It’s rare to visit a place where wildlife reigns, but Spitsbergen is still very much at the mercy of Mother Nature’s weird and wonderful creatures.
Keeping an eye out for polar bears is a fundamental part of any Spitsbergen vacation – whether for your photo album, or for your own safety – but your cruise could be re-routed to bob along beside a blue whale, or you could be called from your cabin to coo at fluffy Arctic foxes hunting on the ice.

You may be on a small ship cruise – but this is no excuse to put your feet up. Daily excursions are part of any Spitsbergen tour, with zodiac rides into the fjords and sea kayaking in the inlets alongside whales and walrus. Experienced – and intrepid – divers can book a specialist scuba trip, and be amazed and the amount of life in the icy waters. Some cruises spend more time ashore than others, giving you time to trek up mountains, enter ice caves, trek across glaciers or, in winter, try snowshoeing or sledging – pulled by your own pack of huskies.

Take your shoes off! It may seem like an odd request in such a chilly climate – but most public buildings in Longyearbyen, including museums, shops and hotels, request guests to remove their shoes on entry. Fortunately, warm slippers are often available.

Ignore your guide. The only reason that polar bear attacks aren’t a frequent occurrence is because of all the safety measures in place: to leave Longyearbyen you must be armed with a rifle and be skilled in using it, but the odd bear has been known to stray into the town centre (where loaded firearms are not permitted), and doors are reportedly left unlocked should anyone need to seek urgent shelter. But bears aren’t the only issue; fog and storms can descend out of nowhere, and kayaking presents its own hazards. But don’t panic – your tour company will be more than prepared for any eventuality; follow their advice, and you’ll be just fine.

Choose a large ship. All our Spitsbergen vacations are “small ship cruises”; as well as being much more environmentally friendly, they bring passengers closer to the icy landscapes and their resident wildlife. Additionally, in January 2015 a new law banned vessels using heavy fuel oil from the waters around Svalbard in order to protect the marine life. This means that larger cruise liners may no longer visit – so a small ship cruise should definitely be on your wishlist.

Die. No, really. It’s been forbidden to die in Longyearbyen for over 75 years, as the icy temperatures prevent decomposition – meaning the only graveyard is full. No one is sure, however, what the penalty may be for breaking this law…

Don't set your heart on seeing anything specific. Be prepared for the changes in weather. It's not as challenging as I expected - to take account of the huge spectrum of ages and abilities. But most of all HAVE FUN! – Lisa Thomas, on our Arctic diving vacation

The most memorable bit? Finding a land without paths; experiencing the silence and utter beauty of Svalbard; seeing wildlife I had never dreamt of; meeting some very special people. Read all the literature carefully – it was comprehensive and covered practically everything one would wish to know. Do some long walks beforehand, especially uphill, if possible. – Jane Mackay, on our Arctic sailing voyage

Don't expect a close up of a polar bear, that would be very rare, they are usually spotted in the distance on a mountainside or beach. If you want a close up of them go to Churchill with the other tourists. – Keith Brignell, on our Arctic sailing voyage

Be flexible and do not expect much of what’s written in the 'final itinerary' to happen. Decisions are made everyday depending on the weather. – Annamaria Cozza, on our Arctic sailing voyage

Be prepared for long, action-packed days. Ensure your wellies are comfortable or bring walking boots to change into once you have left the Zodiac. Listen to your guide - he knows what he is talking about and is responsible for the safety of you and the rest of the group - don't wander off. Try to read a little about Spitsbergen/the Arctic before you go - there is far too much to learn in the two weeks! – Julie Davis, on our Arctic sailing voyage

When inside of the boat you can be relatively warm – have those layers for going out on deck where... you can watch the midnight sun or enjoy the on deck BBQ. Make sure you have a camera with long range focus as you are often at a distance from the wildlife so as not to disturb them. Take your swimming gear as you do get the opportunity to swim in arctic waters – everyone that did did survive! - Susie Barrett, on our Spitsbergen wildlife cruise