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Capture the photography
you've been waiting for

Polar wildlife expeditions to Svalbard, Canada, South Georgia and more.
Small groups · Expert photography guides · Limited Spots

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Most wildlife trips aren't built for
photographers

If you're traveling this far for iconic images, you don't need a "nice itinerary." You need time on subject, flexibility, and a team that can adapt to ice, weather, and wildlife movement in real time.

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Common problems with regular tourist trips:

  • Too many guests → too little time in the best moments
  • Fixed plans → wildlife becomes "luck," not strategy
  • Generic guiding → missed positioning, angles, and opportunities

Photography-first
expeditions

Exclusive

Intimate Arctic expeditions and photo tours. Small group: 6-15 photographers

Knowledgeable

Arctic specialists and experienced photographers

Responsible

Safe approach to vulnerable wildlife and nature

Flexible

For the optimal experience of your destination

Walking with Polar Bears - Arctic Wildlife Tours

Pack Ice, Polar Bears & Beyond - The Ultimate Wildlife Tour

This is not an ordinary trip. It's a photography expedition - and the difference shows in the images you bring home. Whether it's a polar bear on the ice, a king penguin colony at dawn, or a narwhal at the floe edge, we locate the subject and stay as long as the encounter allows.

Choose your expedition:

Svalbard - Polar bears on pack ice, walrus haul-outs, arctic fox and millions of seabirds in the High Arctic light.
Canada - Polar bears at the floe edge, narwhal, beluga and the raw wilderness of the Canadian Arctic.
South Georgia - King penguin colonies of over 150,000 birds, elephant seals, albatross and dramatic subantarctic mountains.

 

Upcoming Expeditions

Expedition pricing:

  • Svalbard: EUR 9 250 – 12 000
  • South Georgia: USD 14 795 – 25 900
  • Canada: Price on request
svalbard photography expeditions
Svalbard

Polar Bear adventures in the pack

30. Aug 2026 - 09. Sep 2026
The Adventure of Navigating the Pack Ice. The pack ice can be likened to a nameless continent, composed entirely of drifting ice and teeming with wildlife. It stretches across vast expanses of the ocean, with the ice moving according to ocean currents, tides, and winds. Navigating these icy areas requires patience, but the rewards are great when wildlife is spotted. Especially will this be a Polar Bear Adventure. Some of the expedition will be dedicated to exploring the Islands of Svalbard. In late August and early September, the light in this region becomes more colorful. Sunsets and sunrises return after the long, sunlit summer, transforming the landscape with vibrant hues.
Spots available SOLD OUT
Season Autum season, Main season
Duration 10 nights/11 days
polar bear family in fron of glacier
Svalbard

Autumn Svalbard Adventure

10. Sep 2026 - 18. Sep 2026
We are embarking on an Autumn light and pack ice adventure designed to immerse participants in the spectacular autumn light and, potentially, the first new snow of the season on the mountains. This Svalbard Autumn Adventure includes a trip to the pack ice, including a traditional journey through the stunning Svalbard archipelago. We have the opportunity to encounter the unique wildlife of Svalbard and cruise by zodiac boats, allowing us to get close to the glaciers. Svalbard is renowned as the true realm of polar bears, walruses, bearded seals, Arctic foxes, and a diverse array of other Arctic wildlife.
Spots available 1 SPOT AVAILABLE
Season Autum season
Duration 8 nights / 9 days
autumn svalbard glaciers
Svalbard

Late Autumn Svalbard Adventure

18. Sep 2026 - 28. Sep 2026
We are embarking on an late Autumn light and pack ice adventure designed to immerse participants in the spectacular autumn light and, potentially, the first new snow of the season on the mountains. This Svalbard Autumn Adventure includes a trip to the pack ice, including a traditional journey through the stunning Svalbard archipelago. We have the opportunity to encounter the unique wildlife of Svalbard and cruise by zodiac boats, allowing us to get close to the glaciers. Svalbard is renowned as the true realm of polar bears, walruses, bearded seals, Arctic foxes, and a diverse array of other Arctic wildlife.
Spots available 2 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Season Autum season
Duration 10 nights / 11 days
svalbard winter landscapes
New!
Svalbard

Svalbard winter photography

26. Mar 2027 - 03. Apr 2027
Svalbard winter photography expedition offers some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable. The dramatic landscape, composed of towering mountains, deep fjords, sweeping valleys, and the vast expanse of the Arctic Ocean, makes this region an extraordinary destination for exploration and photography. At this time of year, the landscapes themselves are the primary focus, though wildlife is never far from sight. The dramatic setting is enhanced by the presence of polar bears, which can often be seen traversing the scenic terrain or drifting across ice floes. These encounters provide breathtaking photographic opportunities in the heart of the Arctic wilderness.
Spots available 6 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Season Early Season, Winter season
Duration 8 days
mg 7212
New!
Svalbard

