# Chris Zielecki
> Photo tours to epic nordic landscapes. Grab your camera and be ready to explore remote places, wild untouched landscapes and rough coastlines. 
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## Pages
### About me
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/about/
Last updated: 2025-08-15T20:02:36.000Z
I'm Chris ([@chris.zielecki](https://pixelfed.social/chris.zielecki/?ref=zielecki.com)), a professional photographer with a passion for the Nordic countries and portrait photography. I have been fascinated by Scandinavia and its rugged, barren landscapes since the early age of 16\. I've travelled extensively in these regions, capturing their unique beauty and diversity with my camera. Today I am lucky enough to have been featured on various websites and magazines, and I also offer photo tours and workshops for those who wish to join me on my adventures.

---

## More than a hobby

Photography has become more than a hobby for me; it's a way of life and a means of expression. I love creating authentic and emotional portraits of people who share my passion for adventure and individuality. Whether it's a couple in love, a family on holiday or a solo traveller exploring the world, I aim to capture their personality and story through my lens.

## Elopement & Wedding Photography

That's why I also run a wedding photography business at sturmsucht.de ([@sturmsucht](https://pixelfed.de/sturmsucht/?ref=zielecki.com)), where I offer adventurous and intimate wedding photography for couples who want to celebrate their love in their own way. My style is natural, candid and artistic, and I always strive to create images that reflect the connection between two souls.

I am based in Germany, where I share my home and garden with the best cat in the world.

## Let's work together

I hope you enjoy my portfolio and please do not hesitate to [contact me](https://zielecki.com/contact?ref=zielecki.com) if you have any questions or enquiries.
### The Faroe Island Tour
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/the-faroe-islands-tour/
Last updated: 2026-06-22T17:28:35.000Z
## An Atlantic Adventure

Grab your camera and be ready to explore remote places, wild untouched landscapes and rough coastlines. Where wind and surf formed a unique archipelago in the North Atlantic. Where waterfalls feed the ocean and lakes are floating above sea level. Where rough coastlines are in harmony with green, fertile valleys.

[One of the most wonderful places](https://www.zielecki.com/faroe-islands/) to hike are the Faroe Islands – a remote archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean with an incredible beauty and a great variety of remarkable hot spots in relative close distance.

Famous waterfalls, floating lakes and several hundred meters high cliffs framed by snow covered mountain peaks with wet brown-greenish meadows and a restless surf will be our place for this landscape & travel photo tour.

An overview:

[![CTA Image](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-red-hat-walks-up-a-grassy-hill-beside-a-large-lake-surrounded-by-rolling-hills-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)](https://tally.so/r/mBRqV7?ref=zielecki.com) 

****Your Faroe Islands Adventure**  
A 6-day discovery tour through the incredible Atlantic archipelago  
  
Next dates:  
15th - 20th October 2026  
  
****Starting at €2,750 per person**

[Book now ↗ ](https://tally.so/r/mBRqV7?ref=zielecki.com) 

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dramatic-cliff-with-steep--dark-rock-faces-and-a-grassy-top-extends-into-a-deep-blue-sea--with-a-calm-lake-and-rolling-brown-hills-behind-it-under-a-cloudy-gray-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp) 

## The Tour

What our tour will look like

### **Arrival**

First day is all about arrival on the Faroe Islands and our [basecamp](https://hotelforoyar.fo/?ref=zielecki.com) in Tórshavn – the capitol of the archipelago. We will have an opening dinner and time to get to know each other and talk about the upcoming week.

### **Adventure Time**

Walk, hike & shoot! The next days are all about exploring the islands. From minutes walk to longer hikes we will visit different natural hot spots where I will explain how I shoot and what I’m looking for and where you have enough time to shoot on your own. I’m open to any questions during the whole trip, so if you need guidance I will be happy to assist you during your shoots and give you feedback. As we are on a rock in the Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland weather can change fast so we keep the exact schedule flexible for those days. In the evening I will talk about my workflow and editing process and there will be time to edit and share images, insights and stories with the group. 

We will have a closing dinner on the last night in Tórshavn.

### **Goodbye and thanks for all the fish**

Departure from our [Hotel Føroyar](https://hotelforoyar.fo/?ref=zielecki.com) in Tórshavn and flight back home.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4933-1.jpg) 

## Your Guide

It's me!

