Expedition Svalbard with Rick Tomlinson 2024

At the end of September, we set out into the untamed wilderness of Svalbard. With 12 nights on board, there will be many extraordinary photo opportunities. Zodiac excursions bring you face-to-face with Svalbard's beauty, while onshore hikes invite you to capture its essence from every angle. The Arctic foxes has started to change into their beautiful white winter coat and the Svalbard reindeers are photogenic with their full-grown antlers. 

The tundra has shifted to warm autumn colors and the sun has started to set again, providing us with beautiful sunsets and a warm light, perfect for photography. The ice has receded, allowing exploration further east. We have also great opportunities to reach Bråsvellbreen, a magnificent glacier front stretching 45 kilometers. During this time of year, the first snow may have fallen, beautifully covering the mountain peaks and the landscapes.

Day 1: Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Arrive in Longyearbyen and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 - 11: Expedition cruising

Explore Longyearbyen on your own before meeting up your fellow travellers and guides for lunch. In the afternoon we embark the expedition ship and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden - our Arctic expedition has started! 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 head out on Zodiac cruises every day and to go ashore when the opportunity arises. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

The magnificent fjords of Svalbard

Svalbard offers the visitor countless spectacular fjords, home to an abundance of wildlife. Below, we have listed some of the fjords and glaciers that we might explore with ship or Zodiac during our journey:

In Krossfjorden we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier.

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.

Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty – dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals. 

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered 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. We have good chances to reach and sail along the impressive Bråsvellbreen. If lucky we encounter whales in this area. 

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.

Day 12: Longyearbyen

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

All itineraries are for guidance only. Our exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions, wildlife and government regulations. The places mentioned are just examples of some of the many sites Svalbard has to offer. We always strive to maximise your experience. Please remember that flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Special Lecturer: Rick Tomlinson

We are thrilled to present the knowledgeable photographer, Rick Tomlinson, as special guest lecturer. On board M/S Stockholm, he will share his experience and offer advice on shooting techniques and photo editing as well as pre-trip advice on photography equipment.

About Rick Tomlinson
Rick Tomlinson made his name capturing the Southern Ocean at its most treacherous as a crew member of various yachts in the Whitbread Round the World Race, he started with freelance pictures published in Yachting World on board Simon le Bons yacht Drum in 1985 and finished his 4 Race Whitbread career with a commission from National Geographic. Rick now leads many photography tours specialising in high latitude photography trips in Svalbard, Tromsø and the Falklands. Ricks first trip to Svalbard in 1998 was on board M/S Stockholm and he has had a close relationship with the ship ever since. Stockholm even guided one of the Super Yachts that Rick was working with on the east side of Svalbard through an area that was uncharted.

Rick also publishes an annual calendar which is now in its 36th year and is sought after around the world and has won many awards.