Svalbard - Crown Jewel of the Arctic
Overview
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, reindeer, walrus colonies, whales, dolphins, seals, and numerous bird species. The landscape is characterized by rugged mountain ranges, stunning fjords, vast glaciers, icebergs, and towering cliffs that provide a home for busy colonies of Kittiwakes and Guillemots. 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 extended itinerary provides quality time to work unrushed in the best locations, unlike most Svalbard trips which tend to be only a week long and follow rushed tick-list itineraries that bypass prime locations. We will take you to the places we love, making the most of this great spectacle of Arctic wildlife, ice, landscape, and light.
Leaders Frans Lanting and Christine Eckstrom will provide generous and effective expert photographic instruction to the small group of just ten guests.
We are pleased to announce a major upgrade to this trip: the private-charter expedition vessel M/V Vestland Explorer, a much more luxurious, spacious and modern vessel than Noorderlicht, the ship that had been lined up for our 2021 itinerary. This Ice-Class 1A polar yacht was built in 1994 to perform oceanographic research in Greenland. At 46.5 meters long and 10.5 meters wide, the Explorer is designed for easy navigation through icy seas. She received a full renovation in 2021.
A spacious panoramic lounge, a gym room, sauna, and two hot tubs are all available for you to relax in after a landing or zodiac cruise. Visit the captain on the open bridge where a second panoramic lounge opens out to an outdoor lounge-bar area. Explorer’s spacious cabins and suites range from 118 to 215 square feet, all with en-suite bathrooms, and proper beds rather than bunks (single twin, double twin, or double bed configurations are available), and the suites are equipped with picture windows for greater observation.
Explorer makes an excellent platform for photography, with her spacious main deck low over the water compared to the big ships, creating excellent vantage points if we are approached by polar bears on the ice, or walruses in the water. Well-suited to expedition cruising among small islands, she can get into locations that larger ships cannot access. Her zodiacs facilitate landings and wildlife photography opportunities in otherwise inaccessible areas. As masters of the vessel, Frans and Chris will coordinate with the highly qualified captain and crew do everything possible to maximize photographic opportunities and to deliver the best possible experience.
Our group will be limited to 10 guests plus the two leaders, supported by an expert crew and expedition staff. Meals aboard Explorer are prepared by a talented chef with fresh ingredients. We are assembling an excellent wine list for the trip as well!
Our itinerary begins in Paris, France, at Charles de Gaulle Airport’s Novotel Hotel. That afternoon, we will hold an introductory reception and orientation meeting, followed by a celebratory group dinner. Early the next morning, we will board our charter flight to Longyearbyen, the main settlement and harbor 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 13-night all-inclusive itinerary, photographing the wildlife, landscape, and pack ice of this gem of the High Arctic.
Itinerary
Day 1, Monday, June 26, 2023: Arrival day in Paris
Arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) by early afternoon. After clearing customs, make your way to our group accommodation, the airport Novotel Hotel. We will first meet as a group in the afternoon for an introduction and orientation session at the hotel. Following the presentation and time allotted for Q&As, we will share a festive dinner.
Overnight at Novotel Hotel, Charles de Gaulle Airport (D)
Day 2, Tuesday, June 27, 2023: Transfer to Svalbard And Embark
Early in the morning, we will transfer to the airport for our charter 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 Explorer
Overnight on the Vestland Explorer (B, L, D)
Days 3 to 11, Wednesday, June 28 to Friday, July 6, 2023
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 Vestland Explorer. (B, L, D)
Day 12, Friday, July 7, 2021: Disembark the Explorer
After a final breakfast aboard Explorer, we disembark at Longyearbyen. 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, reconnecting with the outside world, etc. as you like, prior to boarding our flight back to Paris. Our hotel for the night is once again the Novotel at Charles de Gaulle Airport. This evening, we will meet for drinks in the hotel bar, followed by a celebratory final group dinner.
Overnight at Novotel Hotel at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris (B, L, D)
Day 13, Saturday, July 8, 2023: Departure day from France
Enjoy breakfast together at Novotel, check-out by noon, and head home or to onward travels. (B)
Instructors
Frans Lanting
- FRANS LANTING has been hailed as one of the great nature photographers of our time. His influential work appears in books, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Born in ...
