Svalbard in Spring: Sea Ice, Pristine Snow and Wildlife

Arrive in Helsinki and go to the group hotel located at the airport, included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package. The remainder of the day is open for personal activities. Options include visiting museums, galleries, or restaurants, spending time in a Finnish sauna, or walking through the Design District. Those planning to go to the city center can use the 40-minute rail service from the airport.

After breakfast, the group transfers to the Helsinki airport to board the private charter flight to Longyearbyen, included in the Charter Flight & Hotel Package. The flight crosses southern Scandinavia’s coastal areas and birch forests, followed by taiga and tundra regions, and the mountains of Norway and northern Sweden, before reaching the Norwegian and Barents seas. Near Svalbard, there may be views of snow-covered terrain, ridgelines, glaciers, and sea ice. Upon landing in Longyearbyen, the group transfers to the harbor to embark on the ship.

Spring in Svalbard is characterized by a beautiful combination of snow, ice and Midnight Sun. A fascinating contrast unfolds with the arrival of spring: majestic polar landscapes illuminated by continuous daylight. Sea ice is at or near its annual maximum, drawing north. If experiencing Arctic sea ice is on your bucket list, you have chosen the perfect time to visit. Your Expedition Team and Bridge Officers consult the latest ice charts daily—sea ice is incredibly dynamic and can drift dozens of kilometers in a day. The route depends on where sea ice offers the best opportunities for exploration and wildlife encounters. Sea ice is the primary hunting, resting, and travelling platform for iconic Arctic species—and spring offers the best chance to see it all. As you navigate the ice edge—or even through it—spend time on deck with your binoculars at the ready. Somewhere in the maze of marooned icebergs and pressure ridges, wildlife may be present—perhaps even polar bears who are lured to the ice edge by the presence of seals—a primary food source. Watch for clues, shapes, and shadows that could signal something special. And while polar bears may be the main goal, you may also spot walruses, Arctic foxes, and ivory gulls—in addition to ringed and bearded seals. On shore, spring landscapes remain blanketed in snow, with many bays still filled with ice—habitat crucial to Arctic wildlife for food and survival. It’s the kind of scenery that embodies the word “pristine.” On sunny days, snowcapped ridges against cobalt skies are electric in their beauty. On cloudy days, the Arctic’s muted palette of whites, greys, and blues creates moody, powerful vistas. Photography tip: try switching your camera to black-and-white mode—textures become dramatic, and light behaves differently. Alongside drifting sea ice, you may see icebergs and bergy bits— fragments of glacial ice whose origins lie deep in mountain valleys. Spring in the Arctic is also a time of awakening. As you travel, you’ll witness this seasonal transformation firsthand. Some slopes, beaches, and valleys begin to melt faster than others, revealing bare ground untouched for months. Grasses and mosses emerge, seizing every opportunity to photosynthesize in the returning sunlight. Meltwater trickles grow into fast-flowing runoff, adding sound and motion to the awakening landscape. Yet spring remains cold. In fact, these areas may go through multiple freeze-thaw cycles, especially farther north and east. In Svalbard, this mesmerizing transition is vivid and inspiring—a reminder of the powerful rhythms of Arctic life. Spring also welcomes migratory birds and whales. As the season unfolds, cliffsides become busy with seabirds, such as little auks, guillemots and kittiwakes, returning to breed. Each day brings new arrivals. Nest-building, courting, and bird calls fill the air in a sensory-rich spectacle. When you encounter these colonies, take time to pause. Put down your camera. Simply observe the vibrant pulse of life and imagine the sheer abundance of food required to feed so many birds—and the chicks that soon arrive. Whales, too, may appear. While sightings can never be guaranteed, some large migrators—such as blue whales—begin arriving in coastal waters by late spring. Others, like belugas, live here year-round and may be spotted threading through sea ice. Each encounter, however brief, reminds the interconnectedness of Arctic ecosystems. With seven full expedition days in Svalbard, explore a wide range of locations. The order of the journey is shaped by sea ice conditions, which vary daily. Potential destinations include the spectacular fjord systems of Hornsund, Bellsund, Isfjorden, Krossfjorden, Smeerenburgfjorden, Raudfjorden, Woodfjorden, Sorgfjorden, and others. These fjords feature dramatic mountains rising directly from the sea, folding into endless layers. Glaciers spill from the highlands, many reaching the water’s edge where they calve into the sea. Throughout Svalbard, look for thriving seabird colonies and hope to make regular landings along the coasts and within fjords. Some outings may take place on exposed rocky terrain, but most involve walking on snow. And if conditions are safe and suitable, you may even set foot on the sea ice itself—an unforgettable moment that truly feels like walking on water.

The time to say goodbye has come. Your adventure ends as it began, in the frontierstyle settlement of Longyearbyen. From here, transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Helsinki, and hotel night. Both are included in your Charter Flight & Hotel Package.

After breakfast at your included hotel, make your way independently to the airport for your onward flight home, or spend more time exploring the Finnish capital as prearranged.