Dates July 4–17, 2008
Photo Leaders Darrell Gulin, Wayne Lynch, John Shaw, Joe Van Os and Rinie van Meurs and another leader TBD
Fee $5,495 Triple with shared bath
(two lower, one upper berth)
$6,295 Twin with shared bath
(two lower berths)
$6,995 Twin with private bath
(upper, lower berths)
$7,995 Superior with private bath
$8,995 Suite with private bath

Hotels and flights between Oslo and Longyearbyen will be arranged at additional cost.
Deposit $1,500
Limit 48
Special Terms and Conditions Apply
Client Photo Gallery

No other expedition voyage in the world is dedicated to spending as much time traveling amidst the pristine arctic ice floes searching for polar bears and other wildlife photography opportunities as our Spitsbergen—The Pack Ice Voyage! This is a unique and absolutely incredible chance to visit the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and its largest island, Spitsbergen—the most spectacularly photogenic arctic destination on Earth—on the world’s only Arctic cruise that is totally dedicated to the interests of wildlife and nature photographers.

The Svalbard Archipelago comprises four large mountainous islands and hundreds of smaller ones. We depart from the island of Spitsbergen at Longyearbyen, the world’s most northerly town, positioned more than 10 degrees north of the Arctic Circle. Using satellite imagery we’ll head toward the largest expanse of pack ice and experience the stark and photogenic beauty of Spitsbergen’s glaciated and snowcapped mountain coastline on our way. The location of the ice depends on recent wind and current conditions.
Drifting pack ice frequently crowds the shore, or may be found as a free-floating ice field, miles from the islands. Here at the floe edge—where the ice meets the open water—it is common to find numerous polar bears, occasionally with their cubs, hunting for seals and walruses. The Norwegian Polar Institute has estimated that there are over 2,000 polar bears in the Svalbard region—a relatively high number for such a small geographic area. It is not uncommon to see as many as 20 or more bears on our cruises, and virtually every trip we’ve offered has seen and photographed bears and their seal kills at very close range. Before the inception of our cruises, these remarkable images of bears and their prey were very rare.

Spitsbergen is also home to some of the largest concentrations of seabirds in the North Atlantic, including immense and accessible colonies of dovekies, black-legged kittiwakes, thick-billed murres and northern fulmars. Bearded seals and walruses are additional highlights of the voyage. We’ll use the ship to approach the seals and, conditions permitting, launch our Zodiacs to approach walruses snoozing on the pack ice—we’re often able to get so close that we can photograph them with a wide-angle lens!

As if that is not enough, while cruising along the pack ice we’ll see ivory gulls, jaegers, puffins, ringed and harp seals, and possibly a whale or two. Though most of our photography will be done from the ship, we’ll make sure to spend time shooting enormous calving glaciers and other stunning icy landscapes from the shore as well. This voyage will provide photographers with dramatic imagery of tangible changing climate conditions in the High Arctic.

Because our cruise begins and ends in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, there are no lengthy travel days at sea. We will be shooting every day of the 10-night voyage so there is virtually no wasted "at sea" time. Our ship, the 50-passenger Professor Molchanov, has a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs, which get us ashore and also allow us to cruise among the ice floes in search of bears, walruses, seals and beautiful scenery. Become a member of our congenial group of photo travelers on an unforgettable cruise to the premier destination in the world for photographing polar bears in their sparkling realm as well as one of the most remote, vulnerable and uniquely beautiful locations on Earth.



Days 1–2
Travel from home via Oslo, Norway to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen.* (D)

Day 3 (Jul 6)
There is time to photograph the vicinity of Longyearbyen or shop for natural history books and local maps before we board Professor Molchanov in the afternoon. (BD)

Days 4–12
The next 9 days are dedicated to exploring the enigmatic and legendary Svalbard Archipelago and its icy environs. Our exact day-to-day itinerary will remain flexible, depending on local ice conditions. We spend our days in search of polar bears and other fantastic wildlife, plus ice-influenced landscapes. The ship offers a wonderful platform to use long lenses from a tripod, or hand held lenses utilizing stabilization features. Possible subjects include towering glaciers, sea ice in many forms including the effects of global warming, walruses amidst the ice floes, bearded and ringed seals, and several species of whales. But the main feature of our trip will be our search across the pack ice for the very icon of
the arctic—the polar bear—in spectacular photogenic situations that surpass any place else in the Arctic! Birdlife will offer wonderful additional photo possibilities including fulmars, terns and gulls in flight, plus throngs of wheeling thick-billed murres at a very photogenic and accessible colony. Since we control every aspect of the cruise we will have a remarkable amount of time available for photography in the 24 hours of daylight. (BLD)

Day 13 (Jul 16)
We disembark in Longyearbyen and depart for home. (B)

Day 14
Arrive home.

*A land/air package including the Oslo/Longyearbyen round-trip flight and two Oslo hotel nights can be arranged through our office at an additional cost.


Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.