Svalbard Polar Bear Safari
An exclusive safari led by professional award-winning photographer, David Yarrow. Experience the icy wilderness of Svalbard encountering polar bears and more Arctic wildlife, and learn how to take the best photographs.
- Duration9 days
- Group Size1 to 10
- Difficulty
- Season
Delve into the high Arctic in search of wild polar bears in a range of Arctic environments. Explore the Svalbard Archipelago with the best guides, as well as award-winning photographer, David Yarrow. Your time aboard will be about getting the best wildlife encounters possible, through great knowledge and real flexibility. David will be on hand giving seminars and presentations, helping you capture photos that will do your once-in-a-lifetime Arctic safari the justice that it deserves. Travelling early in the season, you will experience Svalbard away from the crowds and increase your chances of witnessing polar bear cubs.
On previous departures we have had polar bears right next to the ship, a curious bear attempting to break a harem of walrus, a bear with a recent kill, and sightings of a mother bear with her cubs.
What makes this trip extraordinary
- Receive expert, on-the-ground photography coaching from internationally acclaimed fine art photographer David Yarrow who led a similar safari to Svalbard onboard the Freya in 2019.
- Enjoy the dramatic scenery and incredible wildlife of Svalbard in the spring.
- Experience Svalbard’s incredible icy landscapes, cruise glistening ice fjords and see crashing glaciers.
- Search the pack ice for polar bears hunting seals, and mums and young cubs who emerged from their dens in early April.
- Watch for whales from the bow of the ship.
- Zodiac cruise in immense glacier-fed icy seas.
- Enjoy lectures by an expert naturalist.
Tour Start Date: May 2021
M/S FREYA
The M/S Freya was built in 1981 in the Åsiverken shipyard in Amal as a lighthouse building vessel. Since then she has been used by the Swedish Coast Guard for environmental protection purposes; as a research ship by the University of Umeå, and has also spent time as a diving vessel. She has recently undergone a full refit as a passenger ship and undertaken her first season exploring the icy shores of Svalbard.
- It is mandatory to carry the original government-issued any valid ID cards for Indian nationals and original passports for foreign nationals.
- Sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen lotions.
- T-shirt, shirt or blouse - long sleeves and collars help to protect from the sun and mosquitoes (Neutral or Non-bright colored)
- Comfortable walking shoes (or boots) and socks.
- Preventative pharmaceuticals.
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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