![Chris on the Faroe Island Photo Tour wearing a beanie standing in a brown grassy field with a camera hanging from his coat, with two dome-shaped grass-roofed buildings behind him and mountains visible in the distance under an overcast sky](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Chris-on-the-Faroe-Island-Photo-Tour-wearing-a-beanie-standing-in-a-brown-grassy-field-with-a-camera-hanging-from-his-coat--with-two-dome-shaped-grass-roofed-buildings-behind-him-and-mountains-visible-in-the-distance-under-an-overcast-sky.webp)

I'm Chris ([@chris.zielecki](https://pixelfed.social/chris.zielecki?ref=zielecki.com)), and exploring the northern countries has been my obsession since I first ventured north at age 16\. That initial journey sparked my deep passion for photography, and I've been fortunate to pursue this calling as a full-time, self-employed photographer for several years now.

Over countless expeditions, I've traversed the breathtaking landscapes of Scandinavia, capturing the raw beauty of Iceland's dramatic terrain, the pristine wilderness of Svalbard, Greenland's ancient ice formations, and the mystical charm of the Faroe Islands. Each photo tour has gifted me with unforgettable memories and unique perspectives on these extraordinary northern realms.

When I'm not chasing the perfect shot in remote locations, you'll find me at my home base in Germany, where I share my flat and garden with the world's most exceptional cat – my faithful companion who keeps me grounded between adventures.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-fjord-winds-between-steep--grassy-mountains-with-small-villages-along-the-shore-under-a-partly-cloudy-blue-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp) 

## Places to visit

During our 5-day adventure, we'll discover some of the Faroe Islands' most spectacular and photogenic locations. Our carefully curated itinerary includes easily accessible roadside gems as well as hidden treasures that reward us with multi-hour hikes through pristine landscapes.

Each destination we'll visit represents a unique photographic opportunity, from dramatic clifftop vistas to secluded waterfalls and charming village scenes.

For a preview of the stunning imagery awaiting us at these locations, be sure to browse through the tour's dedicated [Pinterest board](https://www.pinterest.de/sturmsucht/the-faroes-workshop/?ref=zielecki.com), where you'll find inspiring shots that capture the essence of what we'll experience firsthand.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-traditional-black-houses-with-grass-covered-roofs-sit-on-a-grassy-hillside-overlooking-a-stormy-sea-with-jagged-rock-formations-rising-in-the-distance-under-a-gray--overcast-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki-2.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-lone-figure-walks-along-a-dark-ridge-with-dramatic-cliffs-and-waterfalls-descending-into-the-sea-under-a-heavy--cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Powerful-waves-crashing-against-dark-cliffs-with-a-waterfall-plunging-into-the-sea--a-small-village-atop-the-cliffs--and-a-mountain-shrouded-in-mist-under-a-cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-small-white-lighthouse-stands-on-a-grassy-ridge-beside-a-towering-cliff-overlooking-a-dark-sea-under-a-cloudy-sky-with-distant-misty-islands--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-group-of-black--white--and-brown-sheep-stands-on-a-wet-road-in-a-rural-valley-with-grassy-hills-and-scattered-houses-in-the-background--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-solitary-figure-stands-on-a-grassy-hill-overlooking-a-winding-fjord-flanked-by-steep-cliffs-under-a-moody--overcast-sky-with-reflective-puddles-in-the-foreground--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Golden-sunlight-breaks-through-dramatic-clouds--casting-warm-rays-over-a-rugged-coastal-cliff-and-calm-sea--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

## Our Basecamp

Our basecamp is the 4-star Hotel Føroyar, perched on the hills just above the capital, Tórshavn. Thoughtfully embedded in the surrounding landscape, it offers bedrooms with sweeping ocean views and a generous breakfast, followed by hearty, locally inspired meals in the evening. It’s the perfect place to recharge yourself - and your cameras’ batteries - after a long day of hiking and exploring the Faroe Islands.

