueberry. Other creative dishes include a no-waste play on fish and chips using local wolfish and super tender Svalbard rock ptarmigan with Arctic cloudberry.

Huset pairs its dinners with wine from the more than 15,000-bottle cellar, one of Scandinavia’s largest collections. For non-drinkers and the sober curious, they match each course with house-made kombuchas, Scandinavian juices, and tea that reflect the region.

Despite all this polar pampering, you are in fact permitted to leave this snug situation—and you should.

Longyearbyen’s narrow main street is lined with everyday necessities like a grocery store, post office, restaurants, and souvenir shops, as well as a few of those aforementioned hotels. Head for a shop called Skinnboden to complete your arctic cowboy look with fox fur trapper hats, traditional cow-skin Norwegian boots, silver polar bear jewelry, and custom-made seal skin gloves. Just be aware that American customs regulations state that travelers cannot bring mammal products back into the U.S., so skip the seal.

A few doors down at Freune , the town’s favorite lunchtime spot, chai lattes, and homemade cakes are the ideal elixir to the bitingly cold polar climate. It’s also the world’s northernmost chocolatier, where truffle flavors like chai, Svalbard cognac, and chili are crafted in the back. And if you don’t see a polar bear during one of your outings outside the settlement, don’t fret; Freune makes white-chocolate polar bears.

It’s a delicious—and harmless—alternative to the real thing and also the perfect handmade souvenir to take from one of the world’s most uniquely lavish destinations.

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Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator

Polar bears tours in Svalbard

Svalbard, an independently governed Norwegian archipelago in the High Arctic, is one of the northernmost island groups on our planet. The territory is located well above the Arctic Circle and reflects the polar climate, landscape and wildlife. Yet, at the same time, it is not too far away from civilization and can be accessed via regular commercial flights. Svalbard’s biggest island is called Spitsbergen, with its main settlement, Longyearbyen, harboring both an airport and a cruise terminal.

More than half of Svalbard is covered by ice, which attracts the world’s largest carnivores: polar bears. You can spot them from a distance onshore, but admiring their behavior close up only becomes possible from a safe distance on a small ship. For those wondering where to see polar bears in Norway and looking to make comfort and adventure meet during the trip, an Arctic expedition cruise is the perfect fit.

Reasons to go on a Svalbard polar bear cruise

While a polar expedition is so much more than just seeing the wildlife, that reason alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile. For centuries, indigenous people feared and worshiped polar bears and heavily depended on them for meat and skin. Today, seeing the symbol of the Arctic thrive in its natural habitat, unbound and free to hunt, run, and roar is an experience that can’t be replicated at a zoo or anywhere else.

What to expect on a Svalbard polar bear tour

A modern cruise ship with all the necessary amenities, attentive service and comfortable accommodations

Regular shore landings for personal encounters with the rugged beauty of the Arctic and prime wildlife viewing opportunities

Zodiac cruises for all passengers and optional kayaking for travelers who enjoy more active exploration

A haven for photographers: seeing polar bear cubs playing, a pod of whales feeding alongside the ship, or the sun shining over ice vistas at midnight are just a few of the special moments that can be captured on film

An itinerary designed to travel through the best possible places for polar bear watching (encounters can’t be guaranteed, but we follow routes that bears frequent the most)

When to see Polar Bears in Svalbard

Polar bears hibernate during the winter. In spring, mothers and cubs start to emerge from their dens, but the chances of spotting them are slim. During the summer, late May to August, polar bears actively hunt and travel along the pack ice. This is also when the weather and navigation conditions are best for a polar bear safari.

Polar bear population

Safety on polar bear sightings.

Although polar bears can look cute and friendly, they are indeed very strong and vicious, so keeping a proper distance from the animals is a requirement. During landings, a safety perimeter will be established and maintained by armed guides. We also don’t approach the bears too closely during Zodiac cruises.

Can polar bear sightings be guaranteed?

While our itinerary is designed to maximize polar bear sightings, wildlife and nature set their own rules. The beauty of expedition cruising is in seizing opportunities as they come.