Arctic Winter Photography by Snowmobile

17. Apr 2027 - 21. Apr 2027
An Arctic winter photography expedition by snowmobile on Svalbard offers a rare opportunity to experience the High Arctic at its most beautiful and stunning time of the year. Expedition Focus will be to search for and photograph Arctic wildlife in its natural winter environment. We will travel by snowmobile through stark, frozen landscapes shaped by snow, ice, and polar light. We will experience the atmosphere of the true Arctic, with cold days and nights. Our base will be a winter camp, where heated tents provide shelter after long days in the field. Reindeer hides, warm sleeping bags, and stove-heated tents will make resting time comfortable despite the Arctic conditions. These elements make the expedition both a memorable adventure and a powerful photographic experience.
Spots available 4 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Season Early Season, Winter season
Duration 4 nights / 5 days
svalbard winter landscapes
New!
Svalbard

Early Pack Ice photography expedition

17. May 2027 - 25. May 2027
Early Pack Ice expedition Svalbard will take you into heavy drift ice which is covering vast areas of the Arctic ocean in May. We will take you to the sothern parts of the Svalbard archipelago and into the pack ice soth of Norteast land on this expedition. Still we will see some of the colors from sunsets and sunrises. Even though the nights can remain very cold, it is possible to observe wildlife resting and hunting in the pack ice and on the ice-covered fjords. In this bright, winter-like environment, participants can enjoy remarkable wildlife encounters in truly picturesque, icy conditions by joining our Spring Pack Ice expedition. In the pack ice we are outside the Svalbard territorial borders and Polar Bears can be photographed if they approach our ship.
Spots available SPOTS AVAILABLE
Season Early Season, Winter season
Duration 8 nights / 9 days

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Small ship.
Serious time on wildlife.

Arctic expeditions - What to Pack for an Arctic Wildlife Expedition - Boat Trip
  • Strategic positioning: we go where wildlife is most "at home" for each season and destination - whether that's the pack ice of Svalbard and Canada, or the beaches and colonies of South Georgia
  • Flexible days: long waits for extraordinary moments are part of the game - and we plan for it
  • Safety-first operation so you can focus on photography

Meet your expert guides

Photographs taken by our guests

_W5D7909

Erik Solberg

Wildlife photographer · Oslo, Norway · 2nd Arctic expedition

Camera
Sony A1
Lens
200-600mm
Day
Day 3 of 8

"I have been trying to make that image for eight years. On day three, I finally had it."

Outcome: The defining frame

Arctic Expedition Packing Guide- What to Bring on Your Journey

Claire Whitmore

Semi-professional photographer · Edinburgh, Scotland · 1st Arctic expedition

Camera
Canon R5
Lens
100-500mm
Day
Day 5 of 8

"I came back with images that changed what I thought was possible for me as a photographer."

Outcome: Portfolio that opened doors

polar-bear-photography-svalbard-glaciers-min

Thomas Brandt

Wildlife photographer · Hamburg, Germany · 3nd Arctic expedition

Camera
Nikon Z9
Lens
500mm PF
Day
Day 6 of 8

"On a normal expedition you get eight minutes with a bear and someone decides it's time to move on. We had three hours."

Outcome: A complete series, not a single frame

Limited spots

Availability changes fast - several departures show only 1-2 spots left

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Practical information

What's included?

The Svalbard Islands are located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Here, you will find untouched arctic wilderness and unique wildlife in a setting that is both rugged and fragile at the same time.

In addition to a few thousand polar bears, the islands are home to almost 3,000 human inhabitants, over 2,000 of which live in Longyearbyen, the administrative centre and largest settlement of the islands. This small and colourful community has gone from a typical village town to a modern community with different kinds of businesses and industries, and with a surprisingly wide range of cultural activities and opportunities, such as concerts, shows, festivals and exhibitions.

"Svalbard" means "cold coasts" and was first mentioned in Icelandic texts in the 12th century. However, the archipelago has a relatively mild climate compared to other areas at the same latitude. In Longyearbyen, the average temperature ranges from -14°C in winter to 6°C in summer. The lowest temperatures in winter can reach -30°C and in summer nearly 20°C.

The trip will be flexible. Photographic opportunities are the most important issue but for those that only come for experiencing the wildlife and Svalbard nature this is a nice opportunity. During this photo and wildlife expedition we will eat when we have time and photograph when the light is the best, and when we have the good situations.

Svalbard is situated at 78-79 degrees north and you are in the High Arctic when you arrive there. The weather is constantly changing at these latitudes. Please study the information about clothing and travels to Svalbard. During our expedition you can expect to se wildlife as Polar Bears, Walruses, Seals, Whales, Arctic Foxes, Svalbard Reindeer and a variety of bird species that is common in these Arctic regions. Sometimes we do long transport legs of sailing and sometimes we stay in one spot experiencing and photographing the nature and wildlife.

