Join us to Svalbard in March, when the sun lights up the in snow covered landscape with its soft but magical Arctic light. Together with a local guide we explore the stunning surroundings of Longyearbyen. This area is known for its healthy populations of white arctic foxes, wild reindeer and rock ptarmigan. The wildlife around Longyearbyen is not shy and will offer us plenty of good photo opportunities. This is a true arctic winter photo adventure. 

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Longyearbyen and its surroundings  

Nestled deep within the Arctic Circle, Longyearbyen is the northernmost settlement of its size on Earth and the beating heart of the Svalbard archipelago. Located at 78° North, this remote outpost is a gateway to one of the planet’s last true wildernesses. Longyearbyen is surrounded by stark, stunning, and otherworldly landscapes that offer unmatched opportunities for nature and wildlife photography.

 

In July, the High Arctic is alive with activity, bathed in 24 hours of daylight under the Midnight Sun. For wildlife photographers, this is a unique window of opportunity, when both light and life are abundant. The surrounding landscape is wild, raw, and dramatic. Rolling tundra, jagged mountains, braided rivers, and coastal plains stretch endlessly beneath a low Arctic sky. Summer brings an explosion of life to this seemingly barren wilderness. The snow retreats, the tundra blooms with mosses and wildflowers, and Arctic wildlife becomes more active and visible.

 

In this season, the arctic fox pups have started to show themselves frequently. These playful and joyful creatures are the stars of this photo tour. The Svalbard reindeer graze in the open valleys and also have their tiny calves. The antlers of the bulls are covered in velvet. Some individuals might already start shedding the fluffy velvet coat, offering some cool photo opportunities. The rock ptarmigans are frequently seen in their mottled summer plumage. Additionally to these local "inhabitants", seabirds like Arctic terns, little auks, and glaucous gulls fill the skies, while barnacle geese and pink-footed geese feed along the riverbanks. The surroundings of Longyearbyen is teeming with life in this period, giving more than plenty subjects to photograph. 

Our carefully designed photo tours take advantage of local knowledge and expert guiding to put you in the right place at the right time, always with the best possible light. The light in July is the best during the nights, when the sunlight is the softest. This offers endless opportunities to shoot in optimal conditions without time pressure. The photography excursions are designed to make the most of this light and the best wildlife locations, far from the crowds. 

 

Longyearbyen itself is more than just a base, it’s a fascinating mix of raw nature and resilient human presence. The colorful wooden buildings contrast sharply with the monochrome landscape, while the town’s quiet atmosphere and Arctic culture give visitors a true sense of isolation and serenity. As the town is placed in the middle of the wilderness, the local wildlife often can be found within the heart of the tow. The town itself is often visited by Svalbard reindeer, rock ptarmigan and arctic foxes, offering photography possibilities right outside the accommodation. 

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The photography tour

During our six-day stay in Longyearbyen, we will be guided by one of the region’s most experienced and knowledgeable local guides. With decades of expertise in guiding nature and wildlife photographers, he knows the terrain intimately and understands exactly where and how to find the wildlife. Over the course of the trip, we will embark on five guided excursions outside Longyearbyen. The guide will pick us up directly from our accommodation, and a short 20–30 minute drive will take us well outside the town’s borders, into prime wildlife habitat. These outings are carefully timed and planned to maximize our chances of photographing Arctic foxes, wild Svalbard reindeer, rock ptarmigan, arctic tern, little auk, gees and with some luck the beautiful red necked phalarope in their natural surroundings. Each of these guided excursions will last around five hours, allowing us to focus fully on tracking and photographing wildlife in the stunning Arctic landscapes. In addition, we’ll have several hours each day to explore and photograph Longyearbyen itself, where wildlife is often spotted even within the town’s limits.

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In order to get to the wildlife, we will have to walk on foot into the terrain. Some wildlife sightings can be right from the road right next to the car. While for some other photo opportunities we will need to walk about an hour into the terrain. Please be prepared to make some short hikes. 

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We’ve chosen to limit the group size to just four to six participants to ensure the best possible wildlife photography experience. A smaller group allows for a quieter presence in the field, increasing our chances of close encounters with the animals and giving everyone more space and flexibility to capture unique shots.​​

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Itinerary

 

• ​Day 1. Flight to Longyearbyen airport. The group is picked up by Taxi from the airport and brought to the accommodation. You will be staying at the Coal Minder's Cabins. The accommodation lays outside the town center and offers wildlife photography possibilities right in front of the door. At 21:00 the local guide will pick up the group for the first photography outing of the tour. The outing is timed with the best light of the day. Around 02:00 the photography outing will end.  

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• Day 2 - 5. Breakfast at around 08:00 at the accommodation. After breakfast there is time for exploring Longyearbyen and photographing the local wildlife in town. Or, if requested, the group can spend time editing the images from the previous outings. Around 18:00 the group will have dinner in one of the local restaurants. At 21:00 the local guide will pick up the group for the photography outing in the surroundings of Longyearbyen. Around 02:00 the photography outing will end.  

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• Day 6. Breakfast around 8:00. If time allows its, there is a last possibility for a short photography outing around the accommodation or a short photo editing session. A taxi will pick the group up from the accommodation and bring you to Longyearbyen airport for your flight back home. 

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Fill in the booking form.

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Or contact us for inquiries for other dates and other questions.

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