An Arctic national park of walrus haul-outs, seabird cliffs and tundra. Your expedition team confirms whether shore access is possible under the current access rules, weather and wildlife conditions.
⚓ Landing only if permitted — confirm expedition arrangements🕒 Typical call: 4–6 hrs💵 Norwegian Krone (NOK)🗣️ Norwegian🛳 National-park marine areas: maximum 200 passengers aboard
Docking
Expedition landing only if conditions and permitted access allow; confirm the actual shore point with your ship
Walk to centre
No town; shore routes and distances are set by your guides for the actual landing and wildlife conditions
Poolepynten shore-area orientation only, not a landing point or navigation chart. Your expedition team confirms whether and where a landing is possible; weather, wildlife and current access restrictions can change plans. Stay with your guides within the safety area they set, never wander off alone, keep well clear of walruses and never block their route to the sea.
Going Ashore at Forlandet Island
1
Zodiac boardingYour ship's expedition team will brief passengers before landing. Board the Zodiac from a platform or gangway on the ship's side, wearing your rubber boots and waterproofs.
2
Wet landingYour team confirms the shore point, access and landing method. Wet landings may involve icy water and uneven gravel; wear the boots and waterproofs your expedition team specifies and confirm any loan equipment before packing.
3
Stay within the safety perimeterStay with your guides, within the safety area they set. Never wander off or approach a polar bear; follow the team’s wildlife-distance and retreat instructions.
4
Return to shipConfirm the actual pickup point and return time with your team. Conditions and access can change rapidly; do not assume pickup will be from the same beach.
💡 Pro move: Tourist shore visits must follow the current permitted-area and knowledgeable-guide rules. The official Poolepynten landing map marks a green area; this orientation map does not reproduce the legal access boundary. Ships in national-park marine areas may carry no more than 200 passengers aboard. The 39-person/one-guide-per-12 rules apply to blue-marked sites, not all permitted sites.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
Forlandet Island has no port infrastructure — all cruise visits use Zodiac landings on natural beaches.
Typical cruise-line arrival arrangements; confirm your ship’s assignment.
Poolepynten shore area is a geographic reference, not an assigned landing; confirm permitted site and access with your expedition team📍
Tendered
Large mainstream cruise ships
National-park marine-area rule: maximum 200 passengers aboard, not a vessel-category guarantee of landing access📍
Tendered
Top Excursions
All activities are led by your ship's expedition team and included in your cruise — there are no independently bookable shore tours on this uninhabited island.
Wildlife
Poolepynten Walrus Colony
Poolepynten is a headland and walrus haul-out area on Prins Karls Forland. Your guide determines whether observation and shore access are possible; keep well back, never obstruct the animals’ route to the sea and retreat at signs of disturbance.
⏱ 1–2 hrs🚶 Easy (flat beach)📷 World-class wildlife photo op
The island's northernmost point is a towering seabird colony with thousands of Brünnich's guillemots, kittiwakes, and glaucous gulls. It was here that Willem Barentsz sighted and named the cape 'Vogelhoek' (Bird Hook) on 28 June 1596 for its vast bird colonies, during the expedition that discovered Svalbard.
Your expedition team may arrange scenic Zodiac cruising when conditions and access rules allow. Operators must observe the walrus-haul-out marine rules: a 150 m motor-traffic stand-off, with limited necessary-access exceptions, and a maximum 5 knots within 300 m. Follow the team’s permitted arrangements.
Take part only if your expedition operator offers and clears the activity under its medical and safety briefing. Near-freezing water carries serious cold-water risks; follow the team’s conditions and instructions.
The coastline is dotted with 17th-century whaling station ruins and preserved trapper cabins from the era of Norwegian Arctic hunters. Expedition guides provide historical context on this gritty chapter of Svalbard's past.
⏱ Included in most landings📜 400 years of Arctic history🏚 Photogenic ruins
All walking is on open tundra, gravel beach, and shingle — no marked trails, always guided due to polar bear risk.
Poolepynten Beach Walk
Guided shore walk only when permitted; route and distance depend on the actual landing and wildlife
Follow the route set by your guides within the permitted shore area. Keep clear of hauled-out walruses and their sea-escape route, stay with the group and follow wildlife-distance, disturbance and return instructions.
