Svalbard yacht charters

LONGYEARBYEN 78°22’N, 15°65’E

Home/
Expeditions/
Svalbard private yacht charters

Two zodiacs with guests exploring sea ice in Svalbard with Secret Atlas

Set course for the High Arctic on a Svalbard yacht charter, exploring Europe’s last great wilderness with your very own 'crew' of friends, family, or colleagues.

The Svalbard yacht charter experience

The ultimate expedition-style adventure, team up with friends, family, and workmates on a Svalbard yacht charter.

This is a bespoke adventure, dreamt up by you and arranged by us. At Secret Atlas, we have years of experience plotting expeditions to the wildest places on Earth. So whatever you want to do – improve your camera skills with a top nature photographer, meet animals up close, hike on the Arctic tundra, ski, kayak, and more – we can make it happen on your Svalbard private yacht charter.

Hike in Holmiabukta Svalbard Rayann Elzein Secret Atlas

Where we explore

Zodiac in front of the glacier waterfall

Austfonna

With a circumference of 200km and rising to a height of 800m above sea level, the third-largest glacier in Europe – and the 180km-long ice cliff, known as Bråsvellbreen, is one of the most arresting sights in Svalbard.

Guests passing Lilliehöökbreen in zodiac Private charters with Secret Atlas

Lilliehöökbreen

Lacking the cut-glass definition of Austfonna, Lilliehöökbreen, a glacier dominating the fjord of the same name, is no less impressive. To witness this glacier calving and cruise between the icebergs it creates is to see the power of nature with unequalled clarity.

Alkefjellet

The most famous bird cliff in Svalbard, Alkefjellet isn’t always accessible due to its northerly position. The cacophony of seabirds that breed here create a flurry of activity across the dark, imposing faces of the 100m-tall basalt columns jutting out from the coast.

Exploring the sea ice north of Svalbard with Secret Atlas

The ice edge

The edge of the sea ice that runs all the way from the northernmost reaches of Svalbard to the North Pole. When conditions are calm and the ice offers a route, a cruise along the ice edge is one of the most magnificent experiences Svalbard offers. Keep your eyes peeled for polar bears hunting in their icy domain.

Walruses in Svalbard by Ross Dixon Secret Atlas

Prins Karls Forland

A narrow island off the west coast of Spitsbergen, Prins Karls Forland (or simply Forlandet) is a haven for wildlife, including seals, migratory birds, and, in particular, walruses, set against a backdrop of pointed peaks.

Yachts for charter in Svalbard

Choose the ship to match your adventure.

Our fleet of ice-strengthened, go-anywhere vessels are ideal for exploring the remotest reaches of Svalbard. High-performance, low-impact, and kitted out with all the home comforts you might need, we sail expedition-style ships that get you closer to nature.

Vikingfjord

A new ice-strengthened ship with industry-leading environmental credentials.

See Ship

12 Guests

Vikingfjord ship in Svalbard landscape Secret Atlas

Interior

Observation lounge area onboard Vikingfjord

Man looking at a map on the Bridge of a ship Secret Atlas

Exterior

View from Side deck onboard Vikingfjord Secret Atlas

Out on deck in the snow onboard MV Vikingfjord

View of guests on the deck onboard Vikingfjord

Hot tub on deck onboard Vikingfjord Secret Atlas

Sauna on deck onboard Vikingfjord Secret Atlas

Signature
Twin/Double

Comfortable double bed/twins
Ensuite shower and toilet
Windows, wardrobe, desk and chair

Deck 1

15M²

2 Guests

Signature
Penthouse (Double)

Signature Penthouse suite onboard MV Vikingfjord

Comfortable double bed
Ensuite shower and toilet
Window, wardrobe, desk and chair

Deck 3

15M²

2 Guests

Signature
Single

Comfortable single bed
Ensuite shower and toilet
Window, wardrobe, desk and chair

Deck 1 and 2

10M²

1 Guest

Deck

Films

Watch

Freya

MV Freya is a classic expedition ship. The sturdy, ice-strengthened 1A hull makes her perfect for exploring the Arctic waters.

