If exploring the edge of the world and spotting polar bears in the wild is on your bucket list, let me introduce you to the magic of Arctic expeditions. During the last week of May and first week of June, we set sail on an unforgettable Arctic expedition around Svalbard, Norway with Quark Expeditions, and I can confidently say it was one of the most mind-blowing adventures we’ve ever done.

Imagine cruising through the Arctic Circle, surrounded by towering glaciers, icy fjords, and surreal silence, punctuated only by the crack of calving ice or the distant blow of a whale. Add in daily polar bear sightings, walrus haul-outs, and Zodiac landings in remote tundra, and you’ve got a recipe for an epic polar cruise.

In this post, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about taking an expedition cruise around Svalbard: how to get there, what to expect, when to go, and, yes, of course we’ll chat about finding polar bears in Svalbard. Let’s jump in!

Disclaimer: This blog post is in collaboration with Quark Expeditions. All wildlife photos were shot at a responsible distance on a Canon R5 100-500mm lens with a 2x extender. Some parts of the article also feature affiliate links, which means we get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for the support!

Key Details About Visiting Svalbard 

Fascinating Facts About Svalbard

• Svalbard has more polar bears than people with an estimated 3,000 bears vs. 2,500 residents.
• There are no trees. The permafrost and tundra mean only mosses, flowers, and hardy grasses grow.
  You need a rifle permit to leave Longyearbyen on foot as polar bears can be anywhere.
• It’s home to the Global Seed Vault, a secure facility preserving crop diversity from around the world.

Where Is Svalbard and How Do You Get There?

Svalbard is a remote archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole. It’s one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth and is part of Norway, but lies well within the Arctic Circle.

How to Get to Svalbard:

Getting to Svalbard isn’t as simple as hopping on a direct flight from the USA, but the journey is part of the adventure. 

If you’re getting to Svalbard on your own, most travelers fly via Oslo or Tromsø in mainland Norway. If you’re searching for a flight to Svalbard, check SAS or Norwegian Air, which run regular routes. (Tip: use a flight deal site like Thrifty Traveler Premium to find savings, that’s how we booked ours!)

The main airport in Svalbard is Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost airport with regular commercial flights, and your expedition operator will likely charter a flight for everyone on the ship to get out there. We began our expedition in Helsinki, Finland, where we stayed at the Hilton Helsinki Airport for a pre-arranged night included by Quark Expeditions. 

At check-in, we were greeted by two friendly Quark team members who provided our health declaration forms, luggage tags, and a detailed itinerary for the next day including breakfast hours, check-out time, luggage drop instructions, and our designated group number for walking over to the terminal together.

The next morning, our luggage was seamlessly transported to the airport while we walked over with our group. From there, we boarded a charter flight to Longyearbyen which was reserved exclusively for passengers on our sailing. It definitely made the travel day feel more exciting (and stress-free!).

Once in Longyearbyen, your expedition begins.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Svalbard?

The best time to visit Svalbard for an Arctic cruise is from May to August, when the sea ice has melted enough for ships to navigate the coastline and reach remote regions. During this period, you’ll also experience the midnight sun, with 24 hours of daylight lighting up the surreal Arctic landscape.

Each month has its perks:

• May and June: More sea ice = more polar bear encounters
• July: Peak wildlife sightings and access to remote islands
• August: Beautiful golden light and slightly warmer weather

We opted to go during the last week of May and first week of June and had several amazing wildlife encounters and a surprising amount of beautiful sunny days throughout our voyage! 

What’s the Climate Like in Svalbard?

Despite being so far north, the climate in Svalbard during summer is milder than you’d expect with the temperatures typically ranging from 30°F to 50°F (0°C to 10°C). That said, it can shift dramatically depending on wind, fog, and proximity to glaciers. 

Essentials to pack for an Arctic Expedition:

• Insulated waterproof boots (Quark provided these!)
• Windproof parka (also provided by Quark)
• Thermal base layers
• Waterproof gloves and hats
• Waterproof Pants (these are mandatory for zodiac excursions) 
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (yes, really, the glare off the ice is intense!)
• Camera with a zoom lens or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
  • We brought a 100-500mm lens with a 2x extender, and honestly could have used a bigger lens for the polar bear sightings! But overall, we were happy with this choice! We also brought a 100-400mm lens, a 70-200mm lens, and a 15-35mm lens. See all of our favorite camera gear here.

Keep in mind, there are luggage weight restrictions depending on the vessel you choose, so make sure to adhere to those when packing for your trip. We’ve linked all of our favorites for this trip here! 

Polar Bear Tours in Svalbard: What to Expect

Let’s talk about the real star of the show: polar bears. Seeing polar bears in their natural habitat was a dream come true for the both of us.

Svalbard is one of the best places on Earth to see them in the wild. During our polar bear sightings on our cruise around Svalbard, we spotted them walking across sea ice, swimming along the shore, and even feasting on a seal carcass (from a safe distance, of course).

The guides and crew are trained to keep both travelers and wildlife safe. Sightings often involve a respectful, quiet viewing from the ship with long camera lenses and binoculars. Seeing these apex predators in their natural surroundings is truly something I’ll never forget. 

Almost forgot to mention that for every zodiac excursion, there will be plenty of scouts on patrol and you will have an armed expedition team member with you for utmost safety in the event of seeing a polar bear during a landing. They give you a full run down on polar bear safety so you feel 100% confident when exploring out on the tundra in potential polar bear range. 