Our safety will have top priority during the entire photo expedition and security will be provided by the Svalbard expedition leaders, guides and the crew. We adhere to all applicable safety regulations, especially with regards to polar bears.

This also pertains to use of the Zodiac boats (inflatable's) in close proximity to icebergs and glacial edges where there may be elements of risk which are not apparent. The safer we feel, the easier it will be for all participants to concentrate on nature and photographic opportunities. The expeditions and the ships we use have all SAR insurances in case of emergency rescue situations.

We shall not during this wildlife expedition contribute to existing negative impressions of nature photographers and travellers who visit Svalbard.

We will therefore be scheduling longer stops than usual when going ashore in order to provide participants with ample time needed to get excellent pictures without exposing the wildlife to unnecessary stress. Our strategy will be to await situations with wildlife and let the wildlife come to us and not opposite by chasing it. Often this gives us real interesting photographic opportunities and great wildlife experiences in the fragile refuges of the High Arctic Svalbard areas.

We will use 2 Zodiacs when we cruise the Arctic waters of Svalbard searching for wildlife or going ashore for hiking. This will give all photographers great flexibility when taking pictures.

The boats will be used to get closer to photo subjects or having different angels to the subjects we will photograph. Getting closer also means greater wildlife experinces. It is a good idea to bring rubber boots due to certain wet conditions when exploring ashore. We will use life wests whilst in the zodiacs during normal summer expeditions by ships. If needed, extra clothing can be provided by the crew onboard the ship. Zodiac cruises can last from one hour to several hours depending on what we se of interest. Please ask the guides or crew about what clothing you need during the cruises.

Svalbard wildlife is restlessly moving around most of the time. During summer the lighting is good, also during night, because of midnight sun. A wildlife photographic expedition like this gives us some challenges about the photographic techniques.

The ship's engine and movements in the sea may present problems when photographing polar bears, etc. A monopod, IS (VR) lenses or handheld photography may present a solution. This problem is minimal under lighting conditions that allow a min. 1/1600 sec shutter speed even with a 600mm lens mounted on a tripod. It is advisable to bring a laptop in order to transfer and review pictures as quickly as possible. You can easily surpass 10,000+ exposures during your expedition to Svalbard, so an external hard drive or lots of available space on your computer's drive is the best way to go. There are 220V outlets in the ship for charging batteries, etc. There may be ocean fog and poor lighting conditions on Svalbard so fast optics are a definite advantage.

Because of sudden interesting wildlife viewings during the Svalbard wildlife expedition we will adapt the meals to this.

Normally times for meals will be:
Breakfest 0730-0900
Lunch 1200-1300
Dinner 1930-2030

The time for the meals can be changed according to ongoing activity and interesting wildlife or other happenings in the field.

  • Guides and travel leaders
  • Accomodation onboard the ship
  • Coffe and tea will be available and for free
  • Zodiac excursions

NB! Only for sail yacht Arctica II
All drinks like sodas, wine and beer is also included in the price

  • Overnight accommodation prior to and after the trip aboard the ship
  • Personal expenses related to mineral water, alcohol and souvenirs aboard the ship
  • Travel insurance and cancellation insurance
  • Airport transfers to/from Svalbard and Longyearbyen
  • Zodas, beer and liquor (except for tours onboard the yacht Arctica II)

Each destination has its own point of embarkation, and travel arrangements vary accordingly.

  • Svalbard: Fly into Longyearbyen (via Oslo or Tromsø). We recommend arriving at least one day before departure to allow for acclimatization and unforeseen flight delays.
  • South Georgia: Fly into Punta Arenas, Chile. Expeditions depart directly from Punta Arenas by ship - no separate flight to the Falklands is required for this route.
  • Canada: Fly into the designated gateway community (e.g. Resolute Bay, Pond Inlet, or Churchill, depending on the expedition). Charter or connecting flights from southern Canada are typically required and will be confirmed closer to departure.

International flights, and in most cases domestic connecting flights, are not included in the tour price. We're happy to advise on routing when you book.
Passport and visa requirements depend on your nationality and the destination:

  • Svalbard: No visa is required to visit, but you must pass through mainland Norway, so a valid passport (and Schengen visa if applicable) is needed for that leg of the journey.
  • South Georgia: You'll transit through Chile (Punta Arenas). Check Chilean entry requirements for your nationality. South Georgia itself requires an entry permit, which we arrange as part of the expedition.
  • Canada: A valid passport is required, and depending on your nationality you may need a Canadian eTA or visa. Please check requirements well in advance.

We recommend checking your passport's validity (many destinations require 6 months' validity beyond your travel dates) and consulting the relevant embassy or consulate if in doubt.

"I came home with 3 publishable images"

"Looking forward to my second tour in 2026 with better photo equipment! Can't wait ?! A very professional and knowledgeable team of nature loving and passionate photographers who will be happy to share their world with you! You can trust this company a 100%."

- Happy customer

Limited spots.
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