The hotel is just a few minutes' walk down into Tórshavn's city center, making it easy to explore the old town with its grass-roof houses and narrow streets, grab a coffee at the local bookshop or have a great soup in a bread at one of the many restaurants.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-long--modern-building-with-a-grass-covered-roof-sits-at-the-top-of-a-gently-sloping-grassy-hill-under-a-cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-black-sheep-stand-on-grass-beside-a-long-building-with-many-windows-and-a-grass-covered-roof-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Three-traditional-black-houses-with-grass-covered-roofs-are-situated-on-a-grassy-hillside-overlooking-a-calm-sea-with-jagged-rock-formations-in-the-distance-under-a-cloudy-sky--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp) 

## Booking

Let's make it real!

### Ready to capture the magic of the Faroes?

**Limited to just 7 adventurers** \- ensuring personalized attention and an intimate group experience in one of the world's most photogenic destinations.

### **Tour investment**

Double Occupancy: ****2.750 €** per person  
Single Occupancy: ****3.000 €** per person  
  
**All prices include 5 nights accommodation, breakfast, transportation, tunnel fees, guides, and airport transfers*

### **Flexible payment plan**

We understand this is a significant investment in your photography journey. That's why we offer a convenient payment structure:

- **€750 deposit** to secure your spot
- **€1,000** three months before departure
- **Remaining balance** one month before tour

### **What's included**

Everything around the tour is organised and prepared for you. The only things you have to take care of is getting on the island and the snacks you need for a great adventure.

- 5 nights at the stunning Hotel Føroyar
- Daily breakfast to fuel your adventures
- All transportation and access fees to tunnels, ferries and private property
- Professional photography guidance and tutoring
- Local guide, depending on the location
- Airport shuttle service
- Small group experience (max 7 people)

### **You'll handle**

- International flights to the Faroe Islands
- Lunch, dinner, and beverages
- Personal travel insurance (highly recommended)

### **Next steps**

1. **Choose your dates** from available departures below
2. **Select** single or double occupancy
3. **Secure your spot** with the €750 deposit
4. **Receive** detailed pre-trip information and packing list

**Book with confidence** \- Join fellow photography beginners and enthusiasts for an unforgettable week capturing the raw beauty of the North Atlantic.

---

*Questions? Contact Chris directly before booking to ensure this adventure aligns with your photography goals and fitness level.*

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-remote-coastal-cliff-with-a-tall-waterfall-plunging-into-a-dark-blue-ocean--topped-by-a-small-village-under-a-cloudy--misty-sky--captured-by-Chris-Zielecki-at-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour.webp) 

#### The Faroe Island Tour 

15th - 20th October 2026  

[Register your Faroe adventure ↗](https://tally.so/r/mBRqV7?ref=zielecki.com) 

---

Not convinced yet? Check out [Hannelore's](https://www.hannelorehaemers.com/?ref=zielecki.com) great review from a previous trip:

#### Review by Hannelore

First of all, thank you for making my dream a reality. The Faroe Islands have been on my bucket list for a long time, and it's insane that I finally got to see and experience them. If heaven is a place on Earth, it's definitely called the Faroe Islands.  
  
Thank you for being such a nice host. You took care of us in the best way possible. Thank you for an unforgettable week: a week with all possible emotions and countless "what the fucks." The Faroes made me feel small but amazed, overwhelmed but energized. The end of the world felt magical, and I'll truly cherish that feeling for life.  
  
Thank you for the great accommodation and the amazing food. Thank you for your driving skills and your responsibility at all times (we really needed that). Thank you for your guidance, patience, and support during hikes. I felt safe and taken care of at all times.  
  
Thanks for all the amazing conversations we had. Thanks for your impeccable organisational skills, from weather predictor to GPS expert. Thanks for bringing us together in a small, intimate group and helping us form new friendships.  
  
Thanks for your amazing playlist. The Faroes have been outrageous, but your taste in music is excellent. It fitted perfectly with all the mystical, moody views we had every single moment. Thank you for our photos and the ones you took from us; I can’t wait to see how they turn out, and I’m beyond excited.  
  
What a treat this whole week has been. So many memories. You are a true inspiration as an artist and as a person as a whole. I feel blessed to know you. You inspired us again and again!  
  
I'll definitely travel back, and I'll totally join you again on the next epic adventure!

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-brown-horse-with-a-light-mane-stands-in-a-grassy-field-near-a-large-rock-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--viewed-from-inside-a-car-with-the-side-mirror-visible--taken-on-the-Faroe-Islands-Photo-Tour-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp) 

## FAQ

Everything you need to know

#### Is the tour for professional photographers only?

No! The tour is for everyone who enjoys nordic landscapes and loves to capture its beauty with a camera. You don’t need a specific knowledge level to photograph during the tour and I’m happy to assist you with your camera with every question you bring up. So: just bring a camera!

