Svalbard 10 Day Summer Photo Tour
Photograph Svalbard’s Wildlife Under the Midnight Sun
Summer in Svalbard is peak season for wildlife photography – a time when the sun barely dips below the horizon and the Arctic comes alive with activity. Set against a backdrop of melting snow, retreating ice, and the blooming tundra, this remote archipelago offers a rare chance to capture nature at its most raw and vibrant.
Our Svalbard Summer Photo Tours are designed for passionate wildlife photographers, from ambitious beginners to seasoned pros. Join acclaimed nature photographers Randy Hanna and Paul Goldstein aboard a specially chartered expedition ship as you explore sea ice, glaciers, and coastal habitats in search of Svalbard’s iconic creatures – polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, migratory birds, and even whales.
With more than three decades of experience, Randy Hanna will help you hone your photo skills while chasing the best light and wildlife encounters, from the ice edge to the dramatic bird cliffs of Alkefjellet. Paul Goldstein, with over 40 years of global photography experience, shares his deep love for Spitsbergen – its haunting landscapes, crackling glaciers, and elusive Arctic wildlife – making each charter a meaningful return to a place that has captivated him for two decades.
Guided by two of the best in the field and supported by an expert polar crew, this is more than a photography trip – it’s an unforgettable Arctic adventure, where every hour brings the possibility of a once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Depart Longyearbyen at 4pm.
Alkhornet, at the opening of Isfjorden, showcases the change in geology from plateau to edge-dominated, alpine mountainous landscape.
Explore Poolepynten, a headland on Prins Karls Forland, home to a walrus colony and burial site.
Take a fjord cruise down Magdalenefjord, with its stunning natural architecture of pointed mountains.
Sail to Smeerenburg, a former whaling settlement and source of an enduring myth, now home to a walrus colony.
Possible landing in Virgohamna, a historical site, to learn about the attempts to reach the North Pole by air that departed from here and see remains of blubber ovens from the 1600s.
Landing and hike on Ytre Norskøya, up to bird cliff (little auk), arctic tern colony, and common eider and goose nesting area.
Sail along the continental shelf, scouting for fin and blue whales that gather in the upwelling zones.
Search the ice edge, a dynamic setting of texture and light, home to seals, seabirds, and polar bears.
Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemots.
Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonna ice cap, Europe's third-largest glacier by volume and area.
Explore the island of Kvitøya, taking in the walrus colony and cultural remains of the Andreeneset headland.
Hike on an area of Sjuøyane, or “Seven Islands”, the northernmost part of Svalbard, home bird cliffs, overflowing in the summer with black guillemots, ivory gulls, and kittiwakes, cultural remains, and walrus haulouts.
Cruise down Liefdefjorden, standing in awe where the Monaco glacier meets the sea, and/or landing at Texas Bar, an historic trappers’ hut.
Land at Sallyhamna, a hut built in 1937, rich in history and cultural remains from the 1600s whaling period.
Take a Zodiac cruise of Fjortende Julbreen, a stunning glacier, and Fjortende Julibukta, a scenic bay in Krossfjord.
Return to Isfjorden and Longyearbyen.
Disembark in Longyearbyen at 9am.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Signature Twin/Double
Signature Penthouse (Double)
Signature Single
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Signature Twin/Double
Signature Single
Signature Penthouse (Double)
Vessel Type: Ice-Strengthened Expedition Vessel
Length: 41.8 m
Passenger Capacity: 12
Vikingfjord is a purpose-built micro-expedition vessel designed for only 12 guests, combining ice-strengthened capability with modern Scandinavian comfort. Its 1B-rated hull allows access deep into pack ice and remote terrain that larger ships cannot approach, while its energy-efficient engine and advanced NOx filtration system deliver a 95% emissions reduction. Multiple viewing points — including an L-shaped observation lounge, bridge lounge, and extensive open-deck platforms — give uninterrupted sightlines across the Arctic environment from every angle.
Interiors are contemporary and restful, with eight ensuite cabins arranged in single, twin, and suite layouts. Social spaces include a light-filled lounge with a bar and library, a cosy dining room lined with windows, and open access to the bridge. On-deck amenities such as the sauna and outdoor hot tub extend the experience outdoors, providing rare vantage points in warmth and comfort. Vikingfjord operates as a true small-ship expedition platform: quiet, compact, environmentally progressive, and designed to maximise immersion in the polar landscape.
Inclusions
SVALBARD
• Expert Svalbard Expedition Leader
• 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 airport to hotel and to vessel for embarkation + vessel to airport/hotel after disembarkation
ANTARCTICA
• Expert Antarctica Expedition Guide Team
• Lectures on Antarctica
• Use of Zodiac (Dinghies) for shore landings and photography opportunities
• Full Board (breakfast, lunch and dinner )
• Bedding and towels
• Highly experienced Captain and Cook
• Rubber boots for shore landings
Exclusions
• Flights
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Any additional expenses such as museum entry
Expedition
Highlights
• Summer is when Svalbard’s wildlife – from Arctic foxes to whales, migratory birds, and polar bears – is at its most abundant and most visible• The midnight sun provides 24 hours of daylight, perfect for photography
• We only work with award-winning legends of polar photography who are in-field tuition experts – you’re learning from the very best
Our Associates Include
