Svalbard is magical, from the moment you arrive in Longyearbyen and later set sail for the wilderness, every single minute is true expedition!

Apart from the obvious wish to see polar bears and walrus, which we were fortunate to see many times during the trip, there were so many other aspects of this Svalbard trip that made it a journey of a lifetime. Our 11-day trip on the M/S Quest was filled with joy and companionship. It was a group of likeminded travellers who, just like me, were very curious and eager to learn about natural history, geology, glaciology, history of the early polar explorers and much more.

During the trip there were many moments of rapid weather changes and beautiful settings, and we got to experience an especially memorable one while we headed out in the Zodiacs during an early morning, and later on returned to the ship as the fog lifted, revealing the colours of the astonishing landscape surrounding us in Hornsund. Other moments of minor miracles, such as watching the ivory gull feeding in front of a glacier, seeing ice shapes like stolen out of fairytales, the surprisingly lush and green playgrounds under the grand bird cliffs, enjoyed by young foxes, the many shades of grey on a rainy day, the many colours of ice in different light, seals popping their heads out of the water to have a curious look at us in the Zodiac, the warm welcome of our Russian guide in Barentsburg, Kitiwakes nesting on the window ledges in the village.. and much more.

As someone told me – “on an expedition cruise you need to be in the moment, there is nothing else but now”. This is what makes a Svalbard expedition so special. Having this experience in the magnificent archipelago of Svalbard, on a friendly and homely ship like M/S Quest, with all these lovely fellow adventurers to share the moment with, makes it a trip that I will never forget.

We believe that this recorded webinar from 21st Sep 2021 with Niklas Nilsson, travel consultant and photographer at PolarQuest, will give you a lot of answers and inspiration and also explain why PolarQuest like this season so much. If you have any questions or like to know availability on our expeditions in the springtime, please contact us here!

1) The winter wonderland

Svalbard in the spring offers a true polar feeling with snow-covered mountains, fjord ice and magnificent glaciers. In fact, the Arctic in winter costume is so beautiful that you have to pinch your arm. The sun makes the snow crystals around you sparkle like little diamonds and everywhere you look you see boundless views, a dark blue polar sea and a sky that has no end.

2) The midnight sun

The month of May often offers high pressure, which means clear blue skies and the greatest chance of seeing the midnight sun in all its glory, not hidden behind clouds. It is a dreamlike feeling to lean against the ship's railing in the middle of the night and enjoy nature's magnificent infinity in radiant daylight.

3) The bird life

The birds arrive early in Svalbard and in May Svalbard's bird mountains are crowded with hundreds of thousands of Spitsberg piglets and Alkekung. In the fjords you have a great chance to see the beautiful splendor. You do not have to be an ornithologist to be fascinated by Svalbard's bird life.

4) The wildlife

Remaining fjord ice means a great chance to see seals such as walruses resting in front of a glacier. Resting is something the walrus to a lot, not surprising, since it is quite exhausting to move a 1.5 tons body. With a bit of luck, you might also spot polar bears hunting seals on the ice.

5) Hiking with snowshoes

Every day we explore Svalbard's magical wilderness and in May this snow-covered landscape might give us an opportunity to go hiking with modern snowshoes. This fantastic experience is much easier to complete in the deep Spring snow. It rustles wonderfully when you walk on the crust up the slopes and thumps dully when you pulse downwards in powder snow.

Webinar about Springtime in Svalbard

On 21st Sep 2021 Niklas Nilsson, travel consultant and photographer at PolarQuest, held a webinar about the springtime in Svalbard. The webinar was recorded and you can watch it right here...