+ WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED ON EXPEDITION?

Expeditions to Svalbard in 2023 and 2024 will be run on small expedition vessels with no more than 12 guests. The activities offered will be mixed levels of hiking and scenic walking, zodiac cruising, wildlife watching, and ship cruising. Usless otherwise stated, other adventure activities are not offered, but we are open to seeing what we can do for you to make your expedition a complete experience. If you have any questions about something you would like to do, please reach out via our contact page.

+ WHAT SHOULD I PACK?

Layers are key in the Svalbard summer. You will heat up and cool down more than you thought possible in a day, so make sure you can always take off and add on layers to keep yourself at a good temperature. This goes for your hands too. The wind can be chilly in Svalbard, so we would always recommend something to cover your face. Good sturdy waterproof boots are mandatory on all ship-based expeditions as you will be jumping out of zodiacs into shallow water. We advise you to either bring your own waterproof boots or to rent them. You may get wet on zodiac excursions, so make sure your clothing is waterproof. You also need to wear good sunglasses and sunblock lotion.

Please see our packing list to see our best recommendations for your gear.

+ FOOTWEAR

Expeditions to Svalbard require the appropriate gear, and a part of this is having proper footwear. All of our landings in the Arctic will be "wet landings," menaing we will likely be in water up to our ankles and possibly higher. All guests on Arctic expeditions need to have boots at all times during landings. These can be bulky to pack, but there is comfort in knowing that you have a pair of boots that works for you. Preferred brands of boots are Muck Boot and XtraTuf. Please make sure that your boots are at least 12 inches/30 cm tall.

If you do not want to pack your own boots (understandable), there is a company in Longyearbyen called Spitzbergen Reisen that rents them. These can be ordered online and picked up before your expedition for a reasonable price. Please make sure to order your boots well inadvance. Sizes can run out quickly.

+ INSURANCE

All Arctic Tern Expeditions require travel insurance. The details of the exact insurance you need will be in your trip booking information. We are proud to announce a partnership with GlobalRescue, a trusted organization that is able to provide cover for a wide range of travel insurance needs, and importantly provides top-notch medical evacauation cover in remote regions. Please follow the link to reach our partner page with Global Rescue. Global Rescue Partner Page

You are welcome to look for any kind of travel insurance for the places we go, but please take note of trips that do require medical evacuation cover. There are not many companies that do cover remote regions like the high Arctic, so please make sure to check with your insurance provider and ensure your coverage extands to remote areas. Please note that medical evacuation coverage can be purchased separate from traditional travel insurance. If you have a preferred travel insurance, Global Rescue medical evacuation coverage would be an additional policy you would need to carry. Global Rescue does provide traditional travel insurance, but the medical evacuation insurance is mandatory.

+ WHAT AMENITIES ARE PROVIDED ON THE EXPEDITION SHIP?

Welcome

• Welcome drink (on house) by captain & Expedition Leader

Meals

• 3 meals per day included

• Water (tap / carbonated) standard, other drinks on request from service

• Non-alcoholic and alcoholic on tally list

• The chef aims to serve wine and olive oil from the vessel owner’s family vineyard and olive grove in Tuscany. Beers are either German brands or local Svalbard beers.

In-betweens

• Coffee (black, cappuccino, espresso), chocolate, tea available on machine in mess

• Variety of cold drinks available in mini-bar salon via tally list (either self-service or by crew)

• 4 o’clock soup or cake or other small snack (when on board)

Mess & salon

• (Service) crew can always be asked for snack, drink, etc.

• Chocolate bars etc. will be available for self-service by tally list

• Crew will make sure drinks are supplied to mini-fridge in salon

• Pianette (mini-piano) for use by all

• Daily cleaning of common areas

• Library with books in English and German (part supplied by Mare Verlag, owner of vessel) and some of which can be taken by guests

• Bar with wine cooler and drinks available

• Onboard expenses will be settled at end of tour.

Payments must be in cash (EUR or NOK).

Cabins

• Basic principle: everything on request (linen change, towel change, cleaning)

• Service crew will pass through cabin every day to:

• Check bathroom (paper, towels, cleanliness, soap, etc.)

