Svalbard
Summer Dream
Summertime in the Arctic
Svalbard Summer Dream
Svalbard Summer Dream Photo Expeditions in July and August are prime months for wildlife photography, with the beautiful Midnight Sun and an overwhelming abundance of birds and mammals. With great opportunities to capture species like polar bears, walruses, bearded seals, ringed seals, and giant whales, this is truly a photographer's dream. The bird cliffs are crowded with life in summer, reaching their peak at the end of July when the chicks make their leap from the cliffs.
As temperatures rise, the sea ice typically starts to retreat from the archipelago around mid-July. However, the northern pack ice remains a critical hunting ground for polar bears and a feeding area for ice-specialised birds and whales. In July and August, the pack ice is usually located at 81-82 degrees North, making it essential to have an ice-strengthened ship - like the MS Virgo - for safe navigation in these remote and icy waters.
For passionate wildlife photographers, our Svalbard Summer Dream expeditions offer the best opportunities to capture the rich variety of birds and mammals in their natural Arctic environment.
What to photograph
Below, you can explore what you can photograph in Svalbard during July and August, with images taken by Ole J. Liodden on WildPhoto expeditions.
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Click on the images or links below to read rip reports from WildPhoto Svalbard Summer Dream expeditions to Svalbard. See where we have been, what we have photographed, and some behind-the-scenes images.
Itinerary Svalbard Summer
Svalbard is located at about 80 degrees North, so we schedule our Svalbard Summer expeditions in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. Based on previous photo expeditions in July and August 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 bird cliffs.
DAY 7-9 Liefdefjorden with the Monaco glacier, northwestern corner of Spitsbergen with walrus, seals, and great landscapes. South to Kongsfjorden, with glaciers, birds, and marine mammals. Return to Longyearbyen late in the evening.
DAY 10 Disembarking the ship and prepare the travel home.
NOTE One more day in northern/eastern parts of Svalbard is added to the itinerary for 11-day (10 nights) trips (14.07-24.07 & 24.07-03.08).
FAQ - Good to know about Summer in Svalbard
Click on any of the numbers below to view answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our Svalbard Summer Dream photo expeditions.
Average summer temperatures in Svalbard range from 3°C to 7°C (37.4°F to 44.6°F) in July. The highest temperature ever recorded was 21,7°C (71,1°F) in 25. July 2020.
Book a spot on Svalbard Summer Dream
Below is a list of available cabins for our Svalbard Summer Dream 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 late July or August? 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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