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2023 – The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard

July 11, 2023 - July 18, 2023

£3999
A cheeky egg stealing Arctic Fox as you will be able to photograph during the NaturesLens Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard photography holiday

  • Arctic Wildlife

    of Svalbard

    Join Paul in Longyearbyen for this fabulous 7-night photography tour to capture images of the arctic wildlife of Svalbard.

    This photography expedition is designed to provide you with photographic opportunities of the Arctic Fox, Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Svalbard Reindeer, Little Auk, Red-throated Diver, King Eider, Walrus, many bird species & more besides.

    11th - 18th July 2023

    £3999 per participant

    Last Place Available - £500 deposit required to secure a place

    Group size: 5 - 6 participants - last place available..

    Bookings close: April 11, 2023

    Make a Booking EnquiryMake a Booking

    Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard - £3999 per participant

    When
    11th - 18th July 2023
    Cost
    £3999 per participant
    Availability
    last place available.
    £3999 per participant - last place available.
    • Lying midway between Norway & the North Pole, Svalbard is a wildland of glaciers & tundra, making it a compelling destination for wildlife photographers. Unlike our boat-based tour, for this trip, you will be based for the duration in just one place, Longyearbyen. We will be making the most of the long hours offered by the Midnight Sun season to capture photographs of the unique landscapes & wildlife, including many types of seabirds &, of course, the fabulous arctic foxes!
    Photographing the wildlife of the Svalbard archipelago doesn’t always mean taking a multi-day boat cruise; there is plenty of nature that can be viewed & photographed without taking to the seas for a week or more.
    The itinerary for this trip is not fixed, meaning that Paul will revise it daily to make the most of the opportunities available; this is dictated by whatever animals are active. Over breakfast, before starting each day, Paul will present options on how best to maximise opportunities for the day, taking into account weather & light conditions &, of course, guest input.
    Join NaturesLens to capture images of Wildlife of Svalbard, in Norway, during the The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard photography holiday. This photography holiday is of 7 night/8 day duration on a Full Board, Non-Shared basis & costs £3999 per participant.
    Svalbard is home to a plethora of arctic wildlife on land, all of which make great photographic subjects. It is possible to encounter the Svalbard reindeer & Arctic foxes that are commonly sighted.
    With the midnight sun happening throughout our trip, 24 hours of daylight will be the norm; you will make repeat visits to sites to get the best images possible. You will have plentiful opportunities to capture images of an astonishing variety of birds on the tundra lakes during the daytime & under the midnight sun. You can be assured that Paul will encourage you to make the most of these golden hours of the day to offer you creative possibilities for fantastic portraits.
    We have planned elements of this itinerary to allow you to capture stunning bird portraits or images of birds in flight or even at water level, coupled with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, & the opportunity to fill your portfolio should be brilliant.
    You will have your heart stolen when you visit the Little Auk Colony; these bold, charismatic little birds are fearless & will stand their ground & squawk just a few feet away from you. As with all the locations, Paul will get you into the most suitable spots to capture the very best images you can. Paul will guide you to capture close-up photographs, portraits & flight shots as they fly overhead in their thousands at this colony.
    For many, the star of the show is the Arctic Fox & so we offer an outing every evening, at least, to see the arctic foxes; we time these outings to coincide with when the Arctic Foxes are most active hunting. In the past, Paul has had luck on his side, seeing foxes take eggs & show their opportunistic personalities; as many as a handful of individual Arctic Foxes can be seen in a single outing. Paul will ensure that you spend as much time as possible getting to know their personalities & capturing their behaviours.
    You will take several days out on the water; during two of these, we will travel to a large walrus colony; you will travel through fjords & pass beneath glaciers. Icebergs of most azure colour imaginable are home to seals & a variety of seabirds. There is a high probability of locating a Blue Whale or spotting the tail fluke of a Humpback. On previous trips, Paul has observed pods of up to 60 Belugas. You will either land at a beach colony or a glacial walrus territory, depending on weather conditions. There will be the chance for close encounters at both sites, with walruses often getting into the water to check the visitors to their realm out. The pair of days should present you with a fantastic experience & some of the best opportunities for walrus images imaginable.
    The third day on the water takes the form of an excursion to the town of Pyramiden; this trip will also be the best chance you will have of spotting Polar Bear on the glaciers, although they may be a distance away, so long focal length lenses at the ready. Pyramiden is one of the world’s most captivating ghost towns, according to National Geographic! This part of our tour will take you from the Advent fjord outside of Longyearbyen towards Pyramiden. Its residents left the old Soviet town in 1998. Now, a small group of people live there & maintain what used to be the Soviet pride in the Arctic. After visiting Pyramiden, the trip continues towards the glacier Nordenskiöld. Nordenskiöld is a large glacier calving into the ocean, & the blue-coloured glacier front is a fantastic sight.
    Paul will be on hand to ensure that should you want to take photographs showing off the splendid landscape of the area, but with animals within the photo, you will have suitable guidance.

