Svalbard’s fjords

Svalbard’s fjords, particularly Raudfjorden and Kongsfjorden, offer our intrepid photographers an opportunity to capture images of icy waterways dominated by glaciers and teeming with Arctic wildlife. Raudfjorden, in the north of Spitsbergen, winds inland into two branches; the cape between which was named Point Deceit by British adventurer Robert Fotherby.

Kongsfjorden on the other hand, is renowned for being the archipelago’s most spectacular fjord. This reputation is, as we will see, completely justified. Achingly beautiful glaciers aside, the promise of watching seals relaxing on the ice or polar bears stalk their prey is too good for any photographer to miss. The surrounding area is also home to several bird sanctuaries, so we can expect to focus on action high above, too.

Ny-Alesund

On the southern shores of Kongsfjorden we will find Ny-Alesund, an Arctic research centre established many years ago in an abandoned mining community. The clash of old and new will provide a welcome contrast for our lenses, and we will take some time to explore the area with our guides.

Nordaustlandet

​On the eastern edge of Svalbard lies Nordaustlandet, the archipelago’s second largest island. Much of the island sits underneath an ice cap, so the scenery will be familiarly crisp.

But here the stone cliffs of Alkefjellet give way to glacial walls of ice of epic proportions. We will spend plenty of time navigating around the glacier, scouting for polar bears, and taking the zodiac out to the shore.

Scouting for Polar Bears on the Pack Ice

​As we sail north of Spitsbergen, there’s a great chance we’ll come across the Arctic pack ice. Understandably, not many ships come to this part of Svalbard. The ice can be difficult to navigate and it’s not suitable for larger boats heading east or west. Fortunately for us, a lack of traffic means we can make the most of this grand landscape’s eerie stillness.

Incredible subjects for photography will rear up at every turn, and as we’ll be taking things slow through the ice, there’ll be countless opportunities to shoot memorable pictures. Sailing in this part of Svalbard also makes it highly likely that we’ll come across polar bears. We will be constantly scouting for these majestic animals during the voyage.

The ice represents the hunting ground for many of Svalbard’s bears, and some of the furry predators we will come across weigh up to 900 kilos. It’s thought there are around 4,000 polar bears living in Svalbard, which mean that they comfortably outnumber the human population – So there should be enough for us to find! Aside from great white bears, Svalbard’s shores are home to plenty of other Arctic species, including fur seals, seals, walruses and the native deer.

Alkefjellet

​If all goes well we will sail around to the basalt cliffs of Alkefjellet, which run for several kilometres of imposing coastline on the eastern shores of Spitsbergen. The steep cliffs are home to huge colonies of Brunich’s guillemots, a bird as close to a flying penguin as you will see. But even without the incredible birdlife a trip to Alkefjellet is well worth our time. The magnificent cliffs are fantastic to skirt along with the Zodiac, and the sight of the sunlight bouncing off the towering stone walls will make a worthy addition to your photography portfolio.

Barentsøya and Edgeøya

To the south of Nordaustlandet are the two smaller islands of Barentsøya and Edgeøya. Again we will sail through the whitewashed Arctic scenery, shooting in the soft light of early winter. These two islands are also home to vast tundra plains, where we will seek out some of the native walrus, arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer.