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Svalbard Pack Ice Expedition
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At a Glance
Location
Svalbard, Norway
Dates
June 9 – 18, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 12 Guests
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Svalbard Pack Ice Expedition Photography Workshop
Venture beyond Svalbard into the drifting pack ice of the Arctic Ocean
June 9 – 18, 2027
- Experience the isolation and silence of the high Arctic
- Photograph polar bears and other wildlife in the drifting pack ice
- Drone-friendly workshop in international waters
North of the Arctic Circle lies Svalbard. North of Svalbard lies only drifting ice, cold water, and the hunting grounds of the polar bear.
Designed for photographers seeking a true high-Arctic expedition, this workshop takes you far beyond the busy fjords and well-traveled routes of the Svalbard archipelago and into the shifting pack ice north of 80°N. Very few vessels venture this far north, where the landscape is constantly reshaped by wind, sea currents, temperature, and moving ice.
This is not a fixed-route cruise or a predictable tour, but a genuine expedition built around exploration and photography.
With only 12 guests aboard, we’re able to remain flexible as we search for polar bears, whales, and seals resting among the ice floes beneath the midnight sun. While operating in international waters, drones will also play an important role throughout the expedition, both for scouting wildlife and for photographing the extraordinary abstract patterns and textures of the sea ice from above. Even during quieter wildlife periods, the ever-changing Arctic environment itself becomes a compelling photographic subject.
Throughout the expedition, we’ll focus on the unique challenges of photographing in the high Arctic, including working from moving boats, simplifying compositions, anticipating wildlife behavior, and using negative space to create stronger images. We’ll also explore birds in flight, environmental wildlife portraits, storytelling sequences, and editing approaches suited to the subtle tones and soft light of the polar environment.
Beyond the photography itself, this is an opportunity to experience a level of remoteness that has become increasingly rare in the modern world. Endless daylight, distant whale blows, shifting ice, and the silence of the far north all combine to create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on Earth.
In addition, we are offering a one day extension to this expedition. You will spend the afternoon in our hotel in Longyearbyen with a group meeting in our private meeting space followed by lunch and dinner. Following this opportunity to review your work from the expedition, we will head out to photograph arctic fox and caribou in an incredible location near town.
Your Pros
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
June 9, 2027: Arrive in Longyearbyen, Transfer to Hotel
Arrive in Longyearbyen, Norway (LVR) before 2:00 PM. There’s a short taxi ride into town to our hotel. You may find that staying overnight in Oslo the night before makes your travel schedule easier. We can recommend a hotel right at the airport in Oslo.
June 10–18, 2027: Arctic Expedition in to International Waters
Over the next nine days, we’ll venture far beyond the well-traveled fjords of Svalbard and into the drifting pack ice of the high Arctic Ocean.
Conditions will shape the expedition as we search for polar bears, seals, whales, and seabirds in one of the most remote environments on Earth. The ever-changing conditions also create extraordinary opportunities for minimalist landscape photography, made even more compelling by the fact that drones are allowed when we are in international waters.
With only 12 guests aboard, Virgo allows us to remain flexible and responsive as conditions change. Much of the expedition will focus on following the shifting ice edge where polar bears patrol and hunt, sometimes far north in international waters. Some days may involve long stretches of navigating through fog, fractured ice, and open water searching for wildlife, while encounters may equally unfold suddenly and unexpectedly close to the ship.
June 18, 2027: Disembark Virgo, Review and Edit in Longyearbyen
After disembarking Virgo in Longyearbyen this morning, there are two options:
Those who will be joining us for the additional day of image review and wildlife safari will transfer to our hotel and spend time reviewing and editing images from the expedition in a private meeting space. Following days immersed in the pack ice, this is an opportunity to reflect on the experience, edit selected images, and revisit some of the photographic highlights from the journey. We’ll enjoy a great dinner in town, then meet up with a local outfitter to take us out to photograph more wildlife. We’ll head back into the field for a final wildlife safari around Longyearbyen, where we will photograph Arctic foxes and reindeer beneath the soft light of the Arctic evening. Those who fly home today will be offered a taxi to the airport for departing flights.
June 19, 2027: Depart from Longyearbyen, Transfers Provided
You may depart anytime today, with airport transfers provided to Longyearbyen Airport (LYR) for onward flights to Oslo and connections home.
Flights out can be made anytime on June 19, 2028.
Aboard the M/S Virgo
Our home for nine days and eight nights will be the M/S Virgo, a small expedition vessel rebuilt specifically for Arctic photography expeditions in Svalbard.
With only 12 guests aboard, Virgo is designed around flexibility and access rather than traditional cruise operations. Spacious outdoor decks offer ample space for photography, while two expedition zodiacs allow us to work at water level among the drifting ice when conditions permit.
