Svalbard: An Introduction

Home to 2,000 glaciers, remote Arctic wilderness and an abundance of wildlife including polar bears, walruses, whales and an array of birds.

The name Svalbard translates as ‘cold shores’ from its origins in old Norse. It is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears in their natural home.

Visit the most northerly town in the world and witness some of the Arctic’s most beautiful scenery and an abundance of rare wildlife.

An Expedition to Svalbard is a life-changing experience.

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small ship cruises to svalbard

What Can I See in Svalbard?

polar bear photo tour in svalbard

Wildlife

Svalbard is home to a fantastic abundance of wildlife. On our expeditions we regularly see polar bears, walruses, whales, seals, Arctic foxes, reindeer and an array of birds.

glaciers in Svalbard in Norway

Glaciers

Svalbard is home to over 2,000 glaciers. If you are interested in glaciers Svalbard is one of the best places on earth to witness their raw beauty.

zodiac-cruise-in-svalbard

Sea Ice

The sea ice to the north of Svalbard extends all the way to the North Pole. In calm conditions, it is possible to explore it by Zodiac landing craft.

spitzbergen in norway

HUMAN HISTORY AND SETTLEMENTS

Svalbard is full of interesting human history from the world’s most northerly scientific settlement to the remains of early expeditions to the North Pole.

Explore Svalbard

How to get to Svalbard

Our departure port of Longyearbyen is connected by daily flights (2 hours 55 minutes) from Oslo, the capital of Norway. Oslo has great connections to Europe and North America making Svalbard one of the most accessible destinations in the Arctic.

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expedition cruise in Svalbard

2 Hr 55 M flight

from Oslo

The most northerly

airport on Earth

Easily accessible

Arctic destination

Svalbard Wildlife

Svalbard is home to diverse Arctic wildlife. It is one of the best places on Earth to see polar bears, walruses, whales, Arctic foxes, a wide array of birds and Svalbard reindeer in their natural home.

A Guide to Viewing Polar Bears in Svalbard The Wildlife of Svalbard: Read More

Where is Svalbard?

Svalbard is an archipelago of islands located between mainland Norway and the North Pole. We are often asked is Svalbard in Norway? Svalbard is over 400 miles to the north of mainland Norway. The sovereignty of Svalbard falls under Norway but is under the terms laid out in the Svalbard Treaty.

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svalbard in Norway

800 miles

from North Pole

450 Miles

from Northern Norway

1167 Miles

from Oslo

Did You Know?

Svalbard is so far north it would be permanently locked in by ice without the Gulf Stream or that one night in Svalbard lasts for three months during the winter?

Learn more about Svalbard with our 50 facts about Svalbard page.

Read 50 Facts about Svalbard
svalbard north pole

Explore

Svalbard

Join Secret Atlas on an authentic expedition to Svalbard. Choose between a 12 guest Micro Cruise or a 48 guest Small Ship Expedition.

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Svalbard Travel Information

Currency

Norwegian krone (NOK).

Calling Code

+47

Time Zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

Driving Side

Right

Language

Norwegian (official) English (widely spoken)