+1 305-921-4433 info@reddotphotoworkshops.com

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.

Username*

Password*

Confirm Password*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Phone*

Country*

* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.

Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Price

$16,995

Booking Form

Enquiry Form

Save To Wish List

Leica Photo Adventure: Svalbard | May 2027

May 19-26, 2027

Dates: May 19-26, 2027
Group Size: Limited to 12 Attendees
Duration: 8 Days
Workshop Type: Landscape Photography
Arrival & Departure: Longyearbyen Airport (LYR)

Some places don’t just offer photographs. They offer a different way of seeing.

Svalbard in May is one of those places. We’ve partnered once again with Secret Atlas to explore this remote Arctic wilderness, and in the spring, it presents its wilder side. The archipelago is emerging from the depths of winter, and everything feels new. A fresh page of white snow lies before us. The light is soft and pastel and seemingly endless. For a photographer, it’s close to paradise.

This is an 8-day expedition for just twelve guests, aboard the MV Vikingfjord. From the deck, you’ll photograph dramatic landscapes bathed in that extraordinary Arctic light: towering glaciers, sculpted icebergs, and mirror-like waters reflecting the endless sky above. Zodiac excursions bring you right up close to the raw, untamed wilderness, where every moment presents a new opportunity to capture something extraordinary.

Wildlife encounters are simply part of life up here. Polar bears patrol the ice. Walruses lounge on drifting floes. Seabirds soar overhead. And on land, you might catch the fleeting moment of a fox moving through the tundra, or find yourself drawn into the intricate textures of ancient ice. Svalbard rewards the patient eye and the curious one in equal measure.

Whether you’re an experienced photographer or still finding your vision, this journey is designed to deepen your practice. You’ll be guided by two expert trip leaders, an experienced crew and supported throughout by dedicated Leica specialist Michael Turek, ensuring an unparalleled experience from first light to last.

*Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but our guides and captain will put us in the best possible position to find them.

Polar Bear, Svalbard

Workshop at a Glance

Physical Activity

Photographic Intensity

Classroom Instruction

Climate/Weather Severity

Food & Accommodations

Cultural Immersion

Good for Non-Photographers

Price Includes

Double occupancy cabins w/ private facilities
Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Alcoholic drinks with evening meals
Expert Svalbard expedition leaders
Lectures on Svalbard geology, wildlife, etc.
Highly experienced captain and crew

Zodiac expeditions for photo opportunities
Rubber boots and winter suits for zodiac trips
All airport transfers and ground transportation to and from vessel
Gratuities for guides and crew
In-the-field photography instruction
Adobe Lightroom post processing instruction
1-on-1 critique/review sessions

Price Excludes

International flights to and from Longyearbyen (LYR)
Comprehensive travel insurance
Additional hotel nights before or after the trip

Alcohol (aside from dinners)
Items of a personal nature
Visas (if necessary)

About MV Vikingfjord

The MV Vikingfjord is the most environmentally friendly small expedition vessel in the Arctic with new systems creating a 95% reduction in NOX emissions and increased efficiency. Rebuilt from the ground up around the guest experience, Vikingfjord offers a new level of comfort with en suite cabins, an open plan panoramic lounge and restaurant, on deck sauna and hot pool with a view, a large mud room and ample equipment storage. It features a presentation TV, a mini bar, and a hot beverage service for all guests.  

Designed to deliver an outstanding expedition experience, Vikingfjord has an ice strengthened hull for navigating the pack ice and is equipped with 2 zodiacs for exploring.    

Passenger cabins include:  

4 x Signature Twin/ Double cabins  (can be 2 twin beds or 1 double bed)
2 x Signature Single  cabins SOLD OUT
1 x Penthouse Double (1 double bed – requires 2 paid guests) SOLD OUT

Flying to and from Svalbard

We begin our expedition in the most Northerly town in the world, Longyearbyen. The airport code is LYR and you’ll need to fly through Oslo (OSL) to get there.

*We recommend arriving a day early, on May 18th, for this trip just in case there are any travel or weather delays. You really don’t want to miss the boat departure on May 19th!

Arctic Fox, Svalbard

Itinerary

Day 1 (May 19)Welcome aboard! Embarkation in Longyearbyen at 16:00

NOTE: What follows is a possible Itinerary (We prefer to embrace spontaneity and make the most of every opportunity nature presents to us. This is how we believe a true, authentic expedition should run. After all, the thrill of adventuring into the unknown is more rewarding than a journey that runs on tracks! So all our listed itineraries are for guidance only. The day-to-day activities may vary depending on the ice, the weather, and the wildlife. Landings are subject to site availability and permissions, and always in line with AECO regulations.)

We begin our expedition in the most Northerly town in the world, Longyearbyen. The airport code is LYR and you’ll most likely fly through Oslo (OSL) to get here. In the afternoon we will embark on our expedition vessel at 4:00pm, after an introduction from our expedition leader and a safety briefing from the captain. We’ll set sail out through Isfjorden and past the striking cliffs of Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain). As we leave civilization behind, this first evening offers an introduction to Arctic light, low contrast, soft tones, and subtle shifts in color as the sun dips toward the horizon.

*We recommend arriving a day early, on May 18th, for this trip just in case there are any travel or weather delays. You really don’t want to miss the boat departure on the 19th at 4:00pm!

Day 2 (May 20)Isfjorden, Alkhornet and Poolepynten

At the mouth of Isfjorden, Alkhornet marks a dramatic geological transition from plateau landscapes to sharp, alpine forms. Snow-covered slopes and bird cliffs provide opportunities to work scale and layering within the frame.

Later, we land at Poolepynten on Prins Karls Forland, home to a walrus haul-out and historic burial site. This is a location where patience matters, waiting quietly as light and behavior align can result in powerful, intimate wildlife images set against a stark Arctic shoreline.

Day 3-7 (May 21-25)Exploring the Western Fjords and the Ice Edge

We venture toward the ice edge, a constantly shifting environment defined by texture, contrast, and atmosphere. This is prime territory for seals, seabirds, and polar bears, and a masterclass in reading light on ice.

Land at Sallyhamna, a hut built in 1937, rich in history and cultural remains from the 1600s whaling period.

Explore the island of Kvitøya, taking in the walrus colony and cultural remains of the Andreeneset headland.

Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonna ice cap, Europe’s third-largest glacier by volume and area.

Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemot.
See the historical site at Bruceneset in beautiful Alicehamna bay, during a Zodiac cruise or hike.

Land at Hamburgbukta to view remains from the 1600s whaling industry.
Visit Ny-Ålesund Research Station, the world’s northernmost year-round research facility, and Kongsfjorden, with landings and cruises to its two glaciers, Kronebreen and Kongsbreen.

Day 10 (May 26)Departure

By morning we will have arrived back at the port of Longyearbyen. Disembarking the ship will involve saying goodbye to the new friends you’ve made but knowing you will keep the memories and photographs of this transformative adventure you shared together. We’ll disembark at 9:00am so feel free to make flight arrangements from Noon departures onward.