Arctic Landscapes Photography Tour - Extra Small group 6 max - 4x4 Vehicle

NORTHERN NORWAY - A DREAM FOR LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS

You can’t travel all the way this far North just to chase the Northern Lights!

We are all safe to say that, without any doubt, the Norwegian Arctic offers some of the most breathtaking sceneries on Earth: dramatic ocean cliffs, towering mountains, narrow fjords, icy rivers and snowy trees. During daytime, the soft arctic light that we get throughout Autumn to Winter makes them even prettier!

Our main playground will be Kvaløya island (Norway's 5th largest one), but there's no fixed itinerary, as depending on weather conditions we will visit different spots in order to get pictures with different backgrounds and different light situations. If lucky enough, we might even spot some wildlife like reindeer, moose, sea eagles, sea otters and seals!

You will also learn tricks and tips in the field and have an outdoor picnic (warm expedition soup, cookies and hot drinks). Hand and foot warmers available, as well as ice cleats when needed, and professional camera tripods should you want to do some long exposures!

With 8 years of experience in guiding tours in Tromsø region, Nico your guide knows all the most photogenic spots like the back of his hands and will help you bringing home the best shots from your Arctic dream trip!

Interested in joining this tour but your desired dates are not available in the booking calendar?

Make sure to also check the Photography Tours page on my wesbite for more small group tour packages, or please send an email to info@arcticphotoguide.com with your travel dates and number of participants to enquire for further availability!

TOUR DETAILS

• Nico, your photography guide
• Unforgettable landscapes!
• Transportation onboard 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser Arctic Truck
• Professional Benro camera tripods with Arca-Swiss plate
• Hand & foot warmers, ice crampons 
• Photos from the tour
• Warm expedition soup, vegan / lactose / gluten free option available on request
• Cookies & hot drinks: organic tea & hot chocolate

WHAT TO BRING

• Your adventure mood turned on!
• Your camera and lenses
• Don’t forget to wear waterproof boots (snow boots from November onward)
• Wind & wateproof clothing, unsure how to dress? 
• Read “TOUR CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT”
• Maximum one small backpack, space on board is limited
• Fresh water, your guide provides hot drinks only

Landscape Photography is an art that requires time. When joining a regular sightseeing tour, you will hardly have enough time to find the perfect composition for your pictures. That’s why this small group tour specifically intended for maximum 6 like-minded travellers is your best choice! You don’t need to be a professional to join, amateurs are also highly encouraged, and if some of your family or friends aren’t into cameras they are more than welcome too!

CAPTURE THE ARCTIC NATURE THROUGH YOUR LENS!

What to expect from the tour and some tips about the time of the year:

You may have heard the famous saying “The light in the Arctic is something else”. It does not refer to the Auroras, but to the way how the landscape shines through up here, during daytime.

The high latitude of Tromsø, nearly 70 degrees North, makes for interesting ways how the sunlight hits the ground, and for how long it lasts. In September and October, we still have plenty of daylight paired with the most gorgeous Autumn colours, making it the favourite time of the year for many photographers or for anyone in general who loves to wander in Nature - without freezing off.

Unlike commonly believed from many, we do not have complete darkness in Northern Norway mainland during Winter. The so called “Polar Nights” refer to the fact that the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, but it doesn’t mean that it’s pitch dark 24/7! We have a very soft twilight instead, which lasts for about 4/5 hours. Between late November and late January, depending on the cloud coverage, the colours in the sky can be absolutely mesmerising thanks to the casting light of the “hidden” sun. Add to this some breathtaking landscapes, and you’re straight into an open eyes dream!

King Winter has two faces up here, the “darker” one until late January, and the brighter one continuing all the way to April. February is a transitional time, and it’s preferred from many for wintry conditions and a good balance of daylight and darkness. With March and April being statistically the most snowy months, if you’re into endless white landscapes and sunglasses, you now know when to come! By the end of March we really start to loose the night, and after mid April there’s no proper darkness anymore, but twilight.

On this tour, we will head out early in the morning at 09:00 am in order to have the time to drive to a first location and be there ready for when the twilight will begin, especially during the Polar Nights. We will then visit several scenic spots, combining sightseeing, photography and interesting things to know about the visited places. While the tour goes ahead in most weather, if the conditions won’t be safe there’s a chance that it could be cancelled or rescheduled. However, please make sure to be dressed approprieately to the season, with waterproof clothing and waterproof/snow boots!

The vehicle used to reach the various locations is a 4x4 Arctic Trucks modified Toyota Land Cruiser. It will help us finding quiet places where to stop regardless if they have been cleared from the snow or not, as many spots become harder to access in winter due to the high amount of snow! It’s not a large van nor a minibus, and it has normal car seats. Therefore, personal space on board is limited.

Weather and ground conditions do vary a lot up here, from season to season and often within the same day. Sometimes, you can actually have almost all the season at once! Some short walks will take place on the tour, so please note that you must be in good physical shape to walk on uneven, snowy, icy, wet and slippery terrain! Ice cleats are provided if needed.

Tromsø region does not exceed in wildlife, but the most common animals around are reindeer, moose, sea eagles, sea otters and seals. While some of these are easier to spot than others, it’s impossible to guarantee any sighting - we can’t reach them on the phone and book an appointment right? :D Your guide will keep the eyes open to spot them, and so you!

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS - PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BOOK:

• Extra small group of maximum 6 participants!
• The vehicle used to get to the photo locations is a lifted 4x4 off road truck with normal car seats, not a spacious van nor a minibus. Unfortunately, larger sized / very tall guests will not fit comfortably in it. The drives between the various spots are not too long (20 to 30 minutes each), but adequate comfort must be guaranteed to every participant on tour. Please get in touch before booking if in doubt!
• Make sure to read “Tour Clothing & Equipment Checklist” page to be prepared for the tour!
• Don't bring unneccessary luggage or big backpacks - there is no place on board for them - maximum 1 small bag/backpack per person
• Age of the participants: minimum 13 maximum 60

• If you have kids younger than 13 or shorter than 150 cm you must enquire or click here for private option

• You must be in good physical shape to do short walks on uneven terrain that can be snowy, icy, wet and slippery
  

• This tour is not suitable for elderly participants, pregnant women, people with any injury, sickness, movement disability, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches.
• Be aware to check your phone & emails on the days before the tour for possible tour updates
• Vegan, lactose & gluten free soup is available on request, you must inform us on the booking form in case of any allergy or food requirements
• Please read the Terms & Conditions