ULTIMATE WINTERY SVALBARD!

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1 ULTIMATE WINTERY SVALBARD! A TRIP TO Svalbard IS A DREAM COME TRUE. NATURE IS STILL VERY MUCH UNTOUCHED AND THE FAUNA IS UNIQUE. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY Svalbard HAS SUCH GREAT APPEAL FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND NATURE LOVERS. IN THE PAST, MANY AN EXPLOR- ER S TRIP ENDED HERE IN THIS DESOLATE ENVIRONMENT. LUCKILY THINGS HAVE IM- PROVED AND WITH STARLING YOU LL BE ABLE TO ADMIRE SVALBARD IN A SAFE, MODERN AND VERY EXCLUSIVE WAY! THE BEST WAY TO DISCOVER SVALBARD.

2 People with a passion for nature photography dream of travelling to Svalbard. Many will only have a one-off opportunity of going to this exclusive destination (as long as you don t get infected by the arctic-bug and get addicted to the ice and the polar bears ). This is why we see it as our ultimate responsibility to make this trip an unforgettable experience which will meet and exceed all the expectations. One thing is sure: AS A NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER THERE IS SIMPLY NO BETTER WAY TO DISCOVER SVALBARD THAN WITH STARLING!

3 UNIQUE EXPERIENCE ON BOARD MS ORIGO MS Origo is a very conscious choice because we want to approach Svalbard s delicate nature in a discreet way without disturbing too much and getting as close as possible to the animals. No easy feat for larger boats In addition, we think it is important that you as photographer don t have to fight for the best spot on deck when a polar bear appears. This is also why we limit the number of participants! Our biggest selling points are the small scale of the boat - flexibility stability cabins far away from the engine room great food by experienced chefs - professional guidance. EXPERIENCED TRAVEL GUIDES Photographic guidance is provided by professional nature photographer Yves Adams. Yves has travelled to the north of Svalbard four times already and has gathered extensive knowledge about the Arctic world as well as the hidden gems in fjords, glaciers and islands. Yves has very high standards when it comes to selecting the best locations with the best light. He knows where to look and makes sure you have the necessary knowledge to search for yourself and take some fabulous photographs. Even a seasoned photographer will be amazed. The captain and the expedition team are used to travelling with nature photographers and know exactly what we expect. The combination of this strong team makes sure that everything goes smoothly throughout the day and that every day is productive. ADVANTAGES Small group of maximum 12 participants 6 people per zodiac (!!!) Exclusive nature and photography experience guided by a completely professional expedition team. We decide in consultation with the group where we sail to and for how long. 100% flexibility and not dependent on others. Ambitious programme and objectives Maximum time in the field with the zodiacs and on land Main objective are the polar bears and other Svalbard specialities Exclusive expedition ship MS Origo Each participant will have 1 twin cabin at their disposal

4 A CLOSER LOOK AT SVALBARD Svalbard is located in the Arctic Ocean, between the Greenland Sea and the Barents Sea, or better, between Greenland, Nova Zembla and Franz-Josef Land. By the Svalbard convention of 1920 it was determined that the archipelago falls completely under the Norwegian sovereignty. Administrative the Svalbard Act is the established authority with as head the Governor of Svalbard (Norwegian: Sysselmannen). He acts as the County Governor and the Head of the Police. The main settlement on Svalbard is Longyearbyen. This is where most people live. Longyearbyen has its own airport and harbour, where all the expeditions start. The total population of Svalbard amounts to 2800 people (mainly in Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Sveagruva, Ny Alesund). They are predominantly Norwegians, but some Russians live here too. The main industries on the archipelago are tourism and mining. The islands of Svalbard are located between 74 and 81 N. It is the most northerly accessible location on Earth without the need for an icebreaker. In the summer, from the end of April to September, there are 24 hours of daylight! During a normal winter the ice keeps the islands in its grip. During the summer the ice floes of the pack ice reach the northern parts of the archipelago, at 80 and 81 N but the rest of Svalbard is then free from the sea ice. It is mainly the transitional areas which we will be exploring, looking for seals and polar bears. The state of the ice will also determine the route and planning of our trip. We will be monitoring the condition of the ice for a long time beforehand and whilst onboard we will print off daily ice charts from this website:

