Svalbard Polar Bears

Svalbard Polar Bears, Walruses, Stunning Arctic Scenery and Polar Exploration...

Svalbard is a huge attraction in its own right and its wildlife just makes it even more interesting...After almost 40 years both walruses and Polar Bears have actually increased in populations as this amazing archipelago has acted as a private sanctuary for these threatened species.

Weather plays a crucial role within the unique archipelago of Svalbard with the winter months bringing a cover of thick snow and ice making for an interesting canvas of ice sculptures and dramatic coastlines. As the temperatures increase and the warmer weather arrives however, the pack ice begins to break up and coastlines start to become navigable by expedition ships wanting to explore further into this breathtaking eco-system. With the warmer weather comes midnight sun and an increase in plankton levels which in turn also starts to attract a variety of marine life and sea birds which return to their annual nesting sites. Even through the warmer months some pack ice does remain which makes for interesting scenery and also a good point from where to begin your search for a variety of mammals including the 300 kilo bearded seal...a Polar Bears favourite!

The Arctic or Svalbard Polar Bears are undoubtedly the stars of the region and one of the main attractions for travelling so far north. These lumbering giants are magnificent to behold in their crystal kingdom and a highlight of your expedition. With a population in the region of 3,000 you have a good chance of seeing them in their natural world as they swim between the ice in search of food or if you are lucky as they feed on a freshly caught seal!

The home of these Kings of the Arctic is the Svalbard archipelago which is positioned halfway between Norway and the North Pole. This glaciated landscape is a joy to behold and with its long summer days and long winter nights (!) it offers a unique eco-system to explore and is actually surprisingly accessible with its main airport providing the main gateway to this Arctic desert.

Aside from the wildlife highlights that are discussed in an earlier section of this site (Polar Bears, walruses, puffins and more!) Svalbard also has a plethora of geographic interests which we have outlined some of here: Longyearbyen, the capital, once a thriving mining settlement has a limited population of approximately 2,000 and now survives predominantly on tourism. Ny Alesund lays claim to being the world's most northernmost settlement which also used to be a mining community however now is home to a research community. 14th of July Glacier is a spectacular glacier which is home to puffin inhabited cliff tops and some beautiful Arctic flowers during the warmer summer months. Storoya (Big Island) is a small island situated off the north east coast and is a favourite spot for Polar Bears and also for walruses. Hornsund located on the south west coast consists of dramatic glaciers forging their way down towards the sea between interlocking snow capped mountains and is a stomping ground for Polar Bears.

Arctic/Svalbard Expedition Ships - are another highlight of travelling to this region and specifically with World Bear Safaris. A number of operators access this region in much larger expedition ships with numbers of 150 passengers upwards on one ship. As a wildlife specialist company, small group travel is essential to both our ethics and also in order that we can provide our clients with the intimate and professional experience that they have come to expect when travelling with us. Our two Svalbard expedition ships, the M/S Stockholm and M/S Quest, are some of the smallest ships that explore this region; M/S Stockholm is unique in her size and personality housing a maximum of 12 passengers at any one time, whilst M/S Quest is slightly larger but still only has a carrying capacity of 53.

Keeping these numbers as low as possible means that we as a company are able to guarantee the quality of the experience that we are offering and this is illustrated in a number of ways including: limitation of the disturbance of the eco-system when we go ashore and also when moving through the seas, a more personal and informed approach, a greater transferral of knowledge will be imparted from our first class Arctic guides, a much more up close and personal wildlife experience, and more importantly the flexibility to amend our itinerary as we see fit in order to offer the best wildlife and wilderness experience possible. Do not underestimate these elements as they contribute hugely to the quality of your experience at the end of the day, and this is one once in a lifetime experience that you want to ensure is perfect down to the very last detail.