Polar Bears in Svalbard

Have you ever wondered where polar bears are found?

One of the many reasons people visit Svalbard is to spend time witnessing the vast array of Arctic wildlife that can be seen there. One of the main attractions is seeing a polar bear in the wild. 

In this guide I want to share with you my experience of encountering polar bears in the wild to give you more understanding of what you can expect on your expedition.

All images in this article were captured in accordance with AECO polar bear guidelines at the time they were taken.

Where polar bears are found

Polar bears are only found in the northern hemisphere, so don’t expect to see one if you visit Antarctica.

The majority of polar bears live above the Arctic Circle and can be found as far north as the North Pole.

In Canada, the Hudson Bay population lives south of the Arctic Circle. 

Polar bears live in five different nations: Norway (Svalbard), Greenland (mainly in the north and east), the USA (Alaska), Canada, and Russia.

Seeing polar bears in their natural habitat is one of the main reasons we started our popular expeditions to East Greenland. We regularly spot polar bears as we explore the Scoresbysund fjord system and the Northeast Greenland National Park. 

The natural habitat of polar bears is the Arctic sea ice, where they hunt for food such as seals. The sea ice is vast and constantly shifting.

Polar bears follow the sea ice to hunt their prey. In areas with less sea ice, polar bears have to travel further and have longer periods with no food. 

Polar bear life cycle

Mating season runs from March to June, peaking from April to May, when adults spend much of their time out on the sea ice. During this period, males actively search for receptive females, covering vast distances and relying heavily on their exceptional sense of smell to track them down.

Competition between males can be intense. When more than one male reaches a female, clashes are common, with size, strength, and stamina often deciding the outcome. The successful pair may remain together for several days, bonding and mating repeatedly before separating and returning to their largely solitary lives.

Despite mating in spring, pregnancy does not begin straight away. Polar bears experience delayed implantation, where the fertilised embryo remains dormant for several months. This adaptation has two key advantages. It ensures pregnancy only continues if the female has built up enough fat reserves by late summer, and it allows birth to take place when conditions give cubs their best chance of survival.

Denning

Between October and December, pregnant females dig their dens into snow banks and slopes, creating a quiet, sheltered space to give birth. These dens are usually tucked into coastal hillsides or mountainous terrain, wherever drifting snow gathers deep enough. 

In Svalbard, rugged landscapes and consistent snow conditions create ideal denning terrain, resulting in some of the highest densities of polar bear maternity dens anywhere in the Arctic. Famous denning locations include Kongsøya, Svenskøya, Edgeøya, Nordauslandet, Hopen and Franz Josef Land. In northeast Greenland, some females have even been known to den in snowdrifts piled against grounded icebergs.

Most females den on land, but a small number have also been observed using stable patches of drifting sea ice, a rare but documented behaviour that reflects their ability to adapt when conditions require it.

Where to see polar bears in Svalbard

Polar bears can be seen anywhere on the Svalbard islands. The vast majority of sightings take place away from the human settlements of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg.

Polar bears are often sighted on land in the north and east of Svalbard, and hunting on the sea ice which extends from the north of Svalbard all the way to the North Pole. 

Timing matters. Spring through summer is generally the best window. Spring in Svalbard feels like the Arctic distilled, with snow, extensive sea ice, and long days, but bears can be harder to spot as they range widely across the ice. Summer in Svalbard and East Greenland often brings easier sightings, as bears spend more time near fjords, coastlines, and ice edges, even if the landscape feels a little less starkly frozen.

Where you are also shapes how encounters unfold. In Svalbard, polar bears are relatively numerous and often less wary of people. New distance regulations now apply everywhere in Svalbard to reduce disturbance, while still allowing responsible viewing. These rules do not apply on the pack ice beyond 12 nautical miles from shore. A clear explanation of how this works can be found here.

Throughout the summer the sea ice usually moves away from the land, and by late August it can be 50 miles north of Svalbard, making it harder to reach.

The best way to see polar bears in Svalbard

The best and safest way to see polar bears in Svalbard is on an Expedition Micro Cruise during the summer months. 

For the best chances of polar bear encounters we recommend:

• The smallest ship sizes possible. This gives greater flexibility and a lot less disturbance than a large ship. At Secret Atlas, we offer the smallest group sizes in Svalbard, with ship sizes as low as 12 guests.

• The longer the trip the more time you have to increase your chances of a polar bear sighting.

