Natural Wonders of Svalbard Photography Tour

Explore Northern Svalbard on a Svalbard Photo Tour with 12 Guests

Svalbard

9 days

April, May

€ 11,900

Join us on an exciting Svalbard photography tour to explore and photograph the wildlife and frozen landscapes of Svalbard. During the months of April and May, Svalbard is emerging from the winter and we have 24-hours of daylight on our side. Usually at this time of year there is lots of sea and fjord ice. Wildlife including polar bears have begun their return and it is possible to capture incredible photos of them on the ice.

Watch The Film Download Brochure See Dates and Rates

Introduction

On this expedition we will explore the north-west coast of Spitsbergen searching for photography opportunities throughout which includes sea ice, wildlife, landscapes and glaciers. Our small expedition vessel is equipped with 2 Zodiacs which will allow us to get up close to nature and reach the places the larger ships can’t reach.

This trip is ideal for wildlife and landscapes photographers looking to capture the Arctic as it emerges from the winter with a good chance (but never guaranteed) of encountering polar bears. Every expedition offers a different experience.

Expedition Highlights

Stunning landscape photography opportunities, with its snow-covered mountains, glaciers, and fjords
Great great time of year to encounter polar bears, walruses and whales with interesting lighting conditions
A great chance to encounter wildlife which could include different whale species, polar bears, Svalbard reindeer, walruses and seals
Small, intimate group size of just 12 like minded explorers

4 guides for a group of 12 offers the best ratio available
2 Zodiacs to use for exploring and close up photography of wildlife
Friendly, inclusive atmosphere
Led by world class photographers and expedition leaders
Explore in comfort on a modern, ice-strengthened expedition vessel

Learn and Develop New Photography Skills

Our photography guides offer assistance where required to help you improve your skills and get the best images possible. Where time allows tutorials will be carried out onboard, but the emphasis is always on maximising time outside in the field.

Our expedition team has extensive experience in Svalbard and will seek out the optimal places for photography based on the conditions.

The Voyage

Secret Atlas is founded, led, and made for explorers by explorers. We understand that every expedition is unique, so we don’t follow a fixed itinerary. We believe that real expeditions should follow the opportunities that the wilderness offers and our expert guides know exactly how to maximise your experience.

The following itinerary is an example. The expedition is flexible and its course will be defined on daily bases sustained by the opportunities presented by weather, ice and wildlife.

Day 1 Welcome aboard! Embarkation in Longyearbyen at 16:00

Day 2 Prins Karls Forland

Day 3 Ice Edge

Day 4 – 7 Exploring North West Spitsbergen

Day 8 Heading South

Day 9 Disembarkation in Longyearbyen at 09:00

* We always recommend to arrive in Svalbard at least 24 hours before departure.

Svalbard Photography Tour Day by Day

Day 1

.2° N, .6° E

Longyearbyen

Our Svalbard photography tour departs from Longyearbyen, the most northerly town on earth. Upon leaving the Port of Longyearbyen we will say goodbye to civilisation for the next 8 days to explore the rugged coastline, searching for landscape and wildlife photography opportunities at every stage. As we sail north we are likely to encounter glaciers and sea ice which make the perfect photo subjects. Early in the season, our exact route will be determined by the sea ice conditions which vary year on year.

Day 2

.3° N, .7° E

Prins Karls Forland

As we leave the Isfjord we will keep a good lookout on deck for whales and other marine life that is common in this area. We often encounter walruses that can be photographed from the ship resting on ice flows. We will launch the Zodiacs to get closer to any wildlife we spot. We have frequently encountered whales including blue and humpback whales, belugas, and walruses in this area. In the afternoon we will launch the Zodiacs to get oppurtunities to take landscape and glacier shots.

Day 3 – 7

.5° N, .4° E

Encountering Sea Ice and North-West Spitsbergen

We will sail as far north as possible along the west coast of Spitsbergen keeping a lookout for wildlife including polar bears that inhabit the area. Our ultimate plan if the conditions allow is to venture up to the edge of the sea ice and spend some time searching for polar bears that use the sea ice to hunt from. The sea ice itself is a mesmerising photography subject and in calm conditions, it can be possible to launch the landing craft to cruise in between the ice. We will then explore the frozen north-west coast travelling as far as the ice will allow us in search of photography opportunities.

Day 8

.5° N, .3° E

Hornsund

Another option, if the time and conditions allow, is to sail south to visit Hornsund or Belsund. Early in may the fjords are usually still full of fast ice and it is possible to encounter polar bears hunting along the ice edge. Alternatively we may use this time to maximise our exploration of the North.

