Svalbard Tours & Expeditions (Season by Season)
Best things to do at the edge of the world
We took this picture at 3pm in February
Last update: August 2026
Svalbard sits halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole — a scatter of icy islands where glaciers meet sea, foxes pad across snowfields, and polar bears outnumber people.
We first arrived by the small prop plane from Tromsø, stepping into that eerie polar stillness that feels less like travel and more like landing on another planet.
This isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place you feel, and it will redefine your idea of Arctic wilderness.
Here’s how to plan your own Svalbard expedition or tour, season by season — with tips from our time on the islands.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Funken Lodge — the coziest, most comfortable option in town, worth it after long days of snowmobiling or aurora hunting.
• Basecamp Hotel — built from driftwood and decorated with pelts, with a rooftop glass loft that's one of the best aurora-watching spots in town.
• Gjestehuset 102 — we stayed here. Simple, friendly guesthouse with glacier views and a shared kitchen, the budget-friendly pick.
🇳🇴 Top experiences:
• Northern lights tour — for the polar night window, October through February.
• Wildlife expedition for Arctic foxes and walrus — for spring and summer, when polar bear and wildlife odds are highest.
• Boat trip to Barentsburg — a Russian settlement, a summer-only excursion and one of the strangest places in the Arctic.
Winter (November – February) — Aurora & the polar night
We made it to the East Coast!
Imagine a world where the sun doesn’t rise for months, yet the sky never stops glowing. During Svalbard’s Polar Night, the light turns deep blue at midday and bursts green with the aurora at night. We went in February — accommodation was relatively affordable and flights were cheap — and we absolutely loved it. That being said, if it’s your first trip to the Arctic, it might be a little rough on the edges.
Best winter tours in Svalbard:
Northern Lights photography tours and northern lights tours — the silence is unreal.
Dog-sled adventures; the huskies are born for this and will yodel with joy when you arrive. That being said, in our case, we prefer mushing in Lapland (read our full Svalbard Travel Guide for more).
Arctic swim and sauna (not for the faint-hearted)
Ice-cave tours under glaciers — crystalline tunnels lit only by headlamps.
Snowmobile excursions to an ice cave or to the East Coast
Snowshoeing around Longyear + Seed Vault— Compared to our other tours, it was a “relaxing” day!
What we learned: layers matter more than gear labels. The cold really bites, but a thermos of blueberry tea shared with your guide makes it unforgettable. Check our Arctic Survival Guide for more.
Did you know?
High above Longyearbyen sits the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, nicknamed the “Doomsday Vault.” It stores over one million seed samples from nearly every country on Earth — a frozen insurance policy for global agriculture in case of catastrophe.
You can visit the site year-round, even in winter, but only scientists have access inside the secure tunnel carved into the permafrost. From the outside, it looks like a glowing, surreal, futuristic door jutting from the mountain.
When to see the northern lights in Svalbard
The aurora season in Svalbard runs from late September to early April, with the best viewing usually between December and February, when nights are longest and skies clearest.
On a calm night, you can often see the lights right from Longyear — though it’s always better a little outside the glow of streetlights.
For photo settings, gear advice, and the best Northern Lights destinations across Scandinavia, check out our full 👉 Northern Lights Hub.
Spring (March – May) — Polar bear season
Mama bear and baby bear!
This is a popular season in Svalbard. The pack ice thickens, seals haul out on floes, and polar bear expeditions head east toward the ice edge.
Top spring tours in Svalbard:
Wildlife tours for Arctic foxes and walrus
Fjord safaris to Tempelfjorden and the Tunabreen glacier
Bear in mind that polar bear sightings, like anything natural, are never guaranteed. You can book a boat tour or a multi-day snowmobile tour for your best shots.
Book early; hotels in Svalbard fill up quickly once bear season starts.
🐻❄️ In Svalbard, the ice belongs to the polar bear. You might not see one — but knowing they’re out there changes how you see the Arctic.
If you’d like to help protect them, Fahlo’s Polar Bear Bracelet supports polar research and lets you follow a real bear’s journey across the ice.
