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SVALBARD PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Embark on a Spectacular Expedition to Svalbard with Better Moments CEO and Founder Christian Nørgaard

Join us for an unforgettable journey into the Arctic wilderness with Christian Nørgaard, CEO and founder of Better Moments, on a breathtaking sea expedition to Svalbard. This unique adventure is designed for passionate photographers and wildlife enthusiasts eager to capture the raw beauty of the Arctic’s untouched landscapes and diverse wildlife.

On this extraordinary voyage, you will have the rare opportunity to photograph the majestic polar bears of Svalbard in their natural habitat. These iconic creatures, often seen patrolling the ice floes or resting on snow-covered terrain, offer incredible photo opportunities that are both thrilling and challenging. Alongside the polar bears, we will encounter a rich variety of Arctic wildlife, including playful seals, majestic walruses, and an array of seabirds, making this a dream destination for wildlife photographers.

Our expedition will take us deep into the heart of the pack ice, where we will spend nine days aboard our private ship, accommodating a maximum of just 12 guests. This intimate setting ensures that every participant receives personalized attention and ample opportunities to capture the perfect shot. As we navigate through the icy waters, you’ll have unparalleled access to some of the most remote and pristine locations in the Arctic, guided by Christian Nørgaard’s expert insights and photography expertise.

This is not just a journey—it’s an adventure of a lifetime, providing you with the chance to explore one of the world’s last great wildernesses, photograph its unique wildlife, and create unforgettable memories. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic amateur, this expedition will inspire you and elevate your photography to new heights.

Don’t miss this opportunity to travel with Better Moments and experience the magic of Svalbard through the lens of your camera. Join us on this incredible journey and capture the essence of the Arctic like never before.

    Highlights

    • Teaching and training in the best techniques and personal hints and advice
    • Composition and focus on lines, golden section, perspective, foreground
    • Learning about the lenses that optimize your wildlife photography
    • How to handle equipment with care on location

Expert Christian Nørgaard

Better Moments Founder and CEO Christian Nørgaard Greenland

More about Christian Nørgaard

Christian Nørgaard, the founder of Better Moments, has been an expedition leader on several Svalbard and Greenland expeditions. He is also a passionate and talented wildlife photographer who has received great recognition for his unique approach to capturing the wildlife and landscapes of Svalbard. Christian Nørgaard will lead our private Better Moments vessel into the deep fjords and, if the weather permits, into the pack ice, where a great adventure awaits.

Starting as a young trainee photographer in Copenhagen at the leading newspaper Berlingske Tidende, Christian has traveled across much of the globe with his camera. His work has been showcased in several exhibitions and magazines, including National Geographic. Among his many accolades, he was named a Hasselblad Master finalist.

SVALBARD BEHIND THE SCENES

Meet your workshop leaders Better Moments founder Christian Nørgaard who will take you on an expedition around the fascinating archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. In the video, you will see some of the stunning locations we will visit during the workshop as well as images taken by our guests.

EXPAND WITH PASSION

On Location

  • You will learn how to approach the unique challenges of wildlife photography at the best place in the world for polar bear and arctic wildlife photography. With private “one to one” workshops and lectures, this expedition will optimize your photographic skills and take them to the next level.
  • Teaching and training in the best techniques and personal hints and advice.
  • Composition and focus on lines, golden section, perspective, foreground.
  • Learning about the lenses that optimize your wildlife photography.
  • How to handle equipment with care on location.
  • Private hands-on lessons that can help taking your photography skills to the next level.

In Classroom

  • Expert review and constructive criticism of shots taken during the day
  • Private portfolio review
  • A Better Moments Certified Photo Instructor is available during the entire workshop to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, guide and help in general

ITINERARY

 

DAY 0: ARRIVE LONGYEARBYEN

Feel free to arrive in Longyearbyen a day before the expedition starts and enjoy your first day together with Sisse Brimberg.

DAY 1: ADVENTURE ON THE SEA

Embark on our expedition ship in the afternoon and sail out through the spectacular Isfjorden.

In the evening, a welcome dinner, and after dinner, National Geographic Photographer Sisse Brimberg will give an introduction to the workshop and brief you on what to expect in the coming days.

DAY 2: FANTASTIC FJORDS AND POLAR BEARS

We sail out through the beautiful fjord between snow-capped mountains, heading towards some of the most remote landscapes in the world.