#### Do I have to train my fitness before taking the tour?

No, a basic level of fitness is fine. But be aware: a healthy condition is required. Depending on the spot we visit, a longer hike of up to 3-5 hours can be possible. And it can be steep and slippery.

#### Where do we stay?

Our homebase will be in the islands capital Tórshavn. We stay in the lovely [Hotel Føroyar](https://hotelforoyar.com/?ref=zielecki.com) in the hills with a wonderful view over the city and the harbour. You can choose between a double and a single bed option. Our basecamp might change though, depending on availability.

#### Can I pay in rates?

Yes, there will be an initial deposit over 750€ on booking followed by two additional rates: 1.000€ three months before and the rest of the amount due one month before our tour.

#### How large is the group?

7 people max, 3 people min - so we all fit in one car and have a nice small group. 

#### How to get to the Faroe Islands?

Most flights to the Faroe Islands are handled over Copenhagen and are served by [Atlantic Airways](https://www.atlanticairways.com/en?ref=zielecki.com) and [SAS](https://www.flysas.com/?ref=zielecki.com). But there are also direct flights from England, Iceland and Norway. ***I highly recommend booking with Atlantic Airways** as it’s the local Faroe Airways and especially equipped to land even with zero visibility (thx to fog this happens regular). I can't stress this enough: you don't want to circle above the islands for 2 hours before you head back to Copenhagen for another approach the next day. There is also a ferry from Denmark if you want some extra adventure with a bumpy 3-days-North-Atlantic ship ride.

#### Where / how / what do we eat?

[Hotel Føroyar](https://hotelforoyar.com/?ref=zielecki.com) provides a restaurant, café and bar with a good variety of dishes. Besides that there is wide amount of restaurants for all tastes in the city. Vegan options available. We can also organise lunch boxes for our daily trip for a small fee.

#### ****What should I pack for the Faroe Islands?**  

****Photography Gear**

- Your camera with some extra batteries, memory cards and a charger
- If you have, a wide-angle lens (14-24mm) is great for landscapes
- Lens cleaning kit and rain covers
- If you want to do long exposures bring a sturdy tripod + polarizing and ND filters for dramatic skies and water

****Clothing & Personal Items**

- Waterproof hiking boots with good grip (really essential!)
- Waterproof jacket and pants (essential!)
- Warm layers: fleece, wool sweaters, thermal underwear
- Waterproof gloves and warm hat
- Quick-dry hiking pants and moisture-wicking base layers
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (surprisingly important!)
- Personal medications and basic first aid items

**A detailed packing checklist will be sent upon booking confirmation.*

#### ****What weather should I expect?**  

The Faroe Islands have a maritime climate with rapidly changing conditions - often experiencing "four seasons in one day."

****Typical Conditions:**

- ****Temperature:** 8-15°C (46-59°F) during tour season
- ****Rain:** Expect rain on most days, often brief showers
- ****Wind:** Can be strong, especially on clifftops and exposed areas
- ****Visibility:** Fog and low clouds are common, creating dramatic photography opportunities
- Sun: "four seasons in one day" also means sunshine in one valley, snow in another

****Photography Advantage:** The changeable weather creates incredible lighting conditions - from moody storms to magical golden hour breaks in the clouds.

#### ****What is your cancellation policy?**  

****Cancellation by Participant:**

- ****90+ days before departure:** Full refund minus €100 processing fee
- ****60-89 days:** 50% refund of total tour cost
- ****30-59 days:** 25% refund of total tour cost
- ****Less than 30 days:** No refund (travel insurance recommended)

****Cancellation by Tour Operator:**

- ****Weather/Safety:** Full refund or reschedule to next available tour
- ****Insufficient bookings:** Full refund if minimum group size not met (notification 30 days prior)

****Force Majeure:** In cases of natural disasters, political unrest, or pandemic restrictions, we'll work with you to reschedule or provide credit for future tours.

