Find trip

Svalbard New Visitation Guidelines 2025

Starting July 2025, Svalbard will introduce a new set of regulations for cruising in the archipelago, aimed at further preserving and protecting this pristine Arctic environment and its unique wildlife. This new set of regulations will introduce stricter protections for polar bears, fragile ecosystems and the the Arctic tundra itself, reflecting growing concern over human impact in the Arctic region. These changes are designed to reduce disturbance, improve safety, and preserve one of the region’s most iconic species as climate and tourism pressures increase.

Whether you’re visiting Svalbard for the first time or returning for another Arctic adventure, it’s important to understand how these rules will shape your experience. At Aurora Expeditions, we fully support these measures and are updating our operations to align with the latest conservation standards. Below, we’ve outlined the key changes and what they mean for your journey—so you can explore responsibly, safely, and with confidence.

Protecting Polar Bears

From July 2025, new regulations will apply to all tour operators in Svalbard, including Aurora, to strengthen protections for polar bears and their environment. All visitors must keep a minimum distance from polar bears, and it is strictly prohibited to approach, follow, lure, or disturb them in any way. 

The minimum distance is 300 metres (from July 1 to February 28) and 500 metres (from March 1 to June 30).

Our expedition team will follow these rules carefully while still offering the best possible opportunities to view polar bears safely and respectfully. You will also have the chance to learn more about them through engaging onboard lectures and expert-led briefings.

Reduced Passenger Limits

To help reduce the overall footprint of Arctic tourism, only vessels carrying 200 or fewer passengers are permitted to land in Svalbard’s protected areas.

We’ve long supported this approach by operating small ships with a maximum of 130 guests. This ensures not only compliance but also a more personal, intimate and flexible expedition experience, with more time ashore and better access to wilderness areas.

Restricted Landing Areas

Svalbard has introduced tighter controls on where landings are allowed, limiting access to 43 designated sites across the region. To reduce environmental impact, some locations now cap group sizes at a maximum of 39 people ashore at any one time.

We plan our operations carefully around these regulations to ensure you have enriching, low-impact shore excursions. Our team will guide you through these approved areas while helping preserve their natural integrity.

Safe Viewing of Walrus Haul-outs

Viewing a large group of walrus is an unforgettable part of any Arctic journey. Observing them undisturbed in their natural environment is a powerful experience, and it’s one we aim to protect.

All ships and Zodiacs must maintain a minimum distance of 150 meters from walrus haul-out sites at all times. In addition, all vessels must reduce speed to no more than 5 knots when within 300 meters of these areas. These measures help reduce stress on the animals, particularly during rest periods.



Respecting Bird Cliffs

In order to limit disturbance of bird cliffs while seabirds are nesting, these regulations limit the speed at which we can cruise past these incredible nesting locations. Motor traffic at sea must be kept at a maximum of 5 knots speed at a distance of 500 metres from land outside bird cliffs from April 1 to August 31. This ensures that nesting seabirds have ample protection to breed, nest and secure their populations. Despite this change, the abundance of birdlife in the Arctic means that there should be no fewer opportunities to see Arctic birds in their natural environment. 

Navigating Fast Ice

Breaking fast ice will be forbidden, with exceptions for shipping routes to Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Ålesund. This ensures the protection of habitat and routes that wildlife use to move, hunt and rest, as well as improving the overall safety of maritime navigation for all operators in the area. 

Use of Drones

The new regulations in Svalbard have introduced stricter controls on drone usage to protect the region’s delicate wildlife and ecosystems. Drone flights are now prohibited in all protected areas, including national parks and nature reserves. Additionally, between April 1 and August 31, drones must not be flown within 500 meters of bird cliffs to prevent disturbances during critical nesting periods.  

Passengers are not permitted to use drones during their journey, but our expedition team may operate drones for professional purposes, strictly adhering to the new regulations and AECO guidelines.  This ensures that we minimize our impact on the environment while still capturing the essence of Svalbard’s unique landscapes and wildlife. 


Adhering to AECO Guidelines

As one of the first operators to become an AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) member, Aurora Expeditions is committed to responsible and respectful travel to the Arctic. As part of this commitment, we proudly adhere to AECO’s biosecurity guidelines. These guidelines outline how best to protect and respect the Arctic. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the New Svalbard Visitation Guidelines