Svalbard in winter
The Polar Night lasts from 26 October to 15 February, when the only natural light sources are the moon, the stars and the Northern Lights. In the weeks after the Polar Night, you experience the magical blue light, a favourite time for many photographers. March to May is the ‘pastel winter‘, when the darkness transitions to light, casting beautiful pastel colours over the snow-covered landscape.
Trip information
Svalbard is without a doubt one of the purest and wildest places in Europe. Remote, yet easy to reach, you set foot on the archipelago after flying across the Barents Sea. Usually departing from Oslo or Tromsö, you can already admire the snow-covered peaks, glaciers and frozen fjords from the air. Very few people venture to the north of the islands in early summer. This trip is for those who look to make unique images in one of the most unspoiled parts of the world.
The waters surrounding Svalbard are our playground. After we lift our anchor and get the engine running, the itinerary depends on nature and climate. The presence of wildlife, the weather and the ice conditions are unpredictable, so patience and flexibility are the keys to a successful expedition!
Everyone is welcome on this photo tour, whether you are a beginner or a pro. Taking pictures is not a prerequisite, as long as you love adventure and have a lot of patience. We base our planning on the best photo opportunities on deck, aboard the Zodiac or on land. Count on me to answer any questions, inspire you to try out new techniques and point out fresh perspectives. Come and explore!
Summary
Expedition Period
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How Many days?
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Pricing
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INCLUDED
2 experienced guides, daily excursions, all meals, lectures onboard, passenger fees for landings/ Svalbard
NOT INCLUDED
Services before and after the expedition, any hotel nights before and after the trip, mandatory insurance, alcoholic beverages onboard
Partnership
Where are we going?
Our route will be determined by wind, weather, ice and wildlife. This assures many amazing surprises, but there are some activities we never miss.
- Cruising in front of the glaciers, with many photographic opportunities with sea birds, ice, landscapes, seals on ice and Polar bears.
- Pack ice, where larger mammals such as walrus and bearded seal come to rest, and Polar bears come to hunt.
- A landing at a walrus haul-out, one of the most impressive Svalbard animals. Since the hunting ban of 1952 their population has increased to an estimated 5000.
- Bird colonies: little auks, black-legged kittiwakes and Brunichs guillemots all come to nest in large numbers and are oblivious to our presence, granting us great photo opportunities.
Day to day
Departure: flight to Longyearbyen, where we check in to the hotel. Being present one day before the departure of the ship is highly recommended, to avoid trouble with cancelled flights or delays. The extra day gives you a great opportunity to experience daily life in the high Arctic.
We embark the MS Freya, which will be our home for the next 8 days. You will explore one of the worlds wildest and most beautiful areas, making daily landings and discovering Arctic wildlife. This is an expedition, so ultimately our route will be determined by wind, weather, ice and the presence of wildlife. Patience and flexibility are the keys to success as we strive for the ultimate Svalbard experience!
After breakfast, we check out of the ship at 9 AM.
Guides
Pieter-Jan D’Hondt
Pieter-Jan is a biodiversity and ecology expert and an experienced nature photographer. In 2013, he attended UNIS – the…
Yves Adams
A celebrated wildlife and landscape photographer from Belgium, Yves is passionate about the Arctic. This passion has brought him to…
Ship
MS Freya
We work with small, ice-strengthened vessels that we have chosen exclusively for our trips in the high Arctic. The MS Freya is one of our trusted ships. Built in 1980 for the Swedish Coast Guard, this ship ensured that the beacons and lighthouses worked in good order, moving through very tough weather and ice. She classifies as an ice-strengthened ship under Lloyd’s highest class. Today, Freya sails in Arctic waters almost year-round, exploring the waters around Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland or Norway. She will safely take you to places other expedition ships never visit. Traveling in a small group offers a truly intimate experience of the beautiful Arctic surroundings. The ship has comfortable double cabins fitted with 220-volt European standard outlets. All cabins feature an ensuite WC and shower. There is a dining area on board for breakfast, lunch and two-course dinners. Coffee and tea are available 24 hrs a day.
