Spitsbergen and Svalbard Cruise Holidays
For many, the underlying appeal of The Arctic remains inextricably linked to the undisputed King of The Arctic, the polar bear, and Spitsbergen provides the best chance of a sighting.
Lying deep inside the Arctic Circle, a mere 600 miles from The North Pole itself, Spitsbergen is part of the Svalbard Archipelago. A land of deep ice-strewn fjords, snow covered mountains and carving glaciers, it not only boasts a rich history, but is also renowned for the most prolific concentration of wildlife in the whole Arctic region. Each year, the dramatic cliffs are overwhelmed by literally millions of Brunnich’s guillemots, amongst a coterie of other migratory birds. Walrus and whales patrol ice-filled bays, reindeer graze tundra slopes, while polar bears, the world’s largest land carnivore, roam the pack ice in search of prey. With a local population of more bears than people, Spitsbergen has one of the densest populations of polar bears and sightings here as a result are frequent.
With much of Spitsbergen’s ragged coastline inaccessible by land, travelling by small ice strengthened ship during the summer months of June to late August offers the best means for exploration, with regular daily landings by zodiac. In true expeditionary spirit, the weather and local ice conditions will influence your daily schedule, requiring a flexible approach. Your captain’s detailed knowledge of the area and the benefit of the perpetual midnight sun will help maximise wildlife sightings.
Journey Ideas for Spitsbergen