In the remote northern reaches, between Norway and the North Pole, lies one of the world’s northernmost inhabited places, comprising a vast area of icebergs, fjords and unspoilt Arctic wilderness. Literally meaning ‘Cold Coast’, Svalbard is home to the magnificent ‘King of the Arctic’ - the mighty polar bear. Journey through the fjords, each inlet revealing historical mining settlements, magnificent glaciers and a wealth of wildlife inhabiting the tundra. Marvel at the white-capped mountains fronted by desolate tundra, glittering glaciers under a constant midnight sun and brilliant blue skies in the summer months.
Natural World Safaris is a member of AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, which manages responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic. Our exclusive small ship charters navigate even further north into the polar bear kingdom as you travel along the coastline, scouting for wildlife, walking ashore or surveying the area on a zodiac-boat cruise. Our expedition ships' size allows more access to some of the more pristine and wilderness regions of the frozen Arctic.
Driving your own snowmobiles over the Arctic tundra and on-board the expedition ship, you will be on the lookout for wildlife, hoping to see polar bears, walrus, seals and reindeer alongside the epic Arctic landscape in some of the best light conditions. Svalbard is always an extraordinary adventure!
From 11000 per person
Join us in 2024 for polar bear cruises in Svalbard aboard the R/V Kinfish, where every moment is an opportunity for polar bear watching amid the stunning Arctic scenery.
From 10660 per person
Experience the Arctic like a true explorer via tented camp and husky sled, looking out for the Northern Lights and spotting wildlife in Svalbard's dramatic wilderness. Begin your adventure into the wilderness at Basecamp Hotel before spending two days camping under the stars, scouring for the magical Northern Lights and exploring the far reaches of the Arctic. Watch for wildlife and travel by husky sled before recuperating in luxury with a stay at Isfjord Radio, a converted radio station turned comfortable wilderness hotel.
From 6000 per person
It is tricky to say when specifically it is best to see polar bears in Svalbard. Early in the season – during the month of May – conditions can be perfect, as the ice has not yet melted and thus the snowy white backdrops can make for a photographer's dream. Later in the season however – between June and August – the pack ice begins to melt, meaning you can push further north, cover more ground, and the polar bears are often more concentrated in the remaining icy areas.
Our polar bear explorer expedition start from $10,660 per person on a shared twin cabin basis, including all food and drink onboard, limited to only 12 guests. For a 5-day land based snowmobile safari, expect to budget from $4000 per person.
In the winter months, thick ice and snow carpets the archipelago, so for wildlife the time to go is between late April/early May to August, when the ice encompassing the archipelago allows enough access for us to navigate the icy waters and explore the frozen north. At this time, the midnight sun reigns over the dramatic landscapes, casting an ever-glowing, ambient light.
Encounters with the King of the Arctic
The Svalbard Archipelago is home to around 3,000 Polar Bears
It was really a once in a lifetime trip, the landscapes are just so out of this world. Kinfish in particular was such a warm & friendly atmosphere, I felt super comfortable and safe as a solo female traveller, even in Longyearbyen by myself. The whole trip was just incredible, gives a different sense of reality, you feel so small in comparison. The guides had an amazing depth of knowledge, made the experience special for everyone despite different interests or previous travels. Highlights were definitely the polar plunge and setting foot on the sea ice, but loved all of the excursions.
Great information sharing and communication before the trip! It was a perfect trip! From start to the end, the expedition guides have been amazing, food was excellent, lovely staff on Kinfish, loved the small group size! Can’t think of anything that should have been different. Very happy with the service you offer from small group safaris to tailor made trips. Will definitely plan one of my next trips with NWS again! Especially because being a animal lover and passionate about photography
Fabulous adventure - we will talk about it forever - thank you! What a great little ship and crew who worked together to make stuff happen - still not sure how to describe it except that we ticked things off our bucket list that we didn't know were on it! So impressed that our wildlife sightings were made without affecting the animals' behaviour. Mobile phone pictures do the scenery pictures well, big camera lenses mean you can record the animals as if they're close at hand. Bob and Lisa were superb guides and Barbara in town was great, too.
Our destination specialist, Gemma, was terrific! Gemma - and her colleague Chloe - were always quick to respond to our inquiries and provided very helpful information. We are very grateful they alerted the Polarfront crew (especially chef) to our need for a gluten-free diet. We didn't know what "muck boots" were and Gemma helped us figure out how to equip ourselves. Ten stars for Gemma! We had a great trip! Our guides, Hadleigh Measham and Mats Forsberg were phenomenal guides. They figured out the best daily plans given the weather and then the outlook for wildlife sightings. They said we were very lucky to have seen so many polar bears and cubs, plus great interactions with walruses and polar bears. But we know it was more than luck. They knew where to go to maximize wildlife viewings. They also kept us safe from polar bears. We also appreciated their knowledge when we visited historical sites. The NWS app is great! Kudos also to the terrific Polarfront team. The food was innovative, delicious, and tantalizing at all meals. Chief Stewart, Lydia, was so welcoming and helpful. The Captain was informative and friendly. The whole crew took on the immense challenge of anchor problems with an amazing team effort that was amazing to watch. Just a great job by everyone which made for a fabulous trip! We really appreciated the organization and attention to details of the NWS team. The App is great. Each member - from Gemma and Chloe to everyone on the Polarfront - was top-notch. A really impressive group all around.
We had excellent support throughout the booking process and it was a brilliant trip as a whole!
Loved the Kinfish and its crew! Best guides ever. Our specialist leader, Chris, made everyone feel awesome!
Everything about the trip exceeded our expectations - which were pretty high to begin with! Great experience! We'd love to travel again as the destination suggestions and choices are great, as are the planning and execution of our trips. Everyone at NWS is a pleasure to work with.
To get to Svalbard you will need a flight to Oslo in Norway, from there you can get a connecting flight to Longyearbyen, either direct or via Tromsø. Direct from Oslo takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, the journey from Tromsø to Longyearbyen is about an hour and 40 minutes. Longyearbyen is the capital city of Svalbard and contains the archipelago’s largest airport.
Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago, offers a range of activities for those seeking to experience its unique environment. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe polar bears, reindeer, and Arctic foxes in their natural habitats. Explore glaciers, hike, or travel early season to try out dog sledding. Svalbard also serves as a hub for Arctic research, with scientific stations and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault playing essential roles in advancing our understanding of the Arctic ecosystem and biodiversity conservation.
Svalbard forms part of Norway and is the considered the northern most tip of Europe.
Flying into the northernmost permanent settlement on earth, your adventure begins in the town of Longyearbyen where you will spend your first night in the archipelago. From the port of Longyearbyen, embark on an expedition ship to start your safari into the Arctic wilderness. Land-based safari options include Isfjord Radio, a former satellite communication station converted into a unique boutique hotel. Read more about where to stay.
