
Svalbard
Why Visit
All aboard the Arctic cruise of a life time! Follow your inner explorer far north to Svalbard—land of the polar bear, tundra and midnight sun. Feel small in a landscape that dwarfs the human element with mountains, fjords and thunderous calving glaciers. You’ll be tickled at the sight—and sound!—of walrus pods with their huge tusks and big whiskers. Imagine thousands of seabirds soaring to and from their cliff-side dwellings. Svalbard travel will have you marveling at how resilient life can be in such a harsh but beautiful landscape.
A range of activities awaits you on your Arctic tour, with something for every traveler. Lace up your hiking boots for a long or short hike around a land that’s more than 60% covered by ice but is also home to seabirds, reindeer, arctic foxes, 165 species of plant life and, of course, the ice bear. Join a photography excursion to capture these dazzling sights on camera. Or take a walk to take it all in slowly. Kayaking is available on some Arctic cruises—you can set out like the explorers of old, in search of whales, seals, walrus and unmatched scenery.
Our Svalbard cruises take advantage of the brief Arctic summer, when temperatures are moderate for the region and chances of spotting a polar bear are best. Late June through mid-July is considered the best time to potentially spot this natural treasure on a polar bear tour. Though fascinating, the wildlife is elusive. But one glimpse at a mighty polar bear will fuel your travel tales for a lifetime.
Arctic cruising is just as fascinating today as it was to the first explorers to the region centuries ago—but it’s a lot more comfortable today! You’ll return home from Svalbard having discovered within yourself a sense of wonder at this land of contrasts—flowers and ice, deep fjords and towering mountains, and sunshine at night. And, maybe, you’ll even have a once-in-a-lifetime snapshot of a magnificent polar bear.
History
Originally known as Spitsbergen, Svalbard is an archipelago located midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. A wintery wonderland, much of Svalbard is covered with ice—and permafrost as much as 1/3 mile thick in places. The area is home to polar bears, arctic foxes, whales, seals, walrus, more than 30 species of birds, and diverse tundra plant life. There are seven national parks and more than 20 wildlife sanctuaries on the archipelago. In total, 65% of the land is protected.
Vikings likely discovered Svalbard in the 12th century. During the Age of Exploration, the islands were rediscovered by the Dutch sailing under Willem Barents in 1596 and later visited by explorer Henry Hudson in 1607. From then on, the area was frequented by whalers, hunters and adventurers alike.
Svalbard became an important base for whaling in the 17th and 18th centuries. Whalers even created the first maps of Svalbard’s coastline. Details on the area’s geography were later added by Norwegian seal hunters. The fur trade flourished during this time as well, with several countries vying for sovereignty over this resource-rich land.
Norwegians discovered coal deposits and began mining in the late 1800s, which led to the establishment of Svalbard’s first settlements. By this time, Svalbard was already a destination for Arctic tourism and exploration. Spitsbergen (now the name of Svalbard’s largest island) served as a base for many Arctic trips and expeditions. Spitsbergen travel and tourism remain vital to the archipelago’s economy to this day.
The Spitsbergen Treaty granted sovereignty to Norway in 1920, ending disputes over the land and officially renaming the area Svalbard. The treaty established Svalbard as a free economic zone and a demilitarized zone. The area remains open to workers from any of the 41 countries that signed the treaty, but currently only Russia and Norway continue to mine.
Today Svalbard retains much of the mystique that first attracted explorers—the land is largely undisturbed by humans. Spitsbergen is the only permanently populated island in the archipelago. Despite its small population (about 2000) the town boasts a lively night life—although it might still be light outside! You’ll also find tax-free shopping, whether you’re looking for handicrafts or a warm parka for your adventure.
Other settlements exist for research, including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault—a project to save the world’s seeds in the event of a global crisis—and the University Centre in Svalbard, which offers coursework in Arctic Studies. Each settlement has roads, but no roads connect the settlements to one another. Off-road travel on bare ground by motorized vehicle is prohibited. People travel by snowmobile in the winter and by boat or plane in the summertime.
