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Don't Miss This Opportunity of a Lifetime
Welcome to Svalbard, the true Arctic!
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Located on top of the world, it contains endless areas of unspoiled, raw Arctic wilderness.
Join us - June 25, 2025, Edward Spera, Expedia Cruises
We will have a guest host on board, Edward Spera. Edward is a wildlife artist and photographer from Niagara on the Lake.
It's a very different type of travel from Ocean or river, it is an expedition - guests go out on zodiac boats to landings or for water excursions.
This is a 14-day expedition to Spitsbergen to circumnavigate the island and venture around the entire Svalbard archipelago.
This trip offers maximum exploration time on land and at sea, making it great for viewing polar bears, walruses, reindeer, foxes, whales and seabirds. The landing sites will be abandoned whaling sites, tundra meadows, glaciers, icebergs, and seabird breeding ground.
Nature is the tour guide.
Interesting Facts
Svalbard is an archipelago of Islands. Svalbard consists of a group of remote, Arctic Islands. There are 9 main islands. Prior to 1925 Svalbard was know as Spitsbergen which today is one of the islands in the Svalbard archipelago.
Spitsbergen is the largest of Svalbard’s islands. It is the only island with human population. Dutch Explorer Willem Barentsz discovered it in 1596 and named it Spitsbergen, or “pointy mountain” in Dutch.
Svalbard is so far north it would be permanently locked in by ice without the Gulf Stream. Unlike Greenland, the waters around the south & west of Svalbard are relatively free of ice due to the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream that pushes warmer waters up the coast. An ideal way to see Svalbard is from the water on a small expedition vessel.
The sun doesn’t set in Svalbard for five months of the year. April 19 through to August 23 rd.
One night in Svalbard lasts for three months during the winter. November to the end of January you will not see a glimpse of sunlight in Svalbard during that time.
Svalbard is home to the four northernmost settlements in the world. Longyearbyen is the main settlement.
Longyearbyen is so far north it is just 814 miles from the North Pole.
Svalbard only has 25 miles of road.
Svalbard’s average temperature is milder than you think. The average temperatures range from -14c in the winter to +6c in the summer.
The Global Seed Vault is in Svalbard. The seed vault holds copies of all the worlds seeds to ensure against loss in the event of a global crisis. You can see why it has the nickname “The Doomsday Vault.”
Svalbard is one of the safest places in the world with virtually no crime.
You don’t need a visa or residency permit to live and work in Svalbard.
Longyearbyen has inhabitants from fifty nations. With a population of under 3000, makes it one of the most diverse places on earth.
Svalbard is home to seven national parks. 60% of the land being protected. It is an ideal place to view wildlife in its natural home.
Svalbard is classified as an Arctic desert. The air is almost as dry as the air in the Sahara.
Svalbard has over 2100 glaciers. The glaciers are around 3000 – 4000 years old and are currently in a state of retreat.
There are more snowmobiles than people in Svalbard.
There are more polar bears than people in Svalbard.
Longyearbyen has the most northerly airport in the world with scheduled public flights. When you land you are at the furthest point north that you can fly on a scheduled domestic airline anywhere on earth.
The worlds northernmost research & higher education institute is based in Svalbard.
Svalbard is home to some of the world’s most northernmost eateries. You guessed it. The world’s most northerly pizzeria, kebab house, gourmet restaurant, bar, nightclub & sushi restaurant all located in Longyearbyen.
Shooting a polar bear in Svalbard is a criminal offence. It is also illegal to chase or disturb polar bears.
Arctic terns migrate to Svalbard to Antarctica. The red beaked Arctic tern migrates from pole to pole every year. A single tern can fly up to 25,000 miles in a year.
Walruses were once hunted to near extinction in Svalbard. In 1952 walruses became protected, today the population has grown to an estimated 3,000 walruses. The scientific name for a walrus is Odobenus Rosmarus, which is Latin for tooth-walking sea-horse.
Svalbard is home to 19 species of marine mammals. Polar Bears, walruses, five seal species and 12 different types of whales.
Svalbard has it’s own species of reindeer. They are the smallest reindeer on earth.
The tusk of a Narwhal is actually a tooth.
Svalbard’s waters are home to the largest animal to have ever lived on planet earth – the blue whale. These solitary visitors can weigh up to 200 tonnes & grow up to 24-28 meters in length.They make an impressive sight and are one of the many natural wonders that attract photographers and wildlife watchers to Svalbard.
Longyearbyen was almost completely destroyed during WWII. In 1943 a German task force under the name Operation Zitronella was sent to destroy the settlements of Barentsberg & Longyearbyen.
Svalbard was the departure point for the exploration of the North Pole.
