Svalbard is one of the last true wildernesses on Earth and sits at 78 degrees North, below the North Pole.
Luxury Holidays in Svalbard
@ Green Dog Svalbard
@ Green Dog Svalbard
A word from our travel specialist
Welcome to the top of the world, where polar bears outnumber people, glaciers glow electric blue, and the silence is louder than words. Svalbard isn’t just remote, it’s next-level wild.
Think snowmobiles, ice caves, Northern Lights, and more Arctic wonder than your camera can handle. Then there’s the stillness, crisp, clean, and absolute. No noise, no crowds, just the quiet hum of the Arctic. It’s a rare kind of calm that you can’t experience anywhere else.
Lucy Grant-Sturgis
Nordic Experience Specialist
Inspiration for Holidays in Svalbard
@ Melissa-Scäfer
Svalbard, Designed Around You
Svalbard is a veritable gem in the Northern hemisphere. A place full of adventure and somewhere that feels totally unique. Longyearbyen, the capital, is a bustling town with plenty on offer despite the remote location and proximity to the North Pole.
There are 3 main seasons in Svalbard due to it’s position within the Arctic Circle – Polar Summer, Polar Winter and Sunny Winter.
The best time of year to visit Svalbard if you are a nature and wildlife lover who is keen to witness the ‘King of the Arctic’ – the Polar bear – is in the sunny summer months but if you are looking for a unique experience that is possible nowhere else in the world then you could travel to Svalbard during the winter to witness the Aurora 24 hours a day!
Where to Stay: Handpicked for You
Remote and refined, our Svalbard stays include everything from expedition lodges to boutique hotels, each offering comfort amid the Arctic wilds.
Juva Cabin
Experience the wilderness, with the spectacular landscape of Svalbard
Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen, Longyearbyen
In the heart of Longyearbyen, majestic snowy peaks & glistening glaciers
Basecamp Hotel
Steeped in Svalbard heritage, a taste Arctic life with raw-edge charm
Funken Lodge
At the top of the Arctic Circle on the Svalbard island of SpitsbergenThe Guidebook
Getting There
Flights with Norwegian Air and SAS run regularly (approx 3 times a week) from Oslo throughout the year. In peak season (March-August) the number of flights increases. There are also direct options on certain days from Tromso and the options from the UK are set to increase in the coming months making travel here even easier.
Climate
The climate in Svalbard is a direct result of it’s northerly lattitude – between 74 and 81 degrees North. It is sub-polar along the west coast but polar on the east where the temperature remains at zero even in the summer. The polar ice in the winter reaches the North and east coasts of the islands leaving the western coast free. There is a chance of wind throughout the year but it calms a little between June and August.
Geography
In inland areas there are some mountains that are snow-covered all year round, from which glaciers descend and flow to the sea. The highest peak, Newtontoppen, reaches 1,713 metres (5,620 feet). Skiing is possible in the Summer too. The northernmost tip of Svalbard is only 1000 kilometres (600 miles) away from the North Pole. Being well beyond the Arctic Circle, in Svalbard the sun never sets for a long period and from the 20th of April to the 25th of August it is the Midnight Sun. The Polar night by comparison is dark and the sun does not rise from late October to mid-February. The long polar night, however, can be lit by the Aurora Borealis!
I used OTMT to organise a holiday to see the Northern Lights for my partner’s 50th birthday. They took the time to understand my priorities, the kinds of places we like to stay and the things we like to do. They recommended a fabulous itinerary in Norway centred around the Lyngen Experience Lodge. The holiday itself lived up to expectations and I have no hesitation in recommending OTMT. They listened carefully during the planning and delivered the perfect present for my partner.
Alex
The ease of everything stood out to me. All we had to do was be there at the right time. The dog sledding was the highlight for my daughter and sister. We had the best time! For me, Manshausen was the highlight. We were very lucky and the only guests there for the majority of our stay. The staff was amazing and the food was so delicious. We had moose steak and it was the best meal I’ve ever had.
The cabins were comfortable and we were so lucky to have 2 clear nights where we just sat and watched the northern lights. We were able to get some awesome pictures too.
I appreciate all your time and care with planning our trip! I won’t hesitate to use Off the Map travel for our next adventure.
Kelly
Off the Map Travel was great! Alex helped us plan the most amazing 10 day honeymoon to Iceland. He gave us great recommendations and was so patient with us during the planning process!
Tori
We did! Everything was truly wonderful! I think the Holman Husky Lodge was our favourite place. Beautiful accommodations, but best of all, wonderful people! Everyone was so friendly and accommodating, excellent food, we really enjoyed our time there. We also greatly enjoyed Bergen! Opus XVI was beautiful and we loved being able to walk to restaurants and bars and take in the sights. All of our drivers were punctual and friendly. The itinerary was full but not overfull.
Thank you so much! It was an epic trip, we are taking home wonderful memories!
Shelly
We have loved it so much here that we have extended our stay and will come back to Bjornfjell and stay in one of their cabins until Jan 3 then we are staying in the igloo hotel the night of the 3rd. 😊We added a few excursions this week – we did the whale trip on the RIB boat (wow!), toured the igloo hotel (which is why we decided to book the last night!) and did the reindeer sleigh at Sorrisniva. You were so right, the bonfire excursion was incredible!!It has been an absolutely amazing trip!
Kristen
We – the whole family – loved the whole journey!!
The accommodations, the activities and especially the great people – thank you very much for this fantastic organisation !!!
Barbara
Arctic Retreat was simply magical. Graham and his team were superb. Their entire focus was on ensuring we had an outstanding experience. The accommodation, setting and food were all excellent. The team, experienced professionals, each brought their own personal touch and local nuance. It was faultless. The dog sledging trip directly from Arctic Retreat was also superb. We would return to Arctic Retreat in a heartbeat.
George
Amy was a great help with planning this trip. Our trip turned out amazing. I also was very grateful for Off the Map’s Front Desk service, which promptly handled an on the spot issue we had.
Karen
Hello Lucy!! Kim and I had a fantastic time in Iceland! Probably one of my top 3 trips I’ve ever taken!
It was everything we asked for and you did a wonderful job coordinating it all so beautifully!!
Thank you very much and we will contact you again when we get ready to plan our trip to Norway and Lapland!
Doreen
Fantastic trip to Svalbard which delivered the true Arctic experience we were hoping for. The hotels were excellent and the activities – dog sledding and snowmobile expedition were lead by first class guides.
Top tip! The champagne tasting in the world’s most northerly wine cellar in the exceptional Funken Lodge is not to be missed!
Faith
Exceptional service throughout the entire planning and booking process – travel agencies don’t get any better than this. A brilliant, seamless experience matched by the holiday experience itself. Would recommend ‘Off the Map Travel’ to anyone considering booking for a Nordic experience ‘par excellence’.
Chris
The best travel experience ever on every level you can think of during a Lapland expedition (food, activities, timings, accommodation, transport, service, equipment…). I highly recommend Off The Map Travel for their outstanding level of professionalism and detail oriented mindset!
Sophie & Guy