Some travellers visiting Svalbard, the magical archipelago in Norway, head over to this place for the extreme outdoor activities. Others just want this destination as their side trip from their main Norway itinerary.
However, some travellers want to explore Svalbard through the eyes of an animal lover. Are you one of them? If you are, you’re in the right place!
Far to the north, where the icy edges of the Arctic Ocean meet rugged mountains and glaciers, lies Svalbard, an archipelago that feels like the last outpost before the North Pole. This is a land of stark beauty and raw power, where nature still rules and wildlife thrives in one of the harshest climates on Earth.
Svalbard’s location between mainland Norway and the North Pole makes it one of the most remote inhabited places in the world. The islands are defined by extremes: 24-hour daylight in summer, months of polar night in winter, temperatures that challenge even the hardiest explorers, and landscapes that shift constantly with ice and snow, creating the ideal environment for its flora and fauna to thrive.
What’s Svalbard Again?
Far to the north, where the icy edges of the Arctic Ocean meet rugged mountains and glaciers, lies Svalbard, an archipelago that feels like the last outpost before the North Pole. This is a land of stark beauty and raw power, where nature still rules and wildlife thrives in one of the harshest climates on Earth.
Svalbard’s location between mainland Norway and the North Pole makes it one of the most remote inhabited places in the world. The islands are defined by extremes: 24-hour daylight in summer, months of polar night in winter, temperatures that challenge even the hardiest explorers, and landscapes that shift constantly with ice and snow, creating the ideal environment for its flora and fauna to thrive.
Be prepared to witness polar bears patrolling the pack ice, walrus hauling out on blue-tinged floes, and seabirds stitching the sky with sound - welcoming you to Svalbard’s wild heart. To see this spectacle in its best form, a luxury private yacht expedition to Svalbard lets you traverse this destination’s quiet coves and glacier-lined fjords. It’s the closest you’ll get to the Arctic and all the action as it unfolds!
No animal is more synonymous with Svalbard than the polar bear. These magnificent predators roam the sea ice and coastal areas in search of seals, their primary food source. Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to see them in their natural habitat, with estimates suggesting that there are more polar bears than human residents on the islands.
Let’s Meet Svalbard’s Adorable Creatures
Polar Bears: Icons of Svalbard
No animal is more synonymous with Svalbard than the polar bear. These magnificent predators roam the sea ice and coastal areas in search of seals, their primary food source. Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to see them in their natural habitat, with estimates suggesting that there are more polar bears than human residents on the islands.
Observing them from a safe and respectful distance is a humbling reminder of nature’s scale and power. They are perfectly adapted for life in this icy domain, with thick fur, a layer of insulating fat, and an incredible ability to swim long distances between ice floes.
“The Arctic: vast, unpopulated, unforested, weathered by the relentless action of ice against weary rock, painted from pallet of countless blues and greys, roamed by the polar bear, the walrus and the beluga is encapsulated almost in its entirety in Svalbard,” says EYOS Expeditions.
Those polar bears co-exist with Svalbard’s walruses and seals, showcasing their cuteness in their own ways.
The icy waters surrounding Svalbard provide home to an impressive variety of marine mammals. Among them are the walruses: those gigantic, soft-to-the-touch animals who haul themselves onto ice or rocky beaches in large groups. They don’t mind the temperature of the surroundings. These social giants spend much of their time foraging for clams and other shellfish on the seafloor.
Neighbors to the walruses are the seals, particularly the bearded seal and ringed seal. They have treated this place as their home for centuries (or maybe even for millennia!) They know they’re part of the Svalbard ecosystem as they provide sustenance for polar bears and even the occasional killer whale.
While the Arctic might seem an unlikely haven for birds, Svalbard’s brief but intense summer transforms the region into a nesting paradise. Millions of seabirds arrive to take advantage of the long daylight hours and abundant food. Cliff faces become crowded with thick-billed murres, and little auks, their calls echoing over the water.
“The Arctic: vast, unpopulated, unforested, weathered by the relentless action of ice against weary rock, painted from pallet of countless blues and greys, roamed by the polar bear, the walrus and the beluga is encapsulated almost in its entirety in Svalbard,” says EYOS Expeditions.
Walruses and Seals: Arctic Specialists
Those polar bears co-exist with Svalbard’s walruses and seals, showcasing their cuteness in their own ways.
The icy waters surrounding Svalbard provide home to an impressive variety of marine mammals. Among them are the walruses: those gigantic, soft-to-the-touch animals who haul themselves onto ice or rocky beaches in large groups. They don’t mind the temperature of the surroundings. These social giants spend much of their time foraging for clams and other shellfish on the seafloor.
Neighbors to the walruses are the seals, particularly the bearded seal and ringed seal. They have treated this place as their home for centuries (or maybe even for millennia!) They know they’re part of the Svalbard ecosystem as they provide sustenance for polar bears and even the occasional killer whale.
It’s an Avian Party in Svalbard!
While the Arctic might seem an unlikely haven for birds, Svalbard’s brief but intense summer transforms the region into a nesting paradise. Millions of seabirds arrive to take advantage of the long daylight hours and abundant food. Cliff faces become crowded with thick-billed murres, and little auks, their calls echoing over the water.
