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Svalbard: Norway’s Archipelago of Polar Bears

June 18 - 28, 2026
Length: 11 days
Region(s): 
Activity Level: Activity indicator paw Activity indicator paw Activity indicator paw
Type: 
Join UC Berkeley Professor Darren Zook aboard expedition vessel Diana to explore Norway’s remote Svalbard archipelago. Experience dramatic Arctic landscapes, search for polar bears and other wildlife, and enjoy guided Zodiac and land excursions in one of the world’s last great wildernesses.

Operated by Thalassa Journeys
From $9,590

not including airfare

Reserve Now

Tour Highlights

  • Set sail on Diana, an eco-luxurious expedition vessel, built for navigating the icy waters and fjords of the High Arctic in comfort and style.
  • Explore the Svalbard archipelago, a stunning Arctic wilderness located just 600 miles from the North Pole.
  • Search for polar bears in their natural habitat, in one of the best places on Earth to observe them, and where they outnumber the human population.
  • Venture out in Zodiac boats for close-up exploration of glaciers, fjords, and bird cliffs teeming with Arctic wildlife.
  • Enjoy onboard lectures with Professor Darren Zook, named one of the “Top Ten Most Inspiring Professors at UC Berkeley” by the online journal College Magazine.
  • Benefit from the knowledge of an expert expedition team, including naturalists who specialize in Svalbard’s unique flora, fauna, and geology.
  • Experience a flexible itinerary designed around the best opportunities for wildlife sightings and shore landings.
  • Begin and end your adventure in vibrant Copenhagen, with included hotel stays and a festive welcome dinner

If you would like to receive a PDF copy of this trip’s brochure, please click on the words “Brochure Request Form” under Additional Resources on this webpage.

Svalbard - Norway's Archipelago of Polar Bears | June 18 - 28, 2026

map of tour destinations
A polar bear stands on the edge of a snow-covered ice shelf overlooking icy, flowing water in the Arctic. Icicles hang beneath the shelf, and jagged rocks are visible below. Snow-covered mountains rise in the background under a bright, cloudy sky, creating a dramatic and pristine polar landscape Svalbard polar bear. There are more polar bears in the Svalbard archipelago than permanent inhabitants.
Monaco Glacier. A massive glacier, tinged with light blue ice, stretches across the base of steep, jagged, snow-dusted mountains under a cloudy sky. In the foreground, a bright turquoise iceberg floats in the cold, gray-green water, with a small inflatable boat carrying people nearby, highlighting the scale of the icy landscape Monacobreen Glacier
-A group of walruses rest on a snowy ice floe surrounded by calm, icy Arctic waters. Behind them, rugged, snow-covered mountains rise dramatically into a misty sky, creating a serene and remote polar landscape Walruses on the icy landscape of Svalbard
A group of people dressed in cold-weather gear rides in a black inflatable Zodiac boat across icy blue waters. Towering, snow-covered mountains with rugged rock faces rise in the background under a clear blue sky, capturing the serene and majestic beauty of a polar expedition Exploring Svalbard's landscape by Zodiac
A group of five black-legged kittiwakes, a type of seabird with white heads and bodies, gray wings, and yellow beaks, standing on a piece of floating ice in a cold, icy environment Black-legged kittiwake
A row of colorful wooden houses in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, stands out against a snowy landscape with snow-covered mountains in the background. The sky is bright blue with streaks of light clouds fanning out dramatically above the mountain, adding to the scenic, Arctic atmosphere Longyearbyen, Svalbard's main settlement
A polar bear mother sits with her two cubs on a snowy landscape. The cubs, slightly smaller and fluffier, are sitting close to their mother, one looking at the camera and the other with eyes partly closed. The soft lighting casts a gentle glow on their creamy white fur, with snow-covered ground stretching into the distance under a pale blue sky. Polar bear with cubs
expedition cruise ship in icy arctic water SH Diana cruise ship

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