• Vacuum clean, empty bins, make beds as needed

• Linen change: during a ten-day voyage typically once, unless requested more often from passenger to service manager

• Towel change: during ten-day voyage typically three times, unless requested more often from passenger to service manager

• Environmentally friendly shampoo & soaps are supplied by vessel. Hairdryer is also supplied by vessel

• All cabins have 230V 60Hz standard electrical power

• We supply pairs of Haflinger felt house shoes in 3 different sizes. Guests are welcome to bring their own house shoes for wearing inside and on deck when suitable weather.

Bridge

• Open bridge policy which means passengers are welcome on the bridge, except when Master decides differently

• A few sets of Binoculars will be available for passengers, although we urge passengers to bring their own quality binoculars for the best wildlife experience on board (e.g. Steiner, Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, Swarovski, Olympus; we recommend 10x42 strength).

Zodiacs

• Inflatable boats (“Zodiacs”) are used to transfer to shore and for excursions

• Wearing a life jacket during the activity is mandatory at all times (these are supplied by vessel)

• Wearing appropriate clothing is mandatory at all times (NOT supplied by vessel):

Rubber boots, Rain pants (we recommend warm waterproof pants for hiking), Rain jacket (we recommend a waterproof jacket with several underlayers (preferably wool) for warmth)

Sauna

• Sauna is possible on request, but only when vessel is not moving

• Crew will heat up and operate sauna (fire safety!)

• Towels for sauna will be available by request

Outer Decks:

• All areas outside on main deck, fore deck and boat deck are open to guests

• Excluded are areas that are temporarily closed for purpose of navigation, anchoring or mooring operations

+ AM I GUARANTEED TO SEE POLAR BEARS?

Our expeditions send you out into the wild, not to a zoo. We can’t guarantee you will see polar bears, or your animal of choice. However, we will do our absolute best to place you in locations with the best chances of seeing them.

+ HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE TO SEE THE POLAR BEARS?

Ship-based expeditions are suitable for most travellers and while a good level of fitness will ensure you can make the best of the expedition, there are generally less strenuous options available for those who wish to take it easy and avoid long hikes. If you are worried about your fitness level, consult our team at any time. We will be happy to discuss what the right options for you may be.

+ WHAT TYPE OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

The body of your camera is totally up to you. We recommend using something that you feel comfortable with and that you have used before. New digital cameras and SLRs have a quicker shot response time so you can easily capture calving glaciers or passing wildlife. The landscapes will often be white; the surface of the snow can reflect a lot of light. Take a little time to practise getting the aperture right, playing with the ISO settings and adjusting the white balance, to make sure you don’t underexpose your images. You will often be quite a distance from the wildlife so a good zoom is beneficial. Our specialist photographers usually travel with a lens in the 400-600mm range. A lens in the 30-250mm range can also be useful for closer encounters. With so much water around in Svalbard, we would definitely recommend a polariser filter (if you have one) to reduce reflection and glare off the water. Bring your chargers and plenty of spare batteries. Keep everything as charged as possible throughout the trip. The cold weather really can take its toll on everything and you may find your battery power running low very quickly. Make sure you have additional storage cards to what you think you need. Weatherized camera gear as well as waterproof bags or covers for your camera are highly recommended. You also have to consider that you could drop it on the ice, or get it splashed when on board a zodiac.

+ WILL THERE BE LOTS OF STRENUOUS HIKING?

During the early season in Svalbard the snow may be too thick for long hikes, though in some areas the snow will have cleared and a longer walk may be more practical. A leisurely walk will usually be available for those that don’t fancy a longer hike.

+ HOW COLD DOES IT GET?

The temperature in Svalbard will depend on the time that you are visiting the archipelago. June can experience temperatures as low as -5 °C, while in temperatures may rise to as high as 5 °C. Don’t forget the wind chill though, which can bring the temperature right down at any time.

+ AM I SAFE ON A POLAR BEAR EXPEDITION?

Your safety is our priority. We use the best trained guides for the job. Listen to their instructions and you will keep yourself safe.