--- title: "Svalbard Sailing Expeditions — Spitsbergen by Yacht" description: "Sail Spitsbergen in the polar summer: tidewater glaciers, Arctic wildlife and 24-hour light. Whole-boat expeditions from Longyearbyen with Boreal Yachting." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization", "name": "Boreal Yachting", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com", "logo": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "description": "Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Whole-boat expeditions and charters from Tromsø since 2003.", "foundingDate": "2003", "email": "post@boreal-yachting.com", "telephone": "+4777729200", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Tromsø", "addressCountry": "NO" }, "memberOf": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)", "url": "https://www.aeco.no" }, "sameAs": [ "https://facebook.com/borealyachting", "https://youtube.com/@borealyachting" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Experiences", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Summer Svalbard Expeditions", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/svalbard-expeditions" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "TouristTrip", "name": "Summer Svalbard Expeditions", "description": "Summer Svalbard expeditions are whole-boat sailing voyages through the fjords of Spitsbergen between June and September. From Longyearbyen we sail to tidewater glaciers, bird cliffs and old trapper stations, going ashore with a guide. The midnight sun means the day never really ends.", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/svalbard-expeditions", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/assets/expedition-svalbard-hero-CFAKJaCc.jpg", "touristType": [ "Small private groups", "Experienced travellers" ], "provider": { "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization" }, "duration": "7 to 12 nights", "itinerary": { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Svalbard" } } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will we see polar bears?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Possibly, but never guaranteed. We do not search for or approach bears. Walrus, reindeer, Arctic fox and enormous seabird colonies are far more reliable." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need sailing experience?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. The skipper and guide run the boat. You are welcome to help with sails and helm if you want to learn." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can we book one cabin?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Svalbard voyages are sold as a whole boat. Some departures are sold through travel partners and agents, and we can point you to them." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How rough is the sailing?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most of the route is inside fjords and reasonably sheltered. Open-water crossings can be lively. If you are prone to seasickness, bring medication and start it early." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How far north can we get?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends entirely on the ice that year. Seven nights usually covers Isfjorden and nearby fjords; ten to twelve nights can reach Kongsfjorden and beyond." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there internet on board?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There is satellite communication for safety and weather. Guest internet is limited and often unavailable, which most people come to like." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are children welcome?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, on private charters, if they are comfortable on the water and warm enough on deck. Talk to us about ages before you book." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [Boreal Yachting ](/) [Experiences](/experiences) [Destinations](/destinations) [Our Fleet](/fleet) [About Us](/about) [Journal](/journal) [For Partners](/partners) [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey) 1. [Home](/) 2. / [Experiences](/experiences) 3. / Svalbard Expeditions Experience # Summer Svalbard Expeditions Summer Svalbard expeditions are whole-boat sailing voyages through the fjords of Spitsbergen between June and September. From Longyearbyen we sail to tidewater glaciers, bird cliffs and old trapper stations, going ashore with a guide. The midnight sun means the day never really ends. ![Sailing yacht in front of a tidewater glacier in Svalbard under a pale Arctic sky](/generated-images/expedition-svalbard-hero-1824.webp) A tidewater glacier front in Isfjorden. We hold well back from the face; ice falls without warning. ## At a glance Season June to end-September Duration 7 to 12 nights Base Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen Group size Up to six guests, whole boat Sold as Whole boat — private and group charter Level No sailing experience needed. Shore walks of two to five hours on rough ground Crew Skipper, plus expedition guide with polar bear watch training ## Spitsbergen under sail Svalbard is an archipelago halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. In summer the sea ice retreats far enough for a sailing yacht to work the west coast of Spitsbergen and, in a good year, to push north towards the eightieth parallel. A sailing yacht moves quietly and sits low in the water. You come into a fjord under sail, hear the glacier before you see it, and anchor where a larger ship cannot go. Landings are made by tender, in a group of six rather than a hundred. Distances are real. A voyage of seven nights covers Isfjorden and its side fjords well; ten to twelve nights opens the north-west coast, Krossfjorden, Kongsfjorden and the fjords beyond. ## Ice, wildlife and the ground you walk on The tidewater glaciers are the centrepiece. We hold a safe distance from the face — ice calves without warning and the wave it makes is serious — and the boat drifts among brash ice while the front cracks and works. Wildlife is a matter of patience. Walrus haul out on known beaches, kittiwakes and guillemots nest in tens of thousands on the cliffs, and beluga sometimes follow the shoreline in pods. Polar bears are seen on some voyages and not on others; we keep our distance and never seek them out. Ashore, the tundra is thin and slow to recover, and the archipelago is full of protected cultural remains: trapper huts, whaling graves, mining infrastructure. We walk carefully, take nothing, and follow AECO guidelines on every landing. ## Life on board The rhythm is simple. Breakfast, a passage under sail or engine, a landing or a glacier approach, dinner, and then whatever the light and the weather offer. Because the sun does not set, plans are elastic. Guests routinely find themselves on deck at two in the morning because something is happening. The crew cooks, navigates and runs the tender. You are welcome on the helm and on the winches, and equally welcome to read in the