Day 9

.2° N, .6° E

Longyearbyen

Either late the previous evening or early in the morning we will arrive back at the port of Longyearbyen. Today our Svalbard photography tour ends after After breakfast when we say our goodbyes after making new friends and sharing a wonderful adventure together. The above itinerary is a guide only. A part of any Arctic adventure is the flexibility to take advantage of the weather and ice conditions. Our expedition leader will make sure you see as much a possible.

Inside This Svalbard Photography Tour

Our trips are aimed at anyone with a passion for exploring the Arctic with a small group of like minded individuals on a comfortable small ship cruise and include:

Amazing Wildlife

We will visit areas where walruses haul out, encounter reindeer and Arctic foxes on land, observe whales and other marine life and explore coasts where polar bears are known to roam.

Stunning Scenery

We will encounter mighty glaciers, cruise tranquil steep-sided fjords and spend time outside exploring the beautiful untouched wilderness.

Climate Compensated

Caring for the environment is what we do. For Svalbard cruises we plant trees in Greenland to offset the emissions. As a member of AECO, we follow strict guidelines to ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife and natural sites.

Expedition Leader and Guide

On this Svalbard photography tour we have an expedition leader, 2nd guide and photo expert. An aspect of our journeys is to learn about the place you are visiting. Our onboard guides are the core of what we do and will share their passion and knowledge of Svalbard throughout the trip. We offer the best guide to guest ratio available.

Zodiac Landing Craft for Shore Landings

Shore landings are the essence of every expedition and your guides will take you exploring on a daily basis. The vessel is equipped with landing craft that can be used to reach remote beaches so you can experience the wilderness firsthand.

Expedition Vessel with 12 Guests

We believe the best way to experience an environmentally sensitive place such as the Arctic is with a small group of travelers. New expedition cruise ships now take up to 350 passengers, we believe smaller is better.

Meet Your Photography Guide

Florian Ledoux arctic photo tours expedition guide

Florian Ledoux
Photography Expert

Florian Ledoux is an artist, documentary filmmaker and photographer. Lately, he worked for BBC “Frozen Planet II”, Disney “Polar Bear” as well as Netflix and National Geographic.

Meet Florian here

Your Ship - MV Vikingfjord

Step aboard MV Vikingfjord a modern expedition vessel built for adventure

Introducing our newest ship MV Vikingfjord, a rugged ice-strengthened expedition vessel for 12 guests. New energy efficient engine and NOX cleaning fitted in 2023 offering the best environmental on a small ship with up to a 95% reduction in NOX emissions.

Expect cruise ship comfort on a small ship with 9 ensuite cabins, an open plan saloon with rear facing windows, and on on deck hot tub and sauna.

Vikingfjord offers single en-suite cabins with no single supplement for solo travellers.

Rebuilt in 2023 as a high-end expedition vessel
Large open plan observation lounge and dining area at the stern
Small group size of 12 guests ensures an intimate experience
Ice strengthened 1B hull for maximum exploration in the polar regions
Refurbished to a high standard with warm, comfortable cabins

On deck hot tub and sauna
Large en-suite cabins with suites, doubles, twins and singles.
Equipped with 2 x zodiacs for shore landings
Large open deck space and raised areas for photography
Expert team of crew and guides
Full safety gear

See Ship

Svalbard Cruise Dates and Prices

Prices quoted are per person. Twin and double cabins are based on double occupancy.

2024
2025

€
£

Date	Trip Name	Duration	Vessel	Cabin A	Cabin B	Cabin C	Cabin D
16th - 24th April 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	n/a	Book
2nd - 10th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	n/a	Book
10th - 18th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Florian Ledoux	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	n/a	Book
18th - 26th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Florian Ledoux	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	€ 11,900	n/a	Book
26th May - 3rd June 2024	Natural Wonders	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,500	€ 11,500	€ 11,500	n/a	Book
3rd - 12th June 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Paul Goldstein	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€13,350	€13,350	€13,350	n/a	Book
12th - 21st June 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Paul Goldstein	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€13,350	€13,350	€13,350	n/a	Book
21st - 30th June 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	n/a	Book
30th June - 8th July 2024	Natural Wonders	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 11,500	€ 11,500	€ 11,500	n/a	Book
8th - 17th July 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	n/a	Book
17th - 26th July 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	€ 12,900	n/a	Book
26th July - 8th August 2024	Svalbard Pioneer	14 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 17,500	€ 17,500	€ 17,500	n/a	Book
9th - 18th August 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	€ 10,900	€ 10,200	n/a	n/a	Book
18th - 27th August 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	€ 10,900	€ 10,200	n/a	n/a	Book
27th August - 5th September 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	€ 10,900	€ 10,200	n/a	n/a	Book
5th - 14th September 2024	Svalbard Ice Waterfalls Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Kinfish	€ 11,500	€ 10,800	n/a	n/a	Book