Expeditions

When planning your vacation for the summer of 2024, consider the different itineraries below. Keep in mind that booking well in advance helps you secure your favorite departure date and the cabin category of your choice, and lowers the cost of the voyage due to early booking discounts. Check our cruise plan for additional activities such as kayaking and make sure you book your spot ahead of time. To get the best deals, consider browsing the cruise schedule for expeditions in 2025 and booking early.

In-Depth Exploration in the Land of the Polar Bear

On this 14-day cruise, we attempt a full circumnavigation of Svalbard (weather permitting) with a stop at the remote island of Kvitøya. Your cruise starts and ends in Longyearbyen and airfare from Oslo to Longyearbyen and back is included in the cruise package! This cruise is perfect to see the best of Svalbard, the polar ice edge and incredible Arctic landscapes and to get prime opportunities to see polar bears roaming in their natural environment!

Arctic Wildlife Safari

This 10-day cruise that starts and ends in Longyearbyen (airfare from Oslo to Longyearbyen and back is included) lets you explore the entire western coast of the archipelago. This is a great voyage to see polar bears in Svalbard as we cruise far north to the polar ice edge, where polar bears live and hunt. With two departures available in 2024, it’s popular among travelers who want to see the most of Svalbard in a short amount of time.

Svalbard & Polar Ice Edge

This 12 to 13-day cruise not only takes you to the polar ice edge, but also attempts a full circumnavigation of the largest island of the archipelago: Spitsbergen. You start and end your trip in Longyearbyen (airfare from Oslo to Longyearbyen and back is included). As we visit remote parts of the archipelago and cruise to the polar ice edge, we’ll get prime opportunities to see polar bears in Svalbard and other iconic wildlife. In 2024 we have two departures, a regular cruise with our kayaking club and a specialized photo cruise for professionals and amateurs!

Arctic Odyssey

TStart in Longyearbyen (Svalbard), visit the best of East Greenland and end your cruise in Reykjavik (Iceland)! This 14-day cruise is perfect for expeditioners who want to see three Arctic gems in one cruise. We also have our kayaking club aboard, which is a great option for active travelers to explore at their own speed!

Crossing the Arctic Circle

If you’ve ever wanted to cross the Arctic circle aboard a real expedition ship, then this is your cruise. Starting in Edinburgh, this 13-day voyage will take you north (past the scenic Faroe Islands), crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting the remote and uninhabited island of Jan Mayen before reaching Svalbard. Disembarking in Longyearbyen, your ticket back to Oslo is included in the price.

Icebergs, Fjords, Polar bears and Arctic wildlife

This 14-day cruise combines an expedition to Svalbard and Greenland. This cruise starts and ends in Longyearbyen and airfare from Oslo to Longyearbyen and back is included in the cruise package! Explore the northwestern coast of Svalbard (look out for polar bears!) before heading to the beautiful wilderness of Northeast Greenland National Park.

You can find detailed itineraries for the Svalbard cruises:

In the Expeditions section above On the All Expeditions page, where you can set filters for the wildlife you want to see in the Departures section below, with dates for the summer of 2022 ( and for the 2023 season - coming soon!)

Venture ashore in our nimble Zodiac boats, hike and enjoy wildlife photography. If you’re adventurous enough, join the polar plunge in the icy waters or go sea kayaking. Back on board, join our enrichment program with informative presentations on history, wildlife and other Arctic topics, as well as photography workshops, movies and dancing.

Visa requirements

Svalbard itself is a visa-free zone, but you might require a visa to travel through the mainland on your way to Longyearbyen. Check with your Norwegian consulate or embassy. Citizens of EU and EFTA countries and some other nations will not need it, but for all other passengers, we provide a support letter and help with the rest of the required documents.