saloon. Most guests end up somewhere between the two. Boreal Yachting has operated in Svalbard since 2008 and is an AECO member. Our vessels carry satellite communications, cold-water survival equipment and the permits Sysselmesteren requires. ## A typical week The route is decided by ice, weather and the people on board. This is what a good voyage tends to look like. ### Day 1 — Longyearbyen Board in the afternoon, safety and firearms briefing, and a first meal on board. We leave the quay in the evening and anchor across Isfjorden. ### Days 2 to 6 — north and west Passages of three to eight hours between fjords, under sail when the wind allows. One or two landings a day: a walk over tundra, a bird cliff, a trapper's hut, or a slow approach to a glacier front. Evenings at anchor. In July the light never goes, so bedtime is a suggestion. ### Final day — return to Longyearbyen A last landing close to Isfjorden, then the sail back to town. Alongside in the afternoon. Most guests fly out the following day. ## What is included ### Included - — Whole-boat charter for your group - — Skipper and expedition guide with polar bear watch - — All meals on board and hot drinks - — Tender landings and shore walks - — Life jackets, immersion suits and safety equipment - — Fuel, harbour fees, on-board linen and Svalbard operating permits ### Not included - — Flights to and from Longyearbyen - — Hotel nights before and after the voyage - — Travel, evacuation and rescue insurance, which is mandatory in Svalbard - — Personal outdoor clothing and boots - — Alcoholic drinks - — Crew gratuities ![Glacier ice and dark rock along a Svalbard fjord shoreline](/generated-images/svalbard-glacier-1079.webp) ## The boat Svalbard voyages sail on our expedition yachts: insulated hulls, diesel heating, satellite communications and a tender suited to cold-water landings. Which vessel you take depends on group size and voyage length. [See the fleet](/fleet) ## Who this is for - Travellers who want the Arctic at close range, in a group of six rather than a shipload. - Photographers, birdwatchers and people who are happy to wait for weather. - Families and groups of friends taking the whole boat together. - Anyone with no sailing experience; the crew does the sailing. This is not a cruise with a spa and a programme. Cabins are small, showers are short, and a rough passage is part of it. If you want fixed departure times and guaranteed sightings, this is the wrong boat. ## Practical ### Fitness and experience You need to be steady on your feet on uneven, wet ground and able to get in and out of a tender. Shore walks last two to five hours at an easy pace. No sailing experience is required. ### What to bring Waterproof outer layers, warm mid-layers, sturdy walking boots, gloves, hat and sunglasses. Binoculars are worth their weight. Bring soft bags, not suitcases. ### Weather and light Summer temperatures usually sit between 0 and 8°C, with fog, rain and bright still days in the same week. The midnight sun runs from late April to late August. ### Getting to Longyearbyen Daily flights from Oslo and Tromsø. Arrive at least a day early; missed connections cannot be recovered once the boat has left. [Read the full Arctic sailing packing list](/arctic-sailing-packing-list) ## Questions guests ask Will we see polar bears? Possibly, but never guaranteed. We do not search for or approach bears. Walrus, reindeer, Arctic fox and enormous seabird colonies are far more reliable. Do I need sailing experience? No. The skipper and guide run the boat. You are welcome to help with sails and helm if you want to learn. Can we book one cabin? No. Svalbard voyages are sold as a whole boat. Some departures are sold through travel partners and agents, and we can point you to them. How rough is the sailing? Most of the route is inside fjords and reasonably sheltered. Open-water crossings can be lively. If you are prone to seasickness, bring medication and start it early. How far north can we get? It depends entirely on the ice that year. Seven nights usually covers Isfjorden and nearby fjords; ten to twelve nights can reach Kongsfjorden and beyond. Is there internet on board? There is satellite communication for safety and weather. Guest internet is limited and often unavailable, which most people come to like. Are children welcome? Yes, on private charters, if they are comfortable on the water and warm enough on deck. Talk to us about ages before you book. ## Where this sails [ Destination ### Svalbard Glaciers, sea ice and Arctic wildlife at 78°N. We have sailed here since 2008. ](/destinations/svalbard) ## Related reading [ Expeditions ### Svalbard sailing: glaciers and polar bears ](/journal/svalbard-expedition)[ Nature ### Cities of Svalbard: Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund, Barentsburg ](/journal/cities-of-svalbard)[ Experience ### Ski & Sail Svalbard ](/experiences/ski-and-sail-svalbard)[ Compare ### Whole-boat charter vs joining a group departure ](/whole-boat-charter-vs-group-departure)[ Compare ### Sailing yacht vs expedition ship in Svalbard ](/sailing-yacht-vs-expedition-ship-svalbard) ## Enquire about Summer Svalbard Expeditions. Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template. [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey?experience=svalbard-expeditions)[Speak to us directly](/contact) Boreal Yachting Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Sailing these waters since 2003. [![AECO member — Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators](/assets/aeco-member-Crcpxqbv.svg)](https://www.aeco.no)[![Eco-Lighthouse certified — Miljøfyrtårn programme](/assets/eco-lighthouse-CNcwtWaN.png)](https://www.miljofyrtarn.no/en/) ## Experiences - [Ski & Sail Norway](/experiences/ski-and-sail-norway) - [Ski & Sail Svalbard](/experiences/ski-and-sail-svalbard) - [Svalbard Expeditions](/experiences/svalbard-expeditions) - [Private charter](/experiences/private-charter) - [Group charter](/experiences/group-charter) - [Bareboat charter](/experiences/bareboat-charter) ## Destinations - [Tromsø](/destinations/tromso) - [Lyngen Alps](/destinations/lyngen-alps) - [Lofoten](/destinations/lofoten) - [Svalbard](/destinations/svalbard) - [Senja](/destinations/senja) - [Vesterålen](/destinations/vesteralen) ## Company - [About us](/about) - [Our crew](/about/crew) - [Safety](/about/safety) - [Sustainability](/about/sustainability) - [Company facts](/about/facts) - [Journal](/journal) - [For partners](/partners) - [Contact](/contact) Boreal Yachting AS · Tromsø, Norway · [post@boreal-yachting.com](mailto:post@boreal-yachting.com) · [+47 77 72 92 00](tel:+4777729200) - [Facebook](https://facebook.com/borealyachting) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/@borealyachting) - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/borealyachting) © 2026 Boreal Yachting AS - [Privacy](/privacy) - [Terms](/terms) - [Booking conditions](/booking-conditions) Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to run the site. 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