The Arctic tern, famed for its extraordinary migratory journey from pole to pole, nests here in large colonies. Birdwatchers can also spot puffins, their colourful beaks bright against the muted tones of the landscape, diving gracefully for fish in the cold waters. The way these birds “party” here in Svalbard might remind you of those birds partying in “Rio.”
Svalbard’s reindeer look different from their mainland cousins. Their smaller and stockier sizes are a form of adaptation so they can survive the long, freezing winters here. They’re herbivores, grazing on tundra vegetation that bursts into life during the short summer months.
Sharing this environment with them is the Arctic fox, a resourceful and opportunistic animal whose thick coat changes colour with the seasons, blending perfectly with snow in winter and the rocky tundra in summer. These foxes are skilled hunters and scavengers, often trailing polar bears to feed on leftover prey.
What’s great about taking an expedition with EYOS is that you get to explore areas beyond land, but also set foot in the waters, home to a rich species of whales.
The waters around Svalbard are nutrient-rich, supporting an array of whale species. During summer, when the sea ice retreats, humpback whales, minke whales, and even blue whales migrate here to feed.
The blue whale (the largest animal ever to have lived!) can occasionally be seen gliding through the frigid waters, its immense size awe-inspiring even from a distance. Belugas, with their pale colouring and social behaviour, are also a common sight, often travelling in pods and vocalising to each other with a series of clicks and whistles.
Here are some practical tips when bonding with these animals:
Svalbard remains one of the few places on Earth where nature still reigns with minimal human interference - its wildlife breathes life into this archipelago in a very significant way. Animals here have adapted to survive in conditions that would challenge most species, creating a unique and intricate ecosystem.
For travellers, the appeal lies not only in the chance to see these animals but also in experiencing a world where the balance between life and environment remains largely undisturbed. Whether it is the silent glide of a whale beneath the surface, the determined walk of a polar bear across the ice, or the delicate bloom of a flower against a glacier, Svalbard’s wild heart beats with a rhythm entirely its own. As you discover the wildlife of Svalbard with your naked eyes, remain curious, but please never cross the boundaries of these animals (they’re not performers in a circus)!
Reindeer and Arctic Foxes
Svalbard’s reindeer look different from their mainland cousins. Their smaller and stockier sizes are a form of adaptation so they can survive the long, freezing winters here. They’re herbivores, grazing on tundra vegetation that bursts into life during the short summer months.
Sharing this environment with them is the Arctic fox, a resourceful and opportunistic animal whose thick coat changes colour with the seasons, blending perfectly with snow in winter and the rocky tundra in summer. These foxes are skilled hunters and scavengers, often trailing polar bears to feed on leftover prey.
Whales in the Cold Waters
What’s great about taking an expedition with EYOS is that you get to explore areas beyond land, but also set foot in the waters, home to a rich species of whales.
The waters around Svalbard are nutrient-rich, supporting an array of whale species. During summer, when the sea ice retreats, humpback whales, minke whales, and even blue whales migrate here to feed.
The blue whale (the largest animal ever to have lived!) can occasionally be seen gliding through the frigid waters, its immense size awe-inspiring even from a distance. Belugas, with their pale colouring and social behaviour, are also a common sight, often travelling in pods and vocalising to each other with a series of clicks and whistles.
Disturb Them Not...
Here are some practical tips when bonding with these animals:
- Travelling in the Arctic requires preparation and respect for the environment: dress in warm, layered clothing suitable for rapidly changing conditions;
- Bring high-quality binoculars for spotting wildlife from a distance;
- Always follow the guidance of experienced expedition leaders, who understand animal behaviour and can ensure encounters remain safe for both visitors and wildlife;
- Patience is essential: Arctic animals move according to their own rhythms, and the most rewarding moments often come to those willing to wait. It’s not like in the fields of Switzerland, where you can just feed the animals with the biscuits you have - you’ll never know where your actions might take you!
The Last Great Wilderness
Svalbard remains one of the few places on Earth where nature still reigns with minimal human interference - its wildlife breathes life into this archipelago in a very significant way. Animals here have adapted to survive in conditions that would challenge most species, creating a unique and intricate ecosystem.
For travellers, the appeal lies not only in the chance to see these animals but also in experiencing a world where the balance between life and environment remains largely undisturbed. Whether it is the silent glide of a whale beneath the surface, the determined walk of a polar bear across the ice, or the delicate bloom of a flower against a glacier, Svalbard’s wild heart beats with a rhythm entirely its own. As you discover the wildlife of Svalbard with your naked eyes, remain curious, but please never cross the boundaries of these animals (they’re not performers in a circus)!
EYOS shares with you a reminder: “Unlike other destinations that advertise looks at polar bears, the search here is done in pure wilderness, where the wildlife has had practically no experience with the attractions or deterrents of a human population. Interactions in Svalbard, as often as not, involve curious animals approaching their observers, rather than fleeing.” (Top photo by Jacek Urbanski on Unsplash)
