Svalbard

If you are eager to discover the beauty of polar terrain this year or have a vacation planned for 2023, we offer numerous Svalbard tours to choose from, such as Spitsbergen, Greenland, Polar Ice Edge, and more.

Spitsbergen is the largest and most beautiful island of the Svalbard archipelago, which consists of two smaller islands, Nordaustlandet and Edgeøya. Mostly, the cruises depart from the administrative center of this area named Longyearbyen.

There are many attractions for travelers when choosing a Svalbard cruise. Dive into the world of icy landscapes, arctic climate, and raw nature. Take a chance to see polar ice caps, wild animals, and northern lights in person. All of it is available with any of our Svalbard tours.

As for activities, each voyage becomes truly memorable due to an inspiring photography experience, exciting sea kayaking adventure, and breathtaking views during a challenging hiking trip.

Svalbard is a northern archipelago that forms part of Norway. It is situated in the waters of the Arctic Ocean above the Arctic Circle.

There are nine islands in the archipelago; however, Spitsbergen is the largest one and serves as an important location in polar tours. In most cases, all arctic expeditions in the area depart from Longyearbyen, a developed administrative center.

Svalbard means “cold coast” in translation from Old Norse.

It is believed that it was discovered back in 1194. Although it only became widely known after rediscovering in 1596 by Willem Barents and Jacob van Heemskerck.

From 1611 many European whalers arrived in Svalbard and began to argue over whaling rights. All issues were settled by the decline of whaling only in 1800.

That led to a focus shift from whaling to coal, which also caused quarrels over export rights between European, Russian and American companies. Nowadays, only Norway and Russia are authorized to extract coal on the Svalbard territory.

It can be very exciting to go on a Spitsbergen cruise in Norway due to the unique mountainous landscape caused by faulting. The Newton Peak is considered the highest point (1717 meters).

Over half of the territory is covered with snowfields and glaciers that extend as far as the sea. Besides, there are many fjords on the northwestern coast of Spitsbergen.

Also, the packed ice around Spitsbergen accumulates quickly, which complicates access to the territory.

The climate of Svalbard is truly arctic. The average temperature usually varies from +6°С in the summertime to -15°С in winter.

If you plan a cruise to Spitsbergen, remember it is a traditional yet fascinating, polar adventure.

Here is the list of the most attractive Svalbard locations and activities for visitors in 2021 that is worth your attention.

1. A ghost town named Pyramiden grants the mysterious impression of visiting the Soviet Union.
2. Isfjord is one of the largest and most beautiful fjords in the area, where you can meet polar bears, enjoy glacier views, or join a snowmobile safari.
3. Barentsburg, the second-largest settlement in Svalbard, is an interesting place to visit for beautiful views, historical sightseeing, and wildlife.
4. The uninhabited Edge island is the third-largest in Svalbard, where you can meet polar bears, walruses, and other animals and capture the most stunning views.
5. The Svalbard Museum will help you learn more about the history and culture of the area.
6. The North Pole Expedition Museum tells the amazing story of airships exploring the north.
7. Svalbard snowmobile safari, ice cave visiting, dog-sledding with a husky, and many other activities and places are available.

How to Get to Svalbard

Here is how to get ready for your unforgettable expedition.

We deliver only a high-class fleet for each Svalbard cruise. We rely on our small but advantageous ship:

The deluxe expedition ship Sea Spirit is very maneuverable and contains 114 passengers. Comfortable accommodation on board and an additional fleet of Zodiacs make this vessel very attractive.

On our ship, we offer many different onboard entertaining options: restaurants, bars, game lounge, gym, shops, swimming pool, etc. You will never get bored. Besides, due to low passenger groups going ashore during stops is very pleasant.