Our Russian Lapland Photo Tour will be an excellent opportunity to enjoy the impressive polar landscapes in the Kola Peninsula. We will seek to photograph the beauty of the northern lights in a unique environment, we will also photograph incredible sunrises and sunsets between ice forests or on the impressive Barents Sea coast.
The Kola Peninsula is a harsh and unknown land, located in northern Russia, in the Murmansk Oblast within the Arctic Circle. The peninsula is bordered by the Barents Sea & the White Sea in the East and the Jibiny Mountains and the Lovozero tundra in the West. The land of the Sami people, this way is often called the “Russian Lapland”.
The incredible Russian polar landscapes will serve as a stage for making beautiful photographs. We will visit, from frozen waterfalls and rivers to round rocky beaches with impressive views of one of the most spectacular seas in the world. But also, forests covered with snow that will leave us amazed. The best Northern Lights Russia Tour, to enjoy the North Pole with our local guides.
The first day of this tour will start with the arrival at Murmansk International Airport. The group will meet at the airport to begin this Lapland photo tour around the Kola peninsula, also know as área Sápmi.
Later, we will travel to our destination for the next two nights, Teriberka, where we will go for a walk in the afternoon to begin to know the area.
From this first night, we will be very aware of the forecasts and conditions to try to photograph northern lights.
We will spend the whole day in Teriberka. A small fishing village in front of the Barens Sea, where we can observe how even the waters of its river, are frozen before the mouth in the sea. We will walk through the old town, where we can get to an old boatyard dating from the early twentieth century. The landscape of this place will allow us to take totally spectacular photographs of the hardness of life in the place. We will move to the waterfalls of the Maloye Batareyskoye lake where we will spend the day touring its idyllic setting with views of the sea.
In the afternoon we will explore the area to have the perfect location at sunset time. Its minimalist landscapes and its beaches with round rocks will open the way to views of a harsh and rough northern sea. We will explore the east coast of Teriberka throughout the day, where incredible clouds form directly from the North Pole. Taking advantage of the sunset to photograph its iconic beaches with rounded stones. As well as be prepared for the possibility of photographing northern lights during the night in these locations.
After photographing the sunrise on the beach of Teriberka, we will drive to the south of the Peninsula. On the way, we will make some stops to photograph the unfrozen rivers of the region, as well as some forest viewpoints.
At midday, we will arrive at our hotel in Kirovsk, where we will spend the next 2 nights. Here, we will enjoy the mountain views as well as the nature of the region. We will guide you to the most beautiful spots for sunset, as well as during the night to capture the northern lights.
We will awake early to capture the sunrise from the same viewpoints as yesterday. The lakes and rivers during the winter mornings will offer us beautiful spots when the light will start to show the environment. Today, we will have time for some postprocessing lessons, as well as wait for another sunset and night of great pics in this area.
After another sunrise session in the area of the Jibiny mountains, we will drive to the southern part of the Kola Peninsula. There we will spend the next two nights in a mountain cabin. This area is famous for the snow monsters, which will offer us splendid views to capture amazing pics. We will arrive with enough time to explore the area and be ready to capture Northern lights in this scenario.
Today we will spend the full day at the top of the Gora Volosyanaya, to capture the snow trees of Kandalakcha all day. The infinite possibilities and compositions that offer us the area will make our day a magical experience. We will walk through a forest of trees full cover of snow, enjoy the views and look for a good forecast for the night to capture the Aurora borealis in this beautiful area.
After our sunrise session in Kandalachka, we will go down the mountain to start our trip back to the North. During the route, we will make several stops in other beautiful spots, as well as a Samii Village where we will have lunch. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Murmansk, where we will sleep tonight. According to the forecast, we will move outside of the city to capture the Northern Lights in the forest of the Russian Lapland.
On this last day of the trip, we will go out to photograph Murmansk from a hill viewpoint and the atomic boat Lenin at the dock. There we will have time to buy some souvenirs.
After that, we will start our way to the airport of Murmansk, where we will arrive in midmorning, saying goodbye to the Arctic Ocean of all the beautiful nature of the far north of Russia. This will culminate our Lapland photo tour.
Eduardo Fuster
Eduardo Fuster is a spanish photographer living in Russia the last years. His photos was published in National Geographic, Traveller, etc. Awarded several photography conquests like the winner in the 35th awards Sunsets & sunrises, Fine Art Photography Awards, Monovision Awards, etc.
Vladimir Kirillov
Vladimir Kirilov is a Russian photographer with high experience running photo tours all around Russia and specially in Kamchatka, Altai and the Kola Peninsula. Russian Nikon Ambassador and winner of several conquest.
Murmansk Airport, Russia
For usual travelers, 4 days can be enough. But if you are a photographer looking to capture Northern Lights we suggest you travel at least 7 days as our package. With our itinerary, you will have more chances to be successful, and also visit the best places and activities like move with snowmobiles through the forest. Also, you can ask us for an extension of the trip to visit more locations.
A trip to Finnish Lapland or even Sweden is not cheap, but the Russian Lapland is cheaper and offers you the same landscapes. Accommodations like igloo hotels are really exclusive, so if you decided to travel on your own you should prepare around $4000 per person a week. Traveling to the Kola Peninsula can decrease your budget by half.
Our packages include all necessary for the trip: accommodations, transports, activities, meals & guides. So you just should bring money for extra drinks like beer or alcohol and souvenirs. If you are planning to visit more areas of the peninsula, or St. Petersburg & Moscow, we can prepare an extension of the trip with all services includes.
You can book a place for any tour without a cost. Once we know that the travel is possible, you will be able to keep your seat or cancel your booking without penalties.
Price
The price of this Lapland Photo Tour is based on the participation of a minimum of 6 participants. In case there are not enough participants, the possibility of making the trip will be offered with an increase proportional to the price, or a 100% refund of the total paid.
The last time of exchange rate calculation was January 1st, 2021, the final price can be modified up to 30 days before the tour start.
Accommodation
The accommodations offered are shared double rooms at hotels with private bathrooms and guesthouses.
You can book an individual room during the process of the book your place for the photo tour or writing us at [email protected]
Meals
All meals are included. Not included extra drinks, alcohol and snacks.
Insurance
Our tours include basic insurance, we suggest contracting full cover insurance. Contact us to expand your insurance coverage.
Transports
Our tours include all internal transports (cars, vans, trains, or flights). We don’t include international flights, but we will guide you at the moment of your booking the best options to arrive to the destiny from your home.
Itinerary
The itinerary mentioned can be changed due to a force major reasons like weather conditions or accidents for example.
Payment & Refunds
To book your place you need to pay 20% of the total cost. The total payment must be made 15 days before the trip. For security reasons due to the pandemic, you do not need to pay for booking
This tour is done by LLC “CLUB OF PHOTO TRAVELERS”, due to illness or other reasons the trip may be made by another guide.
Cancellations
DUE TO COVID-19, we have exceptional conditions for cancellations: Before 15 days we refund 100%. Less than 15 days there is no refund.
Other considerations
Please, check the section “This tour include” and “This tour not include” to know more details about meals, guides or other services include.
Harry Davis
Its an incredible experience to visit Lapland in winter, we saw northern lights the most of the days, and all thanks to the team of guides! They was looking in the nights, while we was resting at our hotels, and coming to bring us to the exact positions to capture with our cameras! Thanks, we will repeat the experience!!
