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  • Svalbard May 2019 | © Steve Winter

Itinerary Summary

Duration
9 Days
Price
£8895
When
May 2022
Destination
Svalbard
Type
Small Group Safari
Duration Price When Destination Type
9 Days £8895 May 2022 Svalbard Small Group Safari
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About this trip

Join expert wildlife photographer Steve Winter on this 9-day safari aboard the M/V Kinfish, discovering the breathtaking scenery and fascinating wildlife of the Svalbard Archipelago. Starting in Longyearbyen, you will board your ship and set off along the coast, travelling at one of the best times of year to see polar bears roaming the pack ice as they hunt for seals in 24-hour daylight. You'll also be able to photograph a range of other Arctic wildlife including Svalbard reindeer, whales, walruses and Arctic foxes.

What makes this trip extraordinary

  • Encounter unique Arctic wildlife and breath-taking scenery.
  • Travel aboard your intimate expedition ship with just 18 passengers.
  • Enjoy lectures and hands-on guidance from your expert photographic guide Steve Winter, who has worked and travelled extensively in the world's wildest regions.
  • Discover the icy wilderness of the high Arctic, with snow-capped mountains and glacial cliffs forming the perfect backdrop for your wildlife photographs.

Embedded Video Overview

An 9-day photography-focused safari aboard the M/V Kinfish - from $11,341 per person, excluding international flights.

Day by day

Day by day

Day 1

Arrive in Longyearbyen

Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, you will be met by your expedition team and expert guides and set off on your Arctic adventure aboard the M/V Kinfish. Look out for Arctic wildlife as you sail up past the scenic Prins Karl Forland, witnessing the fjords and glaciers of Svalbards western coast.

Overnight: M/V Kinfish (D)

Days 2-8

Exploring Svalbard

You will spend the next seven days exploring the landscapes and wildlife of Svalbard aboard the M/V Kinfish, accompanied by expert wildlife photographer Steve Winter, who will be on hand to provide tips and guidance on how to best capture the Arctic scenery. Photographing in a variety of natural settings, from majestic glacial shelves to remote islands, you may encounter the King of the Arctic, the polar bear, roaming the pack ice, curious whale pods swimming alongside your ship, and seals and walruses lounging on the shores. The small size of the M/V Kinfish allows you to get very close to the wildlife, and you may even be able to photograph polar bears from the comfort of the ship. Each day will bring different wildlife encounters as you travel around the archipelago, and you will have the opportunity to venture out on Zodiac excursions and shore landings. In the evenings, enjoy informative lectures from your guides and on your final night, before heading back to Longyearbyen, you will be invited to a Captain’s dinner on board.

Overnight: M/V Kinfish (B, L, D)

Day 9

Depart Longyearbyen

Today you will bid farewell to your expedition team and disembark in Longyearbyen. Transfer to the airport in time for your international flight home.

Mosaic Gallery

Svalbard May 2019 | © Steve Winter
Svalbard May 2019 | © Steve Winter
Svalbard May 2019 | © Steve Winter
Svalbard May 2019 | © Steve Winter

Trip Details

Our Svalbard Polar Bear Explorer trip is a small group wildlife expedition. The M/V Kinfish is a small, intimate ship perfect for exploring the icy shores of the Svalbard Archipelago, ensuring your proximity to wildlife-rich areas of interest. Carrying 12 passengers, it creates unique and enchanting wildlife experiences with unrivalled up-close encounters of Arctic wildlife, including the mighty polar bear.

Trip date Duration Prices from
May 12 - May 20 2022 9 Days £8895

Your Expedition Ship

Ice landscape, Svalbard

SPITSBERGEN AND THE SEASONS

Often referred to by the name of its largest island, Spitsbergen, Svalbard forms part of Norway and, with just 3,000 inhabitants, has a very small population. The main cause of this is the harsh weather conditions - in the winter months, thick ice and snow carpets the archipelago, covering up to 60% of its surface. The name Spitsbergen derives from the Dutch for ‘Jagged Peaks’ after the islands were discovered by explorer Willem Barentzs in 1596, whilst finding a route to the Far East.


The best time to see polar bears in Svalbard is usually in the summer months, as the ice encompassing the archipelago melts enough for us to navigate the icy waters. At this time, the midnight sun reigns over the dramatic landscapes, casting an ever-glowing, ambient light on your astonishing surroundings. We can also extend this out into the autumn, when the midnight sun is replaced by some fascinating sunsets. During this time, the forbidding conditions are augmented with bright flora, melt-waterfalls bursting through glaciers, and lonely icebergs.


A variety of Arctic wildlife is there to be encountered on your frozen adventure, including walrus, seals, seabirds and puffins.


Your daily forays into this stunning Arctic wilderness will provide a variety of unique and colourful discoveries along the way.
  • Gemma was incredibly responsive and I could not have felt better taken care of. No matter how many questions I asked, I always got a quick and helpful response. This trip genuinely exceeded any expectations and hope that I had for it. I could not be happier with my experience. I would like to add that the guides, the crew on board and Steve Winter were absolutely fantastic!
    5 out of 5
  • I loved the M/V Kinfish, her crew, and our fantastic guides Alex and Lauren. Steve Winter was really helpful when you asked him and held photo critique sessions – it was great to see what others had done and to get feedback on my efforts. I love the camaraderie of a small ship; I love the big, empty, wild places, being able to access the small bays and jumping into zodiacs to get a closer look.
    5 out of 5
  • The whole trip was very good with excellent guides. Steve, the photographer, was also very good and supported us in improving our photography. The crew on board were also excellent, especially the captain, first officer and stewardess, but all were brilliant. The overall experience with the quality of wildlife and scenery, and the brilliance of our leaders, made it a very good trip. We have now had two very good trips with you, with good destinations, very good routes around the area, and excellent people leading us. You clearly know how to put the right people together, and this has led to two brilliant experiences.
    5 out of 5
Arctic 1

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