Norway
January 30 – February 8, 2026
1 Spot Left
Svalbard Summer Wildlife
At a Glance
Location
Svalbard, Norway
Dates
June 9 – 18, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 12 Guests
Collections
Svalbard Summer Wildlife Photography Workshop
Small Boat Cruise: Walrus, Seals, and Polar Bears in Stunning Landscapes
June 9 – 18, 2027
- Walruses calf under the midnight sun
- The schedule maximizes time on small boats for low-level photography
- High pro-guest ratio for incredible access to instruction in the field
Svalbard’s location between continental Norway and the North Pole places it squarely in an area with some of the most impressive displays of wildlife in one of the largest undisturbed arctic environments on the planet. Glaciers, snow-covered mountain ranges, and fjords cover much of the archipelago. We will spend time exploring the waters just North of the islands to spend more time with polar bears, where we are allowed to remain stationary when they approach our small ship. We will also be on the lookout for many types of seabirds, reindeer, arctic foxes, whales, walruses, and other marine mammals.
Since it is a series of islands, Svalbard is best explored by a private expedition ship. We’ve strictly limited this workshop to 12 guests on our own private, ice-strengthened ship. With such a high instructor-to-guest ratio, there will be plenty of time for one-on-one instruction and our signature image reviews. We will work with you in the field to capture better wildlife and landscape images. Back on the ship, we will show you how to process your images so that you’d be proud to hang them on your wall.
This workshop will focus on photographing the abundant wildlife. We will photograph from the large ship decks but mostly from zodiacs which provide low level angles to capture wildlife at its level. Breeding birds, walruses, whales, seals, and polar bears on the ice and occasionally swimming. Then there is the awe-inspiring scenery that surrounds you. Our schedule has been designed to optimize our time on small-boat excursions. We use two large zodiacs to get off the ship, get close to the wildlife, and go into the frozen landscape. With 24 hours of daylight, photography never stops! Oh and don’t forget, you can join us in Finnmark and Hornøya afterwards!
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: Arrival in Longyearbyen, Welcoming Group Dinner
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 10–18, 2027: Exploring the Arctic Aboard M/S Virgo, Pursuing Polar Bears
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.
June 19, 2027: Final Day, Departure from M/S Virgo to Oslo
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 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 $400 supplement. (Hotel only.)
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 | $18,995 | $7,995 | $6,000 | $5,000 |
| Double Cabin with Private Facilities | $17,995 | $7,995 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
No, all payments for this Svalbard Summer Wildlife workshop are non-refundable under any circumstances. We highly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage.
You'll have opportunities to photograph polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, reindeer, and a variety of seabirds. The workshop is designed to maximize encounters with these animals, especially polar bears on the drifting ice.
You'll learn techniques for capturing wildlife in their natural habitat, including working with low-angle perspectives from zodiacs and optimizing compositions in dynamic environments. You'll also receive guidance on post-processing to enhance your images.
The workshop is limited to 12 guests, ensuring a high instructor-to-participant ratio for personalized guidance and ample one-on-one instruction.
It's recommended to bring telephoto lenses for wildlife, such as a 100-400mm or similar, and wide-angle lenses for landscapes. Waterproof gear and extra batteries are also advisable due to the cold and wet conditions.
You'll need to fly into Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and it's advised to arrive early due to common air travel delays. Medical evacuation insurance is required, and travel medical insurance is recommended.
New regulations include distance requirements around polar bears and walruses, restricted shoreline landings, and drone restrictions near bird nesting cliffs. These measures promote responsible wildlife viewing and conservation.
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