Micro expedition cruise · Autumn 2028
Svalbard
in autumn light.
On a small ship toward Svalbard's rarely visited east. Low sun, first snow and quiet fjords, with a chance of the northern lights.
The spring 2027 expedition sold out · See that journey
The invitation
An expedition,
at the pace of the Arctic.
Join me for an intimate photo expedition into one of the wildest places on Earth.
In autumn 2028 we set out from Longyearbyen with one goal: to sail around Svalbard, as far as ice and weather allow. The busy summer season is over. The sun sits low again, the light stays warm for hours and the first snow settles on the mountains.
This journey is designed with photographers in mind, but it is not only for photographers. It is for anyone who feels drawn to wild places, to silence and to real exploration.
It is not about rushing from place to place. It is about time. Time to watch wildlife, to wait for the right light and to truly experience the Arctic. With just 12 guests on board, we adapt every day to wind, ice and wildlife and follow opportunity wherever it leads us.
I'll be guiding you personally, at your own photographic level. Together we won't just take pictures. We'll experience a true Arctic expedition.
Max
The season
Why autumn.
The light
The midnight sun is gone. The sun travels low across the sky and the warm, golden light lasts for hours. Sunrises and sunsets return, a gift for every photographer.
First snow
From around mid September the first snow dusts the peaks. White mountains, dark rock and deep blue water create strong, graphic contrasts.
Quiet fjords
The season is winding down and far fewer ships are out. Fjords and anchorages feel remote again. A feeling of true wilderness that is becoming rare.
Northern lights
As the nights grow darker, the aurora becomes possible. Guests on board at this time of year have seen it before. A chance, never a promise, but a beautiful one.
The route
Toward the
quiet east.
Our aim is to circumnavigate Svalbard. Sailing all the way around the archipelago is only possible when the sea ice to the north and east has retreated far enough. Late in the season, after the long summer melt, we have a real chance.
The east side is one of the least visited parts of Svalbard. Endless glacier fronts, waterfalls pouring from the ice cap and wide, empty coastlines that only a handful of ships ever see.
Whether we close the circle depends on ice and weather. Our captain and the expedition team decide day by day. That is why there is no fixed itinerary and no list of places. The best moments in the Arctic are rarely the planned ones.
We go where the ice, the light and the wildlife lead us.
What awaits you
Wild. Vast. Full of stories.
Wildlife
In Svalbard, wildlife is not something you simply observe. It is something you feel. A polar bear moving silently along the shore, walrus hauled out on a remote beach, an arctic fox changing into its winter coat. These encounters are not staged. They are raw and unpredictable, and they stay with you.
Landscape
Vast, dramatic and constantly changing. Glaciers calve into quiet fjords, fresh snow traces every ridge and the low autumn sun turns even the harshest terrain into something almost surreal. Every turn of the ship reveals a new scene.
History
The Arctic carries stories in its silence. Trappers, whalers and polar pioneers came here with little more than courage. Walking past old trapper huts and historic landing sites, you don't just learn about history. You sense how fragile and powerful this place has always been.
On the expedition
Close to everything.
Zodiac cruises
This is where the Arctic comes alive. Gliding quietly past glacier fronts and ice floes, approaching wildlife at eye level. The engine slows, the camera lifts and suddenly you are right in the middle of something extraordinary.
Landings
Stepping ashore in the High Arctic is unlike anything else. The stillness, and the awareness that few people have ever stood where you are. Whenever it is safe, we go ashore to walk the tundra, visit historic sites and photograph up close.
Workshops
Far beyond camera settings. In the field we work side by side, reading light, anticipating behavior, refining composition. In the evenings we dive deeper into photography, Arctic history, wildlife and expedition life.
New: the hot tub
After a cold day in the Zodiacs, there is little better than warming up in hot water on deck while the mountains glow in the evening light. Kinfish now has her own hot tub, and it has quickly become a favorite with guests.
Every Zodiac cruise and every landing is led by our guide team, with safety always first.
The journey
How the voyage unfolds.
29 September
Arrival
We recommend arriving in Longyearbyen the day before. In the evening we meet for a relaxed welcome dinner, get to know each other and prepare for the journey ahead.
30 September to 7 October
The open expedition
We board Kinfish in the afternoon, release the lines and turn our bow north. From that moment on, there is no rigid schedule. Our course is shaped by ice, weather, light and wildlife. We move with the elements and adjust every day in search of encounters and light worth waiting for.
8 October
Return
Back in Longyearbyen, we disembark in the morning. Time to head home with full memory cards, new friendships and a heart full of Arctic stories.
The vessel
R/V Kinfish.
Kinfish is a small expedition vessel made for the remote waters of Svalbard. Originally built as a sea rescue vessel and later converted into an expedition ship, she combines strength, character and comfort.
Her compact size lets us navigate narrow fjords, shallow bays and drifting sea ice, and reach places larger ships simply cannot. For a photography expedition, this makes all the difference. We have the freedom to follow wildlife, light and conditions wherever the Arctic leads us.