#### ****Do I need travel insurance?**  

****Yes, we strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance** that covers:

- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Medical emergencies and evacuation
- Lost or damaged photography equipment
- Weather-related delays

The Faroe Islands' remote location and unpredictable weather make insurance particularly important. We can recommend reputable travel insurance providers upon request.

**Travel insurance is not included in the tour price and is your responsibility to arrange.*

#### ****What are the passport and visa requirements?**  

****For Most Visitors:**

- ****Passport:** Valid for at least 6 months beyond travel date
- ****Visa:** No visa required for stays under 90 days (EU, US, Canada, Australia, and many other countries)
- ****Entry:** The Faroe Islands follow Danish immigration rules

****Important Notes:**

- Check your specific country's requirements at [gov.fo](https://gov.fo/?ref=zielecki.com)
- Ensure your passport has blank pages for entry stamps
- Brexit travelers: Check current UK-Faroe Islands travel requirements

**It's your responsibility to ensure proper documentation - we cannot provide refunds for entry denial due to documentation issues.*

#### ****What are your safety and emergency protocols?**  

****On-Tour Safety:**

- Emergency satellite communication device carried on remote shoots
- Detailed safety briefings before challenging locations
- First-aid equipment

****Emergency Contacts:**

- ****Chris:** available 24/7 during tour
- ****Local Emergency Services:** 112

****Pre-Tour Preparation:**

- Fitness assessment questionnaire (normal fitness required)
- Medical condition disclosure form
- Emergency contact information collection
- Detailed safety guidelines provided with pre-trip materials

****Weather Contingencies:** Alternative locations and activities planned for severe weather days - your safety is top priority.
### Boudoir
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/boudoir/
Last updated: 2026-06-08T16:30:21.000Z
The portrait and boudoir sessions are designed for authentic women in every stage of their life. Whether you're celebrating a milestone, rediscovering yourself after a major life change, or simply wanting to capture your unique beauty, I believe that every woman deserves to be celebrated.  
  
My approach is to create a safe and welcoming environment where you can express yourself freely and authentically. I understand that vulnerability can be intimidating, but I’m dedicated to making the experience as comfortable and empowering as possible. I work closely with each client to understand their intension and vision and bring it to life through a combination of guidance and intuition.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-low---key-photograph-of-an-adult-with-extensive-tattoos-posing-topless-against-a-black-background--one-hand-covering-their-face-and-the-other-arm-crossed--emphasizing-shadows-and-contrast--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-softly-lit-indoor-portrait-of-an-adult-wearing-red-lace-lingerie--standing-by-a-pink-dresser-and-looking-over-their-shoulder--with-framed-artwork--plants--and-books-creating-a-cozy-bedroom-setting--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-softly-lit--artistic-photo-of-an-adult-lying-topless-across-a-pink-dresser--with-side-light-emphasizing-torso-contours-and-tattoos--set-against-a-wall-of-framed-photos--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/An-artistic--low---light-portrait-of-an-adult-lying-topless-on-dark-wooden-floorboards-with-hair-fanned-out-and-delicate-white-flowers-partially-covering-the-chest--creating-a-serene--moody-atmosphere--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-low---light--boudoir-photo-showing-an-adult-in-black-lingerie-and-stockings--with-a-colorful-tattooed-arm--emphasizing-the-straps-and-textures-against-a-dark-background--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A softly lit portrait of a woman in black lingerie lying on a gray couch with eyes closed and hands to their face, showcasing a colorful sleeve tattoo, taken by Boudoir Photographer Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-softly-lit-portrait-of-a-woman-in-black-lingerie-lying-on-a-gray-couch-with-eyes-closed-and-hands-to-their-face--showcasing-a-colorful-sleeve-tattoo-and-conveying-a-calm--intimate-mood--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

#### Review by Anika

“I cannot express how grateful I am for my incredible session with Chris. From the moment we began, I felt supported and encouraged to embrace my inner goddess. Chris gentle guidance and genuine warmth created an atmosphere of trust, allowing me to truly let go and be myself. The resulting images are not only stunningly beautiful but also deeply emotional, capturing a side of me I didn’t know I can express. This experience is leaving me feeling more confident and empowered than ever. Thank you, Chris, for giving me a priceless gift of self-love and cherished memories. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone looking to celebrate their unique beauty and strength.”

