If there is one place on Earth that represents the high Arctic in microcosm, it’s the Svalbard Archipelago. Wildlife is abundant here, featuring a large population of polar bears, as well as arctic foxes, walrus colonies, reindeer, blue whales, dolphins, seals, and numerous bird species. The landscape is characterized by rugged snow-capped mountain ranges, stunning fjords, vast glaciers, and icebergs, and towering cliffs that host busy seabird colonies. The beautiful serenity of the Arctic pack ice begins at the Archipelago’s northern end, where polar bears roam the ocean in search of seals. In the ice with the sun arcing low along the horizon, it becomes abundantly clear that you are truly on top of the world.
Designed for photographers by photographers, this extra-long itinerary provides quality time to photograph unrushed in the best locations, while most other Svalbard trips follow week-long tick-list itineraries with much less time in the prime spots. We will take you to the places we have fallen in love with on several prior voyages, making the most of this great spectacle of Arctic wildlife, ice, landscape, and light. Over the course of numerous expeditions and workshops together over the last 16 years, leaders Frans Lanting, Christine Eckstrom, and Justin Black have established a superb collaborative chemistry and will provide generous and effective expert photographic instruction to the small group of just twelve guests throughout the voyage.
Our private-charter expedition vessel, S/V Noorderlicht, is an ice-strengthened Svalbard specialist. She makes a superb platform for photography, with her spacious main deck low over the water, creating excellent vantage points, particularly if we are approached by polar bears on the ice, or walruses in the water. She also happens to be, in our opinion, the most visually striking vessel operating in Svalbard, making her a great model to incorporate into landscape scenes for scale and color accent (Noorderlicht is the red vessel in background of at least one of the trip gallery images). Well-suited to expedition cruising among small islands, she can get into locations that larger ships cannot access. Her two Zodiacs facilitate landings and wildlife photography opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas.
As masters of the vessel, your leaders will coordinate with the highly qualified captain and crew to do everything possible to maximize photographic opportunities and to ensure the best possible journey. We will enjoy extra elbow room onboard Noorderlicht, in the Zodiacs, and ashore as our group will be limited to 12 guests plus the three leaders though the ship has accommodation for up to 20 passengers. Our small group and this vessel maximize our enjoyment and appreciation of the high Arctic’s immense serenity and vastness, a far more pleasant experience compared to waiting in line to go ashore or visit the buffet on a vessel with over one hundred other passengers. Noorderlicht’s cabins are small, but they all have comfortable upper and lower berths, a cupboard, a washbasin with hot and cold water, and excellent ventilation. Shared showers (4) and toilet facilities (5) are conveniently located near cabins. Meals aboard Noorderlicht are served family-style, with fresh ingredients and healthy options available (catering well for vegetarians). We are assembling an excellent wine list for the trip as well!
Our itinerary begins in Oslo, Norway, with pick-up at the airport and transfer to The Thief, a modern, waterfront Scandinavian boutique hotel that is one of Oslo’s very best. In the afternoon, we will hold an introductory reception and orientation meeting, followed by dinner at one of Oslo’s fine restaurants. The next morning, we fly as a group to the small harbor of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen, where our ship awaits us. That afternoon, we embark and set off for our adventure together!
We hope you will join us for this intimate 15-night private-charter expedition (within a 17-night all-inclusive itinerary) aboard the two-masted schooner S/V Noorderlicht, photographing the wildlife, landscape, and pack ice of this gem of the High Arctic.
Day 1, Friday, August 6, 2021: Arrival day in Norway
Arrive at Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) by early afternoon. After clearing customs, a driver will transport you to The Thief, a superb modern hotel on the waterfront of Tjuvholmen, Oslo. You will check in to your Superior Room with private balcony and king size bed. We will first meet as a group in the afternoon for an introduction and orientation session at the hotel. Refreshments will be served as the leaders host an orientation session. Following time allotted for Q&As, we will share a festive dinner at one of Oslo’s fine restaurants just a short distance away.
Overnight at The Thief (D)
Day 2, Saturday, August 7, 2021: Transfer to Svalbard And Embark
In the morning we will transferred as a group to the airport for our flight to Svalbard’s airport (LYR) in the town of Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Upon arrival we will have some time to explore the town of Longyearbyen before being transferred to the port to board the Noordelicht.
Overnight on the Noorderlicht. (B, L, D)
Days 3 – 16, Sunday, August 8 to Saturday, August 21, 2021: Exploring Svalbard aboard Noorderlicht
Sail through the islands and fjords of the Svalbard archipelago north toward the pack ice, with regular shore excursions and Zodiac cruises along the way, making the most of the stunning landscape and abundant arctic wildlife.
Overnight on the Noorderlicht. (B, L, D)
Day 17, Sunday, August 22, 2021: Disembark the Noorderlicht
After a final breakfast aboard Noorderlicht, we disembark at Longyearbyen at 9:00am. While the ship’s ground staff transfers our checked luggage to the airport, we will transfer into the town center to spend a few hours exploring, shopping, visiting the museum or a café, etc. as you like, prior to boarding our flight back to Oslo. Our hotel for the night is the Radisson Blu, conveniently located just across the street from the airport. There we will gather in the evening for our celebratory group dinner.
Overnight at Radisson Blu, Gardermoen (B, L, D)
Day 18, Monday, August 23, 2021: Departure day from Norway
Enjoy breakfast together at Radisson Blu and check-out by noon to walk across the street to the airport for flights home. (B)
All costs are per person.
Please note that rooms at The Thief hotel only have one bed. If you are traveling with a companion and require two beds, please book at the individual registering as double occupancy rate (see below).
Individuals traveling alone are welcome to book at the double occupancy rate and we will match you with a cabin mate on Noordelicht. We will attempt to match cabin mates of the same sex, but due to the small group size, this cannot be guaranteed. Hotel rooms in Oslo will be single occupancy for individuals booking double occupancy. There is a $750 supplement for this registration option. The supplement will be applied to the final payment.
Payment Schedule
Please note that due to the significant commitments involved in chartering the vessel for this expedition, deposits and all payments are non-refundable. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended to enable recovery of deposits in the event of a need to cancel participation for medical or personal reasons covered by the policy. Other terms and conditions apply.
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