And because we charter the entire ship, everyone on board is part of our expedition.
Life on board
A ship that feels
like home.
Life on Kinfish is relaxed and centered around the expedition. In the survey lounge we gather for briefings, photo sessions and talks, and shared meals bring everyone together to swap stories from the day.
The open bridge
Kinfish has an open bridge. Whenever conditions allow, you are welcome to join the captain, look over the charts and follow how our course is set through ice and fjords. With its 360° view, the bridge is often the best place to spot wildlife and to feel what real expedition navigation is like.
Your cabin
Six guest cabins, all with private en suite bathroom and comfortable beds. Portholes close to the waterline let you watch ice drift by right from your bunk. With such a small group, the atmosphere quickly becomes that of a close expedition team rather than a cruise.
Your guide
Witness. Not just observer.
I'll be leading this journey personally. Over the past years I've spent many months in the Arctic and Antarctica as an expedition photographer, Zodiac driver and photo instructor. From the pack ice of Svalbard to the Himalayas and remote island chains, my focus has always been on authentic encounters, meaningful storytelling and respectful exploration.
For me it is not only about the photograph. It is about understanding a place, reading light and wildlife behavior and being fully present in the moment.
On board I'm joined by a small team of experienced polar guides. Together we offer talks on Svalbard's history, polar exploration, wildlife and the changing Arctic, adding depth to everything we experience. In the field and on board, I'll support you at your own photographic level.
Your expedition
Details & price.
30 September to 8 October 2028 · 9 days
USD 14,990
Regular price per person in a shared cabin
Early expedition offer
Book before 1 May 2027 and save 5%.
Your price: USD 14,240
instead of USD 14,990, you save USD 750Single occupancy
USD 26,990 early booking USD 25,640
A double cabin for yourself, subject to availability.
Payable in three instalments: 30% on booking, a further 30% and the 40% balance before departure. Price in EUR on request.
Included
- 8 nights aboard R/V Kinfish, private charter
- Full board incl. Captain's dinner, snacks during the day
- Soft drinks, beer, wine and selected spirits
- All Zodiac cruises and landings
- Expedition leader and team of polar guides
- Photography workshops, talks and lectures
- Welcome dinner in Longyearbyen
- Transfers between airport, hotel and ship
- Waterproof one piece suit on loan for Zodiac cruises and landings, worn over your own warm layers
- Rubber boots on loan and a welcome package
- Port and landing fees
Not included
- Hotel in Longyearbyen
- International and domestic flights to and from Longyearbyen
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Warm polar clothing (layers, insulated jacket)
- Gratuities for crew and guides (recommended USD 15 to 20 per guest per day)
- Personal expenses
You won't be left alone with the planning. Once you join, you'll receive detailed packing lists, hotel recommendations and preparation material. And I'm personally there for every question along the way.
Good to know
Questions before you join.
Anything else on your mind? Write to me, I answer every message personally.
Will we sail all the way around Svalbard?
That is our aim, but it is never guaranteed. A full circumnavigation is only possible when the sea ice to the north and east has retreated far enough. Late in the season, after the long summer melt, the chances are real. Our captain and the expedition team decide day by day, and whenever conditions allow, we head for the rarely visited east.
Can we see the northern lights in Svalbard in autumn?
From late September the nights grow dark again and the aurora becomes possible. Guests on board at this time of year have seen it before. A chance, never a promise.
Do I need to be an experienced photographer?
No. The expedition is designed with photographers in mind, but it is not only for photographers. In the field and on board, I support you at your own photographic level.
How many guests are on board?
A maximum of 12 guests in six cabins on R/V Kinfish. We charter the entire ship, so everyone on board is part of the expedition.
What does the expedition cost?
USD 14,990 per person in a shared cabin, or USD 14,240 when you book before 1 May 2027. A cabin for yourself costs USD 26,990, or USD 25,640 with early booking, subject to availability. Prices in EUR on request.
What is included?
8 nights aboard R/V Kinfish with full board and drinks, all Zodiac cruises and landings, the expedition leader and team of polar guides, photography workshops and talks, a welcome dinner in Longyearbyen, transfers, a waterproof suit and rubber boots on loan, and all port and landing fees. Flights, the hotel in Longyearbyen, insurance and gratuities are not included.
How do I get to Longyearbyen?
Longyearbyen has its own airport with regular flights from Oslo and Tromsø. We recommend arriving the day before, on 29 September. Once you join, you receive detailed packing lists, hotel recommendations and preparation material.
Where do I stay in Longyearbyen?
The hotel in Longyearbyen is not included, so you book it yourself. We recommend arriving the day before, on 29 September, and staying one night. Once you join, you receive my hotel recommendations, and the transfers between airport, hotel and ship are included.
Let's go somewhere together.
I can't wait to head north with you. To travel on a small ship, follow the light, the ice and the wildlife, and adapt to whatever the Arctic gives us. To explore, photograph and learn side by side.
This isn't just a trip. It's an adventure we'll share.