Our Experience on an Arctic Cruise with Quark Expeditions

Not all Arctic cruises are created equal. We chose Quark Expeditions because they specialize in high-latitude travel with an emphasis on science, safety, and wildlife encounters. Their small-ship format allows for a more intimate and adventurous experience compared to large-scale cruise lines. We had approximately 108 passengers on our sailing aboard the Ultramarine and absolutely loved the intimacy of the ship. 

Here’s what stood out on our Svalbard Arctic expedition:

• Daily Zodiac landings to explore glaciers, tundra, and remote shorelines
• Expert naturalists and polar historians on board
• High chances of seeing polar bears in Svalbard (spoiler: we saw 5!)
• Incredible food and comfortable accommodations
• Flexible itineraries based on ice, weather, and wildlife

One of the huge reasons we loved sailing with Quark was their respect for the environment. They are a part of the IAATO which means they are one of the pioneers for responsible and ethical Arctic travel as well. If you’re looking for the perfect blend of intimate and ethical Arctic bucket list experiences, then you 100% will love an expedition on Quark.

Check out Quark Expeditions Here

Daily Life on an Arctic Expedition Ship

Every day aboard the ship felt like a choose-your-own-polar-adventure. Here’s a snapshot of our daily rhythm:

• Morning briefing with updates on weather, ice, and wildlife
• Zodiac excursions or guided land hikes with naturalists
• Lunch onboard (the food was honestly really good!)
• Afternoon Zodiac or scenic cruising
• Evening presentations on Arctic ecology, history, or photography

We personally loved doing all the Zodiac Rides and guided hikes everyday! They break guided hike categories into speeds, so there’s a group for all experience levels. We personally loved doing the Medium Fast hiking group which offered a nice mix of exercise but also some time for photos in the epic Arctic Tundra.

Paddling and Kayaking in the Arctic

Quark has two different paddling programs available in the Arctic – the Paddle Excursion Program and the Sea Kayaking program. While Sea Kayakers head out kayaking almost every day if weather conditions allow, we opted to do the one-off Paddle excursion and we couldn’t recommend it enough. We didn’t originally sign up for the program, but we were able to add it on at the safety briefing on board the first day of our voyage and we were so happy that we did.

We were blessed with BEAUTIFUL conditions around the most northern islands in Svalbard. And on our way out to the paddle, we even saw a baby walrus and it’s mom resting on some ice which was another unique highlight.

Our Svalbard Expedition Trip Highlights

Now, the cool thing about expedition voyages is that every single sailing could be completely different because there is no set itinerary per se. So while these were some of the highlights for us, keep in mind that your arctic expedition might look a little different based on your weather conditions!

Making It To 81° North

Due to our luck with the weather conditions, our voyage got to the FURTHEST north the ship has ever gone in the Arctic, making it up to 81° North and just 500 miles away from the North Pole. We got the unique opportunity to venture out on to some floating sea ice and play around on a beautiful sunny day. This was by far a highlight for everyone on board, and then we celebrated back on board with a lovely champagne toast and dance party on the helicopter deck.

Seeing Epic Wildlife Throughout Svalbard

We came to Svalbard to really immerse ourselves in the wildlife, and boy did this expedition deliver! We saw 5 Polar Bears, multiple puffins, probably around 50 walrus, 3 Arctic foxes, and dozens of Svalbard Reindeer.

Partaking in the Polar Plunge in Woodfjorden

By far, one of the most fun events on board was doing the infamous Polar Plunge in the freezing Arctic waters, which was a rite of passage for brave (or slightly unhinged) souls like ourselves. We got some fun patches showcasing our bravery. You get harnessed up for safety, and then jump off the side of the ship, followed by a shot of Vodka to warm you back up (if you want). We ran back up to the sauna on Ultramarine afterwards and had a sauna party with all the other passengers who braved the water!

Exploring Lilliehöökfjorden

The glacier (and the glacier lagoon) in Lilliehöökfjorden were truly spectacular. It reminded me so much of the glaciers we’ve explored in Alaska, but so much more peaceful since we were the only people out here! We saw a few walrus while out on our zodiac cruise for the day, and seeing the lagoon so calm and glassy was such a serene experience out in nature.

Is an Arctic Expedition Right for You?

If you’re an adventure traveler, wildlife lover, or photographer craving otherworldly landscapes, a cruise to the Arctic is absolutely worth it. It’s less about sipping cocktails poolside and more about braving the elements to witness raw, untamed nature at the top of the world.

Whether you’re dreaming of a cruise to the North Pole, looking for polar bear tours in Svalbard, or just want to learn how to travel to Svalbard, this experience will completely reset your sense of awe.

Taking an Arctic expedition cruise around Svalbard with Quark Expeditions was one of the most humbling and unforgettable trips of our lives. From drifting beside glaciers to locking eyes with a wild polar bear, every moment reminded us how wild and precious this planet really is.

So if you’re looking for your next bucket-list trip, this is your sign to head north—way north.

As we mentioned before, if you have any questions, please feel free to let us know in the comments section!

If you’re ready to book a trip of a lifetime, you can start planning your polar expedition with the Quark team here. And if you want to witness our full experience exploring Svalbard, check out our full vlog below.