Northern Lights Photo Safari

The Northern Lights Photo Safari is an evening trip run by Svalbard Photography. A vehicle takes guests out of Longyearbyen and east into Adventdalen, a wide valley with darker sky, to look for the aurora borealis and photograph it. Stops are chosen on the night according to cloud cover, wind, visibility and where any aurora appears. The page notes that sightings are not guaranteed, and that the display can sit towards the south, since Svalbard is well north of the main auroral oval.

On site, a guide helps with the camera: exposure, focus, ISO, aperture and shutter speed, plus checking sharpness in the dark. Snow, mountains, roads and radar antennas serve as foreground for pictures. Smartphones are welcome, though results depend on the model, its night mode and how steady it is held. The tour lasts about two hours, and the typical departure time is 21:00. Guiding is offered in EN, NO, DE and CH-DE. A private version can be arranged by contacting the operator.

Included are the guided trip, transport into Adventdalen, photography guidance, pickup from the guest's accommodation and the return there. Drinks and snacks are not served, so guests should eat beforehand and bring water if needed. Guests bring a sturdy tripod, which is essential, a camera with manual settings, a wide-angle lens with a bright aperture, charged batteries and spares kept warm, warm clothes in layers, insulated boots, a hat, gloves, a headlamp with red-light mode if available, and any personal medication.

The tour is suitable for all levels, and no night-photography experience is required. The vehicle is not specially adapted for wheelchairs, but a foldable wheelchair can travel in the luggage compartment, and guests should contact the operator before booking to discuss needs. The season is the northern lights winter.