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Svalbard 12 Day Autumn Photo Tour
The archipelago saves its finest colours for the late season, with sunrises and sunsets painting the landscape in autumnal hues as the wildlife gets ready for winter.
Virgil Reglioni is one of the world’s premier polar landscape and northern lights photographers. Known for his soulful images of the polar regions – and his mastery of colour and composition – Virgil is the ideal photo guide to have by your side on this autumn adventure to Svalbard.
Capture the full spectrum of the Arctic in autumn.
This is a season like no other, offering up an entirely different perspective on Svalbard for just a few short weeks each year. At your side on this journey north is one of the most skilled and storied Svalbard photographers there is: Virgil Reglioni.
On this expedition, we will explore the east of Svalbard. Our ultimate aim is to capture the meltwater waterfalls of the Austfonna ice cap – the ultimate Svalbard in autumn sight. This rare phenomenon occurs as the ice cap warms during the summer months, causing streams of meltwater to pour over the sheer ice cliffs.
Under gorgeous, long-tail sunsets, marvel at the wildlife of Svalbard, from Arctic foxes to whales, reindeer, walruses, and polar bears. But Austfonna, its spectacular ice waterfalls gushing down into the Arctic, serves up the ultimate, documentary-worthy image of this expedition into the sublime.
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Svalbard 12 Day Autumn Photo Tour itinerary:
Depart Longyearbyen at 4pm.
Sail past striking Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain), a fine example of plateau mountainous landscape, as we leave Longyearbyen.
Sail to Smeerenburg, a former whaling settlement and source of an enduring myth, now home to a walrus colony.
Possible landing in Virgohamna, a historical site, to learn about the attempts to reach the North Pole by air that departed from here and see remains of blubber ovens from the 1600s.
Sail along the continental shelf, scouting for fin and blue whales that gather in the upwelling zones.
Scout the ice edge, a dynamic setting of texture and light, home to seals, seabirds, and polar bears.
Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemot.
Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonnaice cap, Europe's third-largest glacier by volume and area.
Enjoy the green Kapp Lee headland on Edgeøya, spotting walruses, reindeer, and Arctic foxes, along with remnants of the walrus hunting industry.
Zodiac landing and hike at Kvalvågen, a geologically interesting bay known for its Cretaceous period dinosaur footprints.
Take a Zodiac cruise of Hambergbukta, an attractive bay in south Spitsbergen.
See Hornsund, with a landing in Gnålodden to marvel at the scenic bird cliff (home to black-legged kittiwakes) and trapper’s hut.
Sail back to Isfjorden and Longyearbyen.
Disembark in Longyearbyen at 9am.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Svalbard 12 Day Autumn Photo Tour reverse itinerary:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Disembark in Longyearbyen at 9am.
Sail back to Isfjorden and Longyearbyen.
See Hornsund, with a landing in Gnålodden to marvel at the scenic bird cliff (home to black-legged kittiwakes) and trapper’s hut.
Enjoy the green Kapp Lee headland on Edgeøya, spotting walruses, reindeer, and Arctic foxes, along with remnants of the walrus hunting industry.
Zodiac landing and hike at Kvalvågen, a geologically interesting bay known for its Cretaceous period dinosaur footprints.
Take a Zodiac cruise of Hambergbukta, an attractive bay in south Spitsbergen.
Marvel at Alkefjellet, a stunning bird cliff, nesting location of Brünnich guillemot.
Take a Zodiac cruise to see Storisstraumen and a ship cruise to Bråsvellbreen of the Austfonnaice cap, Europe's third-largest glacier by volume and area.
Sail along the continental shelf, scouting for fin and blue whales that gather in the upwelling zones.
Scout the ice edge, a dynamic setting of texture and light, home to seals, seabirds, and polar bears.
Sail to Smeerenburg, a former whaling settlement and source of an enduring myth, now home to a walrus colony.
Possible landing in Virgohamna, a historical site, to learn about the attempts to reach the North Pole by air that departed from here and see remains of blubber ovens from the 1600s.
Depart Longyearbyen at 4pm.
Sail past striking Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain), a fine example of plateau mountainous landscape, as we leave Longyearbyen.
Vikingfjord
Vessel Type: Ice-Strengthened Expedition Vessel
Length: 41.8 m
Passenger Capacity: 12
Vikingfjord is a purpose-built micro-expedition vessel designed for only 12 guests, combining ice-strengthened capability with modern Scandinavian comfort. Its 1B-rated hull allows access deep into pack ice and remote terrain that larger ships cannot approach, while its energy-efficient engine and advanced NOx filtration system deliver a 95% emissions reduction. Multiple viewing points — including an L-shaped observation lounge, bridge lounge, and extensive open-deck platforms — give uninterrupted sightlines across the Arctic environment from every angle.
Interiors are contemporary and restful, with eight ensuite cabins arranged in single, twin, and suite layouts. Social spaces include a light-filled lounge with a bar and library, a cosy dining room lined with windows, and open access to the bridge. On-deck amenities such as the sauna and outdoor hot tub extend the experience outdoors, providing rare vantage points in warmth and comfort. Vikingfjord operates as a true small-ship expedition platform: quiet, compact, environmentally progressive, and designed to maximise immersion in the polar landscape.
• Capture breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, which only grace Svalbard for a few months each year
• Witness flowing waterfalls from the unique Austfonna ice cap, Europe’s third largest glacier by area and volume