Svalbard (Spitsbergen)
SVALBARD (SPITSBERGEN): CLASSIC – Polar Bears, Walruses, wildlife and landscapes
Additional Departures (with the same group size limit):
Tuesday 25th July – Friday 4th August 2023
Friday 4th August – Monday 14th August 2023
Monday 14th August – Thursday 24th August 2023
SVALBARD CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS WITH WILD IMAGES
The main focus on this expedition will be Polar Bears in the drifting ice. Svalbard is the best place on earth for photographing Polar Bears, and we usually find good numbers of them. The ice situation at this time of year usually allows us to explore the northeastern parts of the archipelago.
We will also photograph other animals like Walruses, Bearded Seals, Ringed Seals, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales (and possibly Blue Whales) and Belugas. In July/August the seabirds are leaving the cliffs, and we hope to get some nice photo opportunities with birds like the Brünnich’s Guillemots (or Thick-billed Murres).
We will schedule longer stops than usual when going ashore in order to provide participants with enough time to get excellent pictures. We use two zodiac inflatable boats to get closer to the wildlife on the ice or when exploring and searching for photo opportunities in front of the glaciers.
This is the expedition for nature photographers who want to travel in small groups and have more time with the wildlife! The group size on this expedition is limited to 12 participants.
As much of the sailing as possible is done during the night, thus maximizing opportunities for finding Polar Bears and other interesting wildlife, and enjoying the beautiful arctic landscape to the full. Cruises and landings are carried out by means of zodiacs, the rugged, fast-moving inflatables developed by Jacques Cousteau for expedition work which allow safe travel in all types of conditions. The sheer speed and efficiency with which the crew and expedition staff carry out these expeditions, coupled with the small complement of passengers split over two zodiacs, allows everyone plenty of room for photography, a key factor when considering any cruise of this type.
The great advantage of taking this particular Svalbard (Spitsbergen) cruise, if you are especially interested in seeing and photographing Arctic wildlife and scenery in all its glory, is that the itinerary and day to day schedule are determined by us and entirely wildlife-photography-orientated. In addition the group will also benefit by having our extremely experienced photographic guide and expedition leader on board who know exactly where and when to go and how to do so, in order to get group members into position for superb images of Polar Bears, Walruses, seals and other wildlife.
The photographic guide on board will be Roy Mangersnes, Ole Liodden or another member of their team.
The charismatic Origo is perfect for dedicated photographic expeditions (Image by Roy Mangersnes)
Our Ship
We shall be sailing on the MS Origo (capacity 12 passengers), a lovely small ship operated by our well-respected partners at Wildphoto. She is spacious and well-suited to specialist photography cruises. Origo has two zodiacs (inflatables), two expedition staff (an expert expedition leader and an expert photographer guide) and four crew. Ships of this class are great favourites with wildlife photographers due to their small size, their ability to go almost anywhere and their friendly and decidedly ‘family’ atmosphere.
Cabins are available for both twin and single occupancy, and unlike on many ships, single occupancy cabins are available at much the same cost as for twins! Most cabins are furnished with upper and lower berths. Cabins also have a porthole or window view, a cupboard and a washbasin with hot and cold water. Some cabins have private bathrooms, others share bathrooms. The beds are made ready and bed linen and towels are provided. There is a spacious saloon for meals and any leisure time indoors. Food service will be at a designated time, but we intend to be flexible, according to the needs of wildlife photography. The chef has a varied and tasty menu.
Zodiac Excursions
Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation are superbly handled by the crew and expedition staff, making this reasonably straightforward for even elderly or less fit participants.
Climate
Mild at this time of year. Temperatures average between 0°C to 8°C, although it can feel warmer on still, sunny days and colder on breezy days. There is usually little rainfall and sunny periods are interspersed with overcast weather. Some fog is possible.
Photographic Equipment
For Polar Bear photography and some birds, the ideal lenses with a DSLR are usually a 500mm or 600mm prime, often with converters. If your budget does not run to big prime lenses, a high quality 400mm f5.6 or a 100-400mm or similar zoom with a converter on a crop-sensor body can be a very viable alternative. For closer individuals a shorter telephoto will be excellent and there may even be opportunities for wide-angle shots.
For many other photography subjects, including some scenic shots, a telephoto in the 200-300mm range will often be useful. Svalbard (Spitsbergen) is full of panoramic views and a wide-angle in the 16-28mm range is ideal.
You can also get wonderful results with many photography subjects with a high quality bridge camera with an 18-20x or higher optical zoom. If you have questions about what equipment you ought to bring, please contact us.
Itinerary
You need to bear in mind that circumstances may be encountered during the voyage which will make it necessary or desirable to deviate from the planned itinerary. These circumstances include poor weather conditions and in particular unexpectedly heavy drift ice. The expedition leader will provide more information at the start of the voyage and keep you fully informed throughout. You should not be concerned that such changes will prevent you from experiencing Spitsbergen (Svalbard) at its best: there are always alternative areas with excellent scenery and wildlife to visit if the ship is thwarted getting to a particular place.