Packing list

Things to pack for polar bear tours to Spitsbergen:

• Layers of Arctic-quality clothing that you can easily take on and off: thermal underwear for the base layer, polar fleece for the middle, and waterproof trousers and a windproof parka with insulation for the top
• Rubber-soled shoes for walking around Longyearbyen and on the ship’s decks and warm socks for Zodiac boat cruises and landings – we provide Wellington-style rubber boots for your excursions ashore
• A warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Personal medication
• A bathing suit for the hot tub on the ship and the polar plunge
• Camera gear

Things you don’t need to bring to Svalbard, Norway:

• Dressy attire — informal, casual and comfortable clothing is perfectly suitable for your time aboard a Svalbard expedition cruise ship
• A heavy parka or jeans / tight clothing for landings — We provide you with a warm wind- and water-resistant parka, and jeans won’t keep you as warm as layers can
• Cheap sunglasses that do not protect you from UVA and UVB rays

Svalbard cruise ship

Refurbished in 2017, the Sea Spirit is a small 114-passenger expedition ship that offers a generous measure of comfort even in the high latitudes. Modern and spacious rooms, a restaurant and a bar, a library and a gym add to the atmosphere of polar discoveries. Each traveler can find the right cabin category for their preference: from moderately-priced triple suites to the luxurious owner’s suite.

Polar bear facts & information

An adult female is about 300 kg or 660 pounds, and her male partner’s weight is double that amount. Their average lifespan is about 25-30 years.

Polar bears mainly hunt seals, waiting for them to come up for air through breathing holes in the ice. They are nimble animals, reaching speeds of up to 6.5 km/h in the water and up to 30 km/h on land.

Polar bear range in Spitsbergen

Polar bear sightings in Svalbard are most common on the surrounding islands east of Spitsbergen. Bears rarely come close to the towns and settlements, but when you’re out in the wild, keep your camera and binoculars close, as a sighting can happen anytime, anywhere. The animals are frequently spotted on the ice but can also be seen on land, resting.

See the polar bear on our Svalbard cruises

A polar bear cruise in Svalbard will satisfy your wish to see the king of the Arctic in its natural habitat, but will also take you to the remote and rugged landscapes of the polar wilderness, and along the routes of early explorers and settlers. Svalbard is diverse, surprisingly accessible and welcoming to all types of travelers (you’ll find the perfect blend of comfort and adventure aboard the Sea Spirit). Enrich your holidays with an Arctic cruise from Poseidon Expeditions.

What is the food like on a Svalbard polar bear trip?

On the Sea Spirit , we offer international cuisine prepared by our talented chefs at the onboard restaurant. Typically, passengers have two or three dinner choices, as well as vegetarian options. Three meals a day are included in the cruise cost, as well as a 24/7 tea and coffee station.

What is the best month to see polar bears in Svalbard?

Generally, you can see them year-round (as they do not hibernate), but the best time to see them is between May and August. Sea ice around Svalbard recedes at that time enough for small expedition ships to cruise north toward the polar ice cap and the Arctic summer is prime hunting season for the bears. With a bit of luck, you’ll see polar bears hunting for seals and raising their cubs.

What other types of wildlife inhabit Svalbard?

Other than polar bears, you can see the Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, whales, walruses and seals. This area is also great for birders, with a large population of rare sea birds such as little auks, Arctic terns, snow bunting, great skuas, kittiwake and Northern fulmars.

What will the weather be like on the tour?

A polar bear tour in Svalbard generally rewards travelers with mild, sunny weather. July is the warmest month, with average temperatures of 3 - 7 °C (37.4 - 44.6 °F).

What types of travelers are best suited to the tour?

There are no limitations based on the level of fitness, age, or travel experience when it comes to cruises. Keep in mind that the tour of Svalbard, Norway is more on the active side and would not be advisable for passengers with mobility problems. You also need to be ready to embrace possible itinerary changes rather than expecting the ship to follow a strict route.

Polar bear spotting in Svalbard, Norway: the ultimate guide

Polar bears live in the countries bordering the Arctic Circle and while more than half the world’s polar bears can be found in Canada, they also inhabit the wilds of Greenland, Russia and the Svalbard archipelago.

These icy islands belong to Norway, but lie almost 900km to the north of the Norwegian mainland.

In winter, historically, Svalbard is nearly surrounded by sea ice that reaches down from the North Pole.

