Hurtigruten
Welcome to Hurtigruten - The Norwegian Coastal Voyage
This section features our summer voyages to Spitsbergen. If you are interested in a land based winter holiday on the pristine Spitsbergen archipelago then please see Spitsbergen in our Northern Lights section.
Remote, mysterious, extreme, the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen is the European doorway into the High Arctic. Part of the Svalbard archipelago, it is a land forged by ice and wind, ocean and snow and by the endless days and endless nights of the polar seasons. Sparsely populated and bereft of roads, the only way to experience the mysterious majesty of Spitsbergen is from the sea and on foot.
Sixty percent of the archipelago is covered in glaciers and snowfields – the rest is jagged peak, Arctic desert and bitter tundra. Treeless and exposed, the island provides a sanctuary for some of the rarest and hardiest flora and fauna on Earth. During the months of high summer, polar bears can be seen at close hand as they roam the wastes in search of food. This supreme, solitary predator covers vast distances and females can be observed sheltering their young in caves and coves along the coast. Ursus maritimus shares Spitsbergen with other stunning species, including Arctic fox, reindeer, seal and walrus.
At 78º north, the tiny capital Longyearbyen is far closer to the North Pole than any coastal base in Antarctica is to the South Pole. Yet the Gulf Stream manages to warm the local people as well as the breezes off the Greenland Sea and the town has a buzzing, ski-town feel.
There are schools, shops, restaurants, coal mines, even a post office dotted around Spitsbergen, as well as dozens of fascinating historic sites. Visits to Ny-Ålesund, Barentsburg and at lonely Moffen Island allow passengers to relive the
rich narrative of human endeavour and settlement – from the exploits of whalers, sealers and walrus-hunters in the 17th and 18th centuries to the more recent explorations and achievements of indomitable polar heroes such as Salomon Andrée and Roald Amundsen, Walter Wellman and Umberto Nobile.
Expedition Voyages or Active Adventures
Our main voyages to Spitsbergen are relaxed and suitable for most people of reasonable fitness. On our Svalbard Adventure tours we offer an expedition experience for those looking for some physical activity. These include camping by frozen glaciers, participating in an over-night polar bear watch and spending our days hiking or kayaking amidst the timeless grandeur of one of the last true wildernesses left on Earth.
Only a short flight from mainland Norway, it is a world apart and a wonderful escape from busy, bustling Europe.
DVD available
We have produced a short DVD on our voyages to Spitsbergen. Call us for your free copy.
Climate
Spitsbergen, in spite of its proximity to the North Pole, has a relatively mild climate compared with other areas at the same latitude. In Longyearbyen the average summer temperature is 6°C, and the highest ever recorded is 21.3°C. Rain is scarce, with an average annual rain and snowfall of only 200-300mm.
Spitsbergen, in spite of its proximity to the North Pole, has a relatively mild climate compared with other areas at the same latitude. In Longyearbyen the average summer temperature is 6ºC, and the highest ever recorded is 21.3ºC. Rain is scarce, with an average annual rain and snowfall of only 200-300mm.
Average Temperatures -Longyearbyen
June - 2ºC
July - 6ºC
Aug - 5ºC
These are 24-hour temperatures. Average daytime temperatures will be higher.
Midnight Sun
Spitsbergen is above the Arctic Circle and therefore benefits from the Midnight Sun during the summer. This means 24 hours of sunlight to experience this unique landscape from April to late August.
Solar eclipse 2008
There will be a solar eclipse close to Svalbard on 1 August 2008. While local experts state that visibility is unlikely to be ideal for viewing this, it may be an interesting time to join the voyage.
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