Arriving before the cruise
Owing to the possibility, however small, of a severe airline delay, we would recommend that all participants have at least one hotel night in Longyearbyen at the cruise start point prior to the cruise. Kindly note that in the event you do not arrive in time, the ship will not wait and we cannot make a refund in such circumstances. Arriving early also has the advantage that your luggage could still catch up with you, should it go astray. We can make hotel bookings in Longyearbyen for you on request.
Photographic Highlights
- Encounters with Polar Bears on ice
- Walruses on ice or ashore
- Fantastic, indeed awesome, Arctic landscapes
- Seals, Arctic Foxes and the dwarf Svalbard Reindeer
- Amazing seabird colonies including Little Auks (Dovekies) and Brünnich's Guillemots (Thick-billed Murres)
- Opportunities to photograph Ivory Gull
OUTLINE ITINERARY
FOR THE MAP BELOW:
To see a larger map, click on the square-like ‘enlarge’ icon in the upper right of the map box.
To see (or hide) the ‘map legend’, click on the icon with an arrow in the upper left of the map box.
To change to a satellite view, which is great for seeing the physical terrain (and for seeing really fine details by repetitive use of the + button), click on the square ‘map view’ icon in the lower left corner of the ‘map legend’.
PRICE INFORMATION
Wild Images Inclusions: Our prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals (onboard) and entrance fees. Soft drinks onboard are also included.
Gratuities for the expedition staff and crew are not included in the tour price. The level of gratuities is entirely a matter for personal discretion. The expedition staff and crew work very long hours to make such wildlife photography cruises a success, including a great deal of night sailing, and we have been told that each passenger usually gives gratuities of between US$200-300 at the end of the cruise.
Deposit: First Deposit: US$2000 or equivalent. Due with booking. Second Deposit: 50% of the tour cost, less first deposit. This will be invoiced around 7 months before departure for payment not later than six months before departure. The tour balance: will be invoiced around 3 months before departure for payment not later than two months before departure.
TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)
2022 MS Origo
£7350, $10295, €8570 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a twin cabin with shared bathroom (cabin 21).
£8060, $11295, €9410 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a single cabin with shared bathroom (cabins 22, 23 and 24).
£8420, $11795, €9820 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a twin cabin with private bathroom (cabin 31).
£8420, $11795, €9820 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a single cabin with private bathroom (cabins 9, 10, 25, 26 and 30).
2023 MS Virgo
£8760, $12095, €10600 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a mini-suite with private bathroom (cabin 4)
£8980, $12395, €10870 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a suite with private bathroom (cabins 1-2)
£8980, $12395, €10870 Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen in a single cabin with private bathroom (cabins 3, 7, 9-12)
MS ORIGO LAYOUT
This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.
Air Travel To & From The Tour: Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.
SVALBARD (SPITSBERGEN): CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY
If the weather is good, it will be a spectacular flight to Longyearbyen, the only town in Svalbard, which is situated on the west coast of the large island of Spitsbergen. One first crosses the mountains, lakes and fjords of Norway and then the even more impressive mountains of Spitsbergen, which stretch away far into the distance. Drift ice can be seen spattering the Arctic Ocean far below and will be just a foretaste of the magic to come.
Svalbard is situated at about 80oN, and so we must schedule the expedition in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. Based on previous photo expeditions in July and August, we plan to use the travel route as illustrated on the map, but this may change due to ice, weather and other conditions.
Day 1
Our Svalbard wildlife photography tour begins in Longyearbyen around mid-afternoon. Departure from Longyearbyen through Isfjorden.
Days 2-4
Heading toward the ice and searching for Polar Bears. Depending on the ice conditions, this will probably be north of the islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet.
Day 5
Continue east toward Storøya, searching for Polar Bears and Walruses.
Day 6
Sailing south toward Bråsvellbreen and into Hinlopen, with Walruses and bird cliffs on the menu.
Day 7-9
Liefdefjorden with the famous Monaco glacier, the north-western corner of Spitsbergen with its Walruses, seals and great landscapes. South to Lilliehööksfjorden and Kongsfjorden, with glaciers, birds and marine mammals.
Day 10
Sailing south to Prins Karls Forland for our last landing with Walruses, and in the afternoon Alkehornet with bird cliffs, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer. Arrive at Longyearbyen late in the evening, around midnight.
Day 11
Leave the ship after breakfast and prepare to travel home.
Arctic Treasure – A Tour Report from Wild Images’ Svalbard (Spitsbergen) Classic Tour in August 2020
When talented art photographer couple Duncan Phillips and Irene Amiet joined our Spitsbergen Classic tour in August, we were already excited to see what they may come back with. Needless to say we were enthralled by their photos of their journey. Here, they share their experiences in the icy realms of the sea ice around […]
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