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Traveling seasons in Spitsbergen I Svalbard

No matter when you come, Spitsbergen is always amazing. Nevertheless, there is an extremely strong contrast between the seasons, regarding what you can see, do and experience.

Late winter

That is late february to april. Temperatures are still mostly below zero, especially in February and March it can still be f….ing cold (temperatures vary actually a lot in the maritime Arctic and it can be thawing and rainy for a day or two at any season in Spitsbergen, something that is not getting better in times of climate change).

Longyearbyen Camping in the dark season after a period of mild weather. Put your spikes on!

But in contrast to the ‘real’ winter, the light is back again. In March, you will have a daily rhythm not too different from lower latitudes.

“Blue light” in Adventdalen.

First sunlight on Tunabreen in Tempelfjord.

In late February and March, the light can be extremely beautiful, with endless combined sunset and sunrise, but it is still more or less dark during the night and it can be quite cold (down to -30°C, but that is very rare now at sea level).

Northern light near Longyearbyen.

In late February, the sun comes back, although it is not yet visible from Longyearbyen, which is surrounded by mountains.

Sun over Adventfjord, late February.

In March, the the light comes back at high speed; every day is visibly longer than the previous one. The light conditions are always changing and often stunning. This can be a very interesting time for example for photographers. From 08 March the sun is visible above the horizon also in Longyearben. This is celebrated with several days of cultural events (“Solfestuke”).

Solfest i Longyearbyen.

High season winter

From late April in Spitsbergen the sun shines 24 hours a day. There is often stunning light, no darkness anymore and the risk of very low temperatures is gradually decreasing. All this makes April an ideal time for all sorts of winter activities, be it with skies, dogsledge or snowmobile. There is a lot of snowmobile traffic in Spitsbergen, this season is quite busy, the locals potentially a bit stressed, hotels fully booked and no rental scooters available. This means you should either come before or after peak season or book early.

Out on tour in april (I).

Try dogsledging or cross-country-skiing in one of the snowmobile-free areas of Spitsbergen – extremely nice!

Out on tour in april (II).

Snow melting period

The winter season comes to an end when the snow starts to melt. This happens traditionally around may, but it varies a lot from year to year. It tends to be earlier now, in times of climate change. The sun is gaining a lot of power in May.

Early snow melting at Longyearbyen Camping, mid april.

In recent years, the boat season has started as early as March or April, so day-trips with small ships to Barentsburg or scenic cruises to on the of the bays in Isfjord become available (Pyramiden is usually not accessible until summer because the harbour is frozen).

For more, detailed information: the Guidebook Spitsbergen-Svalbard

Late spring to mid-Juni

This is a bit between seasons. There is not enough snow and ice anymore for skiing or sledging (using dogs or fuel), but still too much for hiking or the boat season. Accordingly, the choice of activities is rather limited, but it is a calm season without too many tourists. On the other hand, the birds are quite busy, starting their breeding season. There is usually still a lot of snow in the landscape, which will make walking difficult, but it looks very nice. It is a good time if you want to spend some calm days in Longyearbyen, and it can be rewarding and rich with different experiences and impressions. The midnight sun is shining brightly, the Arctic wildlife is mostly busy (all birds are breeding), the first flowers make for some lovely colour dots in the tundra.

Geese in Adventdalen, late May.

Early summer

About late June to mid-July. Slowly, the snow should disappear, and it is getting easier to do some walking in the field, although it is still quite early for long trekking tours (still some snow patches here and there, wet tundra, a lot of meltwater in the rivers).

Spitsbergen seasons: Summer in Woodfjord (Andøyane)

Early summer: Purple saxifrage on Andoyane, Liefdefjord.

The shipping season has begun, and during a several day ship-based journey you are likely (not guaranteed, though) to see quite a lot of drift- and fjordice. If you want to be sure that you can sail around the whole main island of Spitsbergen, you should rather come a bit later, otherwise the ice may get between you and your dreams. Also for longer hiking tours (for example from Longyearbyen to the east coast of Spitsbergen and back), it may still be a bit early.

Mid- and late summer

Summer hike towards the end of July in Mushamna, Woodfjord.

About mid-July to late August. Snow at sea level should mostly have disappeared, and the tundra is getting drier. This is ideal for longer trekking tours as well as ship-based trips to the more remote parts of Svalbard, even though fields of drift ice can still get in the way, especially in the northeastern and eastern parts – nobody will give you a guarantee that you will be able to reach a certain destination. But chances should be good to get around, and conditions for longer hikes are good (dry terrain, no snow, less breeding birds). In August, flowers are getting scarce, and the tundra gets a nice, brownish-reddish colour (more intensive in Scandinavia and Greenland than in Svalbard).

Last midnight sun in Longyearbyen, late August.

Early autumn

Early to mid or late September. A relatively dry season, usually still good or excellent for longer trekking tours. Most flowers will be gone, but the tundra has a nice colour and is very dry. It is getting darker again during the night, and the low sund can provide a beautiful, warm light for hours on end. Most birds have left, and at some point the first storms will come with strong winds and snowfall and make the Arctic less attractive again for tourists.

Fine mid September day in Raudfjord.

Late autumn

October/early November. The days are getting shorter, more stormy and cold, but the light of the low sun can still be extremely beautiful. Options for activities are rather limited, but if you want to spend a while in Longyearbyen without too many other tourists around, it can still be a good season for you. Chances to get in touch with some locals can be better, and with some luck you may see the first northern lights (see below).

Fine late September day in Sorgfjord.

Polar night

Late November to mid-February. The sun does not show above the horizon from late November to mid February. It will not surprise you to read that it is mostly dark and cold, although temperatures around or even slightly above freezing and some rain may occur every now and then, something that can actually be very boring.

Blue light in Adventdalen.

If you want to experience the polar night, then it may not be necessary to travel to Spitsbergen to do so; a winter night somewhere in the mountains of Scandinavia will provide a similar experience, where you will also find better infrastructure and at least some hours of weak daylight, allowing for more activities to be enjoyed, with a lower risk of suddenly being eaten by some big animal.

It should be mentioned, however, that a clear night, with stars and the Aurora Borealis casting some bleak light over the snowy landscape, is beautiful beyond imagination. Hotels make attractive offers during this mostly rather quiet period and tour operators are increasingly creative to offer activities. Many local say this is the most beautiful time. Everything is a bit calmer in Longyearbyen in the dark period, so it is a good time to meet people or to enjoy cultural events such as the Dark Seasons Blues Festival and others. It is an idea to rent a car for a day or two to be able to get out of Longyearbyen into Adventdalen or towards Bjørndalen (depending on the weather, the roads may be blocked by snow drifts at times). If you move around on foot, it is essential to attach reflectors to your clothing and rucksack to be visible for car drivers. Otherwise you are in for risk and the anger of local drivers. It is amazing how often people think the middle of the road is a good place to set up a tripod, but it isn’t. And while we are at it, it is really a good idea to bring a tripod, a fast aperture lense and a flashlight in the dark season.