See Ship

12 Guests

Interior

The bridge of MV Freya showing computer navigation system

Exterior

boat sailing deck pov svalbard cloudy mid aug summer 2024 ross dixon ms freya 24-sva-25-jpg

Out on deck with views of mountains onboard MV Freya

Guests enjoy hot soak in hot tub on board MV Freya

Signature
Twin

Sleeps two in lower twin berths
Ensuite shower and toilet
Window

Deck 1

10M²

2 Guests

Signature
Penthouse (double)

Signature Penthouse suite onboard MV Freya

Sleeps two in a double bed
Ensuite shower and toilet
Window

Deck 1

15M²

2 Guests

Signature
Single

Sleeps one in a lower berth
Ensuite shower and toilet
Window

Deck 1

10M²

1 Guest

Deck

Films

Watch

Looking to explore the world with friends, family, or colleagues?

Plan a private charter with us.

TALK TO US

Why Secret Atlas?

Meet Secret Atlas

Because we’re explorers, delivering expeditions for explorers like you.

We’re fuelled by the long-lost spirit of adventure, guided by environmental and cultural responsibility, and committed to creating transformative travel experiences.

We’re pioneers of the Expedition Micro Cruise, offering the smallest group sizes at both poles. That means a flexible itinerary. It means more time exploring and photographing. It means a deeper connection with your team and the natural world.

We understand that, out here, less is more. Less waiting to board Zodiacs, more time ashore. Less strict itineraries, more adventure. Less crowd, more immersion.

That’s why we’re not just small. We’re micro.

Svalbard yacht charter FAQs

How do I charter a yacht to Svalbard?

It’s easy. Just get in touch with us about your idea – where you want to go, who you want to go with, what you want to do – and we’ll work with you to make your dream a reality. If you’re in need of inspiration, let our polar travel specialists plot an experience for you.

Are there any additional costs I should be aware of when chartering a yacht to Svalbard?

Our Svalbard yacht charters are offered on an all-inclusive basis. All meals are included on Secret Atlas private charters, freshly cooked each day by our superb chefs. Safety equipment, fuel, guides, and crew are all included in the price.

Additional fees for activities such as museum visits are not included. Nor are tips for the crew or flights to and from the embarkation/disembarkation point for your Svalbard private expedition.

When is the best time to charter a yacht to Svalbard?

That depends on what you want to see and do during your Svalbard yacht charter. Because the difference between seasons in Svalbard is night and day. Literally.

In the sunny winter (March–mid-may), Svalbard is a frozen fairytale, a playground for snowsports enthusiasts and landscape photographers. Animal lovers will want to arrive in the polar summer (mid-May–September), when the midnight sun doesn’t set and Svalbard’s iconic wildlife wakes up.

When the sun finally goes down again in the northern lights winter (October–February), the aurora borealis lights up this magical archipelago.

Check out this Explorer’s Handbook article, detailing Svalbard month-to-month.

BEST TIME TO VISIT SVALBARD

Where can I visit on a yacht charter to Svalbard?

Accessibility across the archipelago changes with the seasons and conditions. We will work with you to create a bespoke itinerary based on your expedition goals and the possibilities of your season of travel.

More northerly places of interest, such as the Austfonna ice cap and Alkefjellet bird cliff, are not accessible until later in the season. All Svalbard yacht charters will begin and end in Longyearbyen, the most northerly town on Earth, and involve explorations of Isfjorden, a vast fjord system cutting deep into the Spitsbergen, a haven for wildlife.

What’s the best type of ship to charter to get the most out of a Svalbard yacht charter?

Our fleet of ice-breaking expedition-style ships are perfect for adventures in Svalbard. They can go deep into the pack ice, reach remote beaches where walruses haul out, and, when conditions permit, get right up to northerly points of interest, such as Austfonna and Alkefjellet.

They are agile, go-anywhere ships designed for ultimate safety in the remotest environments on Earth.