One of the main draws to visiting the Arctic is the chance to see polar bears in their natural habitat, on the sea ice. The white bear is an icon of the northern polar region and seeing this powerful, yet graceful apex predator in the wild is a highlight for many guests. Below we have listed the most popular polar bear trips for the 2025 Arctic season.
All trips listed are ship based which provides the advantage of getting into the pack ice to search for bears and a safe viewing platform. While all the polar bear trips will provide an excellent chance to spot polar bears, it is important to note that bear sightings cannot be guaranteed in advance as they are nomadic and on the move much of the summer season. With each trip, you will be sailing with a team of experienced experts who will do their best to spot bears and other unique arctic wildlife. In addition to polar bears, these trips will offer great chances to see walruses, arctic fox, reindeer and more.
Svalbard In Spring: Arctic Wildlife, Light, and Ice
- Onboard National Geographic Resolution (138 guests)
- Late April & early May departures
- 6 days exploring Svalbard
- Why we like this trip: Spring in Svalbard will have the most ice of the season with excellent chances of seeing polar bears on the pack ice. This is a new, state of the art vessel with one of the most experienced expedition teams. All departures have a National Geographic photographer plus a Lindblad photographer onboard.
Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway
- Onboard Ocean Explorer (138 guests)
- 10 departure dates from between early May – late July
- 7 full days exploring Svalbard
- Why we like this trip: It is operated on a new x-bow ship with a high ice class. There are a lot of departure dates from Spring through late Summer. Very reasonable pricing for a new ship with experienced naturalists and good inclusions.
Around Spitsbergen: In the Realm of the Polar Bear & Ice
- Onboard Ortelius (108 guests)
- 4 departures in July
- 8 full days in Svalbard
- Why we like this trip: More days in Svalbard means more chances of seeing polar bears. By July the ice is starting to break up on the east side of Spitsbergen allowing the chance to circumnavigate the island, conditions permitting. This is a small, authentic expedition ship at a great price point.
Important Note
Starting in 2025 the Svalbard government will enact a new set of guidelines for tourist vessels. These regulations include keeping a minimum distance from polar bears of 300 meters (328 yards) in July & August and 500 meters (547 yards) in April, May & June. While these trips allow the chance to spot and photograph bears with a stunning frozen background, up close bear encounters are not possible.
Please contact us for more information and to find the best polar bear trip for you.
