Svalbard
Autumn Magic
Enjoying the Magic Autumn Light
Svalbard Autumn Magic
Svalbard Autumn Magic Photo Expeditions from late August to early October can be truly spectacular. The golden light of the setting sun returns, creates long shadows and paints the Arctic landscape in soft colours of red, orange, pink and purple - perfect for capturing the raw beauty of Svalbard’s mountains, glaciers, and wildlife.
Wildlife remains in the archipelago, with polar bears roaming the pack ice in the north in search of food. Walruses and seals rest along the shore, or on drifting glacier ice in calm fjords. While migratory birds prepare for their journey south, there are still many species to photograph. The crisp air and colourful skies offer dramatic contrasts, perfect for photographing the Arctic's landscape and wildlife as the winter soon returns.
Svalbard in autumn is a unique opportunity for photographers eager to capture the magic of the Arctic in this beautiful season.
What to photograph
Below, you can explore what you can photograph in Svalbard during September and October, with images taken by Ole J. Liodden on WildPhoto expeditions.
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Click on the image below to read the trip report from the WildPhoto Autumn Magic expedition to Svalbard 3-12 October 2022. See where we have been, what we have photographed, and some behind-the-scenes images.
Itinerary Svalbard Autumn Magic
Svalbard is located at about 80 degrees North, so we scheduled our Svalbard Autumn expeditions in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. Based on previous photo expeditions in September and October we plan to use the travel route as illustrated on the map, but this may change due to ice, weather, and other conditions.
DAY 1 Departure from Longyearbyen through Isfjorden.
DAY 2-4 Heading toward the sea ice, searching for polar bears and other animals. Depending on the ice conditions, this will probably be north of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet.
DAY 5 East toward Storøya, searching for polar bears and walrus.
DAY 6 Sailing south toward Bråsvellbreen and into Hinlopen with walrus and whales.
DAY 7 Sailing north up Hinlopen.
DAY 8 Liefdefjorden with the Monaco glacier and the northwestern corner of Spitsbergen with seals and great landscapes.
DAY 9 Sailing south along the coast of Spitsbergen. Return to Longyearbyen late in the evening.
DAY 10 Disembarking the ship and preparing the travel home.
The map below illustrates a possible itinerary for a Svalbard Autumn Magic photo expedition.
FAQ - Good to know about Autumn in Svalbard
Click on any of the numbers below to view answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our Svalbard Autumn Magic photo expeditions.
You can usually expect the first snow in Svalbard’s mountains around late August or early September. However, this varies depending on the temperature and weather conditions. By mid-September, snow is common at least in the northern parts of Sptsbergen and Nordaustlandet.
Book a spot on Svalbard Autumn Magic
Below is a list of available cabins for our Svalbard Autumn Magic expeditions onboard our expedition ship MS Virgo (maximum of 12 guests). The price displayed for each cabin is per person (in USD), not for the entire cabin. To inquire or book a spot, simply click the button under your preferred cabin, and you’ll be directed to an email to booking@wildphoto.com where you can provide more details about what you are interested in or request further information. If your desired cabin or availability isn't listed, please let us know. We can add you to the waiting list and notify you if spots become available later.
Filter available cabins on MS Virgo
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Other seasons
Not interested in a photo expedition in autumn? No problem! We offer four other exciting seasonal options for travelling to Svalbard. Click on any of the images below to explore more about our other seasons with photography expeditions to Svalbard.
WildPhoto Travel is a leading photo expedition company - specialized in polar regions. Since 2006, we have offered great photo opportunities for our guests and partners.
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