Svalbard Expedition Yacht Charter

The charter season in Svalbard starts in late April and finishes in late September / early October. Before April the sea ice restricts the coastline and many places are inaccessible and after September the light hours reduce as the winter approaches.

Each month of the charter season offers something different and depending on when you visit can be a totally different experience.

Choose Late April and early May to encounter Svalbard as it emerges from the winter. Expect lots of sea ice, frozen landscapes and the opportunity to step ashore on snow shoes. Early season is ideal for photographers and those looking for a ski and sail experience. 

Choose June – August to explore the furthest reaches of Svalbard. These months also offer the best possibilities for wildlife viewing. 

Choose September for it’s long sun rises and sun sets. Perfect for photographers.

Read our guide to the season of Svalbard here. 

All our expedition cruises depart from Longyearbyen, the main settlement on Svalbard. Longyearbyen is easily reached by daily flights from Oslo in Norway making it one of the easiest destinations to reach in the High Arctic. To find out more about how to get to Longyearbyen please visit our guide. 

Unlike larger vessels with higher passenger capacities, our Svalbard yacht charters are personal and unique in their approach. Travelling with a small group of guests means more time and flexibility exploring.

Our expedition yachts will get you closer to nature and landscapes that you came than larger ships can due to their smaller size, offering you a great deal more intimacy.

Our Svalbard yacht charter gives you the opportunity to experience the Arctic first hand on a real adventure without the crowds of people on larger ships. Our goal is to make you part of the adventure.

Svalbard is an untamed Arctic wilderness and on every cruise we do we encounter different wildlife. Svalbard in our opinion is the best place in the High Arctic to see wildlife including polar bears as there are high concentrations surrounding the islands.

The chances of encountering wildlife are very high and on all previous trips, we have seen walruses, whales, Svalbard Reindeer and a variety of birdlife. Whilst we can’t make any guarantees, we have encountered polar bears on the majority of our trips and we cruise areas where they are known to hunt.

If seeing a polar bear is one of your main attractions we would recommend a longer charter of 10 – 14 days.

You can find out more about the wildlife of Svalbard here. 

A part of the adventure of an expedition cruise is to spend time exploring the wilderness which means every trip is different. Our route is decided on the day of boarding and is chosen by the expedition leader and the captain in line with the prevailing weather and ice conditions. Their aim is to ensure that you see the very best that Svalbard has to offer.

On a typical cruise, you can expect daily shore landings to visit sites of historical and natural interest and to undertake short wilderness hikes. Svalbard has over 2000 glaciers and we aim to visit at least 1 calving glacier face which is an incredible sight. On some expeditions, if conditions allow we will attempt to visit the edge of the sea ice. As this is a private expedition the day by day will be based on what you would like to see and experience. 

We will also visit known wildlife sites including beaches where walruses haul out and areas where polar bears are frequently sighted.

Due to the influence of the gulf stream on Svalbard’s climate, it is warmer during the summer than most people would imagine. A summer’s day rarely feels colder than the temperatures experienced in Northern Europe during the winter. It is not uncommon to be out hiking with only a base layer on when the sun is shining.

The temperature varies depending on the month you travel with the months of July and August offering the warmest temperatures.

Average High:

April -9°C,

May -3 °C

June +3°C

July +7°C

August +6°C

September +1°C