  
My portraits are designed to capture the true essence of who you are, highlighting your natural beauty and unique personality. I use a combination of natural light, soft poses, and natural settings to create images that are both authentic and elegant. My boudoir sessions are a celebration of your sensuality and inner goddess, designed to help you feel confident and empowered in your own skin.  
  
If you're interested in booking a portrait or boudoir session with me, I would love to hear from you. My goal is to help you capture the beauty and essence of your femininity, no matter where you are in life. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or to schedule a consultation. I can't wait to work with you to create images that you will cherish for a lifetime.

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/An-artistic-portrait-of-a-woman-lying-on-a-patterned-rug--topless-with-jeweled-pasties--glitter--and-facial-forehead-jewelry--showcasing-extensive-blackwork-tattoos-and-soft-natural-light--taken-by-Boudoir-Photographer-Chris-Zielecki.webp) 

## ****Book a Boudoir Session**

  
Experience a captivating boudoir photo session tailored to celebrate your unique beauty and sensuality. Embrace your inner goddess in a safe, welcoming environment and create timeless, elegant images that boost your confidence and empower your femininity. Book now for a transformative and unforgettable experience.  
  
**starting at 499€*

[Treat yourself](https://www.zielecki.com/contact)
### Contact
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/contact/
Last updated: 2025-08-15T13:12:51.000Z
_No content available._
### Chris Zielecki
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/home-hero/
Last updated: 2025-08-07T21:30:12.000Z
_No content available._
### Imprint
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/imprint/
Last updated: 2026-07-23T06:19:56.000Z
Chris Zielecki  
c/o COCENTER  
Koppoldstr. 1  
86551 Aichach

## Contact

zielecki.com.hanky731@passmail.com  
+49.15678.585800

Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer gemäß §27 a Umsatzsteuergesetz:  
DE316574769
### Privacy policy
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/privacy-policy/
Last updated: 2025-08-14T16:43:50.000Z
## Name and contact details of the data controller and the company data protection officer

This data protection information applies to data processing by: 

**Controller:** 

Chris Zielecki  
Luruper Weg 24  
2020257 Hamburg, Germany  
Email: zielecki.com@zielecki.net  
Phone: +49.15678.585800

## Legal basis for data processing

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- Real-time visitor numbers

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in analysing and improving our website)

**Data processor:** Tinybird / Ghost Foundation

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This analysis is conducted entirely without cookies and without storing any personal data.

### Newsletter Analytics

If you have subscribed to our newsletter, we also collect:

- Open rates: Whether and when you open our emails
- Click behaviour: Which links you click on in our emails
- Engagement metrics: Feedback such as "More of this" or "Less of this" ratings

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (your consent when subscribing to the newsletter)

### Member Tracking

We track which content leads to new member sign-ups in order to optimise our content:

- Number of sign-ups by post
- Traffic sources that lead to memberships
- Distinction between free and paid memberships

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in business optimisation)

### Outbound Link Attribution

Links to external websites are tagged with tracking parameters so that these websites can recognise that the traffic originated from our site.

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in analysing our reach)

## Your Rights

You have the right: 

- To request information about your personal data processed by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. In particular, you can request information about the processing purposes, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing or objection, the existence of a right of complaint, the origin of your data if it has not been collected by us, as well as the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and, if applicable, meaningful information about its details;
- in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR, to demand the immediate correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data stored by us;
- in accordance with Article 17 of the Regulation, to request the erasure of your personal data stored by us, unless the processing is necessary for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims;
- in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data, insofar as the accuracy of the data is disputed by you, the processing is unlawful, but you object to its erasure and we no longer require the data, but you need it for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims or you have objected to the processing in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR;
- pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your personal data that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request that it be transferred to another controller;
- revoke your consent at any time in accordance with Art. 7 (3) GDPR. This has the consequence that we may no longer continue the data processing based on this consent in the future; and
- complain to a supervisory authority in accordance with Art. 77 GDPR. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority of your usual place of residence or workplace or our registered office for this purpose.

## Data Retention Period

**Web analytics:** Data is stored for a maximum of 26 months  
**Newsletter data:** Until you unsubscribe from the newsletter  
**Member data:** For as long as the member account exists

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Our policy is to only keep personal data until it is no longer needed for its intended purpose or where mandatory retention periods exist.  
  
As our website analytics are completely cookie-free, no consent via a cookie banner is required.

