CNH Tours - Cultural and Natural Heritage Tours

Svalbard Trip Planning Webinar

Why Svalbard?

We like to say that the Svalbard Archipelago, 600 miles / 1000kms from the North Pole, is “the Galápagos of the Arctic”—and for good reason. Like its equatorial counterpart, Svalbard is a remote, otherworldly laboratory of life, where wildlife, dramatic geology, and fragile ecosystems converge in one of the most pristine environments on Earth.

Why “the Galápagos of the Arctic”?

Extraordinary Wildlife: Just as the Galápagos is home to a diversity of species such as marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies, Svalbard hosts creatures found nowhere else in such abundance. Think polar bears roaming the pack ice, walrus colonies piled onto pebble beaches, arctic foxes blending into the snow, and thousands of nesting seabirds along sheer cliffs.
Natural Laboratory: Like Darwin’s Galápagos, Svalbard offers scientists (and curious travelers) a window into evolutionary adaptation and climate change. Glacial melt, permafrost thaw, and changing sea ice patterns are reshaping this living, frozen frontier.
Isolated and Unsullied: Both archipelagos are profoundly remote, relatively untouched by human settlement, and governed by strict environmental regulations. This ensures visitors experience not only incredible nature—but nature in its most elemental form.

What to Expect as a Visitor

Dramatic Landscapes: Glaciers calving into fjords, midnight sun in the summer months. Stark mountains, icebergs, and ancient rock formations form a backdrop as breathtaking as it is humbling.
Adventure: Visit by expedition ship, kayak through ice-filled bays, hike with a guide in polar bear territory, or join a dog sledding or snowmobile trip in the long polar winter.
Climate: Svalbard's climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Current. Summers are cool (4–10°C), while winters can drop well below freezing. Pack accordingly.
Unique Human Footprint: From the global seed vault protecting the world's crop diversity, to the abandoned Soviet mining town of Pyramiden, Svalbard’s human history is as strange and stark as the environment itself.

In short, Svalbard is a mirror-world to the Galápagos—where ice replaces lava, and polar bears replace giant tortoises—but both offer a chance to encounter life at the edges of the world.

Svalbard is a lot bigger than Galapagos

Svalbard Trip Planning Webinar

Consider Your Options

Land-based or ship-based?

CNH Tours recommends exploring the Svalbard archipelago aboard an expedition cruise ship. A ship-based visit will easily take you to a wide variety of destinations, with no time lost in transit (done mostly while you are sleeping / enjoying your meals). While land-based trips can be rewarding, you will be significantly restricted in your movements and limited to excursions within a relatively short distance from town.

What size ship?

That's up to you and your travel style. Are you a keen explorer, wanting to experience Svalbard in the way it was experienced 100 years ago? A small ship may be more suitable. Or... are you keen on creature comforts but still wanting to get off ship, engaging in a variety of activities? Consider a medium-sized ship. The larger ships will be very comfortable and could be of interest for those keen on mixing a simple navigation in a variety of Svalbard landscapes with the occasional opportunity to explore off ship.

There are approximately 25 expedition ships plying Svalbard waters in the summer months, ranging from a few functional/cozy 12-20 passenger true adventure vessels to much larger luxury vessels carrying mini-submarines.

Smaller ships (12-33 guests) will be more intimate and give you that true expedition feel, allowing you to navigate in places not always accessible to larger ones. There is typically a very strong focus on "getting out and about" on these small ships - where guests have the chance to get off ship regularly.

Larger ships (150+ guests) provide all the creature comforts, will feel the seas less when they are livelier. Getting off ship for excursions will require more logistics. The largest of them may focus less on off ship activities and more on cruising through scenic itineraries - best for mobility reduced adventurers.

Mid-sized ships (50 - 140 guests) offer a balance between the two. While there are excellent opportunities to get off ship and engage in activities, these ships tend to also provide for comfortable on-board experiences where viewing the landscapes from deck can be rewarding.

A small ship: The 20 passenger SV Noorderlicht

A smaller "mid-size" ship: The 50 passenger M/S Quest

A larger "mid-size" ship: The 132 passenger Greg Mortimer

A large ship: The 530 passenger Roald Amundsen

How many days?

That's up to you (and your budget...). The Svalbard Archipelago is quite large, extending to more than 500kms/300miles from one extreme to the other. The longer the itinerary, the greater diversity of landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities you will be exposed to. As always, the more time you spend out there, among the islands, exploring inlets and icefields, the greater the odds you'll encounter amazing wildlife, scenery and natural phenomena.

