Arrive on Spitsbergen
We arrive in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, before transferring to our hotel. Overnight stay at BaseCamp Spitsbergen in the small Arctic town of Longyearbyen, where lunches and dinners are on your own.
Day 1: April 29
Day 2: April 30
Longyearbyen - dog mushing / snowmobiling
After breakfast at BaseCamp you have the option of either going dog mushing or snowmobiling for the day. The snow-covered landscape is pristine and breathtaking. If you are lucky you might see Svalbard Reindeer or even Arctic fox in white winter coat. You will enjoy a packed lunch out in nature. Dinner is on your own either at BaseCamp or any of the other restaurants in town.
Day 2: April 30
Day 3: May 01
Longyearbyen - Board the M/S Freya
This morning we will have a relaxing breakfast at BaseCamp and have a few hours of free time to explore the museums and shops of Longyearbyen. You will have time to pick up any needed last minute items before we board the M/S Freya after lunch (on your own). We depart at approximately 16:00. We have our first dinner on the M/S Freya after we embark, get settled into our cabins and then slowly start moving out of Adventfjorden on our adventure. We will spend the next eight nights onboard the M/S Freya who will transport us to a surreal world of beauty, ice and snow. We are on our way deep into the land of the mighty polar bear. Our Arctic expedition in the land of the midnight sun begins now!
Day 4-10: May 02-08
On board of M/S Freya
The next 7 days are dedicated to exploring the Svalbard Archipelago in search of the polar bear and other northern wildlife. We will photograph towering glaciers and sea ice in many shapes and forms. Because we chartered the entire ship, we are free to go where the light and ice take us and linger as long as we like to capture the magical light available to us for arctic photography. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay are included on board the M/S Freya.
Day 4-10: May 02-08
Day 11: May 09
M/S Freya / Longyearbyen
You will enjoy the last breakfast on the ship before disembarking in Longyearbyen port this morning. The expedition has come to an end. You transfer to the airport in Longyearbyen to connect to your international outbound flights home. Please book your flight out of Longyearbyen after breakfast time.
Included
- Accommodation for 10 nights in twin/single share room basis
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Zodiac excursions daily
- dog mushing and snowmobile tour
- Certified bear guards
- Two Wild Focus Expedition Leaders
- Photography Workshop
Not Included
- Any expenses of a personal nature such as telephone calls, beverages, liquor and wines, etc.*
- Dinners at BaseCamp
- Lunch on arrival day in Longyearbyen
- International airfare
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel/medical insurance (highly recommended)
*Beverages including liquor can be purchased in USD on the ship at the bar. Credit cards are accepted.
For this ship-based trip, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to be able to climb into and out of rigid inflatable Zodiac rafts for excursions ashore and have the ability to walk one to three miles over sometimes rough and uneven terrain such as rocky beaches and/or snow. This is an active expedition that requires mobility and good health. Travel via Zodiac may include variable conditions and can on occasion be bumpy and windy. If it’s windy, you may get wet from sea spray. We provide one-piece immersion suits that will protect you and your outer clothing from getting wet.
Travelers must be prepared for any type of weather, including extreme conditions that may involve high winds, rain and snow. While seas are generally calm on this expedition, it’s possible that we could encounter rough conditions which may cause issues for travelers prone to motion sickness. Please consult your physician about medications that control motion sickness. Inquire specifically about the Transderm Scop patch which we have found to be extremely effective without causing drowsiness. Discuss this with your doctor first because it should not be prescribed if you have been treated for glaucoma. There may be newer medications available as well, so please consult your physician.
On some of our Svalbard Expeditions (only late Spring), we offer the chance to spend a full day traveling on snow mobile or mushing a team of sled dogs. Dog sledding is very active and good physical health is a requirement. You will be responsible to control your team of dogs after receiving basic training on dog mushing. Travelers with severe back problems should avoid this activity as mushing can be bumpy and require upper body strength to control the sled. Please discuss this activity with your Expedition Leader if you have any doubts or questions.
Wild Focus Expeditions provides specialized, small group photography tours. Our photography expeditions are designed to get participants into distinctive, engaging locations around the world at the optimum times for photography. Our photo tours are created by our team of photographers who want to experience and photograph the world's top wildlife, nature and traditional cultures locations.