Svalbard wildlife
photography expedition

September 02 - 12 2022

SVALBARD WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION SEPTEMBER 2022 OVERVIEW

SVALBARD AUTUMN LIGHT EXPEDITION

Late autumn is good for landscape shots when it comes to colors and light so we will have a main focus on doing an Svalbard wildlife photography expedition as well as spending some time on landscape photography. During this expedition we will have the opportunity to see and photograph wildlife like Polar Bears, Walruses, Whales, Ivory Gulls, Bearded Seals, Harbor Seals Arctic Foxes and the Northern Fulmar.

This is an expedition for nature photographers who are passionate about photographing in magical light conditions and who want the possibility to get the best out of each unique moment on this tour.

To enhance the chances for better photographs we will schedule longer shore stops than usual in order to provide participants with enough time for photography. We will use two zodiac boats to go ashore or when searching for wildlife at sea or in the drift ice.

Wondering what to expect? Please get in touch for more information and to talk about what you can expect. Also, you can read about some of our previous trips on our Be Inspired pages.

 

Dates: September 02 - 12 2022
Duration: 10 nights
Embark: Longyearbyen, Sept 02 16:00
Disembark: Longyearbyen, Sept 12 09:00

Superior cabin, private facilities,0 spots available
NOK 77 500,- pr. pax

Double cabins, private facilities, 0 spots available (Male)
NOK 69 500,- pr. pax

Single cabin, shared facilities, 0 spots available
NOK 72 500,- pr. pax

Available spots might not be updated at all times. Please ask for update on how many cabins that still are available and which type of cabins by sending us an inquiry. The cabins are double shared cabins, in case you need a single cabin, please ask us.

Ship: MS Malmö

Practical information

WHY WE PREFER SVALBARD

Dramatic landscapes
The landscapes are still lit by a low sun and some mountain tops will be colored from the redish late evening light, mountains are still covered with snow and the glaziers are still frozen in the grip of the winter.

Polar Bear viewings
After our opinion this is the best place in the world to find and experience Polar Bears. Its truly something unique to nature enthusiasts and modern explorers.

Other wildlife
Polar Bears of course, Walruses resting on ice or on land, Minky Whales playing around the ship, Bearded Seals and already some birdlife; there is an unbelievable amount of wildlife to encounter during an adventure around Svalbard.

SVALBARD AND THE SEASONS

Often referred to by the name of its largest island, Spitsbergen, Svalbard forms part of Norway and, with just 2000 inhabitants, has a very small population. Compared to this the Svalbard population of Polar Bears is 3000 animals. The main cause of this is the harsh weather conditions - in the winter months, thick ice and snow carpets the archipelago. Spitsbergen were discovered by explorer Willem Barentzs in 1596, whilst finding a route to the Far East.

The best time to see polar bears in Svalbard is usually in the summer months, as the ice encompassing the archipelago melts enough for us to navigate the icy waters. At this time, the midnight sun reigns over the dramatic landscapes, casting an ever-glowing, ambient light on the surroundings. In autumn, when the midnight sun is replaced by some fascinating sunsets, the red colors from the sunlight shining through the atmosphere bring back some stunning light situations throughout the Svalbard nature before the polar night covers everything in darkness.

Estimated travel route during this photo tour

Itinerary

This photo tour and itinerary will be planned in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. In September the ice have retreated a lot. More and more open waters will be accessible. Normally at this time we sail towards the north-east. Sometimes we will try to reach Kvitøya, situated Far East and search for wildlife in the drift ice far north.

Day 0 We always recommend to arrive Longyearbyen at least one day and night in advance.

Day 1 Departure from Longyearbyen through Isfjorden. Heading north or south, depending on the drift ice situation, into the drifting ice. We also search for wildlife and landscapes in the fjords.

Day 1-10 We set course for the areas where we know we will meet the drift ice. No matter if we sail north or south this will be the focus. Some of the fjords and islands will be interesting to visit and we will search systematically for wildlife wherever we go. Our goal will be to visit some of the northernmost and far east islands in Svalbard like Kvitøya and Storøya. This will be possible only in September because of less ice.

The route is just a estimate for where we can sail. This can, and probably will, be changed as we know this from our earlier expeditions.

Day 11 Leaving the ship after breakfast and prepare the travel home.

Booking Information

Booking Inquiry for Svalbard photo expedition

Registration: You register by sending in the booking forms we send you upon your request. This inquiry is not a binding booking.

After sending us an inquiry we will send you the booking forms by email. Send in the completed reservation/booking after receiving them. We will inform you about deposit payments and payment method as soon as you inquire with us. Payments can be done either by wire transfer or credit card payments. Receiving your booking form and a deposit payment will be a confirmed booking.

Booking Inquiry

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READ SOME OF THE BLOGS FROM THE SVALBARD TOURS

Blog posts about Svalbard

stefano unterthiner

National Geographic photographer Stefano Unterthiner

24. January 2023

Stefano Unterthiner join us regularly for doing workshops we now have named Masterclass onboard. Stefano recently gave out his book about climate changes on Svalbard. Growing up in the mountains of Northwest Italy, Stefano Unterthiner…

Read more
svalbard photography opportunities

The return of the Walrus on Svalbard

26. December 2022

The Walrus is one of the species we see more and more in Svalbard. The populations are growing after being almost exterminated back in the 1960`s. The story about the return of the Walrus on Svalbard…

Read more
arctic photography expeditions

Photographer Ömer Acar on photographing polar bears and swimming in polar water

8. November 2022

With a love for spending time in nature, and wanting to photograph wildlife in the arctic circles, Ömer Acar booked a trip to exotic Svalbard through Arctic Wildlife Tours AS.

Read more