With deep snow on the mountainsides providing excellent protection for pregnant polar bears to build their dens, these desolate islands are a world-renowned denning site.

Additionally, Svalbard’s location on the edge of a continental shelf, with relatively shallow waters that readily freeze, has until now been great for bears as they rely on a platform of ice to hunt off.

The longer the ice lasts each year the better they feed. Unfortunately, due to global heating, the sea ice has been melting earlier and reforming later every decade around the globe since the 1980s.

As a result, polar bears are changing their behaviour and hunting patterns, with a few trying their luck along the shoreline instead.

In recent years, half a dozen bears have been seen around Isfjorden, Svalbard’s main fjord, not far from the capital Longyearbyen – not so long ago, bears were rare there in summer.

How likely am I to see a polar bear in Svalbard?

Around 2,650 polar bears roam the Barents Sea area surrounding Svalbard.

Andreas Umbreit, an expedition leader, says his personal sighting record is 38 bears during a 14-day cruise (his lowest is just three bears in 14 days) with an average of around 15 sightings over two weeks.

But there’s a polar bear code – you mustn’t actively chase bears, for instance, to get better pictures.

The Svalbard polar bears’ right to remain undisturbed comes first.

If you go with a local guide, active pursuit isn’t necessary, because they will know the bears’ habits and movements and will take you to places where you can see all kinds of Arctic bird- and wildlife and possibly bears too.

With patience and persistence the chances of seeing a polar bear are reasonably good, and if you go in with the mindset of soaking up the glistening fjords and perhaps seeing walrus, Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer and whales, along with birds such as puffins, fulmars and petrels as well, you won’t be disappointed.

When is the best time to see polar bears in Svalbard?

In Norway, early summer is the best time for spotting polar bears in the wild.

Mothers bring cubs born in spring out of dens once they’re strong enough to follow her hungry amble over the sea ice in search of food after months of hibernation.

You may, if you’re lucky, also see bears hunting, patiently waiting for seals to surface at a breathing hole in the ice.

Is polar bear tracking dangerous?

Yes and no. You must go with a guide – you can’t even leave Longyearbyen (pop. 2,100) on your own without a rifle and flare guns to scare off curious bears.

If you don’t possess a firearm licence in your home country, you’ll need to get a licence from the Svalbard Governor’s Office – for details, visit sysselmannen.no .

But cruising the slate-grey waters of the archipelago dotted with ice floes on an organised tour and perhaps spotting bears on pack ice from afar is considered low risk.

You should keep your distance, though, right?

Most definitely. Hungry bears do occasionally scavenge for food around Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town.

In summer 2020, an unlucky camper was killed by a bear. In response, the campsite is installing electric bear fencing in 2021.

Although these kind of stories hit the news and make scary headlines, only five people have died in this area from a polar bear attack since 1971.

Bears know to avoid humans at Longyearbyen and there are people who have lived there their whole lives who have never even seen a bear.

You are not going to bump into one on your way to the supermarket.

Taking a tour to see polar bears

Your best chance of seeing a bear is to take a tour led by local experts.

Our advice is to book early – ship-based tours are sometimes booked up a year in advance – and be flexible. The best tours deliberately don’t run to a specific itinerary so that they can respond to weather, ice conditions and reported wildlife sightings.

Land-based tours tend to be cheaper and are a good option for spotting a variety of wildlife and birdlife, with the small possibility of a bear sighting too.

Here are some options for operators and polar bear spotting tours that run during the summer.

Wilderness camping and cruises

Writer and expedition leader Andreas Umbreit has been organizing specialist polar travel tours since 1987 (he set up Svalbard’s first official tour operator when coal mining was the island’s main economic activity).

Now Terra Polaris runs bespoke general-interest and wildlife tours, including on small expedition cruise vessels or land-based mobile wilderness camps.

The company also runs Svalbard tours on behalf of household-name travel companies.

Glaciers and wildlife

Based in Longyearbyen, the small tour operator Poli Artici is owned and run by Stefano Poli who has lived on Svalbard since the 1990s.

Its tailor-made tours focus on areas rich in wildlife and with spectacular scenery.

