World Photo Travels | Photography Tours and Expeditions

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Svalbard Photography Expedition Cruise

Nothing can prepare you for Svalbard. It is an incredible wilderness at the top of the world, a wildlife photographer’s dream! A high Arctic archipelago situated between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, massive sheets of ice, and magnificent wildlife. Travel under the midnight sun aboard an ice class 1A ship MV Freya in a small group, strictly limited to 12 guests, search for the very symbol of the Arctic—the Polar bear, and observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

The combination of a comfortable ship, a crew that has already made dozens of expeditions in this region, and experienced Expedition and Tour Leaders who know how to approach the animals taking into account the ice situation and light will give you the best chances for unforgettable hunting with a camera. Everything else is in mother nature's hands.

The whole ship is at our exclusive disposal and we decide where and how long we can stay and when to dine. We use 2 zodiacs (6 clients per boat and not 10-12 as on standard cruises) to shoot wildlife and landscape from the water and to go ashore. 2 armed guides travel with us in case of meeting the owners of the Arctic – Polar bears. So if anybody wants to shoot landscapes or fly a drone from the shore, there will be such an opportunity.

The main objectives of our trip are wildlife in the context of the rigid Northern scenery, and dramatic Arctic landscapes themselves.

Our goal during this photo safari is to photograph and experience as much of Arctics' beauty as possible. From polar bears and walruses to arctic foxes and whales, this photo safari promises not only unbelievable photo opportunities but memories that will last you a lifetime.

Get your cameras ready – we are going to Svalbard!

☛ FEATURE: PRIMETIME. We chose the best time to go to Svalbard. It is already warm, and ice melted enough for ships to navigate the still-icy waters and explore all the wildlife there is to offer. It is the best time of the year to see polar bears and walruses. Arctic fox puppies are out of the den, and bird cliffs are full of life!

☛ FEATURE: DRONE FRIENDLY. On this trip, we are continuing to introduce our idea to make some of our trips "drone friendly". Our ship MV Freya has a large open deck and is a great floating platform for drone launch and landing. Participants will also be able to do shore landings with time for aerial photography. Just imagine how beautiful the icebergs will look from the air, when bright blue underwater parts are visible!

Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 | June 26, 2023

• It's possible to arrive in Longyearbyen on June 27th just before the ship will leave the dock, but we advise you to come earlier, get acclimatized, walk along the cozy streets and buy some souvenirs. After all - Longyearbyen is the Northernmost capital in the world and the weather could be moody here. There is always a possibility of a flight delay due to inclement weather conditions such as fog, heavy winds, etc.
• We strongly recommend arriving in Longyearbyen a day in advance on June 26th, 2023. To encourage you to do so your transfer from the airport and overnight stay in the beautiful trapper's lodge-style Basecamp hotel on June 26th is included in the price.
• There are daily SAS flights from Oslo/Tromso to Longyearbyen. Norwegian also has direct flights from Oslo on select dates.

Day 2 | June 27, 2023

• You can photograph landscape on the shore of the Ice Fjord in the morning and look for birds or even arctic foxes on the outskirts of the town.
• We board our expedition ship at 4 p.m. and our Ice Odissey starts! This evening we drift along the splendid Ice Fjord.

Days 3-9 | June 28 - July 4, 2023

• We are in the Arctic - the part of the world where everything is under ice movements and the weather’s control. Our precise itinerary depends on many other factors – bears, arctic foxes, walruses, birds, and other animals' locations and activities. The main goal of our expedition is to see and photograph the wildlife and landscape of Svalbard with the main focus on finding and photographing the king of the Arctic - the Polar Bear in the best setting and light.
• We will extensively use Zodiacs to explore ice and shoreline in pursuit of finding polar bears. We also will make landings and excursions to photograph the awe-inspiring northern landscapes and look for walruses, Arctic foxes, and raindeers.
• In the case of a "bad weather day", we will use the time to discuss our footage or listen to short lectures about walruses, polar bears, seals, and other wildlife of the area given by the guides.

Day 10 | July 5, 2023

• Today we sail in Longyearbyen direction. We stop on Alkehornet point where we may see Arctic foxes and deer. The last stop (on the participants’ request) we do at Arctic Coal trust ownership, Barentsburg. We arrive at Longyearbyen by midnight and spend the night on board.   

Day 11 | July 6, 2023

• Our expedition ends and the participants may go home. Will have to leave the ship after breakfast before 9.00 a.m. Taxi service is available and the ride to the airport takes around 10 minutes. You can go directly to the airport and fly home at noon. If you decide to fly from Longyearbyen later in the day, you can store your baggage on board and explore the town on your own. In this case, you should pick up your bags no later than 2:00 p.m.   

Suggested Expedition Route

What is Included

Expedition Ship MV Freya

With a crew of 9 and space to accommodate up to 16 clients, MV Freya is an ideal base for this expedition. The highest ice class (1A) makes our travel safe like onboard a big icebreaker but it feels intimate like sailing on a private yacht. We'll have onboard a highly experienced photo guide, an expedition leader, and a polar guide. We will limit the number of participants to 12 on this trip, to make more space available in zodiacs when shooting with long lenses.

With an engine power of 1360 hp, the highest ice class (1A), and certificates for unrestricted trade, MS Freya is without a doubt an excellent expedition ship for polar regions. With an experienced Swedish team and a captain that has made hundreds of expeditions on similar boats in Arctic waters, our voyage will be safe. Our Expedition Leader for this trip has been chosen for his extensive experience in the Arctic. Low vessel draft allows us to sail into fjords and bays that are closed for big cruise ships.

MS Freya is one of the best ships in the Arctic for Polar exploration and Photography. She is spacious and well suited for photography vessel. Two Zodiacs will let all clients land and explore at the same time.

The ship has 2 Single cabins with private WC / shower, 6 Twin cabins with private WC / shower and one Mini suite with a double bed and private WC / shower along with cabins for the crew and expedition staff. Bed linens and towels are provided. Food service will be at a designated time, but we intend to be flexible. The chef has a varied and tasty menu and European cuisine is tasty and various on board. You can always have tea, coffee and drinks from the bar. The sauna on board the MV Freya is the best way to end the day!