Date	Trip Name	Duration	Vessel	Cabin A	Cabin B	Cabin C	Cabin D
16th - 24th April 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	n/a	Book
2nd - 10th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	n/a	Book
10th - 18th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Florian Ledoux	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	n/a	Book
18th - 26th May 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Florian Ledoux	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	£ 10,500	n/a	Book
26th May - 3rd June 2024	Natural Wonders	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,900	£9,900	£9,900	n/a	Book
3rd - 12th June 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Paul Goldstein	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£11,450	£11,450	£11,450	n/a	Book
12th - 21st June 2024	Svalbard Photo Tour w/ Paul Goldstein	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£11,450	£11,450	£11,450	n/a	Book
21st - 30th June 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 11,500	£ 11,500	£ 11,500	n/a	Book
30th June - 8th July 2024	Natural Wonders	9 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,900	£9,900	£9,900	n/a	Book
8th - 17th July 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 11,500	£ 11,500	£ 11,500	n/a	Book
17th - 26th July 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 11,500	£ 11,5000	£ 11,500	n/a	Book
26th July - 8th August 2024	Svalbard Pioneer	14 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£ 15,500	£ 15,500	£ 15,500	n/a	Book
9th - 18th August 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	£ 9,700	£ 9,100	n/a	n/a	Book
18th - 27th August 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	£ 9,700	£ 9,100	n/a	n/a	Book
27th August - 5th September 2024	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Kinfish	£ 9,700	£ 9,100	n/a	n/a	Book
5th - 14th September 2024	Svalbard Ice Waterfalls Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Kinfish	£ 10,200	£ 9,700	n/a	n/a	Book

€
£

Date	Trip Name	Duration	Vessel	Cabin A	Cabin B	Cabin C	Cabin D
14th - 21st April 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	n/a	Book
21st - 28th April 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	n/a	Book
28th April - 5th May 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	n/a	Book
5th - 12th May 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	€ 10,500	n/a	Book
12th - 19th May 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 9,950	€ 9,950	€ 9,950	n/a	Book
19th - 26th May 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 9,950	€ 9,950	€ 9,950	n/a	Book
26th May - 4th June June 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€13,500	€13,500	€13,500	n/a	Book
4th - 13th June 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€13,500	€13,500	€13,500	n/a	Book
13th - 20th June 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€9,950	€9,950	€9,950	n/a	Book
20th - 27th June 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€9,950	€9,950	€9,950	n/a	Book
27th June - 6th July 2025	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 12,500	€ 12,500	€ 12,500	n/a	Book
6th - 15th July 2025	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 12,500	€ 12,500	€ 12,500	n/a	Book
15th - 26th July 2025	Svalbard Pioneer	12 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 15,500	€ 15,500	€ 15,500	n/a	Book
26th July - 6th August 2025	Svalbard Pioneer	12 Days	MV Vikingfjord	€ 15,500	€ 15,500	€ 15,500	n/a	Book

Date	Trip Name	Duration	Vessel	Cabin A	Cabin B	Cabin C	Cabin D
14th - 21st April 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,200	£9,200	£9,200	n/a	Book
21st - 28th April 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,200	£9,200	£9,200	n/a	Book
28th April - 5th May 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,200	£9,200	£9,200	n/a	Book
5th - 12th May 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£9,200	£9,200	£9,200	n/a	Book
12th - 19th May 2024	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£8,600	£8,600	£8,600	n/a	Book
19th - 26th May 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£8,600	£8,600	£8,600	n/a	Book
26th May - 4th June June 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£11,700	£11,700	£11,700	n/a	Book
4th - 13th June 2025	Svalbard Photo Tour	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£11,700	£11,700	£11,700	n/a	Book
13th - 20th June 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£8,600	£8,600	£8,600	n/a	Book
20th - 27th June 2025	Svalbard Encounter	8 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£8,600	£8,600	£8,600	n/a	Book
27th June - 6th July 2025	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£10,900	£10,900	£10,900	n/a	Book
6th - 15th July 2025	Natural Wonders	10 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£10,900	£10,900	£10,900	n/a	Book
15th - 26th July 2025	Svalbard Pioneer	12 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£13,500	£13,500	£13,500	n/a	Book
26th July - 6th August 2025	Svalbard Pioneer	12 Days	MV Vikingfjord	£13,500	£13,500	£13,500	n/a	Book

Cabins

Type A - Double with En-Suite

For 2 Guests
Comfortable double bed
Ensuite shower and toilet
15 m²
Located on deck 3
Windows
Desk & chair
Wardrobe
Cabin Number: 8

Type B - Double / Twin with En-suite

For 2 Guests
Comfortable Twin or Double Bed
Ensuite shower and toilet
15 m²
Located on decks 1 & 2
Window
Desk & chair
Wardrobe
Cabins 1 - 5

Type C - Single Cabin with En-suite

For 1 guest
10 m²
Located on deck 3
Window
Wardrobe
Cabin 6 & 7

Deck Plan

If you have any questions about this Svalbard Photography Tour please get in touch

Send a Message Request a Call Back

Useful Information

How To Get To Svalbard

Svalbard is easily accessible from daily flights from Oslo in Norway. To find out more see our guide.

