by Guest Author
Last updated: 7:00 PM ET, Mon November 24, 2025
For a polar adventure in Svalbard and the Arctic, June is a prime month! From extended daylight hours spent in spectacular landscapes to unforgettable wildlife encounters on shore and at sea, there are plenty of reasons why June marks the height of the Arctic expedition season, and among the best times for travelers to explore this remarkable corner of our world!
Arctic fox with pink-footed goose (Photo Credit: Rini van Meurs/Oceanwide Expeditions)
The Arctic Expedition Cruise Experience in June
June really kicks off the Oceanwide Expedition season in the Arctic, with their fleet of expedition vessels m/v Hondius, m/v Ortelius, m/v Plancius, and s/v Rembrandt van Rijn taking guests on adventures through the Arctic Ocean, circumnavigating Spitsbergen, and exploring the wider Svalbard archipelago and surrounding pack ice.
In June 2026, almost all of their expedition itineraries will start and end in Longyearbyen, the largest town in Svalbard. The exception to this is three early-season trips. An Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, ice edge, Spitsbergen, birding voyage departs from Akureyri, Iceland, and ends in Longyearbyen. Plancius's first trip of the season departs Vlissingen and ends in Aberdeen, before taking guests to Longyearbyen on a summer solstice Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding voyage.
Visiting Svalbard in June also allows travelers to avoid the busier month of July, which marks the height of the Svalbard expedition cruise season. While still busy, June generally offers a more relaxed expedition experience, with fewer expedition vessels around and more dynamic voyage options that spread tourists across the archipelago.
Svalbard (Photo Credit: Enrico Pescantini/Oceanwide Expeditions)
Join an Oceanwide Expeditions Voyage to Svalbard in June 2026!
A variety of expedition cruise itineraries allows travelers to explore other areas of Svalbard in June. Some focus on north Spitsbergen, taking guests into the packed ice and the many fjords that make up this spectacular island. Polar bear and whale special voyages offer the chance to encounter some of the Arctic's most iconic residents. In contrast, guest-favorite Around Spitsbergen, in the realm of polar bears & ice voyages, combines spectacular landscapes and immersive activities with iconic polar wildlife on land and at sea.
Of note in June are expedition voyages that venture into the pack ice north of Svalbard. This unique environment is home to iconic wildlife species that thrive on the rich feeding grounds provided by the ice, both above and below the waterline. Polar bears, walruses, seals, and whales frequent the pack ice, not to mention the many seabird species for which Svalbard's shores are famous.
(Photo Credit: Franco Banfi/Oceanwide Expeditions)
June is perhaps the best month in the Arctic calendar for guests seeking once-in-a-lifetime photographic opportunities, both wildlife-and landscape-focused. With the midnight sun extending the time guests can explore on land and encounter wildlife by Zodiac and expedition ship, and bright, clear conditions ideal for wildlife photography, June offers maximum value for money in terms of the hours available to hone polar photography skills!
Spaces remain aboard a variety of Oceanwide Expeditions Arctic voyages in June 2026, from pack-ice and polar bear specials to Spitsbergen circumnavigations and Arctic Ocean crossings.
The Arctic adventure of a lifetime awaits!
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