from $298 Longyearbyen: snowshoe hike to a glacier
A guided walk up to the ice above town — a good leg-stretch before two weeks on a ship, when snow conditions allow.
North Pole: tours & tickets
You cannot buy the North Pole on a day-tour site. Here is how it is sold — and what to book in the gateway instead.
Our picks
North Pole: top tours & tickets
There are no North Pole products on GetYourGuide, and there could not sensibly be: voyages cost tens of thousands of US dollars per person and are sold directly by a few expedition companies or through polar specialist agents, with long contracts and medical forms. What you can book online is the gateway. Most Western departures now leave from Longyearbyen, and operators insist on arriving at least a day early, so the tours below fill that time well. Be careful not to confuse the real Pole with North Pole, Alaska, a small town near Fairbanks with a Santa Claus theme, which appears in many online listings.
from $298 
from $173 Longyearbyen: Arctic wildlife scouting by van
Look for reindeer, foxes and seabirds along the fjord with a local guide while you wait to embark.
from $204 Svalbard: northern lights photography tour
For dark-season visits only — not possible during the summer voyage season, when the sun never sets.
from $187 Longyearbyen: Global Seed Vault and landmarks tour
A short orientation drive to the Seed Vault entrance and the town’s viewpoints, easy to fit in on embarkation day.
Prices are indicative “from” prices in US dollars and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide when we last checked; both change often.
GetYourGuide
Live availability in Svalbard, the gateway
Real-time tours and tickets from GetYourGuide for North Pole and its gateways.
Booking tips
- Ask any operator three questions: which ship or aircraft, which departure port, and what refund applies if the Pole is not reached.
- Compare what is included — charter flights to the port, helicopter time, parka, kayaking — as extras differ widely.
- Buy insurance with emergency evacuation cover of several hundred thousand dollars; operators require proof.
- Arrive in Longyearbyen two nights early. Lost luggage cannot follow you on to the ice.
- Keep gateway tours flexible and refundable in case sailing times change.
Destinations
Combine it with
Norway & Svalbard Svalbard
Norway’s high-Arctic archipelago, halfway between the mainland and the North Pole: glaciers, polar bears, walrus and the world’s northernmost town.
The Pole & Russia Russian Arctic
Half of the Arctic Ocean’s coastline, from Murmansk to Wrangel Island — described here for understanding, not as a recommendation: most Western governments currently advise against travel to Russia.
Iceland & Greenland East Greenland
The empty side of Greenland: Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system on Earth, and the mountain-ringed settlements of Tasiilaq and Kulusuk — expedition country.
Plan your trip
Book tours in Svalbard, the North Pole gateway
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.