Svalbard Polar Bear Voyage
August 3 – 12, 2028
Dates:
August 3 - 12, 2028
Your Pros:
Juan Pons & Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
Varies by Cabin
(See Tuition Section Below)
Location:
Svalbard, Norway
Fitness Level:
Moderate
Availability:
12 Seats Available
Dates:
August 3 - 12, 2028
Your Pros:
Juan Pons & Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
Varies by Cabin
(See Tuition Section Below)
Location:
Svalbard, Norway
Fitness Level:
Moderate
Availability:
12 Seats Available
What Makes This Expedition Unique
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9 full days spent photographing polar bears around Svalbard Archipelago
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Privately chartered state-of-the-art vessel
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Daily cruises or landings by Zodiac
Flexible schedule based on local conditions
Dedicated photo instructors for the entirety of the adventure
All incoming and outgoing hotel stays included in your tuition
Arctic Journey 81° North
Journey far north to one of the most extreme environments on earth in search of the 3,000 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) roaming this Norwegian island’s remote coastlines and surrounding sea ice. With only 2,700 residents living on Svalbard, polar bears outnumber the human population on the archipelago.
Svalbard is a destination where wildlife, mountains, glaciers, fjords, and ocean all converge, and our group has the distinct opportunity to experience it all aboard a privately chartered expedition vessel tailored to a wildlife photographer’s needs.
A polar bear hunting and resting on sea ice is a defining symbol of Svalbard. Their main prey of walrus and seal rest along the shore or drifting on ice, exposed to the arctic waters of the north and vulnerable to attacks from predators. Though the polar bear is actually the world’s largest land-dwelling carnivore, it’s classified as a marine mammal because the species has adapted to spend most of its life at sea on the drifting icebergs.
The timeframe of this workshop coincides with the most optimal wildlife conditions, the ice pack remaining in the northern reaches of the island, the ever-present midnight sun, beautiful lighting for all landscape enthusiasts, and the presence of migratory seabirds. Our group of 12 are fortunate to have 2 dedicated Zodiacs on board, ensuring everyone can sit and photograph comfortably as we get up-close looks at our surroundings
Throughout the workshop, you will learn how to compose compelling images, use the environmental conditions to your advantage, and master the technical aspects of photography. Whether you’re a beginner photographer or a seasoned pro, our experienced instructors provide personalized instruction and guidance to help you improve your skills and take your wildlife and landscape photography to the next level.
This comprehensive photo adventure will be an unforgettable educational experience for all. We offer personalized in-the-field instruction to best hone in your images and streamline your creative visions, as well as image reviews and editing sessions aboard our ship to continue improving the techniques learned throughout the workshop.
Wildlife To Look Out For
Enjoy 9 full days aboard our expedition vessel, the MS Virgo. This 12 passenger arctic vessel features a reinforced hull to aid our expert crew in navigating the pack ice. The ship offers multiple observation decks on different levels, advantageous for those looking for panoramic vista shots from Deck 2 or low angle wildlife images of polar bear, walrus, and more off Deck 1.
Each cabin aboard the Virgo includes a private en-suite bathroom with hairdryers, a desk, power sockets, storage compartments, custom temperature control, all linens, towels, toiletries, and more. Group members can utilize the ship’s common spaces for editing demos and downtime, with comfortable seating and tables with built-in charging stations.
3 delicious meals each day are prepared by the chef aboard the ship, accommodating for special dietary requirements or preferences. Meal times are flexible, allowing the group to have freedom with their schedule and daily outings.
Our vessel also holds 2 Zodiacs, which allows 6 guests to sit and photograph comfortably in each boat.
This unique educational excursion offers exciting photo access to 12 participants, 2 instructors, and a team of naturalists and crew together on the expedition.
Our group of adventurers will enjoy a full spectrum adventure together, with in-the-field instruction and one-on-one post-processing sessions during downtime and long passages, as well as evening group image reviews to dedicate our time to making once in a lifetime images in this once in a lifetime location.
Our workshops are distinctive in that they’re fully inclusive– your tuition cost covers all expenses from the moment you arrive to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway to the moment you depart the island. We have partnered with the premier outfitters in Svalbard, who have decades of experience guiding polar bear voyages.
As workshop leaders, we take your trust in our expertise very seriously. We work in tandem with the respective forest agencies at any photo location, and we always operate under the proper insurance, permits, and certifications.
You will be accompanied by Juan Pons and Jaclyn Merica during this workshop. Juan is an accomplished professional wildlife and travel photographer and educator with a deep passion for the outdoors and conservation. Jaclyn works alongside Juan, co-leading outdoor workshops in places like Yellowstone, Chile, the Himalayas, Botswana, and more.
Our team believes the best way to teach is by demonstrating, and to this end, we will be shooting alongside you, showing you our technique, and sharing our love and knowledge of wildlife and the landscape. However, our priority is always YOU, and assisting you to get the best images YOU can get.
During this adventure, you will have a dedicated team coaching you throughout our entire journey- both in the field and in the classroom. Group members have the opportunity to participate in exclusive instructional photography sessions, image reviews, hands on gear demos, and more. By keeping our group small, we can ensure to provide you instruction tailored to your particular needs and interests.
