Expedition Svalbard with Mattias Klum 2023

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

We arrive in Longyearbyen, embark our expedition ship in the afternoon and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden.

Day 2 - 10: Expedition

We are now in a part of the world where we are totally dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors and on the wildlife we encounter. Our ambition is to make landings or cruises every day with our Zodiacs. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

Northwest Spitsbergen

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.

Magnificent fjords

Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords. During our journey we will explore a few of them such as: Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, is lined with snow-covered mountain peaks and here we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pinkfooted geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

If the ice allows we enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive, basaltic cliff, which is the home to an estimated 200 000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by an enormous ice cap and fascinates naturalists as well as historians. There are huge glacier fronts here, intersected by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent landscapes and vast tundra. Chances to encounter walruses, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer are good here.

Southwest Spitsbergen

The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day we can see the summit of the highest mountain Hornsundtind, measuring 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears and bearded seals are often seen resting on the fjord ice.

Day 11: Longyearbyen

Early morning we disembark our expedition ship and begin our journey back home.

Please note: Our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and wildlife. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximize your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Flights
We offer climate compensated group flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen with return (limited availability). Contact us for more information!

The Package Travel Directive – protects the traveller’s rights

When you have booked a trip with PolarQuest, you are protected by the Package Travel Directive. This includes that you have the right to rebook your trip or cancel and receive a full refund, if your Government, or other relevant authorities, have implemented restrictions against travelling. This includes documented quarantine requirements in the country you are travelling to. However, free cancellation is only possible when it is less than 30 days to departure, provided the travel restrictions are still in place and clearly will affect your trip. You are also entitled to a full refund, should PolarQuest cancel the trip for any reason whatsoever.

Special lecturer: Mattias Klum

We are excited to present Mattias Klum, the internationally recognized and rewarded photographer and film producer, as a Special Lecturer on this voyage. On board he will tell you more about photography and his major projects and expeditions to some of the most remote and unique places on earth. He will also be available to share his knowledge of photography with you on board.

The light, the diverse landscapes, the glistering glaciers and the iconic wildlife including whales, walruses and polar bears, makes Svalbard a photographer’s dream

About Mattias Klum

Mattias Klum was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1968. He has worked as a professional photographer since 1986, and as a cinematographer and director on numerous film and television projects since 1994. Mattias  Klum is internationally recognized for describing, visualizing and portraying animals, plants, and natural and cultural settings in the form of articles, books, films, lectures and exhibitions. His artistic photographic language has rendered him success not only in the world of documentaries but also in the art scene.

Mattias Klum’s work has been featured in many international publications, such as National Geographic, Wildlife Conservation, Audubon, Geo, BBC Wildlife, Terre Sauvage, Stern, Der Spiegel and The New York Times. In 1997 National Geographic Magazine published Mattias Klum’s photographs for the first time. That story made him one of National Geographic’s youngest contributors at the time. Since 1997, he has produced multiple articles and 13 cover images for the reputable magazine.

His Majesty The King of Sweden has granted Mattias Klum with his medal of the 8th grade with blue ribbon for his important contributions as a nature photographer. He has been named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. He is an Ambassador for IUCN and WWF and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at WWF Sweden. In 2013 Klum was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Natural Sciences by Stockholm University. 

Mattias Klum's website
Mattias Klum's Instagram