Last month, we explored one of the premier Arctic cruise destinations in our North Spitsbergen blog. That post not only detailed our itinerary in this breathtaking region but also highlighted some of the stunning locations where you might encounter polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, and the mesmerizing ice formations of the far north.
Rather than reiterating these points, we'll let the visuals do the talking.
Here are 22 captivating photos showcasing the extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and pack ice that make North Spitsbergen an Arctic paradise. Let these images serve as a testament to why, if you ever decide to embark on a Spitsbergen adventure, the island's magnificent northern areas should be at the top of your list.
1. Contemplating the vast views of North Spitsbergen
2. Local walrus doing the same
3. Kittiwake cruising the Svalbard skies
4. Humpback whale waving at the camera
5. Floating northern fulmars on a blue backdrop
6. Getting that perfect pack ice pic
7. North Spitsbergen seas and ice sculptures
8. Arctic fox prowling for overlooked eggs
9. Svalbard pack ice as far as the eye can see
10. Pensive polar bear cub and mother
11. The surreal Spitsbergen bay of Fjortende Julibukta
12. Brünnich's guillemots bobbing on the waves
13. Minke whale surfacing for a breather
14. Organized polar bear family on the prowl
15. Snowy spans of Svalbard mountains
16. Spitsbergen reindeer trekking the tundra
17. The sleek figure of a fin whale
18. Bearded seal lounging on the pack ice
19. Spitsbergen's incredible bay of Ebeltofthamna
20. Polar bear up close and personal
21. Spouting blue whale in Woodfjord
22. Polar bear on the North Spitsbergen pack ice
Title image by Wim van Passel
Best Deals
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr - 01 May 2026$ 3.950
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May - 08 May 2026$ 3.950
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 3.100
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 4.000
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun - 12 Jun 2026$ 4.500
Related Trips
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr 2026 - 01 May 2026 
8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May 2026 - 08 May 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.000 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
05 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026 9 Days / 8 Nights
From $ 2.800 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Summer Solstice
12 Jun 2026 - 21 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
12 Jun 2026 - 19 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife
13 Jun 2026 - 20 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Basecamp – Summer Solstice - Free Kayaking, Hiking, Photo Workshop, Diving (supplemented)
19 Jun 2026 - 26 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
20 Jun 2026 - 27 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
21 Jun 2026 - 28 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
Blog
Blog
The bio-richness of the Ross Sea
The Ross Sea is one of the most stunning and untouched marine areas globally. This sea, which remains frozen for most of the year, spans 3.6 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles) along the Antarctic coast south of New Zealand. Its waters harbor a biologically diverse ecosystem of species that have flourished, unchanged, for millennia.
Blog
Exploration of the Polar Regions
From the Vikings via the first whale and seal hunters to Scott and Amundsen, from the maritime explorers Franklin and Nordenskiöld to present-day polar tourism, a quick tour through history reveals some of the aspects which motivated people to extend their horizons. Existential need, sheer curiosity, imperial greed, polar science, and a taste for adventure all converged in regions which pardon no mistakes.
Blog
Peaks, Fjords, and Auroras: 14 East Greenland Attractions
There really arenât enough superlatives for East Greenland.
Blog
Secrets of the Snowy Owl: Habitat, Adaptations, and Other Facts
The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), also known as the great white owl or Arctic owl, is one of the most distinctive bird species on the planet. While you wonât find them in all areas of the Arctic â they donât exist in Svalbard due to the lack of lemmings â snowy owls are seen in the polar regions of Eurasia and North America and are a potential visitor during Greenland cruises. The binomial species name, âscandiacus,â is derived from Scandinavia, as this is where the bird was first discovered. The snowy owl is the official bird of Quebec, and they are a must-see for countless bird watchers and naturalists.
Blog
10 Bountiful Blue Whale Facts
The umbrella term âwhaleâ refers to a wide variety of large marine mammals. To zero in on blue whales, however, weâll need to unpack this term a bit. The Latin word for whale, cetus, is the root of the whale infraorder, Cetacea, the largest parvorder of which is Mysticeti.
Blog
Keep It Green: Our Commitment to Sustainable Polar Travel
It doesnât make much sense for expedition travel if every time we visit the polar regions we leave them worse than we found them. And thatâs just considering things from a purely human perspective, which we donât.
Blog
The Dirty Details of Antarctica's Dry Valleys
Situated on the western coast of McMurdo Sound, the McMurdo Dry Valleys represent the largest ice-free region in Antarctica.
Blog
South Georgia Whaling Stations
South Georgia is a paradise for animal enthusiasts. It stands out as one of the most wildlife-abundant destinations in our polar expeditions, whether in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.
Blog
Fierce and Feathered: the Skuas of Antarctica
At first glance, the skuas you encounter in Antarctica may appear to be merely darker-feathered seagulls. But looks can be deceiving.
Blog
Polar Cruises: The Ultimate Icebreaker
Travel is one of lifeâs great eye openers. It brings you into contact with new people and perspectives, challenges old assumptions you havenât held to the light in years, and invites you to make unexpected discoveries about the world around you â and most of all, yourself. Added to which, you get to visit places you never knew you loved until you saw them.
Blog
The Giant Petrels of King George Island
Antarctica is undeniably one of the worldâs premier birding destinations.
Blog
An igneous paradise: Franklin Island
In the most remote reaches of the world's oceans, those daring enough to embark on the Ortelius to the Ross Sea eagerly boarded zodiacs in the southernmost part of the Pacific Ocean.
Blog
Five Reasons You Should Cruise the Ross Sea Immediately
In our search for lesser-known holiday spots that still offer fully developed amenities like spas and gift shops, we often miss out on some of the planet's truly underrated treasures.
Blog
True South: A New Flag for a Global Antarctica
When Evan Townsend signed up to spend the winter of 2018 working at an Antarctic research station, he had no reason to expect he would end the season by designing a new flag for the continent. He had even less reason to expect the support it would receive.
Blog
The History of Antarctica in Maps
Long before human eyes ever beheld Antarctica, the ancients were convinced that it existed â or at least something like it.
Blog
Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure
According to historian Thomas R. Henry, visiting the Weddell Sea requires a brave heart. In his 1950 book, "The White Continent," he described sudden âflash freezesâ that occur in the region. It was one of these flash freezes that trapped Ernest Shackletonâs ship, Endurance, in January 1915, forcing his crew to endure over a year in the harsh environment before they could escape.
Blog
Greenlandic Inuit Beliefs
Greenland is the worldâs largest island and with the northern tip around 740 kilometres from the North Pole it is the northernmost country on Earth. The island is around 2,670 kilometres long and is about 650 kilometres across at its widest point.
Blog
11 South Orkney Animals: Whales, Seabirds, and Penguins Aplenty
The South Orkney Islands are often overlooked as a destination for Antarctic travel.
Blog
Taking the Polar Plunge
There are some human activities that for many people simply defy understanding: We juggle chainsaws, we breathe fire, we fling ourselves out of perfectly good airplanes.
Blog
Weddell Sea, Shackleton’s Endurance, and New Swabia
Our Antarctica 2023-24 cruise program is packed with incredible expeditions, including a new itinerary that explores key locations such as South Georgia, the Weddell Sea, and the more easterly region of New Swabia (Neuschwabenland).