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Svalbard Summer Wildlife
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At a Glance
Location
Svalbard, Norway
Dates
June 25 – July 5, 2026
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 6 Guests
Collections
Svalbard Summer Wildlife Photography Workshop
Polar Bears, Seals and Walrus Amongst Stunning Landscapes
June 25 – July 5, 2026
- Polar bears roam, birds nest, and walruses calf under the midnight sun
- The schedule maximizes time on small boats for low-level photography
Above the Arctic Circle lies Svalbard, a land of ice, fjords, and silence where wildlife still roams free. Glaciers carve through mountains that rise straight from the sea, and the light changes by the hour. From our ice-strengthened expedition ship, we’ll explore a world few see so closely, photographing polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, reindeer, and a multitude of seabirds that call this northern haven home.
This is a small group for an intimate and focused experience. With a high guest-to-instructor ratio, you’ll get personal guidance both on land and on the ship. Each day brings new photographic opportunities – quiet moments on deck as a whale surfaces beside us or the thrill of a bear crossing the sea ice.
Our days are shaped by light and wildlife activity, with flexible schedules that allow us to linger when the magic happens. We’ll use sturdy zodiacs to get up close to the action, photographing from the water’s edge or among drifting ice. If conditions allow, we’ll head north into international waters and the drifting ice pack to find ethical and close-up bear encounters. Back on the ship, we’ll review and edit images together, guiding you through the creative and technical process so every frame tells the story you experienced.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll combine real-time coaching with focused practice in wildlife photography, birds in flight, environmental portraits (critter-scapes), using long lenses in landscape photography, and more. You’ll leave with stronger photographic instincts and long-lasting skills in composition, camera technique, and post-processing that will improve your photography well beyond the workshop.
This is not just a photography trip but an immersion into the rhythm of the Arctic – where patience, awareness, and respect for the wild lead to amazing images and lasting inspiration.
Your Pro
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 25, 2026: Arrive in Longyearbyen, Enjoy Group Dinner and Overnight Stay
Fly from your home to Longyearbyen, Norway, to arrive anytime before dinnertime. Group dinner and overnight at the hotel in Longyearbyen. 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 26 – July 4, 2026: Embark on the M/S Virgo for a Nine-Day Arctic Wildlife Expedition
We are aboard M/S Virgo. Our home for nine days and eight nights will be the M/V Virgo. Newly remodeled for expeditions, Virgo is ideally suited for exploring the Great North. Owned by longtime explorers and photographers of the Arctic, Virgo has been thoughtfully outfitted with our imaging needs in mind and will serve as a comfortable and agile base for accessing the best the region has to offer. There are numerous deck areas ideal for photography, as well as two zodiacs. The cabins are bright and clean, and the meals are freshly prepared, creative, and delicious.
Polar Bears: Our main target on this expedition is the polar bear. We will most likely find them on the drifting ice. We will spend time positioning ourselves in as close proximity as possible to capture amazing images.
Imagine the thrill of spotting one of these magnificent creatures at a distance and then being able to capture amazing images of them. We may get lucky and find a mom with cubs, a bear with a kill, or even males sparring. While we can never guarantee any sightings, our guides have years of experience and have perfected their approach, providing unforgettable encounters with the King of the Arctic. The resulting images have won awards in competitions such as BBC WPY, Natures Best, and GDT.
Arctic Mammals and Birds: We expect to see and photograph all of the major wildlife that inhabits the region: whales, walrus, seals, arctic foxes, reindeer, and birds too numerous to count! It’s easier to find big marine mammals like walruses and seals when there is less ice. In midsummer, we can discover walruses in water, on the beaches, or ice floes. When conditions permit, we will go to the northeastern parts of Svalbard, where we will even find the small walrus calves. Midsummer is a great time for bird photography in Svalbard, and we will have many opportunities to photograph birds at sea and ashore. Most birds stay in the high Arctic until the end of August before moving out to sea. This time of the year is also good if you dream of seeing the high Arctic specialties like the Sabines’ Gull.
July 5, 2026: Disembark M/S Virgo and Taxi to Airport for Flights Home
The workshop concludes after breakfast. Disembark M/S Virgo, and connect to a domestic flight to Oslo. There are usually various SAS flights departing Longyearbyen for Oslo at several different times. We will provide a taxi ride to the airport.
Aboard the M/S Virgo
Our home for nine days and eight nights will be the M/S Virgo. Newly remodeled for expeditions, she was built in 1976 and worked as a buoy-laying vessel for the Swedish maritime authorities before she was bought and rebuilt for Arctic photo tourism in 2021. Virgo is spacious both on deck and inside, giving ample space for 12 guests and a guide team of two. All the suites/cabins have private facilities (WC/shower). Bed linen and towels are provided. Food service will be at designated times in our dining room, but as always, we intend to be flexible should any photo opportunities arise. The chef has a varied and tasty menu that can be adapted to special dietary needs. As part of the photography and wildlife experience, we offer a spacious lounge with outstanding viewing opportunities and plenty of space for photo editing, charging batteries, listening to lectures, or hanging out with fellow travelers.
Virgo has been rebuilt and fitted, especially with photography tourism in Svalbard in mind during 2021. The adjustments were based on our team's many years of experience running photography tours in Arctic waters, including adaptations to work in very low temperatures making her ideally suited to year-round Svalbard expeditions. Other essential features are her strong hull and powerful engines that will take us where we need to go.
There are two types of cabins aboard Virgo:
- 6 single cabins with private bathroom and shower.
- 3 twin cabins (convertible for couples or twins) with private bathroom and shower.
Embracing New Wildlife Viewing Regulations
In 2025, new regulations were introduced to help protect Svalbard's fragile ecosystems and promote more responsible wildlife viewing. These include seasonal distance requirements around polar bears and walrus, restricted shoreline landings, and drone restrictions near bird nesting cliffs. We fully support these updates and see them as a vital step toward the long-term conservation of the landscapes and species we love to photograph.
Importantly, these changes do not necessarily reduce the experience—they promote a more ethical and rewarding approach. Summer conditions often allow for close wildlife encounters, and many of the most exciting sightings—especially of polar bears—occur farther north on the drifting pack ice, in international waters outside the restricted zones. On recent voyages, curious bears approached our vessel on their own terms, providing unforgettable, natural encounters.
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 Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR), Longyearbyen, Svalbard anytime on June 25, 2026. Flights out can be made anytime on July 5, 2026. 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 Virgil Reglioni.
- 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 $400 supplement. (Hotel only.)
Payment Terms
- Your non-refundable deposit will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further non-refundable payment is due by November 1, 2025.
- The non-refundable balance is due not later than March 1, 2026.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cabin with Private Facilities | $16,995 | $5,995 | $6,000 | $5,000 |
| Double Cabin with Private Facilities | $15,995 | $5,995 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
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