In search of polar bears i am travelling to Svalbard in June and I would love for you to join me.
- Adventure Coordinators
- 24 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Imagine an archipelago where nearly 70% of the land and 85% of it's surrounding waters are protected. A place where polar bears may appear on the horizon, guillemots fill the air along sheer cliffs, and beluga whales surface quietly beside the ship. A group of islands that is closer to the North Pole than to mainland Europe.
This is Svalbard, one of the continent's largest remaining wilderness areas. In search of polar bears I am travelling to Svalbard in June and I would love for you to join me.
I’ve chosen this voyage because, with extra days built into the itinerary, it allows us to slow down, stay flexible, and experience Svalbard properly. And travelling around the summer solstice there's near-endless daylight, giving us plenty of time to truly experience this remarkable place. We can linger where the wildlife is most active, return to places that deserve a second look, and adapt to the ever-changing conditions of this remote region. We will explore tundra bright with summer wildflowers, keep watch for arctic fox, visit historic camps of explorers and hunters, and push through pack ice in search of walrus and seals.
After an overnight in Norway's capital Oslo, we fly to Longyearbyen, the main settlement in Svalbard, where we board Aurora Expeditions' purpose-built expedition cruise ship, Sylvia Earle. Designed for smoother, lower-impact sailing, the ship honours women in conservation and supports meaningful learning through expert guides, citizen science, and small, intimate expedition groups of no more than 130 guests.
The next 12 days are dedicated to an in-depth exploration of Svalbard. Each day unfolds according to conditions, with our expedition team shaping plans around weather, sea ice, and the ever-present possibility of wildlife encounters. In midsummer, the sun circles endlessly above the horizon, gifting us long, luminous days and the freedom to explore without hurry.
This is a landscape of deep fjords, stark mountains, and polar desert, where fossils and historic remnants hint at the era of early explorers. Walrus may be found resting on ice floes or along remote beaches, while cliffs alive with seabirds resonate with the calls of guillemots and little auks.
With extra time built into the voyage, we aim to venture farther than usual, reaching both Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, and exploring areas such as Barentsøya and Edgeøya along the Hinlopen Strait, a corridor known for polar bear movement.
Along the way, we hope to visit abandoned whaling stations, traces of Pomor hunting camps, and enjoy quiet Zodiac cruises in the early hours of the day. Glaciers spill into the sea, beluga whales may appear in milky fjords, and ivory gulls glide overhead. If conditions allow, we may even sail to the northernmost reaches of the archipelago, where large walrus colonies gather.
Optional activities such as kayaking offer an even closer connection to the Arctic environment, while the bold may choose to take a polar plunge when conditions are just right — an invigorating moment few ever forget.
Wherever we end up going, it's the exploratory nature of expedition cruising that makes this type of journey so exciting. Never knowing where you will travel next, each day brings new surprises and highlights on an Arctic voyage, where the greatest reward often comes from following the ice, the light, and the wildlife.
After returning to Longyearbyen we have some free time before boarding our flight back to Oslo, where our Arctic adventure comes to an end upon arrival at the airport.
Pricing and dates
Aurora Expeditions' 15 days Svalbard in Depth starts on June 18th, 2026 in Oslo and ends there in the evening of July 2nd, 2026. Regular prices start at US$25,495 per person in twin share. Sale price at time of writing from US$17,847 per person twin share.
Ready to come along? Contact me now.
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