Svalbard

– Remote, mysterious and extreme
  • High Arctic with the experts
    As the pioneer of adventure travel in Svalbard, we use our knowledge to show you the best of this Arctic treasure.
  • Unforgettable wilderness
    Get close to glaciers, fjords and dramatic national parks to experience beauty unlike anywhere else on the planet.
  • Realm of the polar bear
    Encounter rich wildlife, from whales and Arctic foxes to amazing birdlife and the ruler of Svalbard, the polar bear.
  • Sustainable adventure
    Our expedition cruises are created with sustainability as a priority. Take part in beach clean-ups and get a deeper understanding of Svalbard’s ecosystem.
Spitsbergen is the crown of Arctic Norway; an island forged by wind, ocean, ice and snow. Its location creates a biological hot spot, where the frigid Arctic Ocean meets the warmer currents of the Gulf Stream. We might get lucky and spot a polar bear searching for seals.
Taking the time to enjoy the light on the magical island of Spitsbergen in Ny-Ålesund.

Expedition Cruises

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Explore Svalbard

Discover some of the possible landing sites you may visit on an expedition cruise to Svalbard.

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Explore Svalbard

Discover some of the possible landing sites you may visit on an expedition cruise to Svalbard.

  • 1

    Longyearbyen

    is a small and lively town perched on the edge of the vast Arctic tundra.

  • 2

    Barentsburg

    is a Russian settlement in Norwegian territory, with a mining heritage and the interesting Pomor Museum.

  • 3

    Ny Ålesund

    Want to send a postcard from the northernmost town in the world? Look no further. As the gateway to the Arctic, remote yet charming Ny-Ålesund has a fascinating explorer history.

  • 4

    North West Spitsbergen National Park

    Explore the many beautiful fjords in this area, like Kongsfjorden, Krossfjorden and Liefdefjorden, home to the enormous Monaco Glacier.

  • 5

    Moffen

    is an island north of Wijdefjorden on the coast of Spitsbergen, and is the largest island of the Svalbard Archipelago.

  • 6

    80° North

    Hurtigruten plans to sail above 80º N on a circumnavigation, bringing you closer than 600 nautical miles from the Geographical North Pole.

  • 7

    Kvitøya

    This remote island – the easternmost in the Svalbard archipelago – is almost entirely covered by the Kvitøyjøkulen ice cap, hence the name “White Island”.

  • 8

    North East Svalbard Nature Reserve

    Eastern Svalbard boasts the highest population of polar bears on the archipelago. It also features amazing wildlife spotting opportunities for walrus and birdlife.

  • 9

    South East Svalbard Nature Reserve

    Edgeøya is the third largest island in the Svalbard archipelago with a landscape that is largely un-glaciated, unlike much of Spitsbergen. Kapp Lee is a wonderful site where you’ll find cultural heritage from all eras of human exploration of Svalbard.

  • 10

    South Spitsbergen National Park

    Polar bears are known to hunt on the ice floes in the area, so with a bit of luck we may spot some of these magnificent predators.

Sail with the experts

– Your Expedition Team in Svalbard

Our experts are here to safeguard both explorers and the pristine environment. They serve as your invaluable hosts throughout your expedition cruise.

Leading and teaching

During your discovery of Svalbard, your Expedition Team will lead the way on landings, beach cleanup activities and birdwatching as we sail close to bird cliffs and glaciers.

“The best part is when our guests begin to really feel the overwhelming grandeur of nature.”

– Friederike, Assistant Expedition Leader

Meet the Svalbard Expedition Team

Environmental commitment

A voyage to Svalbard offers experiences close to nature’s most spectacular landscapes, genuine cultures, exceptional people and amazing wildlife. Preserving these resources in their natural, unspoiled condition is our priority - you will always experience the highest environmental awareness on board and ashore.

AECO

Hurtigruten is a full member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators which is an international organization ensuring that tourism in the Arctic is carried out with the utmost consideration for the vulnerable natural environment, local cultures and cultural remains, as well as the challenging environment at sea and on land.

This organisation provides Hurtigruten Svalbard as an operator and you as a visitor with guidelines we are committed to follow.

Register marine mammals

Hurtigruten is a participant in the Norwegian Polar Institute’s project to register marine mammals in the Arctic. Gathering this data improves insight of habitat use and seasonal migration patterns and is also used in The Environmental Monitoring of Svalbard.

Explore Svalbard

Majestic Polarbear on ice floe

Svalbard is the crown of Arctic Norway. Located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, one might expect it to be unbearably cold. However, thanks to the Gulf Stream, Spitsbergen and the other islands in the Svalbard archipelago boast a surprisingly mild climate with distinctive seasons. The large variety of plants and wildlife includes seals, thousands of seabirds coming in every summer, the Arctic fox and reindeer and the top predator: the polar bear.

Majestic Polarbear on ice floe
Today about 1000 people live in Barentsburg

Klondike-like atmosphere

Part of the Spitsbergen experience is visiting the different and fascinating settlements like Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, or Ny-Ålesund – all with a different scent and atmosphere. However, they share a certain pioneer feeling, a “Klondike-like” atmosphere – displaying self-confidence in their isolation from the mainland.

Longyearbyen is a colourful modern town with first-class facilities, like excellent hotels and restaurants, regular flight connections to mainland Norway, as well as an impressive range of activities to suit every traveller. 

Up-close

With Hurtigruten, you can choose among a variety of expedition sailings on MS Fram, MS Spitsbergen or MS Nordstjernen. Our expedition-style landings will take you close to the Arctic wildlife, ghost towns of the early whaling stations, remote mining towns, research communities, and spectacular fjords and icebergs.