Fuglehuken Tundra Walk
~2–3 km | Moderate | Tundra and rocky ground
A guided hike across open Arctic tundra to the bird cliffs and historic Barentsz cape at the island's northern tip. Terrain is uneven — boggy in places, rocky near the cliffs. Not suitable for passengers with mobility limitations.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Climate normals for Forlandet Island, Svalbard, Norway (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
22°F / -6°C
15°F / -9°C
12
–
–
Feb
21°F / -6°C
14°F / -10°C
13
–
–
Mar
18°F / -8°C
11°F / -12°C
14
6:38 AM
5:54 PM
Apr
23°F / -5°C
16°F / -9°C
11
–
–
May
30°F / -1°C
26°F / -3°C
10
–
–
Jun
38°F / 3°C
35°F / 2°C
6
–
–
Jul
46°F / 8°C
41°F / 5°C
10
–
–
Aug
44°F / 7°C
40°F / 4°C
10
–
–
Sep
38°F / 3°C
34°F / 1°C
14
5:47 AM
8:09 PM
Oct
31°F / -1°C
25°F / -4°C
12
9:37 AM
4:03 PM
Nov
26°F / -3°C
19°F / -7°C
13
–
–
Dec
23°F / -5°C
14°F / -10°C
12
–
–
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Insider Tips
👢
Prepare for a possible wet landing. Wear the boots and waterproofs specified by your expedition team; confirm loan equipment before embarkation.
🐻❄️
Never wander from your guide. Stay inside the safety area set by your expedition team. Never approach polar bears; follow the guides’ wildlife-distance and retreat instructions.
🧥
Layer up even in summer. Arctic wind off the Grampianfjella peaks cuts through quickly. Thermal base layers + fleece + windproof waterproof outer jacket. Add hat and gloves — the Zodiac ride amplifies the cold.
📷
Protect your camera. Sea spray on the Zodiac is inevitable. Pack your gear in a dry bag or waterproof backpack. A telephoto lens (200mm+) lets you photograph walruses and birds from a respectful distance.
🍽
Follow the team’s food and equipment briefing. Eat before setting out and confirm what food, water and bags may be carried ashore. Never leave food or litter or attract wildlife.
🚢
Check the expedition’s permitted programme. The national-park marine rule limits ships to 200 passengers aboard; it does not guarantee a landing or establish an expedition-vessel category. Access, weather and wildlife can change the plan.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
🚗 Ride-share: ❌ Not available — use taxisNo roads exist on Forlandet Island. Rideshare services do not operate anywhere in Svalbard outside of Longyearbyen.🚍 Hop-on hop-off: ❌ No HOHO bus
🚤 Zodiac / Tender
Confirm with your expedition operator
Your expedition team arranges the permitted landing method, actual shore point and return. Weather, wildlife and access restrictions may prevent a landing.
🦭 Guided Shore Excursion
Confirm your booked expedition arrangements
Stay with knowledgeable guides on the permitted shore area and follow their safety, wildlife-distance and return instructions. Independent roaming is not an alternative to a guided landing.
🔭 Scenic Cruising / Deck Observation
Included
Wildlife (polar bears, walrus, Arctic foxes, seabirds) is often viewed from the ship deck as it transits Forlandsundet. No landing required.
🚫 Independent Transport
N/A
No taxis, buses, rental vehicles, or rideshare services exist on the island. The entire island is a protected national park with no permanent inhabitants.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Forlandet Island, Svalbard, Norway. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Hanseatic Nature
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Hamburg → flight
⚓ Calls 18 Jun 202715 nights18 portsDeparts 2027 Jun 07
View itinerary · 18 ports
15 days, one-way from Hamburg to Longyearbyen
07 Jun - 18:00Departing from Hamburg, Germany
09 JunNorwegian fjords cruising
09 Jun 10:00 - 18:00Bergen, Norway
10 JunNorwegian fjords cruising
10 Jun 07:00 - 13:00Maloy, Vagsoy Island Norway
11 Jun 07:00 - 14:00Geiranger, Norway
12 JunTorget island Norway, Torghatten
13 Jun 12:00 - 19:00Svolvaer, Austvagoya Island Lofoten Norway
14 Jun 08:00 - 18:00Tromso, Norway
15 JunNordkapp-North Cape, Mageroya Island Norway
15 Jun 12:00 - 19:00Honningsvag, Mageroya Island Norway
17 Juncoastal cruising
17 JunSpitsbergen Island, Svalbard Norway
18 JunForlandet Island, Svalbard Norway
19 JunNy-Alesund, Spitsbergen, Arctic Norway
20 Jun - 21 JunSpitsbergen Island, Svalbard Norway
22 JunArriving in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Norway
No upcoming cruises in our current list — check the full list for the latest itineraries.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
