Svalbard Tour from India: Polar Bears and Midnight Sun

Svalbard is an Arctic archipelago, far north of mainland Norway. It is one of the few places where you can see polar bears in the wild, sail between glaciers and walk in 24-hour daylight in the same week. For travellers from India it is one of the most accessible ways into the high Arctic.

Svalbard at a glance

• Best for: polar bears, glaciers, Arctic wildlife and the midnight sun
• Summer season: June to August
• Northern lights season: late September to March
• Getting there: fly to mainland Norway, then on to Longyearbyen
• Visa: plan on a Norwegian (Schengen) visa, and check before you travel

Our Svalbard trips

• Svalbard Arctic Expedition, 8 days (2027)
• Life Changing Experience in Svalbard Adventure

See all of our Svalbard trips.

What you can see and do

Polar bears

Svalbard is home to polar bears, and summer is the usual time to look for them. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the bears keep their distance from ships and guides.

Birds and other wildlife

The cliffs and coast hold large seabird colonies, including puffins. Seals are often seen from the water, and reindeer and Arctic foxes live on land.

Glaciers and ice

Much of Svalbard is covered in ice. From a ship you can see glacier fronts, fjords and floating ice, and in winter you can go on snowmobile or dog sledding trips.

When to go

• June to August: the midnight sun, and the usual choice for polar bears, because the ice has melted and ships can travel further north.
• Late September to March: the northern lights. Winter brings the polar night, which is very dark and cold.
• Late winter and early spring: some daylight and a chance of the aurora.

The midnight sun runs from about 20 April to 22 August. Wildlife sightings, including polar bears, are never guaranteed.

Ship or land-based?

• Expedition ship: you sail around the coast, land on shore with guides and see glaciers and wildlife that are out of reach from the main town. This is the main way to look for polar bears in summer.
• Land-based from Longyearbyen: you stay in town and take day trips, such as boat excursions, hikes with a guide, and in winter snowmobile and dog sledding trips. Longyearbyen also has a museum and the entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is usually closed to visitors inside.

How many days do you need?

An expedition cruise usually takes about a week, like our eight-day trips. For a land-based stay, plan four to five days so that bad weather does not use up your only good day.

Do Indians need a visa for Svalbard?

Svalbard itself has no visa rules under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, but flights and ferries pass through mainland Norway. Indian travellers should plan on a Norwegian (Schengen) visa. Sources disagree on the details, so check with the Norwegian embassy or VFS centre in India, and with the Governor of Svalbard, before you travel.

Getting there from India

You fly to mainland Norway, typically Oslo or Tromsø, and connect to Longyearbyen, the main settlement. Plan for at least one overnight stop, depending on your route.

Safety and rules

Polar bears live across Svalbard, so travel outside the main settlement is done with a guide. Follow your guide’s instructions on wildlife distance and landings.

What to pack

• Warm base layers and an insulated outer layer, even in summer
• A windproof and waterproof jacket
• Waterproof boots with good grip
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and an eye mask for the midnight sun
• A camera with a long lens for wildlife

Northern lights or midnight sun?

Choose the midnight sun for long days, wildlife and ship travel. Choose winter for the aurora, dog sledding and snowmobiling. They are very different trips.

Plan your Svalbard trip

Send your dates and interests through the Plan Your Trip form. For more on the Arctic, see our Arctic trips and the Northern Lights guide.