     

    A couple of visits to the mountains to spot ptarmigan in the snow will be in the schedule, these are found on a short journey outside of town, but it is easy to head up into the lower peaks at short notice; this is due to their proximity & the fact that we will have our transport available at all hours of the day. The male ptarmigan look fabulous with their red eyebrows & white coats, whilst the softly patterned females allow for a more subtle photography approach.
    Highlights of our stay in Longyearbyen will include:
    • Staying in a traditional cabin, overlooking the historic mining town of Longyearbyen, with reindeer & Arctic foxes as our neighbours.
    • 2 Boat-trips & landings at a Walrus colony.
    • Whale watching in the fjords – with high chances of Blue Whale, Beluga & rarer whales.
    • Close encounters with Arctic Foxes.
    • Photograph Red-Throated Divers & tundra birds at nest & with chicks.
    • Photographing red-throated divers, phalaropes & king eiders courtship, at nest & with chicks.
    • Visits to nesting seabird colonies of Little Auk & Brunnich’s Guillemot.
    • Excursion to the town of Pyramiden, with good chance of Polar Bear on the glaciers.
    Photographable Species: "Blue" Fulmar, Grey (Red) Phalarope, Long-Tailed Duck, Red-Necked Phalarope, arctic fox, arctic skua, barnacle goose, common eider, king eider, little auk, pink-footed goose, snow bunting, svalbard reindeer, svalbard rock ptarmigan, walrus

    The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard Itinerary

    day 1

    arrive longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 2

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 3

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 4

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 5

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 6

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 7

    day seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - evening seeking wildlife in longyearbyen - overnight in longyearbyen

    day 8

    transfer to longyearbyen airport - flight to home location

    Paul kindly provided all images on this page.
    A frame filling Arctic Fox as you will be able to photograph during the NaturesLens Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard photography holiday
    + Google Calendar+ iCal Export

  • 10%

    Discount from Lenses For Hire on any lenses, or other camera equipment, that you require FOR this wildlife photography holiday.

    NaturesLens have partnered with Lenses For Hire to give you an exclusive discount on any lenses hired for any NaturesLens Wildlife Photography Holiday or Workshop.

    • Accommodation on a non-shared basis (with no single supplement payable)
    • Airport Transfers
    • All in-trip transportation
    • All photography sessions & appropriate permits
    • Food on a full board basis
    • Guidance & advice from our Photography Holiday Guide
    • Transportation between photographic locations
    • All Drinks
    • Any activities not listed on the itinerary
    • Flights
    • Meals not listed on the itinerary
    • Personal expenses of any type
    • Required Insurances
    • Sundries
    • Tips & Gratuities
    • Transportation to start location
    • Visas

    What our clients say

    • Alan - Calera - 2017

      Always good trips, with great photographic opportunities, & lots of camaraderie. Recommended!