New To Expedition Micro Cruises?

Find out all about the experience of travelling on an expedition vessel with 12 guests and how it compares to other cruises.

Longyearbyen Travel Guide

All the information you need to plan your trip including how to get to Longyearbyen, arrival information, places to stay, and activities to do before your cruise.

Svalbard Photography Tour FAQ

Trip notes and what’s included / excluded

Departure Location	Longyearbyen
Arrival Location	Longyearbyen
Trip Style	Exploration
Physical Rating	Easy
Maximum Group Size	12
Accommodation	Twin, Double & Single ensuite cabins
Duration	9 Days
Time of Year	May
Included	Expert Guide Team & Photographer Lectures on Svalbard Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities Polar Bear protection guides for shore landings Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner + alcoholic drinks with evening meal) Bedding and towels Highly experienced Captain and Cook Rubber boots for shore landings Transfers from hotel to vessel for embarkation + vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation
Not Included	Flights and transfers from airport to hotel Travel and cancellation insurance Any additional expenses such as museum entry

Payment Options

We offer payment via the following methods:

Credit card
Payment by bank transfer

Please let us know at the time of booking your preferred method.

You have the option to pay in full at time of booking or pay in the following instalments:

30% deposit is taken at the time of booking

30% 6 months before departure

40% 90 days prior to departure

It is mandatory you take out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking that also covers cancellation.

Solo Travellers

Solo travellers are welcome on all our voyages. We often host solo travellers, particularly on our photo voyages so the chances are you won’t be the only one. We offer the following accommodation options:

Single cabins.
Option to share a twin cabin with another traveller of the same gender.
Option to have your own double cabin for an additional supplement. Please contact us for this option as the price varies depending on trip and availability.

Booking terms

This trip is operated by Secret Atlas and is subject to the Secret Atlas terms and conditions of travel. You can read the full booking terms here.

What Our Customers Say

On each Svalbard cruise we welcome customers from all corner of the globe, with a variety of different ages and backgrounds all united in their passion to experience what the Arctic has to offer

Pan – Business Executive from Italy

‘This is the closest you can come to a real expedition. We saw glaciers seals, whales, walruses and polar bears’

From an early age Pan dreamed of visiting the Arctic. At the age of 42 he made that dream come true by joining Secret Atlas on an expedition micro cruise.

Read his story

Annie – Interior Designer from the USA

‘The micro cruise experience felt like being on your own private boat. The crew were fantastic’’

Annie had always wanted to go an expedition in Svalbard and joined us as a solo traveler..

Read her story

Natural Wonders of Svalbard Photo Tour

Natural Wonders of Svalbard Photography Tour

Introduction

Expedition Highlights

Learn and Develop New Photography Skills

The Voyage

Svalbard Photography Tour Day by Day

Longyearbyen

Prins Karls Forland

Encountering Sea Ice and North-West Spitsbergen

Hornsund

Longyearbyen

Inside This Svalbard Photography Tour

Amazing Wildlife

Stunning Scenery

Climate Compensated

Expedition Leader and Guide

Zodiac Landing Craft for Shore Landings

Expedition Vessel with 12 Guests

Meet Your Photography Guide

Florian Ledoux Photography Expert

Your Ship - MV Vikingfjord

Step aboard MV Vikingfjord a modern expedition vessel built for adventure

Svalbard Cruise Dates and Prices

Date

Trip Name

Duration

Vessel

Cabin A

Cabin B

Cabin C

Cabin D

Date

Trip Name

Duration

Vessel

Cabin A

Cabin B

Cabin C

Cabin D

Date

Trip Name

Duration

Vessel

Cabin A

Cabin B

Cabin C

Cabin D

Date

Trip Name

Duration

Vessel

Cabin A

Cabin B

Cabin C

Cabin D

Cabins

Type A - Double with En-Suite

Type B - Double / Twin with En-suite

Type C - Single Cabin with En-suite

Deck Plan

If you have any questions about this Svalbard Photography Tour please get in touch

Useful Information

How To Get To Svalbard

New To Expedition Micro Cruises?

Longyearbyen Travel Guide

Svalbard Photography Tour FAQ

What Our Customers Say

See Our Other Photography Tours

Request a Call Back

Ask a Question

Stellen Sie eine Frage

Spør et spørsmål

Florian Ledoux
Photography Expert