5 WHY GO TO SVALBARD WITH STARLING? STARLING is passionate about the nature of the North Pole. In order to experience that nature in an optimal way, we went looking for the most convenient way of travelling to experience Svalbard in a sound and efficient way. We offer a unique product by exploring this fantastic place on Earth in a comfortable and thoughtful way in a very small group. This means that, very often, we manage to come very close to wildlife, which results in the best sightings and photographs. Because nature is unpredictable, flexibility is our biggest trump card. We adopt to what we see, and we can change our plans last minute in order to make the most of every single second. The images you see in our brochure and on our website have all been taken on previous expeditions. We have opted to charter one of the smallest motorised passenger ships available in the North Pole area for this trip (with a captain who has one of the best reputations in icy seas): MS Origo! Discretion assured so that everyone can enjoy close contact with the arctic environment. Only twelve participants are on board, which means we are very mobile during our trip. The chefs on board know who we are and they understand that we don t want to eat straight away if a polar bear makes its appearance at dinner time. Or if the light is just sublime over Svalbard. We can decide in the group when we want to eat and when we go to bed. A huge difference with a large group! We will often take photographs from MS Origo and, because of the size of the ship, we can go very close to most animals without disturbing them. If possible, we will organise sea excursions or landings with the zodiacs. And because there are only 12 of us in two zodiacs, there is a lot of space and comfort. A plus for those who want to observe and take photographs in an optimal way. Another advantage of travelling in a small group of 12 people is that it takes little time to organise excursions and go on land. We don t lose any time here in comparison to huge ships where there are 8 to 10 zodiacs each with 12 to 18 passengers on board. We choose where we go ourselves and will not spend any or hardly any time in the touristic stops or historic settlements. The objective of this trip is top-level nature experience and for those who want it, top level quality photography. The main aim of our Svalbard expedition is finding Polar Bears! But there are so many other things to see, like walruses, seals, arctic foxes,... We travel during this time of the year because the light is unique, and there are incredible snow landscapes, glaciers and icy seas.

6 MS ORIGO IN DETAIL Our base on the Arctic Sea is MS Origo, a Swedish ship with a special touch. It was built in 1955 and had a maritime administrative function, to inspect beacons and light houses. In 1990 it was rebuilt to accommodate passengers and the ship s career as expedition ship in Arctic waters was born. It is the longest serving commercial ship in Svalbard. The hull has been reinforced and it is built for rough, harsh weather conditions. This will allow us to travel safely around Svalbard, often to remote locations where the larger ships can t get to. MS Origo is 40m long, 8.8m wide and its top speed is 10.5 knots (about 19.5 km / h). We travel with a maximum of 12 participants on board, three guides and a small crew. This small group of people means there will be a very relaxed atmosphere on board and there will be time to get to know one another. There is an open-bridge policy, so everyone is welcome to go and chat to the captain and crew and study the latest ice charts, weather forecasts and navigation maps. It is cosy on the bridge and the view is fabulous. Perfect for spotting polar bears. The person to spot the first bear will get a treat! The dining room offers space and comfort to all the passengers. This location is also the room used for briefings brought to you by our guides during breakfast. Coffee and tea are available 24/7. Two swedish chefs prepare delicious and nourishing meals, perfect for this expedition. If the time allows the chef will also prepare snacks and desserts. The cabins on MS Origo are comfortable and a long way away from the engine room. There are shared or private facilities to choose from, as well as two top deck cabins. One of the top deck cabins is a superior cabin with low beds and its own bathroom. Most cabins are meant for single use but can be shared by request. Beds are made every day and towels and sheets provided. Every cabin has 220V European sockets.

7 INCLUDED - Professional team of guides and experienced expedition leader (8 nights of accommodation) all meals, coffee, tea, and soft drinks daily landings and excursions with zodiacs, briefings - Permits, taxes and petrol cost EXCLUDED Flights - Extra nights in Longyearbyen Travel and cancellation insurance - alcoholic beverages Purchases of a personal nature, souvenirs Any accommodation outside of this trip. Telephone calls by satellite telephone (5 euro/minute) - Tips for staff, guides etc. Flights cost on average euro. Flights will have a stopover in Oslo. We can arrange to book the flights for you, if requested. Cancellation (5%/ total travel cost) and travel insurance can be taken out via STARLING.

8 ITINERARY Departure is planned on 5 May at 4pm. We travel towards the pack ice straight away, possible with a short stop on the way. The first 24-36hrs will be mainly sailing and the sea can be quite rough here. We will let you know in advance how to deal with this. The sea is less choppy up north and we stay closer to the pack ice where there is less wind. The rest of the travel itinerary depends on the condition of the ice. There are numerous landing locations offering a wealthy of possibilities. The general plan is to spend the first half of the trip predominantly on the ice sea to then make our way back at a slower pace, with many stops at the fjords. We try to plan for a zodiac expedition every day, and some days even 2 or 3 (depending on the light and subject). Because we will sail as far as possible, we will access the most remote places where other expeditions have never been before and we will also spend more time here. 5/05-06/05 Longyearbyen - transfer pack ice 07/07-09/05 pack ice: in search of polar bears and other typical pack ice species. 10/05-11/05 fjord hopping: into the Hinlopenstretet to Alkefjellet ( guillemot rock ). Glaciers, rock birds, marine mammal colonies, etc. 12/05-13/05 transfer pack ice - Longyearbyen THIS PROGRAMME IS FLEXIBLE AND COMPLETELY DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE PACK ICE AND SIGHTINGS.

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10 SIZE OF THE GROUP: 12 persons LEVEL OF THE TRIP: The trip can be classed as fairly easy, there will only be a few climbs/ landings which require a short physical effort. Certainly no long hikes lasting many hours. Because there is a lot of light, there are long photographic opportunities/lots of time to observe, and the pace can be higher than in other regions. We decide on the pace in consultation with the group depending on the objectives. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE: everyone TRAVEL GUIDE: Yves Adams STARLING is a travel organisation affiliated to the Vereniging voor Vlaamse Reisbureaus. Our licence number is More information about insurances and licences can be found on our website. Address: Brandstraat 61, 9000 Gent info@starlingreizen.be Website: Telephone number:

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