Typically, 6-10 day itineraries should give you a quality exposure to what Svalbard is all about.

Above: Typical 10-11 day ship itinerary

Above: Typical 7-8 day itinerary

Svalbard Trip Planning Webinar

Svalbard Travel FAQ

🧭 Getting There

Where is Svalbard?
Svalbard is a remote Arctic archipelago, located halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The largest island is Spitsbergen.

How do I get there?

By air: Regular commercial flights from Oslo and Tromsø to Longyearbyen (LYR), the main town.
By sea: Expedition cruises from Norway or Iceland in summer.

Visa requirements?
Svalbard has an open immigration policy, but transiting through Norway requires a Schengen visa if you're from a country that needs one.

🌡️ Climate and Conditions

What’s the climate like?

Polar climate: Dry and cold.
Winter (Nov–Feb): −20°C to −5°C, dark 24/7.
Spring (Mar–May): −15°C to 0°C, brightening skies.
Summer (Jun–Aug): 3°C to 10°C, 24-hour daylight.
Autumn (Sep–Oct): Cooling down, daylight dwindles.

Is it always dark or always light?

Polar night: Late October to mid-February (no sunrise).
Midnight sun: Late April to late August (no sunset).

📆 When to Go – Pros & Cons

Season	Pros	Cons
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Ice-free seas, wildlife active, tundra in bloom	High season = higher costs
Shoulder (May, Sept)	Good mix of light & access	Unpredictable weather
Winter (Nov–Feb)	Northern lights, dog sledding	Extreme cold, no light
Spring (Mar–Apr)	Stunning snowy landscapes, light returns	Limited wildlife viewing

⏳ How Long to Stay?

Typical trip: 4–7 days.
Enough time to join guided excursions and explore Longyearbyen and nearby wilderness.
Longer cruises (7–14 days) are required to reach remote parts of the archipelago.

🧭 Ways to Visit

🏙️ Land-based (based in Longyearbyen):

Guided day tours: dog sledding, snowmobiling, glacier hikes, boat trips.
Overnight trips to remote cabins or outposts.

🚢 Expedition Cruise:

Access to ice fjords, walrus colonies, bird cliffs, polar bear territory.
Usually 7–12 days, with daily zodiac landings and naturalist guides.
Summer only, starting from Longyearbyen or further south.

🐾 Wildlife and What You Might See

Polar bears: ~3,000 across the region. Best chance via cruise. Always with a guide outside town.
Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, walrus, bearded and ringed seals.
Whales: Beluga, minke, and humpback (mostly summer).
Birds: Puffins, guillemots, Arctic terns – peak from May to August.

🐻 How Likely Is It to See a Polar Bear?

Cruise-based visitors: ~80–90% chance in summer.
Land-based visitors: Much lower chance unless taking multi-day expeditions by snowmobile or boat.
Sightings are never guaranteed — they’re wild animals in a vast area.

💸 Costs – What to Budget

Expense	Range (US$ Per Person, Per Day)
Budget land-based trip	$200–$350 (hostel + tours)
Mid-range trip	$350–$600 (hotel + day tours)
Expedition cruise	$700–$1,500+
Food & drink	$30–$100/day

Note: Alcohol and groceries are taxed and expensive. Guided activities are mandatory outside settlements and can be pricey. Meals and in some cases drinks are included on expedition cruises.

⚠️ Important Practicalities

You can’t leave town without a guide or firearm (due to polar bear danger).
Travel insurance should include emergency evacuation. (CNH Tours provides complimentary US$200,000 medical evacuation insurance to all its guests)
Cashless society: Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
No roads between settlements: Travel is by snowmobile, boat, or plane.

❄️ Packing Essentials

Thermal base layers
Wind- and waterproof outerwear
Insulated boots
Gloves, hat, buff
Sunglasses & sunscreen (yes, even in winter!)
Camera with zoom for wildlife

📱 Connectivity and Services

Longyearbyen has good Wi-Fi, hotels, restaurants, and even a brewery.
Beyond town: no service, no signal — which is part of the charm.
Most expedition ships offer internet service via Starlink.

🧊 Why Visit?

Arctic landscapes unlike anywhere on Earth
Sense of isolation and adventure
Rare wildlife sightings
Northern lights or midnight sun
Rich polar history & science stations