Experience Spitsbergen & the Svalbard Archipelago with ORYX Worldwide Photographic Expeditions

First used as a whaling base in the 17th and 18th centuries, the islands are now celebrated as a breeding ground for many seabirds, along with marine mammals and the elusive Polar Bear. Our expedition ship is the renowned Akademik Sergey Vavilov, perfectly suited for remote polar exploration. With her high ice classification we are able to push far north, along the edge of the ice pack. It is here we frequently encounter the mammalian icon of the Arctic – the Polar bear – hunting for seals and other protein sources to sustain them through the Arctic summer.



Throughout our journey we enjoy a comprehensive series of presentations by polar experts, providing an excellent background to the expedition. Days are busy with shore excursions to places of historic interest, visits to wildlife colonies, viewing the exquisite native flora and soaking up the stunning landscapes. Short or long hikes on shore are another feature along with regular cruising in the zodiacs. Sea kayaking is another popular option. Our voyage focuses on the western and northern coast of Spitsbergen and as far north as the permanent pack ice. This area has the highest concentration of wildlife and places of historic and scenic interest in the archipelago.



A major highlight of this departure will be the shipboard photography symposium. This program runs alongside our regular series of presentations on history, ornithology, geology and the natural world. The members of the photographic team each have a special area of expertise including wildlife photography, landscape and composition, along with technical elements including gear and equipment and computer based processing, file management and storage. We make regular use of our ship-board multimedia studio for breakout sessions and to review and critique our images throughout the voyage. Our photographic goals on this departure will be formed and led by the light available both onshore and on the water. With a varied and diverse itinerary and flexible plans, we aim to make the most out of the beautiful Arctic light, even if outside conventional shore landing times. For the photography buffs, this trip is not to be missed! As with all our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.

Experience the magical beauty of Svalbard!

Tour Information

Tour Dates 13th to 22nd June 2016 (11 days / 10 nights)
Tour Price From US$4,995 * £3,233 * €4,438 * ZAR62,083 per person sharing (see below)
Tour Size Limited to 15 Participants & 2 ORYX leaders (Marius Coetzee and Penny Robartes)

For more information on the Spitsbergen Encounter - Photographic Symposium 2016, please Visit: https://www.oryxphotography.com/photo-tours/classic-scheduled-tours/spitsbergen-arctic-photographic-symposium-2