    Make a Booking Enquiry

    To make a booking enquiry, please complete the form below & we will get back to you as soon as possible.
    You are making an enquiry for the The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard photography holiday, which is scheduled for the dates of 11th - 18th July 2023 & costs £3999 per participant

    , this photography holiday requires a deposit of, £500 to secure a place.
    This form collects your entered details for the purposes of a booking enquiry.
    Please view our privacy policy for full details on how we protect & manage your submitted data.

    How to Book

    Before booking, it is important that you read the relevant photography holiday event page & our Booking Terms & Conditions. If you have any doubts regarding your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us.
    To book, simply click the relevant link from the event page on our website. You will then be sent a booking form & a copy of our terms & conditions. In order to secure your place on the selected photography holiday, simply complete the booking form with details of all persons travelling & holiday indemnity, in relevant cases, & return to us (either by email or by post) with confirmation that the deposit has been paid. Payments should be made via bank transfer.
    A deposit of 20% is required at the time of booking unless you are booking less than 90 days before departure. In this case, full payment of the photography holiday price is required.

    Recommended Equipment

    Recommended Camera Equipment

    To be advised

    Recommended Clothing

    To be advised

    Additional Notes

    NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.
    The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.
    NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead. This photography holiday has a minimum participant level of 5 plus NaturesLens guide(s).
    In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.
    Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.
    Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.
    All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.
    NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.
    NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.
    NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday particpants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.
    Payment of deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.
    All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.
    Travel Insurance Requirements
    It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical & personal accident risks. This must include cover for the activities to be undertaken during the photography holiday. We also strongly recommend you take out cover for cancellation & curtailment & baggage cover.
    We have made use of the services of Campbell Irvine Insurance in the past, Campbell Irvine has policies which are specially designed for adventure holidays & are underwritten by AXA Insurance. As an alternative, check your standard travel insurance, many bank accounts include suitable insurance as part of a packaged deal.
    Personal Travel Insurance can be arranged directly at Campbell Irvine.
    For photographic insurance, we highly recommend the services of Glover & Howe. We have made use of their policies for a number of years now, adjustments, policy maintenance & claims are handled in an easy & professional manner by them.

    The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard Summary

    The The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard photography holiday is a photography holiday of 7 night/8 day duration, that costs £3999 per participant

     & takes place in Longyearbyen in Norway, between the dates of 11th - 18th July 2023. It is ideal for photographing "Blue" Fulmar, Grey (Red) Phalarope, Long-Tailed Duck, Red-Necked Phalarope, arctic fox, arctic skua, barnacle goose, common eider, king eider, little auk, pink-footed goose, snow bunting, svalbard reindeer, svalbard rock ptarmigan, walrus & more. This photography holiday is led by Paul Alistair Collins for NaturesLens. The photography holiday is offered on a Full Board, Non-Shared basis. Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 5 participants & a maximum of 6, plus Paul. We consider this to be an event of Easy level of exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this event, please contact us prior to making a booking enquiry. The photography holiday starts & ends at Longyeaarbyen. Transfers between Longyeaarbyen & Longyearbyen are included in the cost of this photography holiday, this photography holiday requires a deposit of £500 to secure a place.

    The Arctic Wildlife of Svalbard Payment Details

    • Deposit required to secure a place: £500 payable upon making a booking.
    • Final balance payment due: April 11th, 2023*. Bookings made after this date will require the full payment to secure a place.
    • Bookings close: April 11th, 2023.
    • No-interest payment plan: we offer a no-interest payment plan for our photography holidays. Please enquire for details.
    • * Unless stated otherwise on our event booking form.

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    • Details

    Start:
    11th - 18th July 2023
    Cost:
    £3999 per participant
    Event Category:
    Website:
    https://natureslens.co.uk

    Location

    Norway
    Longyearbyen, Norway

    Guide

    Paul Alistair Collins