Spitsbergen

Remote, mysterious and extreme, the island of Spitsbergen is the crown of Arctic Norway. Located right on the southern fringe of the ever-frozen Arctic Ocean, this land is forged by ice, wind and sea. Here you will find both an untouched Arctic wilderness and a biological hot spot. Reigning this fragile food web is the top predator, the polar bear.

Home of the king of the Arctic
Spitsbergen and the other islands in the Svalbard archipelago are located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole where the warmer currents of the Gulf Stream meet the cold air and water from the north. Here you will find a spectacular range of unforgettable adventures.

Every summer, thousand of seabirds migrate to the coastal cliffs of Svalbard due to its proximity to the feeding grounds. Our expedition-style field landings will take you close to both the Arctic wildlife and the ghost towns of early whaling stations. At some places we will see cabins from past times when farmers from northern Norway headed for Svalbard to seek their fortunes as trappers.

Part of the Spitsbergen Explorer experience with Hurtigruten is visiting the different and fascinating settlements like Barentsburg, Longyearbyen or Ny Ålesund – all of which have a completely different atmosphere. One thing they do have in common is that pioneer, Klondike feeling – places with self-confidence and reliance in their isolation from the mainland.