Svalbard

We strongly recommend travel insurance coverage for your trip with Arctic Tern Expeditions and any travel to and from your destination.

It is a requirement of the Governor of Svalbard that all visitors undertaking an expedition cruise must carry emergency medical evacuation insurance.

Arctic Tern Expeditions does not explicitly endorse any insurance products. Recommendations are made on the basis of the availability of coverage in Svalbard. If you would like to explore other insurance providers, please do ensure that their emergency medical evacuation coverage is available in Svalbard.

Our Svalbard expeditions are 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.

Please ask about any additional activities you would like to be included in your expedition though our contact page.

While Svalbard has one of the highest densities of polar bears in the Arctic, our expeditions are conducted in remote wilderness settings, and are without any guarantee of wildlife. With ATE, expedition team and crew keep a 24 hour watch on the bridge. They will immediately notify passengers if any Polar bears (or other interesting wildlife) is spotted.

Layers are key in the Svalbard summer. You will heat up and cool down more than you thought possible during a day in the Arctic, so make sure you can always take off and add on layers to keep yourself at a good temperature. Gloves and warm hats are a crucial part of your expedition kit.

The wind can be extremely chilling in Arctic climates. We always recommend something to cover your face. Good sturdy waterproof boots are mandatory on all ship-based expeditions as you will be stepping out of zodiacs into shallow water.

We advise you to bring your own waterproof boots or rent them in Svalbard. Rental stocks are limited.

Please see our packing list for more details. You may get wet on zodiac excursions, so make sure your clothing is waterproof.

All of our landings in Svalbard will be "wet landings," meaning we will likely be in seawater up to our ankles and possibly higher as we step in and out of the Zodiac shore boats. Guests are required to have boots at all times during landings. We can recommend bringing your own, though these can be bulky to pack. Please make sure that your boots are at least 12 inches/30 cm tall and are of a typical "muckboot/gumboot" style.

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 in advance. Sizes can run out quickly.

We do recommend comfortable footwear to wear aboard the ship and hiking shoes to wear in town or on any additional excursions you may undertake in Longyearbyen.

The first rule of photography is: the camera in your hand is the one that takes the best pictures. We often see guests with iPhones and GoPros come away with stellar images because these are readily available at quick notice.

For those looking to bring a DSLR-type camera, we recommend using something that you feel comfortable with and that you have used before. 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. With so much water around in Svalbard, we would definitely recommend a polarized filter to reduce reflection and glare off the water and snow. Take a little time before your trip to be sure you know how to adjust your camera for bright conditions.

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.

Bring your chargers and plenty of spare batteries. Keep everything as charged as possible throughout the trip. The cold weather takes a toll on camera equipment and you may find your battery power running low very quickly. Be sure to 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.

Ship-based expeditions are suitable for most travelers. 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.

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. From early summer to fall, hiking becomes much more accessible throughout the Svalbard archipelago. Your expedition leader will be sure to brief you on the specifics of any long hike the group undertakes.

Any activity off of the ship will always be 100% optional. A separate, more moderately-paced walk, will usually be available for those that opt not to go a longer hike.

Our first and foremost policy when interacting with any kind of wildlife is non-disturbance. We conduct our field operations with the utmost respect for the wildlife and the communities we visit. ATE guides will fully brief you on the appropriate protocols for wildlife watching in the Arctic.

Beginning in 2025, the local government of Svalbard has instituted a new law requiring that operators maintain both a strict non-pursuit policy of polar bears. All tour operators are also required to keep a distance of at least 300m (985 ft).

The temperature in Svalbard will depend on the time that you are visiting the archipelago. May - June can experience temperatures as low as -10 °C, while in temperatures may rise to as high as 10 °C.

Wind chill can significantly affect how cold you feel. It is always best to be prepared for the temperature to drop - even on sunny days.