10 Day Svalbard spring photo tour
Sunday, May 31, 2026 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Thursday, June 18, 2026
Svalbard’s location between continental Norway and the North Pole places it squarely in an area with some of the most impressive displays of wildlife in one of the largest undisturbed arctic environments on the planet. Glaciers, snow-covered mountain ranges, and fjords cover much of the archipelago. We hope to see and photograph polar bears, many types of seabirds, reindeer, arctic foxes, whales, walruses, and other marine mammals.
Since it is a series of islands, Svalbard is best explored by a private expedition ship. We’ve strictly limited this workshop to 12 guests on our own private, ice-strengthened ship. here will be plenty of time for one-on-one instruction and image reviews. We will work with you in the field to capture outstanding wildlife and landscape images. During our down time, we will discuss how to process your images so that you’d be proud of them.
This workshop will focus on the abundant wildlife—think polar bears on ice (with any luck), artic birds, walruses, whales, and seals. Then there is the awe-inspiring scenery that surrounds you. Our schedule has been designed to optimize our time to get the best imagery we can. We will use two large zodiacs to get off the ship (where possible), and explore the frozen landscape. With almost 24 hours of daylight, photography never stops!
Your home for this polar adventure will be the M/S Freya of the Secret Atlas fleet.
For pricing and cabin options follow this link to the Secret Atlas expedition page for this tip. Note that there are two separate trip dates:
May 31- June 9, 2026: Svalbard Spring Tour
Inquire Now
If you are interested in this adventure, drop me a note and I will reply as soon as possible. If you don’t hear from me within 48 hours, I am likely on one of my adventures and will replay as soon as I can.
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This adventure offers breathtaking opportunities for photographing and observing wildlife and artic landscapes. We have done our best to pull together a great itinerary to maximize our wildlife and landscape encounters. Based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions please note that we don’t control the weather or wildlife.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
Day 1: Fly from your home to Longyearbyen, Norway, to arrive in plenty of time to make our Embarkation window in Longyearbyen at 16:00. If you are traveling from the US, you may find that staying overnight in Oslo the night before makes your travel schedule easier. We also recommend staying overnight the night before in Longyearbyen. We can recommend a hotels for you in Oslo and in Longyearbyen.
Upon leaving the port, we will say goodbye to civilization for the next 10 days to explore the breathtaking Arctic as it emerges from winter. This expedition offers a chance to encounter the western coast of Svalbard as it is rarely seen. During this time of year, our route will be determined by the sea ice. Our grand plan is to sail north through the western fjords heading for the pack ice or ice edge in international waters. We will launch the zodiacs daily to search for the best landscape and wildlife photography opportunities that present themselves.
Day 2: Isfjord & Prins Karls Forland. In May and early June, fjord ice from the winter lines the coast. This is a great place to start scouting for polar bears that move from the land to the sea ice during this time. If conditions allow, it is a great place to use the Zodiacs to explore the ice edge and open up close-up photography opportunities of wildlife. After leaving Isfjord, our plan is to sail north along the inter costal area, passing Prins Karls Foreland. As the ice recedes from the winter, this area is home to abundant wildlife.99
Day 3-9:l
What’s Included
Double occupancy lodging. Single available for additional fee.
All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
All permits and park fees.
Meals and lodging onboard the ship.
English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
Photographic guiding and instruction.
Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
What’s Not Included
Travel to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
Items of a personal nature.
Alcoholic beverages.
Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but highly recommended).
Anything else specifically not listed as included.
Fitness
Easy: You should be able to live on a small ship for a 10 days, climb up and down stairs as you move around the ship, and get into and out of zodiacs, exit the zodiacs in possible ankle deep water. Short walks on land might be possible.
Flights
Arrive Svalbard Airport, Longyearbyen (LYR), Svalbard anytime on June 25, 2024. Flights out can be made anytime on July 5, 2024. Air travel delays are common. Please consider arriving a day early, so you don’t miss any of the workshop. Should you decide to arrive early, we will provide lodging recommendations. Longyearbyen is a cute small town two kick around in for a day before we board the ship. Most last minute supplies are available in town at the numerous sporting and clothing stores.
What to Bring
We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include all of the important details of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
Aboard the M/S Freya
Our home for ten days and nine nights will be the M/S FREYA. Newly remodeled for expeditions, she was built in 1976 and worked as a buoy-laying vessel for the Swedish maritime authorities before she was bought and rebuilt for Arctic photo tourism in 2021. Virgo is spacious both on deck and inside, giving ample space for 12 guests and a guide team of two. All the suites/cabins have private facilities (WC/shower). Bed linen and towels are provided. Food service will be at designated times in our dining room, but as always, we intend to be flexible should any photo opportunities arise. The chef has a varied and tasty menu that can be adapted to special dietary needs. As part of the photography and wildlife experience, we offer a spacious lounge with outstanding viewing opportunities and plenty of space for photo editing, charging batteries, listening to lectures, or hanging out with fellow travelers.
Virgo has been rebuilt and fitted, especially with photography tourism in Svalbard in mind during 2021. The adjustments were based on our team's many years of experience running photography tours in Arctic waters, including adaptations to work in very low temperatures making her ideally suited to year-round Svalbard expeditions. Other essential features are her strong hull and powerful engines that will take us where we need to go.
The M/S Freya was built in 1981 in the Åsiverken shipyard in Amal as a lighthouse building vessel. Since then she has been used by the Swedish Coast Guard for environmental protection purposes; as a research ship by the University of Umeå, and has also spent time as a diving vessel. She was converted to an expedition vessel in 2015 and has been in Svalbard since 2016. With space to accommodate just 12-16 expedition passengers on board, it will feel more like being on board your own private yacht than an Arctic cruise ship.