Throughout the journey, we will attempt to make daily stops on the coast using our Zodiac boats, bringing you as close as possible to wildlife and points of interest.

Our primary mission is to photograph polar bears as they make their way across the drifting ice. Polar bears are quite plentiful in Svalbard and together with our two local guides, we will set the course to where they are most likely to be.

After dinner, National Geographic Photographer Sisse Brimberg will host a lecture about her life and work with National Geographic.

DAY 3-6: FOOTSTEPS OF GREAT ADVENTURERS AND UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHERS

We are in a part of the world that’s completely dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Our exact itinerary depends on these factors as well as the wildlife we encounter. Our ambition is to make landings or cruises with our Zodiacs every day. Here are some examples of places we may visit:

Northwest Spitsbergen

The scientific village of Ny-Ålesund is situated in Kongsfjorden. It was from here that Amundsen and Nobile started their heroic expeditions to the North Pole. Two other courageous attempts to reach the North Pole started on the island of Danskøya. Swedish explorer Andrée made an attempt with a hydrogen balloon, and American journalist Wellman started with an airship. There are still interesting remnants from these expeditions left on this site.

Magnificent fjords

Svalbard offers visitors countless spectacular fjords. During our journey, we will explore a few of them, such as Liefdefjorden, meaning “The fjord of love”, lined with snow-covered mountain peaks. Here, we hope to cruise along the face of the spectacular Monaco Glacier. Many common eiders and pinkfooted geese nest in the area. In Krossfjorden, we revel in the beautifully sculptured front of the 14th of July Glacier to the raucous greeting of the large number of kittiwakes and Brünnich’s guillemots nesting on the nearby cliffs. Raudfjorden is an area of immense natural beauty, dominated by beautiful glaciers. It is also a favourite spot for seals, and the bird cliffs are bursting with activity.

Hinlopen Strait and Alkefjellet

If the ice allows, we enter Hinlopen Strait. Here is Alkefjellet, an impressive basalt cliff, home to an estimated 200.000 Brünnich’s guillemots. We may also continue into the beautiful bay Palanderbukta on Nordaustlandet.

Eastern Svalbard

The island of Nordaustlandet is covered by an enormous ice cap and fascinates naturalists as well as historians. There are huge glacier fronts here, intersected by hundreds of waterfalls. Barentsøya and Edgeøya offer magnificent landscapes and vast tundra. Chances to encounter walrus, Arctic fox and Svalbard reindeer are good here.

Southwest Spitsbergen

The grand fjords of Hornsund offer spectacular glaciers and a breathtaking landscape of towering mountain peaks, often reaching above the clouds. On a clear day, we can see the summit of the highest mountain Hornsundtind, measuring 1431 meters. Hornsund is a favourite haunt for some of Svalbard’s polar bears, and bearded seals are often seen resting on the fjord ice.

Workshops and hands-on workshops during the day and evening by Sisse Brimberg.

In the evenings, Sisse Brimberg will conduct workshops and share some fascinating knowledge about Svalbard, accumulated over the years of photographing landscapes and wildlife for National Geographic.

DAY 6-10: POLAR BEARS AND SVALBARD REINDEER

Cruising down the Hindlopen Strait, we pass spectacular basalt cliffs, home to an estimated 200.000 Brünnich’s guillemots, also known as the thick-billed murre. Making our way along the island of Nordaustlandet, we will witness a magnificent landscape covered with hundreds of waterfalls. An incredible sight to behold!

Here, we have the best chances of encountering some of Svalbard’s most photogenic wildlife, including walruses, the much-admired Svalbard reindeer and the elusive Arctic fox. Hugging the coast using our Zodiac boats, we will have excellent opportunities for landscape photography, and chances are good that we will also encounter polar bears along this stretch.

Sisse Brimberg will offer individual feedback on the photos taken so far, with one-on-ones as well as group sessions.

DAY 11: LONGYEARBYEN

Arriving back in Longyearbyen, we will enjoy a early farewell breakfast before we disembark our ship and begin our journey back home.

Get Inspiration

Enjoy Your 34-Page Catalog with stunning photos from Svalbard

Including Workshop intinerary, expert interview, quick tips and equipment list

PASSIONATE TESTIMONIAL

“Better Moments gave me the perfect opportunity to visit a part of the far north that I had not visited. Christian Nørgaard was constantly focusing on the interest of all the photographers in getting the best locations and situations to shoot. This was my second trip with Better Moments and it is a photographer’s paradise, as you are surrounded by like-minded people; sharing a common interest.