Our workshops are fairly intensive experiences, and as such, you should not expect this to be a leisurely vacation. Our goal is to capture the best images we can at every point possible during our voyage. Some days, we may set out very early or very late in the midnight sun. Our schedule is dependent on the ocean conditions and guidance from our captain and crew.
On this workshop, you will fly into and out of Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Airport code LYR). You will receive important instructions from our team to secure your flights 8 months prior to the workshop.
Then, about 3 months prior to the workshop, you will start hearing from our team on a regular basis. We will provide you with a Workshop Information Packet with all relevant details, as well as go over more info regarding the workshop to get you inspired and thinking about the images you want to capture during the workshop. These provided documents will list all recommended clothing, equipment, and even discounts for gear you may want to acquire for this excursion.
Juan and Jaclyn, are always available to answer any questions you may have leading up to the excursion- simply call or email and we can help you as best we can.
Additionally, we will schedule a Zoom meeting 2 – 3 months prior to the start of our workshop. There, you can meet your fellow workshop participants, ask any questions before traveling, receive insights and recommendations for reference books, and much more.
Tuition for the workshop is $16,995.00 USD per person for double occupancy accommodations.
To reserve your seat on this workshop, you can do so with a $6,995.00 USD deposit. A second payment of $5,000.00 USD is due 1 year out on August 3, 2027. A final payment of $5,000.00 USD due 6 months prior to the start of the workshop.
Due to our unique lodging aboard a ship, no refunds will be provided unless we are able to fill your spot with another participant. If you are in need of a special payment arrangement, please reach out and we are happy to work with you.
Our vessel offers 2 different accommodation categories:
Single Private Cabin – 6 Available
These single cabins feature a single bed, private en-suite bathroom, a window, a desk, a chair, storage compartments, and more.
The additional cost for this single cabin is $1,750 USD. This supplement can be applied at the time of booking, or applied to future invoices.
Twin Private Cabin – 3 Available
These double occupancy cabins feature 2 beds, a private en suite bathroom, 1 – 2 windows, a desk, a chair, a sofa, under bed storage compartments, and more.
• All lodging from the start date to end date of the workshop
• All airport transfers in Longyearbyen
• All meals, snacks, and water during daily outings
• Non-alcoholic beverages during our voyage
• Onboard editing sessions and image critiques
• Gratuities toward the ship’s crew
• All permits, landing fees, and port taxes
• In-the-field instruction
• Image reviews and post-processing sessions
• Creative inspiration and group camaraderie
• An unforgettable experience
• Roundtrip international air travel from your home country to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
• Visa fees to Norway, passport expenses, and any arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable
• Any applicable items of a personal nature, such as laundry services and alcoholic beverages
• Emergency evacuation insurance (Required)
• Travel, Medical, and Trip Cancellation Insurance (highly recommended)
• Optional day trips in Oslo or Longyearbyen
• Anything else specifically not listed as included
You are responsible for making your own flight arrangements to and from Svalbard. We will assist you with flight arrival times and departures prior to your booking. Please do not book your flight reservations until you receive explicit instructions from our team.
Cancellations
• Due to the unique specifications of this workshop’s remote location and logistics with the ship, no refunds will be provided unless we are able to fill your spot with another participant.
Make sure to check the Terms and Conditions for all our workshops.
This adventure requires emergency evacuation insurance. Additionally, we highly recommend Travel Insurance from a reputable insurance company. We have partnered with Squaremouth, a website that allows you to compare multiple travel policies from multiple providers to choose the best one for you based on your needs and costs. https://www.squaremouth.com/
When photographing wildlife and nature, the key is to remain flexible to adjustments in order to maximize our daily landings as needed to observe the most optimal times for wildlife and lighting conditions.
An example workshop itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Arrival to Svalbard
On this day, plan to arrive to Longyearbyen (Airport code LYR) by 4 PM, and convene with group members at a local hotel.
Our ship’s crew and your photo guides will hold an introductory meeting in the evening, and then a group meal together, before retiring early to rest ahead of our voyage beginning the next day.
Day 2: Setting Sail from Longyearbyen
After breakfast in port, we board our ship, settle into our cabins, proceed through some safety briefings, eat lunch, and begin our journey north to the remote coves and coastlines of the archipelago.
Weather depending, we may have our first opportunity to set out on our smaller boats to explore further in areas our larger vessel can’t reach. Keep in mind, we are not racing any sunsets or time constraints, so we have 24 hours of daylight to work with for our outings!
In the evening, as our boat is anchored in calm, protected waters, we enjoy our dinner meals together. Folks are welcome to sit in the common areas after our group meal times to relax, edit, or ask the instructors for any assistance, or retire to their cabins to rest for the intensive days ahead.
Day 3 – 9: Exploring the Arctic North
On the following days, we begin each morning with breakfast, then set out to for a photo outing. Some days, this could mean we are able to land on shore, while other days we will shoot from our Zodiacs and explore shallow waterways. We will find a flow that works with all the client needs.
Each day, we are provided lunch, and will have a rest period aboard the ship before returning to our zodiacs for an afternoon outing.
As we anchor in new coves each night, landscape and drone photographers have the chance to create lots of exciting images, even while at basecamp.
Day 10: Return to Port and Depart
After breakfast, we will return to Longyearbyen and disembark from the ship. Clients are welcome to fly home in the afternoon on this day from Longyearbyen (Airport code LYR).
