Carina Svensson is celebrating 20 years at PolarQuest. Her first trip, an expedition to White Island in 2004, resulted in unique finds.
A successful season in Svalbard has come to an end, here are just some of the highlights. Many thanks to our fantastic guides and travellers for making this season unforgettable.
Fredrik Aurell, expedition guide at PolarQuest, has guided on Svalbard and been on board all three of our ships. Read the interview.
The blue whale is the largest animal on earth. During our Svalbard expeditions, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this majestic sea giant.
In 1897, Andrée, Strindberg and Frænkel attempt to reach the North Pole by balloon. Two days later they are forced to make an emergency landing, and their fate remains unknown for 33 years.
Here we list seven advantages of travelling to Svalbard in spring and experiencing the archipelago then.
The Svalbard reindeer is a true survivor, adapted to the harsh Arctic climate. Learn more about this magnificent animal in our latest blog.
The polar night in Svalbard lasts for weeks without sunshine, but still provides magical light. Read our guide Olivier's experiences of this unique time of year.
From May to September, our expedition ships are in the Svalbard wilderness. Watch our slideshow and experience glimpses of this magnificent Arctic world!
Small expedition ships are the best way to explore the polar regions. Our three ships in Svalbard take a maximum of 12 or 51 passengers. Read more below!
A puffin with a rainbow-coloured beak and sad eyes is often called the ‘clown of the sea’. It is a favourite of photographers and can be seen in Svalbard and Greenland.
During our last Svalbard expedition with M/S Stockholm we saw humpback whales, read more about their special characteristics!
The polar bear, King of the Arctic, is large and majestic. For many, seeing this iconic species in its natural habitat is a dream come true.
Midnight sun, polar day or eternal sun - whatever the name, it's a unique experience in Svalbard when the days never end. Do you know what causes this phenomenon?
Summer in Svalbard in July offers midnight sun, vibrant bird mountains and brisk hikes. Discover what you can experience while travelling with PolarQuest.
Five bird species to look out for in Svalbard: during the summer, the cliffs are filled with thousands of nesting birds - an impressive experience!
When should you travel to Svalbard? From sparkling landscapes to pack ice and perfect photo opportunities, each month offers unique experiences.
Walruses fascinate travellers to Svalbard. See this impressive animal on the pack ice or beaches and learn more about the walrus in our blog post.
In April, our expedition ships arrived in Svalbard and a long-awaited polar adventure began. Here's a flavour of this year's magical experiences in the Arctic.
Coal production was Svalbard's main industry for a long time, but today tourism and research dominate. The goal is for Svalbard to become climate neutral within ten years.
The season in Svalbard is short but varied. Here we list five advantages of travelling in spring and why this period can be particularly charming!
Read about the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) participation in the ‘Clean Seas’ project.
Take a few minutes to be inspired by beautiful autumn images from Svalbard, taken during some of our previous trips.
Experience Svalbard's unique fauna on a trip to the Arctic, one of our last untouched wildernesses, and learn about five different seal species that live there.
Svalbard's Global Seed Vault stores agricultural crops from around the world. The seed vault is located near Longyearbyen, with a tunnel leading 130 metres into the mountain.
Only 3 hours from Oslo, the wilderness of Svalbard awaits. Leave civilisation behind, experience the silence and see what's waiting around the corner. Read our travellers' stories!
Sorgfjorden offers historical remains and stories from 17th century whaling. Read about our travellers' encounter with history at Eolusneset!
Svalbard's history is fascinating. Read about Svenskhuset, a place of dramatic events, now listed as a cultural monument and an important part of Svalbard's heritage.
Join Johan Hammar to Svalbard on board M/S Quest and experience sparkling glaciers, snow-capped mountain peaks and unique encounters with Arctic wildlife.
This year, the sea north of Svalbard has been free of ice. This has meant that the vast pack ice has taken some patience to reach, but once up there, exciting wildlife and stunning views await.
The Svalbard season has started! Read about our travellers' visit to Camp Barentz. The text is written by Heidi from the PolarQuest office who is travelling with us on the first trip!
The cruise industry and authorities are working together to develop Arctic Search and Rescue. PolarQuest is expected to contribute with a vessel to the planned exercise.
Dreaming of meeting the giants of the sea? During the summer in Svalbard, you have a great chance of seeing whales, especially in July and August.
Mia Lundqvist works as a guide manager at PolarQuest's office, and has spent a lot of time in the village. Here she shares her top to-do tips!
Get to know history's greatest polar traveller! We have previously written about Willem Barentsz, now we highlight Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld - first through the Northeast Passage.
In something of a serial, we will shed light on some of the most talked about polar explorers in history. We'll start at the beginning, with a short story about the man who put Svalbard on the map - Dutchman Willem Barentsz.
PolarQuest expedition leader Adam Rheborg is travelling to Svalbard for the twentieth year in a row. We asked what makes Svalbard so special to him.
We are proud to have polar bear researcher Nikita Ovsyanikov as a guide and lecturer on our expeditions to Svalbard in May and June 2016.
We've probably all experienced that great moment during a trip that couldn't be captured on film. Maybe the picture was blurry, overexposed or just very flat.
Some couples choose to celebrate their honeymoon in the Arctic. Therése and Marcus chose Svalbard - here they talk about their adventure on board M/S Quest.
Listen to PolarQuest's expedition leader Christian Engelke talk about his vast experience of Svalbard, where he previously lived for several years.
The day started with polar history and a chilly wind from the north-western of Spetsbergen.
Below you can read an extract from our trip ‘Discovery of Svalbard’ on board Ocean Nova, 5 - 15 July.
