Svalbard Safari Guide

Norway

Svalbard

Summary

Svalbard is a place like no other — an Arctic wilderness of glaciers, sea ice, and stark mountain ranges where wildlife reigns supreme. This is the true kingdom of the polar bear, where encounters are raw, humbling, and unforgettable. Walruses haul out on ice floes, Arctic foxes dart across tundra, and reindeer graze against dramatic backdrops of frozen peaks. For photographers, Svalbard offers a blend of grandeur and intimacy: polar bears framed by icebergs, walruses against glaciers, foxes in pristine snow, and endless opportunities for storytelling through light and silence.

Wildlife & Landscape

Getting There

Good to Know

Upcoming Svalbard
Signature Journeys

Upcoming Signature
Journeys

Recommended Svalbard
Lodges

Recommended
Lodges

Basecamp Hotel

An expedition-styled hotel in Longyearbyen, built from reclaimed materials with a rugged, trapper-camp aesthetic.

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Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen

The world’s northernmost full-service hotel, based in Longyearbyen on the Svalbard archipelago.

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Recommended Svalbard
Itineraries

Recommended
Itineraries

Svalbard: Kingdom of the Polar Bear

A ship-based expedition through the Svalbard archipelago in search of polar bears among the pack ice.

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Best Time to Visit

Jan

Fair

Feb

Fair

Mar

Fair

Apr

Good

May

Outstanding

Jun

Outstanding

Jul

Outstanding

Aug

Outstanding

Sep

Good

Oct

Fair

Nov

Fair

Dec

Fair

Jan

Fair

Feb

Fair

Mar

Fair

Apr

Good

May

Outstanding

Jun

Outstanding

Jul

Outstanding

Aug

Outstanding

Sep

Good

Oct

Fair

Nov

Fair

Dec

Fair

Photo Gallery

Svalbard

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Join the Journey

Before You Go