Options range from a six-hour speedboat trip to visit the massive blue front of the Wahlenberg Glacier on Isfjord, to a seven- or ten-day voyage on a 62-ft vessel built for polar sailing which heads north in search of sea ice where there’s the highest likelihood of encountering polar bears.

Polar wildlife tours around Svalbard

Magnetic North is an expert in travel to Scandinavia and runs wildlife holidays in search of native species of the far North, including polar bears.

Their Circumvent Svalbard tour explores Svalbard on an ice-strengthened expedition ship with landings by Zodiac on smaller islands where possible.

Polar bear expeditions

Responsible Travel’s wildlife cruises on a small expedition ship include Zodiac missions, expeditions on dry land – with optional Arctic dips thrown in – and the chance to search for native wildlife such as walruses, seals and whales. All the company’s tours exceed the region’s environmental protocols.

Check out their Polar Bear Watching Cruise and Polar Bear Explorer accompanied by an expert naturalist; some trips include specialist-led photography expeditions.

In search of polar bears and pack ice, plus the Lofoten islands

This polar bear trip includes two nights in the Lofoten islands and one night in Tromso before a short flight to Longyearbyen to join M/V Hondius, the first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel in the world, for a seven-night polar cruise with stops at the Seven Islands and the massive Monaco glacier. In previous years, departures have taken place in May and July.

Svalbard adventure

This three-night activity-packed trip includes a snowmobile safari, dog-sledding and visits to Svalbard’s unique global seed vault and its former coal mines.

Wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed but you may be lucky and see some native animals en route, including reindeer and Arctic foxes.

See also: Visiting Svalbard: the ultimate guide 8 wildlife tours in Norway you just shouldn’t miss 9 amazing islands in Northern Norway

21 things you should know before visiting Norway

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Yakunin wins final appeal in drone flying over Svalbard legal saga

N orway’s Halogaland Court of Appeal concluded a legal saga surrounding British-Russian businessman Andrey Yakunin, the son of Russia’s sanctioned former head of Russian Railways, refusing the prosecution's appeal and effectively affirming his acquittal on charges related to flying a hobby drone in Svalbard, Norway. This decision comes after a protracted two-year legal battle that saw Yakunin arrested in the autumn of 2022 and detained for 52 days.

Yakunin, who was arrested during a sailing expedition in the Arctic archipelago for allegedly violating Norwegian sanctions regulations by flying drones after foreigners were banned from using them in Norway’s airspace following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

He expressed relief and vindication, stating, 'From day one I have been saying that there is no offence for a British man to fly a drone in Svalbard. However, it has taken almost 2-years and a complicated legal process... But common sense and justice have inevitably prevailed in the end. I have never committed any criminal offence.'

The case, which has passed through various levels of the Norwegian judicial system, including a significant ruling by the Supreme Court in 2023 that briefly overturned an initial acquittal by reclassifying hobby drones as “aircraft” under sanctions regulations, ultimately returned to the district court for re-evaluation. Yakunin's subsequent acquittal at this level was contested once more by the prosecution, only to be upheld by the Court of Appeal's recent refusal to entertain further appeals.

Yakunin's defence team, led by attorneys John Christian Elden and Bernt Heiberg of Elden Advokatfirma, confirmed the finality of his acquittal and the prosecution's decision not to pursue additional appeals. They highlighted the toll the case took on Yakunin, both personally and professionally, amid widespread media coverage that generated both national and international attention.

Reflecting on the court's decision, Yakunin remarked on the broader implications for justice and the rule of law, stating: 'The case against me has finally been dismissed and my 3rd and final acquittal is a victory not only for my team and me but first and foremost for common sense... The court’s decision leaves no doubt that there were far better ways to employ public funds than my continued prosecution.'

Yakunin, who describes himself as a yachtsman and outdoor sports enthusiast, expressed a desire to restore his reputation within the wider community following the 'unfair accusations.' His legal counsel, Elden, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for accountability from Norwegian authorities for the undue emotional and financial strain placed on Yakunin throughout this legal challenge.