Find captivating wildlife and photo opportunities
Every nature photographer dreams of a location like this. Hundreds of miles of wilderness, frozen fjords, majestic glaciers, snow-covered peaks, and incredible arctic wildlife are all waiting to be discovered. Join me on an adventure to capture it with Stuart Thomson Foto.
With my Svalbard photography tours, you will be guided around the island with a long time resident and expert photographer. In winter with the aid of snowmobiles we can cover a vast range around the town of Longyearbyen, as we look to photograph the landscapes and the wildlife - arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer, Svalbard rock ptarmigan and even walrus and polar bear. In summer we travel by car to capture the wildlife in the local valleys, including the many migratory birds that call Svalbard home in the summer months.
Get in touch to ask about upcoming tours here:
A little about your tour guide
Stuart Thomson has been living and working in Svalbard for over 15 years, and has a wealth of local expertise in the area. This is unique among photography tours in Svalbard. With intimate knowledge of the local wildlife habits, regulations, geography, Stuart has the ability to get you in the right place at the right time to take the images you are looking for.
A tour that suits your photography preferences
With the smallest group sizes on the market (max 4), your tour can be flexible to suit your needs, so you can find the wildlife and landscapes you want to photograph the most.
Svalbard Winter Tours
Experience the Arctic in winter through your lens—whether you're photographing snow-covered landscapes, Arctic wildlife, or the soft glow of polar twilight, these Svalbard photography tours are designed to make every moment unforgettable.
Svalbard Summer Tours
Svalbard in summer is alive with colour, movement, and light—these photography tours are your chance to explore the Arctic wilderness when reindeer roam, birds nest, and the sun never sets.
Winter Wildlife
Polar bear
Changes in the law from 2025 mean we have to be minimum 500 m away from polar bears in winter. Grand landscape shots possible.
Arctic fox
Found on most winter tours.
Svalbard reindeer
Guaranteed on winter tours.
Walrus
Can usually be found on winter tours if we make the effort to travel far to find them.
Seals
Svalbard has a huge number of seals, including bearded seals, harp seals, and ringed seals. Found infrequently on winter tours.
Svalbard rock ptarmigan
Found on most winter tours.
Please note: New regulations from January 2025 require that we keep a minimum 500m distance from polar bears during winter months, and 300m in summer months.
Summer Wildlife
Arctic Fox
Commonly found on summer tours.
Svalbard reindeer
Guaranteed on summer tours.
Arctic Birds
Depending on the month - good chances to photograph: King eider, arctic skua, common eider, barnacle goose, pink footed goose, Svalbard rock ptarmigan, red throated diver, numerous gulls and waders.
Arctic Landscapes
Fjords, beaches, mountains, rivers and streams, flowers and plants, grand scenics, moody fog covered panoramics. All possible on the summer tours.
Svalbard portfolio
Stuart has been recognized in several international photo competitions for his work. For a full portfolio please see here.
Testimonials
There is no better choice than Stuart with his many years of experience of guiding and protecting students and scientists of the local University...
When you venture into the winter wilderness of Svalbard, it is definitely not enough to have a good photo guide. You want someone who knows all about survival in this remote and unforgiving part of the world, and brings in enough experience to guide you safely. There is no better choice than Stuart with his many years of experience of guiding and protecting students and scientists of the local University on expeditions across the archipelago. My wife and I have been out and about with Stuart in three private winter expeditions over the last years, and we have enjoyed them immensely, having had many unforgettable opportunities for both landscape and wildlife photography. Stuart is not only a great wildlife spotter but also an incredibly nice and relaxed person. We cannot recommend him highly enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of camera equipment should I bring?
Whatever you own. In general, a wide angle lens for landscapes, and a medium to long tele (200mm +) for wildlife, are useful options.
I use mirrorless full frame camera bodies in combination with a 16-35 mm, 100-400 mm, and a 600 mm for all my work.
You are welcome to join even with a smartphone and just enjoy the nature experience.
What's included in the tours?
Door to door transport, transportation during the tour, all safety equipment, expert guidance. You need to bring your camera equipment and personal clothing.
Winter tours include insulated snowmobile suit, snowmobiles, food in the field. To drive a snowmobile you need to have a driving license class B (car driving license).
Are the tours suitable for beginners?
Summer tours are suitable for all, beginner to professional.
Winter tours are longer and multi-day and usually attract serious hobbyist or professional photographers. We will be out for up to 12 hours in temperatures that can be down to -25 degrees Celcius.
Please dont hesitate to get in touch if you would like more information!
Ready to capture the Arctic?
Contact me to discuss your ideal Svalbard photography tour or book your trip today. Enquire for a tour here, or call +47 9503 4795.