Svalbard
Winter Glow
Celebrating the return of the Midnight Sun
Svalbard Winter Glow
Svalbard Winter Glow Photo Expeditions from mid-April to mid-May offer stunning light conditions as the Midnight Sun returns. The winter snow glows under the golden light, creating dreamlike conditions for photographers. This is the perfect time to capture the ethereal beauty of Svalbard’s glaciers, mountains, and frozen fjords, all illuminated in soft orange and red colours.
The delicate light of the Arctic’s late winter also creates stunning conditions for wildlife photography. Iconic polar bears roam across the sea ice or wander on snow-covered land, set against the dramatic backdrop of the winter landscape. Walruses and seals rest on the sea ice, while Arctic foxes and reindeer provide excellent photo opportunities on land. Though it's still winter, the presence of 24-hour sunlight makes photography more accessible and rewarding.
If you dream of photographing wildlife in the winter landscape with the glow of the Midnight Sun, this expedition is perfect for you!
What to photograph
Below, you can explore what you can photograph in Svalbard during late April and early May, 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 Winter Glow expedition to Svalbard 17-25 April 2022. See where we have been, what we have photographed, and some behind-the-scenes images.
Itinerary Svalbard Winter Glow
Svalbard is located about 80 degrees north, so we plan our Svalbard Winter Glow expeditions in accordance with prevailing weather and ice conditions. After 1. May it might be possible to go further east with our expedition ship. A possible itinerary for a Svalbard Winter Glow expedition could be:
DAY 1 Departure from Longyearbyen through Isfjorden.
DAY 2-4 Northwestern coast of Spitsbergen, with possible visits to Kongsfjorden, Magdalenefjorden, Smeerenburgfjorden, Raudfjorden, Liefdefjorden and other areas. Here we have possibilities to have great landscapes with glaciers and sharp mountain ridges, as well as chances for wildlife encounters.
DAY 5-7 Southwestern coast of Spitsbergen with Bellsund and Hornsund, where there are also great snow-covered mountains and chances for wildlife on the sea ice. The weather and ice conditions have to be in our favour to get into both the northwestern and southwestern areas of Spitsbergen in winter.
In May it might be possible to visit Hinlopen, if the sea ice allows for it, giving us more opportunities on the western side of Nordaustlandet.
DAY 8 Returning to Isfjorden arriving in Longyearbyen port late in the evening.
DAY 9 Disembarking the ship after breakfast and preparing for the travel home.
The map below illustrates a possible itinerary for a Svalbard Winter Glow photo expedition.
FAQ - Good to know about Svalbard late Winter
Click on any of the numbers below to view answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our Svalbard Winter Glow photo expeditions.
Midnight sun is the designation for the phenomenon where the sun stays above the horizon the entire 24 hours a day. This occurs both to the north of the northern polar circle and to the south of the southern polar circle. It occurs in Longyearbyen in Svalbard from April 19th until August 23rd.
Book a spot on Svalbard Winter Glow
Below is a list of available cabins for our Svalbard Winter Glow 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 Winter Glow expedition in late April or May? 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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