🐾 Use our link for 20% off your bracelet: Track a polar bear with Fahlo
Summer (June – August) — Midnight sun expeditions
Summer is great to see wildlife — Photo credit: Rod Long
For three straight months, the sun never sets. Svalbard’s frozen silence melts into movement — birds nesting, walrus colonies lounging, and researchers arriving from everywhere.
Summer tours in Svalbard:
Zodiac or cruise expeditions around Isfjorden and the northwest coast
Kayak tours among icebergs and puffins
Hiking excursions on the tundra (yes, there are flowers here!)
Boat trip to Pyramiden or Barentsburg
Autumn (September – October) — Quiet season, golden light
Autumn welcomes the first snow
When the last expedition ships sail home, Svalbard exhales. The tundra turns copper, the air smells of frost, and the aurora begins again.
Autumn tours in Svalbard:
Photography walks near Longyearbyen
Local history or mining tours — surprisingly fascinating after dark
Not sure when to go? Check our month-by-month guide to visiting Svalbard.
Penguin tip:
We use Heymondo on every Arctic trip, especially when activities are non-refundable and in an extreme environment — it’s affordable, covers cancellations, and includes winter activities like snowmobiling and dogsledding.
Get 5–15 % off Heymondo travel insurance through our link.
Explore tours with reviews in Svalbard:
Where to stay — Hotels in Svalbard (Norway)
Almost everyone bases in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town. After long days outside, a warm room here feels five-star no matter the label.
Our picks:
Mary-Ann's Polarrigg — cozy, super welcoming, and a great restaurant.
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel — the northernmost full-service hotel; perfect tour pickup point.
Basecamp Hotel — wood-and-fur interiors that feel like an explorer’s hut.
Gjestehuset 102 — we stayed there, great hostel if you’re on a budget and good breakfast.
Zoom in and out on the map below to find a place to stay in Svalbard:
Barentsburg & Pyramiden — Current situation in 2026
Barenstburg was surreal!
Two of the most unusual Svalbard excursions you can take lead to Barentsburg and Pyramiden, former Soviet mining towns that still stand against the Arctic mountains like time capsules.
Barentsburg is still inhabited — around 400 residents, mostly Russian and Ukrainian — and though mining continues on a small scale, tourism now keeps the town alive. You’ll find a modest hotel, a brewery, and a Lenin statue watching over the fjord. We took a snowmobile tour to it, and after an intense trip, we had a warm, Russian lunch in a Russian hotel. Unreal and totally worth it!
Pyramiden, abandoned in the 1990s, is the opposite: a silent ghost town of empty blocks, cracked murals, and an eerie Arctic stillness.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, both towns remain open to visitors under Norwegian law.
Tours are safely run by Longyearbyen-based operators, usually by boat in summer or snowmobile in winter.
Expect a historical and somewhat surreal atmosphere — a glimpse into a frozen chapter of polar history that few travelers ever see.
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🐾 Protect & track Arctic wildlife with Fahlo Bracelets (20% off)
FAQ: Svalbard tours and expedition
Can you visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
You can visit the site year-round, even in winter, but only researchers are allowed inside. The entrance — a glowing, futuristic door carved into the permafrost — stores over a million seed samples from around the world, protecting global crops in case of disaster.
Are there really more polar bears than people in Svalbard?
Yes — around 3,000 polar bears to 2,500 humans. That’s why anyone leaving town must carry a rifle for safety (your guide takes care of that). It’s the only place we’ve ever seen a “polar bear crossing” road sign (with Churchill, in Canada) — and meant it.
Is it safe to travel to Svalbard?
Absolutely. Svalbard is one of the safest and most regulated Arctic destinations in the world. Tours are led by certified guides, rifles are mandatory outside town, and Norwegian law ensures strict wildlife protection — so both visitors and bears stay safe.
Svalbard changes with every season — blue winter silence, white spring ice, golden summer light.
Whether you’re chasing the aurora, spotting bears from a boat (best of furry luck!), or kayaking under the Midnight Sun, the islands remind you how small and lucky we are to witness them.
Pack curiosity, patience, and extra gloves — this far north, you’ll experience real adventure. Finally, for Svalbard especially, we recommend travel insurance. Read our travel insurance in Norway guide for details. You can also explore all our Northern Norway Travel Guides here.
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