It is perhaps the natural wonders of Svalbard that have kept adventurers coming back for centuries despite its geographic isolation. The landscape features deep fjords, rugged mountains, and hills covered in tiny tundra wildflowers juxtaposed against icy glaciers marching toward the sea. Wildlife includes one of the largest populations of polar bears on earth.
How to Choose a Trip
When looking for an adventure to the Arctic, it’s easy to become confused by the many different options. Several factors come into play when you’re selecting a trip and knowing your preferences in each of these areas will help you narrow the field and select the trip that’s just right for you.
When to Travel
Voyages to Svalbard are generally offered from June through early August, with the best time for your chances of seeing polar bears being early in the season while there is still lots of ice.
Iceland, Greenland, and Canadian High Arctic expeditions are typically scheduled from July into September. Later voyages that explore the higher latitudes may give you the chance to see the magical aurora borealis!
Icebreaker trips to the North Pole begin in mid- to late June, and may be offered in early July. The window for travel to the top of the world is short, so there are usually only one or two trips per season.
Polar bear expeditions on Hudson Bay are operated from early October through mid-November. Over the course of the short season, the environment can change quickly. The tundra is generally bare until late October, when the first blanket of snow often arrives. Once the ice has frozen over, polar bears clear out quickly. The exact timing of the first snow and the departure of the bears is very difficult to predict, as weather patterns have changed significantly over the past several years.
Trip Options
The Svalbard Archipelago, also commonly referred to as the Norwegian Arctic or Spitsbergen (after the archipelago’s largest and most populated island), is situated high above the Arctic Circle and is one of the best places in the world to view polar bears out on the ice. Svalbard is easily accessed by daily flights from Oslo to Spitsbergen’s airport in Longyearbyen, where you board your expedition ship. These programs focus predominantly on natural history and wildlife.
Other areas of the Arctic—Iceland, Greenland, and the Canadian High Arctic—have some amazing wildlife and stunning scenery as well. Iceland is a wonderland of geologic activity, and is also easily accessed by flights from North America and Europe. Greenland and the Canadian Arctic are a bit more difficult to reach, but they have an interesting cultural element that adds depth to the experience. Expeditions embarking/disembarking in Greenland or the Canadian Arctic typically generally have charter flights arranged through the shipping companies.
North Pole expeditions generally embark/disembark in Murmansk, and require charter flights from Helsinki.
The land-based polar bear trips are centered in Churchill, a small hamlet in the Canadian province of Manitoba. As polar bears congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay in the fall, waiting for the ice to freeze over so they can return to hunting on the pack ice, there can be a large concentration of bears in the area. These expeditions begin in Winnipeg, which is serviced from several cities in the US and Canada. After spending a night in a comfortable hotel, you fly to Churchill to begin your adventure.
In the vast Arctic region, where there is little infrastructure, the very best way to explore most areas is by expedition ship.
Ship Options
An ice-strengthened vessel with an expert captain and expedition leader will get you into areas that are rarely seen by other travelers. There is a wide range of ships available, and accommodations range from dorm-like research vessels to luxury expedition ships. While some of your wildlife watching will be from the deck of the ship, especially when you’re viewing polar bears, small vessels provide the opportunity to get even closer to the action. Not only will you have the opportunity for Zodiac cruising, but you’ll also have a chance to go ashore to view the tundra, wildlife, and remnants of human history up close. Hiking is offered in some locations, and select ships offer kayaking and/or snowshoeing opportunities.
To reach the North Pole, you’ll travel on a powerful icebreaker. They tend to be very basic, but they are fascinating and the ship itself is an integral part of your experience. Some Russian icebreakers have a helicopter and/or hot air balloon that can give you a completely different perspective at the top of the world!
On the shores of Hudson Bay, land-based polar bear expeditions can offer an up-close polar bear viewing experience. At night you stay in a simple hotel or train-like lodge on the tundra, but during the day you venture out for game drives in a well-outfitted Polar Rover. Depending on the conditions and the program you choose, dogsledding and flight seeing may be offered.
Let us help you
Let ExpeditionTrips take the guesswork out of selecting your Arctic trip. Our company is a crossroads for information and we can help you select the trip that will offer the kind of experience you are seeking. We’ll help you select the perfect trip for your journey to the dramatic and pristine Arctic!