• Ensure your voyage is geared toward wildlife viewing (at Secret Atlas we always have one guide that is an excellent wildlife spotter to maximise sightings) 

It is important to point out that on any expedition polar bears sightings are never guaranteed. We explore the wilderness, not a safari park. Svalbard has lots of other wildlife you will encounter, such as walruses, whales, reindeer, and Arctic foxes.  

Timing matters. Spring through summer is generally the best window. Spring in Svalbard feels like the Arctic distilled, with snow, extensive sea ice, and long days, but bears can be harder to spot as they range widely across the ice. Summer in Svalbard and East Greenland often brings easier sightings, as bears spend more time near fjords, coastlines, and ice edges, even if the landscape feels a little less starkly frozen.

Where you are also shapes how encounters unfold. In Svalbard, polar bears are relatively numerous and often less wary of people. New distance regulations now apply everywhere in Svalbard to reduce disturbance, while still allowing responsible viewing. These rules do not apply on the pack ice beyond 12 nautical miles from shore. A clear explanation of how this works can be found here.

In East Greenland, bears tend to behave differently. As hunting still takes place here, polar bears are more cautious and less likely to linger when spotted. Local guidelines also apply, with a strong emphasis on respect for both wildlife and local communities.

It’s important to be honest about expectations. Polar bears are wild animals, and sightings are never guaranteed. Ice conditions, weather, and bear behaviour all play a role. What does make a difference is experience. The expedition team at Secret Atlas spend a huge amount of time in these regions and know how to read ice, light, and movement, which greatly improves the chances of spotting wildlife without forcing the moment.

Photography tips

Photographing polar bears is as much about preparation as patience. In most situations, a long lens is essential. A zoom lens such as 200-600 mm or 400-800 mm gives you the flexibility and reach needed to work at distance, which is how many encounters occur. Shorter lenses simply won’t deliver the detail you’re hoping for.

Closer encounters can happen, most often on the pack ice. In those circumstances, a shorter lens, the same one you might otherwise use for landscapes, can work beautifully, placing the bear within its wider Arctic context rather than isolating it completely. On most Arctic expeditions, drones are not permitted under local regulations and AECO guidelines, keeping photography firmly grounded.

Within these limits, there is still remarkable freedom. Patience, good light, and an understanding of the landscape often matter far more than proximity, and some of the most powerful images come from moments when a bear is simply allowed to exist in its environment, undisturbed and entirely at ease.

Don't miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Experience a polar bear in real life on one of our polar bear tours!

Encountering polar bears: what to expect

When encountering polar bears, we follow a strict set of guidelines from AECO which you can see here.

• Never approach a swimming bear from any angle

• Never feed, disturb, or lure a polar bear

• Minimum distances from polar bears will be set at 300 metres between July 1st and 28th February

• Minimum distances from polar bears will be set at 500 metres between March 1st and June 30th

It is much safer to encounter a polar bear on a vessel than on the shore. If the expedition leader suspects there is a bear on the shore we will not land. Before every shore landing the guiding team will scan to ensure there are no polar bears sighted. 

If a polar bear is sighted during a shore landing the guiding team will avoid getting anywhere close to the bear and instead get everyone back to the ship. 

Viewing a polar bear from the vessel is a much safer experience and separation is given between the ship and the bear so as not to disturb it. 

It is the job and responsibility of the expedition leader and captain to ensure a safe distance is maintained at all times and that we do not cause the bear any disturbance.

Advice for polar bear watching

• It is rare you will ever see a polar bear very close. We recommend bringing a good pair of binoculars. If you are a photographer, a long telephoto lens is needed, with 300mm being the minimum. 

• When a polar bear is in sight, do not make any sounds or sudden movements that could scare the polar bear. Polar bears are attracted to the human voice, so do not speak. Often polar bears are curious, and it is important to not do anything that can provoke the bear. 

• Be patient. This is the wilderness. Encountering polar bears can take time and perseverance. 

• Spend time on deck keeping a lookout.

• Keep yourself warm with clothing and hot drinks.

Our favourite polar bear encounters

The team at Secret Atlas have been fortunate enough to encounter polar bears many times in Svalbard, and each time it provides a magical experience.

It’s a humbling experience encountering a polar bear in such a vast wilderness. This image was captured during an expedition in August around the Sjuøyane islands to the north of Svalbard. It is one of my favourite polar bear encounters in Svalbard.

We could see on the ice chart that this was one of the few areas with sea ice close to the coast.

As we approached the area we encountered two bears on ice floes. This sleeping bear was completely unaware of us. We shut down the engine on the vessel to reduce disturbance and spent some time appreciating what was before us.