Inside, the ship is comfortable, warm, and functional, with a large lounge for image reviews, editing, battery charging, presentations, and watching the Arctic landscape pass by beneath 24 hours of daylight. Cabins are clean and practical, each with a private bathroom and shower facilities. Fresh bed linen and towels are provided throughout the voyage, and the atmosphere on board is relaxed and informal.
Meals are freshly prepared onboard and can accommodate most dietary requirements. As with all aspects of the expedition, schedules remain flexible whenever wildlife or photographic opportunities arise.
Virgo's strong hull, powerful engines, and cold-weather adaptations make her well-suited for operating in the demanding conditions of the high Arctic and far beyond the well-traveled fjords of Svalbard.
There are two cabin categories aboard Virgo:
- 6 single cabins with private bathroom and shower
- 3 twin cabins (convertible for couples or twins) with private bathroom and shower.
For guests booking a twin cabin, the single room supplement only applies to the hotel, and not to the twin cabin.
For those booking a single cabin, your single room in the hotel is included.
Embracing New Wildlife Viewing Regulations
In recent years, updated regulations have been introduced to help protect Svalbard's fragile ecosystems and encourage more responsible wildlife viewing. These include seasonal distance requirements around polar bears and walrus, restrictions on certain shoreline landings, and drone limitations near sensitive bird nesting areas within the Svalbard archipelago. We fully support these measures and see them as an important part of preserving the Arctic environment for future generations.
Importantly, most of this expedition is specifically designed around exploring the drifting pack ice farther north, in offshore international waters where these regulations do not apply. In these remote pack ice environments, many wildlife encounters, particularly with polar bears, occur naturally as the ship carefully navigates through the ice. On recent expeditions, curious bears have approached the vessel on their own terms, creating extraordinary photographic opportunities while allowing wildlife to behave naturally and undisturbed.
Should weather or ice conditions require us to move back into Svalbard's territorial waters at any stage of the expedition, all applicable wildlife-viewing regulations would of course be strictly followed.
Fitness
Easy: You can live on a small ship for a week, climb up and down steep stairs on the ship, and get in and out of zodiacs into knee-deep water. Short walks on land.
Flights
Arrive at Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR), Longyearbyen, Svalbard anytime on June 9, 2027. Flights out can be made anytime on June 18, 2027. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $400 supplement. (Hotel only.)
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- Meals and lodging onboard the ship.
- Waterproof boots for shore excursions.
- Winter exposure suit.
- Multiple image reviews and post-processing sessions.
- Naturalist lectures and presentations on board.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $525 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your non-refundable deposit will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further non-refundable payment is due by October 1, 2026.
- The non-refundable balance is due not later than February 1, 2027.
- The payment amounts are determined by your cabin choice.
- In addition to our standard Terms and Conditions, for this workshop all payments are non-refundable, and this is why we recommend comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancelation.
- While not expected, we do reserve the right to add a surcharge for possible fuel cost increases. This can happen even right up until the time of the expedition, but we try to get as much notice as possible.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
| Cabin Choice | Tuition | Deposit | Further Payment | Balance Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singe Cabin with Private Facilities | $19,995 | $6,995 | $7,000 | $6,000 |
| Double Cabin with Private Facilities | $17,995 | $7,995 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll focus on mastering the unique challenges of photographing in the high Arctic, including working from moving boats, simplifying scenes, and using negative space. You'll also practice capturing birds in flight, creating storytelling sequences, and editing images to suit the subtle tones of the polar environment.
For this workshop, all payments are non-refundable under any circumstances. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage.
You'll have opportunities to photograph polar bears, seals, whales, and seabirds in their natural habitats. The expedition focuses on exploring the drifting pack ice, where wildlife encounters often occur naturally and unexpectedly.
The maximum group size for this Svalbard expedition is 12 guests, allowing for a more personalized and flexible photography experience.
Bring lenses suitable for wildlife and landscape photography, such as telephoto lenses for distant subjects and wide-angle lenses for capturing expansive ice landscapes. Also, ensure you have weatherproof gear to protect against cold and wet conditions.
You are required to have medical evacuation insurance and travel medical insurance. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but recommended.
The M/S Virgo offers comfortable accommodations with clean, practical cabins, each featuring a private bathroom and shower. The ship is designed for flexibility and access, with spacious outdoor decks for photography and a relaxed, informal atmosphere on board.
Yes. Drones are welcome on this expedition and can be an excellent tool for photographing the Arctic pack ice from above. The constantly shifting textures, fractures, melt patterns, and geometry of the sea ice often create striking abstract compositions that are difficult to appreciate fully from ship level.
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