Chris Eckstrom
- Christine Eckstrom is a writer, editor, and videographer whose ...
Gallery
Pricing
Single Stateroom
Superior
Standard
Twin Porthole
CABIN CLASSES
- SINGLE SUITE (x2): $24,495 – limited to one occupant, single twin bed – SOLD OUT
- SUPERIOR SUITE (x2): One double bed, for couples or single only – SOLD OUT
$20,495 per person double-occ / $35,895.00 single-occ. - STANDARD CABIN (x2): One double bed, for couples or single only – SOLD OUT
$17,495 per person double-occ. / $30,695.00 single-occ.
- TWIN CABIN (x2): Two twin beds – SOLD OUT
$15,495 per person double-occ / $27,495.00 single-occ
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
- 30% deposit to confirm registration
- 30% payment due September 26 , 2022
- 40% final payment due February 26, 2023
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. Other terms and conditions apply.
SINGLE-OCCUPANCY AND INDIVIDUALS REGISTERING AS DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
Individuals traveling on their own may book one of the two single suites, book a two-person cabin at the single-occupancy rate, or are welcome to express their interest in being paired with cabinmate in one of Explorer’s two Twin Cabins. We will only accept a “single in double-occupancy” booking on this basis if a cabinmate can be arranged and booked simultaneously, so we recommend that those seeking to share a cabin attempt to identify a friend who would be interested in being their cabinmate. Hotel rooms at Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris, France will be single occupancy for individual travelers registering as double occupancy (there is a $750 supplement for this registration option)
Inclusions:
- Generous and attentive photographic instruction and guiding throughout by Frans Lanting and Christine Eckstrom.
- Accommodation as follows:
Paris: Novotel Charles de Gaulle (2 nights)
Svalbard archipelago: aboard M/V Vestland Explorer (10 nights)
R/T charter flights between Paris and Longyearbyen, as outlined in the itinerary
- Meals, except as specifically noted
- Wine/beer with dinner, and all non-alcoholic drinks with included meals
- Private transfer to our hotel in Paris upon arrival and group transportation for the entire trip
- Landings and zodiac excursions as determined by leaders and crew
- Services of English-speaking naturalist guide and ship’s crew
- All applicable government taxes
Exclusions:
- Travel insurance (travel medical and evacuation coverage required)
- International air fare in and out of Paris, France (before and after itinerary)
- Additional hotel nights, meals or other costs for arrivals prior to the start date or departures after the end date
- Cost of passports, any necessary entry visas or reciprocity fees, vaccinations, or other personal travel expenses
- Telephone calls, email and internet, and other communications that incur extra cost
- Items of personal nature such as laundry, sundries, etc.
- Alcoholic beverages other than those offered with dinners
- Any optional activities / excursions or extras other than those specified in inclusions
- Tips to hotel staff etc. for personal services, and gratuities for our ship’s guide and crew
Highlights
- A unique opportunity to travel with and learn from preeminent photographers with diverse styles, renowned for being engaging teachers and excellent traveling companions, in a dream-like setting that is the quintessence of the High Arctic.
- A world-class destination for both landscape and wildlife photography, at a very photogenic time of year.
- Vistas including glacier-covered mountains, maritime glaciers calving into the ocean, deep blue fjords, soaring sea cliffs, islands rising dramatically from the sea, and expansive pack ice as far as the eye can see, fractured into graphic patterns.
- Polar bears, arctic foxes, large walrus colonies, blue whales, and several species of seal are frequently sighted
- Ivory gulls, kittywakes, fulmars, barnacle geese, thick-billed murres, little auks, arctic terns, and more
- Follow in Amundsen’s footsteps, learning the history of Arctic exploration.
- The Noorderlicht, a brilliant small expedition ship for serious photographers, perfect for small-group exploration in the polar regions. With her crew’s many years’ experience in Arctic waters, Noorderlicht has the capability and flexibility to make the most of our exploration of the Svalbard archipelago and the Arctic pack ice, using the weather and conditions to our best advantage.
- First-rate logistics
- Excellent crew and expedition staff
- Easy travel: No visa required for passport holders from most of the developed world.
Accommodations
- June 26 and July 7: Novotel Hotel, Charles de Gaulle Airport
- June 27-July 7: Aboard Vestland Explorer
Travel
