Light therapy in Svalbard
Are you dreaming of exploring fairytale winter landscapes and witnessing Arctic wildlife on ice? Then May is usually the perfect month, but if you want a broader experience July is a great time to travel. In July summer has arrived, the midnight sun reigns supreme, the bird cliffs are teaming with life and the tundra invites you to wonderful walks in the fresh Arctic air. Below you can find out more about what an expedition cruise in July may offer.
The midnight sun
A summer holiday in Svalbard means many hours of light therapy. To experience the magical midnight sun with daylight around the clock is something truly special.
Further east
The ice is slowly starting to loosen its grip, which offers good opportunities to explore the seldom visited eastern parts of the archipelago.
Bråsvellbreen
Maybe we reach this spectacular 45 kilometers long glacier front, a small part of Austfonna – one of the world’s largest ice caps.
The mighty pack ice
If we're lucky, we encounter the mighty pack ice, where we enjoy the sceneries and keep a lookout for wildlife.
Refreshing hikes
On land, more and more snow-free areas become accessible for longer walks.
Colourful flowers
Are there flowers on Svalbard? Yes, and July is a great month to see the Svalbard poppy and purple saxifrage decorate the slopes.
Alkefjellet
If the ice allows, we enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive, basaltic cliff, which is the home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots
The giants of the sea
Whales are more frequently seen in the waters and we have a chance to encounter two of the giants - the humpback whale and the enormous blue whale.
The iconic wildlife
Svalbard is home to some of the world's most exciting animal species. Throughout the season we have the chance to see walruses, seals, Arctic foxes, reindeer and the king of the Arctic – the polar bear.
Related trips
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Expedition Svalbard 2023
M/S Quest 51 passengers11 days 10 nights on ship USD 8 290LanguagesDepartures: June / July / August 2023 -
Expedition Svalbard 2023
M/S Stockholm 12 passengers11 days 10 nights on ship USD 11 990LanguagesDepartures: July / August / September 2023 -
Expedition Spitzbergen 2023
M/S Quest 51 passengers11 days 10 nights on ship USD 8 290LanguagesDeparture: August 2023
Destinations
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Since 1999, we have taken travellers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to Svalbard. From May to September our three small expedition ships, carrying only 12 and 51 passengers, explore this magnificent Arctic archipelago. Unpredictability and flexibility are the main keywords when you travel with PolarQuest as the exact route depends on weather, ice conditions and wildlife encounters. Sometimes you might be woken up in the middle of the night if a polar bear has been spotted on the ice.