Every month offers something different for a photographer in Svalbard and often our guests return to experience the place at different times of the year.
We offer photo tours in Svalbard throughout the season which runs from March until early October.
In March & April Svalbard is emerging from the winter and conditions are more extreme with temperatures well below freezing. Expect frozen landscapes, plenty of ice and some amazing winter colours in the sky. Wildlife sightings are less frequent early in the season and it is suited to photographers looking to capture the magical winter light and frozen landscapes. Passages are shorter due to the sea ice restricting the north of Spitsbergen.
In early May the shores of Svalbard are still covered in snow making it a scenic paradise and ideal for photography. There is now 24 hours of sunlight. Wildlife begins to return and it is possible to sea polar bears on the edge of the fjord ice. Walruses can be seen resting on ice flows. Early in the month it is hard to land on the shores due to the ice and most of expedition will take place from the Zodiacs which we will use to explore the coastline. During these months cruises are shorter as access to the north coast can still be restricted due to the sea ice.
By the end of May and into June the coast to the north of Svalbard opens up making longer expeditions possible. Birds begin to arrive back in Svalbard and June offers a great month for wildlife photography. As the fjord ice disappears it makes it possible to get up close to mighty glaciers that have been locked in by ice for the winter.
In July and August the summer is here. The sea ice has retreated further north and it is usually possible to reach further less visited parts of Svalbard. These months offer the ideal opportunity for wildlife viewing. By the end of August the birds start to migrate south.
September is a good month for photography as the light becomes lower in the sky. Whilst the birds have mostly migrated south, Polar bears and walruses are still frequently sighted. It is also possible to witness the first snow of the coming winter.