Early season expedition

Early Svalbard season expedition May 01 - 09 2024

Early svalbard seson expedition

Welcome to one of our Svalbard tours in early Svalbard season. The spring season is a truly unique month, when the sky is bright yet the landscape remains covered in snow and ice. Svalbard changes rapidly at this time of the year. The drift ice and fjord ice melts, forcing the wildlife to follow. We will also meet flocks of birds migrating northwards.

By May there is already constant light from the midnight sun. The light will be harsh if the sky is clear in the daytime, but the sun is lower in the sky during the night. Clouds will lower the impact from the sunlight and create different patterns and possibilities for pictures. Nights can still be very cold and it’s possible to see wildlife resting and hunting on the ice-covered fjords.

In this bright winter-like environment, you can experience wildlife encounters in picture-perfect icy conditions by joining our Svalbard photo expedition. Our wildlife expeditions are the ultimate in polar exploration at any time of year, but in May the light conditions combined with snow and ice covered landscapes create some iconic photo opportunities.

Nature in the High Arctic constantly changes. On Svalbard, every day is different, and every year is different. The Norwegian-owned company Arctic Wildlife Tours leads this Svalbard tour, a remote area we know and love. That’s important, because this is a land where your guides must know how to handle the constantly-changing weather conditions, drift ice, and wildlife on the move 24 hours a day.

The expedition ship MS Virgo is a ship well-suited to polar explorations. It is recently refurbished and holds a high standard. Double and single cabins with private facilities and a big launch with a view through large windows. Our Norwegian and Swedish guides that will lead the trip together with experienced crew members all speak excellent English and have long experience hiking and exploring Svalbard.

Wondering what to expect? Please get in touch for more information and to talk about what you can expect.

Details

Dates: 01. May 2024 - 09. May 2024

Duration: 8 nights/9 days

Price: EUR 9 250,-

Available: SOLD OUT

Embark the ship: Longyearbyen, May 01 16:00

Disembark the ship: Longyearbyen, May 09 09:00

Suit for two people, private facilities, 2 spots available(one cabin)
EUR 9 250 pr. pax

Single cabins, private facilities, 3 spots available
EUR 9 250 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.

Practical information

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 early May it will still be lot of fjord ice and drifting ice, which limit the areas that is accessible, on the other hand the conditions with snow covered landscapes and frozen fjords will be great experiences this time of the year.

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 will on future trips spend more time in the drifting ice. We also search in the fjords, which will still be frozen and give great opportunities for seeing wildlife.

Day 1-8 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. The fjords will still be frozen in this time of the year.

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 9 Leaving the ship after breakfast and prepare the travel home.

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