One of the highlights was being in a Zodiac while skirting around some beautiful icebergs and glaciers. The colours of the icebergs are incredibly brilliant and rich. During the shoot, local experts, not only kept us safe, but as they are scientists and experts in everything Arctic, they were enthusiastically explaining the life of glaciers and icebergs. A trip that I will never forget!”

Eric Frere

TRAVEL FACTS

Thanks for choosing Better Moments for your workshop.

Facts

  • September 5th – 15th, 2025
  • 10 Days
  • Number of guests: 8-12
Included
  • Local transport
  • Accomodation
  • All meals
Not included
  • Travel to and from the workshop destination
  • Visa and taxes
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance

 

Ask Us

Do you have any questions about the workshop or would you like to go on a private customized tour? Send us an email.

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Price

    • € 9,900
      Single Cabin, Private Facilities with Bath and Toilet.
    • € 9,000
      Twin Cabin, Shared Facilities: Your cabin includes a hand wash basin, with toilet and bath facilities located just outside your cabin.
    • € 9,900

      Twin Cabin, Private Facilities with Bath and Toilet.
      € 10,500
      Exclusive on the upper deck: Twin Suite with private facilities, including bath and toilet.
    • All cabins have windows or portholes.
    • All prices are per person.

 

Overview

QUICK GUIDE GETTING THERE

GETTING THERE

Svalbard’s only international airport, Longyear Airport in Longyearbyen, is served by SAS with almost daily flights from Oslo and Tromsø in Norway. Flight times are 4 hours from Oslo and less than 2 hours from Tromsø. The airport is located about 5 km (3 miles) from the town of Longyearbye.

Better Moments will arrange one pickup transfer and one return transfer to the airport on the arrival- and the departure day.

VISA

Norway is a member of the Schengen Agreement. Nationals of EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) countries only need a valid national identity card or passport for entry. All other visitors are required to have a passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay, and some will need a visa. Please check with the local embassy.

WEATHER

We have chosen August where the light is soft, and Svalbard offers beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Likewise, we are probably the only ship in the area, which is a great advantage for our photography.

Svalbard has an Arctic climate tempered by the warm North Atlantic Current. Due to the convergence of cold air from the north and mild, humid air from the south, weather conditions can change quickly and often, with occasional strong winds and wind chills.

LANGUAGE

The official language is Norwegian, but almost all Norwegians speak English.

CURRENCY

The Norwegian monetary unit is the Krone (NOK)

QUICK GUIDE

The Svalbard Museum in Longyearbyen is an impressive, recently inaugurated exhibition space. Themes include the life on the edge formerly led by whalers, trappers, seal and walrus hunters and, more recently, miners.

At the gallery in Longyearbyen, you can see the Svalbard collection of old maps and books, a slide show from the photographer and composer Thomas Widerberg, and an exhibition of Kåre Tveter’s paintings. From time to time there are also sales exhibitions.

The Longyearbyen Church is open for visitors every day and there is a service nearly every Sunday. Every Tuesday evening, the church sells coffee and Norwegian waffles. Here, you get to know Longyearbyen and the people better.

The cable trestles are cultural monuments over the manual driven coal mining in Longyearbyen. At that time, the coal was transported in “kibs” (carriers) on the cable way to the cleaning plant.

The Svalbard Islands are home to seven Norwegian national parks: Forlandet, Indre Wijdefjorden, Nordenskiöld Land, Nordre Isfjorden, Nordvest-Spitsbergen, Sassen-Bünsow Land, and Sør-Spitsbergen.

Little known but amazing natural attractions of Svalbard are the diverse springs. Fløtspingo and other Reindalen pingos are the highest pingos in Svalbard, and some of the highest open system pingos of the world, up to 42 m high. Hot and thermal springs, for example Jotun Springs, Troll Springs and Tempelfjorden thermal submerged spring.

One day trip by boat to the Esmark glacier and Oscar II Land and the Russian mining settlement looms on the side of the mountain above Grønfjorden. During the cruise, the guide will provide useful information about Svalbard.

Emergency phone number: 112

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
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