Svalbard

[Asle F]

My second trip was in september. I have to say that the midnight sun is overrated. The darker night of september have so much more interesting light than juli and august where there are no nights. The birds are gone and the plants have died, but the nights of september are fantastic.

For polar bears, yes go for a ship, and yes it will cost.

[Tersn]

In addition to the expedition costs, one may have to purchase or rent some rather long lenses. Even if some ice bears are spotted during the journey, there is no guarantee they will be anywhere near the ship.
On a sidenote, a beta tester of the new Nikon 600mm f/4 FL, Ole Liodden, is a photo guide on some of the Svalbard expeditions,
http://oleliodden.com/

[elsa hoffmann]

Tersn - I am painfully aware that a long lens will be needed... painfully...

Okey - I thought this guy's tours were the cheapest - but not really

I think that the tours are not going to get cheaper - no matter how long I look.

WINTER TOUR - M/S ORIGO -
The question is  - is this a good time to go?
18.03-26.03 2016  2 spots
Prices from: USD $6.290

11.04-19.04 2016  8 spots
Prices from: USD $6.290


On another small boat - route is different M/S MALMØ
ICELOVER TRIP
05.07-15.07 2016 8 spots
Prices from: USD $8995

M/S ORIGO - SVALBARD CLASSIC TOUR
04.08-14.08 2016 12 spots
Prices from: USD $9.995

[Øivind Tøien]

No one mentioned it [perhaps everybody are aware but do not like the setting]:
If all you want is guaranteed polar bear sightings, going on the tundra boogies [wide angle polar bear shooting...] or another excursion near Fort Churchill in Hudson Bay where polar bears are stranded during summer is probably one of the safer bets. If one like that kind of setting is another matter though. Svalbard has so much else to offer.

[elsa hoffmann]

Øivind Tøien, Polar BEars and Walrus would be top of the list for me - but I dont only want to end up with 1- photos of Polar Bears - I would like a variety. Landscapes would be great
But not at those prices.

[Anthony]

A cautionary tale for those considering camping in Svalbard - you can be fined for saving your own life:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/11736382/Tourists-in-Norway-fined-800-after-shooting-polar-bear-that-attacked-them-in-their-tent.html

[elsa hoffmann]

oh we have those incidents regularly in South Africa. Usually Great white sharks are to blame when they chomp on someone and everyone and his uncle wants to blow up the sea to kill them all. Well fortunately not everyone and his uncle - but you know what I mean.
And then we have had a few lion attacks - in parks - people being reckless and then the animal has to be put down.
Pity no one thought of putting Zuma and Mugabe out to pasture yet.