Alkefjellet Cliff
Seabird cliff hosting huge guillemot colonies
On Svalbard's northwest coast, Alkefjellet is a steep seabird cliff where thousands of guillemots and other seabirds nest; visitors arrive by boat from Svalbard cruises to watch colonies on the rock face.
Alkefjellet at a Glance#
Address: Alkefjellet, Svalbard (Kong Karls Land region), Norway
Website: https://svalbardposten.no/ (tourism resources)
Hours: Accessible by boat in summer months only (ice and weather dependent)
Admission: Cruise fees apply for vessels; land visits limited (no formal visitor facilities)
About Alkefjellet#
Alkefjellet is a steep coastal cliff in the Svalbard archipelago renowned for dense breeding colonies of seabirds, especially Brünnich’s guillemots.
The cliff supports thousands of nesting birds in the Arctic summer and is a frequent wildlife viewing stop for polar expedition vessels operating in Svalbard waters.
The site is a natural seabird colony rather than a developed tourist facility and is primarily experienced from boats or nearby sea-level approaches.
Alkefjellet lies within the Svalbard archipelago in Arctic Norway, well north of the Arctic Circle.
- Viewing: Best viewed from small-boat or expedition cruises in summer when large numbers of seabirds nest on the cliff face, producing dense colonies of guillemots and other species.
How to Get to Alkefjellet#
Alkefjellet is offshore Svalbard and reachable only by sea during the Arctic summer when sea ice retreats. Access is organized through licensed expedition operators based in Longyearbyen; private vessels must follow Norwegian environmental regulations and maintain a wide exclusion distance.
Tips for Visiting Alkefjellet#
- Boat trips are the standard way to view the cliffs - arrange with licensed Svalbard boat operators who know protected-area rules.
- Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens: Alkefjellet's seabirds are best seen from a respectful distance.
- Dress for Arctic wind; even in summer, spray and gusts off the Barents Sea bite.
Best Time to Visit Alkefjellet#
The only realistic time to visit Alkefjellet is the brief Arctic summer when sea ice retreats; trips are weather- and ice-dependent and usually part of organized Svalbard cruises.
Weather & Climate near Alkefjellet#
Polar climate with cold summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -21°C to 3°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -20° - -13° | -26° | 30 mm | - | 97% | 6.5 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.0h |
| February | Poor | -21° - -13° | -27° | 32 mm | partly cloudy | 97% | 5.5 m/s | 0.0 low | 1.0h |
| March | Poor | -20° - -13° | -26° | 30 mm | overcast | 98% | 6.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 10.7h |
| April | Poor | -17° - -11° | -23° | 21 mm | partly cloudy | 95% | 5.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 20.9h |
| May | Poor | -9° - -5° | -13° | 12 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 24.0h |
| June | Poor | -3° - 0° | -7° | 13 mm | overcast | 92% | 5.3 m/s | 1.1 high | 24.0h |
| July | Poor | 0° - 3° | -4° | 19 mm | overcast | 94% | 5.6 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 24.0h |
| August | Poor | 0° - 2° | -4° | 24 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.1 m/s | 0.5 low | 23.4h |
| September | Poor | -3° - -1° | -8° | 24 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.5 m/s | 0.1 low | 14.2h |
| October | Poor | -10° - -5° | -15° | 20 mm | overcast | 93% | 6.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 4.1h |
| November | - | -15° - -9° | -21° | 27 mm | - | 95% | 6.6 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.0h |
| December | - | -18° - -12° | -25° | 28 mm | - | 96% | 6.3 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.0h |