Join this 9-day early-season photo expedition to and from Longyearbyen aboard the MV Vikingfjord and witness Spitsbergen's untamed landscapes emerging from winter depths. This expedition cruise, led by professional photographers, focuses on exploring and capturing Arctic scenery and wildlife before the spring thaw: snow-draped mountains and northern fjords filled with sea ice present excellent photo opportunities.
Highlights
Discover whales, walruses, and other marine life while sailing through Prins Karls Forland
Explore photography opportunities for wildlife in Isfjord
Experience the mesmerizing sea ice and search for polar bears along the northwest coast
Encounter excellent landscape photography scenery and polar bears in Hornsund
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
This Svalbard Photo Expedition departs from Longyearbyen. Upon leaving the port, say goodbye to civilization for eight days to explore the breathtaking Arctic as it emerges from winter. During April, your route will be determined by the sea ice. Sail north or south, depending on the conditions. This expedition offers a chance to encounter the coast of Svalbard, which is rarely seen. Use zodiacs daily to search for the best landscape and wildlife photography opportunities every day.
In Isfjord in April and early May, 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 for wildlife. After leaving Isfjord, the plan is to sail north, passing Prins Karls Foreland. As the ice recedes from the winter, this area is home to walrus haul-outs.
Day 3-7: Encountering Sea Ice and North-West Spitsbergen
The Northwest coast of Spitsbergen has many highlights and places to photograph, including countless glaciers and snow-covered peaks. Use the zodiacs daily to open up photography opportunities. You may land on the heavily frozen shores on the enormous rafts of fjord ice where possible. If the conditions allow, you may venture up to the edge of the sea ice and spend some time searching for polar bears that use the ice to hunt. The sea ice is a mesmerizing photography subject; in calm conditions, launching the landing craft to cruise between the ice can be possible.
If the time and conditions allow, attempt to sail south to visit Hornsund or Belsund. In late April, there is usually still a great deal of ice blocking the deep fjords, offering excellent landscape photography scenery. It is possible to encounter polar bears hunting along the ice edge of the fjord ice with some terrific set for a background.
Day 9: Longyearbyen | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Late in the previous evening or early in the morning, arrive back at the port of Longyearbyen. Today, your Svalbard photo expedition ends. After breakfast, say your goodbyes after making new friends and sharing an excellent adventure.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Type A - Double with En-Suite
Cabin size: 15 m² with double bed, window, desk & chair, wardrobe and an ensuite shower and toilet. Located on deck 3.
Type B - Double / Twin with En-suite
Cabin size: 15 m² with twin bed, window, desk & chair, wardrobe and an ensuite shower and toilet. Located on decks 1 & 2.
Type C - Single Cabin with En-suite
Cabin size: 10 m² with single bed, desk & chair, wardrobe and an ensuite shower and toilet. Located on deck 3.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Excellent service, great hotels and well organized excursions with expert guides! Highly recommended!
Shadi Dalili
1 day ago
Clara Tort has been our Travel Advisor for Buenos Aires, then for Iguazu, then for Mendoza and Aconcagua Trekking, and then for Patagonia and Fitz Roy trekking. She has navigated with us through our travels, and now we are coming back for more- onto Machu Pichu and Peru.
Gus ORDONEZ
1 day ago
Mary Curry made the experience wonderful for the second time. She is the reason we returned to Adventure Life to book our second cruise on WindStar. She is tireless, well informed, pleasant to work with and totally reliable. If you offer employees bonuses, give her one! there who answered to phone to help us book shore excursions were also very good and easy to work with - and we demand rather an lot of help.
Laura Flanagan
1 day ago
The people assisting you have traveled with many of these companies or done the very same trip in the past. That kind of experience in invaluable when selecting a trip for yourself.
Sue Stephens
1 day ago
Kaweskar tour Skorpios III
Fantastic trip. Great food, wonderful scenery. Very fortunate the tour was under-subscribed (32 of 90 possible bookings) so it was really comfortable. Half this number was comprised of a tour from USA. We shared a table with an older couple - Ian and Helen, but everyone was friendly and excursions were efficiently run. We benefited from a requested cabin upgrade which saw us in the best suite.