## Using the contact form

### Data processing by Tally.so

We use the service Tally.so (Tally BVBA, Belgium) for our contact form. When you use our contact form, the data you enter is transmitted to and processed by Tally.so.  
  
**Data processed:**

- All information you enter in the form (e.g. name, email address, message)
- Electronic identification data (e.g. IP address, browser information)

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in processing enquiries) or Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR (your consent for voluntary information)

###   
Data Protection and Security

**Data processing:** Tally.so acts as a data processor on our behalf. **We remain the controller for the data collected** via the contact form.  
  
**Security measures:**

- **Encryption** of all form data both during transmission and in storage
- **Data stored in Europe** (in compliance with GDPR)
- Tally.so does not sell personal data or use it for marketing or advertising

**Data Processing Agreement:** We have a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with Tally.so, which ensures that your data is processed in compliance with GDPR.

### Data Transfer and Sub-processors

Tally.so may use sub-processors who are subject to the same data protection regulations. Data is only transferred to service providers who also operate in compliance with GDPR.

### Storage Period and Deletion

- Form data is stored for as long as is necessary to process your enquiry.
- Deleted data is permanently removed from all backups within 90 days.
- You can request the deletion or export of your form data at any time.

### Your Rights

With regard to the data collected via the contact form, you have all the rights listed under "Your Rights". For enquiries regarding your form data, you can contact us directly.  
  
**Provider:** Tally BVBA, Belgium (EU)  
**Privacy Policy:** [https://tally.so/help/privacy-policy](https://tally.so/help/privacy-policy?ref=zielecki.com)

## Upon conclusion of a contract

When concluding a contract, the following data will be collected from you:

- Name
- Residential address
- Billing address, if applicable
- Email address
- Telephone number

The collection of data for the purpose of concluding a contract with us is carried out on a legal basis in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. b GDPR. This data is stored as long as it is necessary for the fulfilment of the contractual obligations or is legally required or, in the case of (ii), your consent to the storage of the data is revoked. In the case of (ii), the data collection is based on your voluntarily given consent in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 S. 1 lit. a GDPR. 

## Transfer of data

We do not transfer your personal data to third parties for purposes other than those listed below. 

We only pass on your personal data to third parties if:

- you have given your express consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR,
- the disclosure is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defence of legal claims in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 lit. f GDPR and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding interest worthy of protection in the non-disclosure of your data,
- in the event that there is a legal obligation for disclosure in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 lit. c GDOR, as well as
- this is legally permissible and necessary for the processing of contractual relationships with you in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 Sentence 1 lit. b GDPR.

💡

We don't sell your data. Ever.  
And we don't have "partners" to share your data with.

## Essential Cookies

Our website uses technically necessary cookies that are required for the proper functioning of the site:

- **Member login cookies:** Enable registered members to log in and be authenticated.
- **Session cookies:** Ensure the technical functionality of the website.

**Legal basis:** Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in technical functionality)  

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These cookies are essential for the operation of the website, cannot be disabled and don't need a "cookie-banner".

## Data security

### Technical Security Measures

We employ various security measures to protect your personal data:

- **SSL/TLS Encryption:** All data transfers between your browser and our website are protected by SSL/TLS encryption (identifiable by the "https://" and the lock symbol).
- **Secure Data Transmission:** Form data and login information are transmitted exclusively in encrypted form.
- **Up-to-date Security Standards:** Regular updates and security patches will be installed by our hosting provider [MagicPages.co](https://www.magicpages.co/?ref=zielecki.com).

### Organisational Measures

**Access Restrictions:** Only authorised peresons have access to your data.

### Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will:

- Inform the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours.
- Notify affected individuals without undue delay if there is a high risk.
- Take appropriate measures to mitigate any damage.

💡

Despite all security measures, 100% security cannot be guaranteed for data transmission over the internet.

## Up-to-dateness and amendment of this data protection declaration

This data protection declaration is based on the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation applicable from May 2018, as well as the Federal Data Protection Act (new). It is updated on an ongoing basis. The current version is always available at <https://www.zielecki.com/privacy-policy>. Registered members will be notified of any material changes by email.
### Terms of Service for Workshops
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/terms-of-service-for-workshops/
Last updated: 2025-08-14T16:47:30.000Z
## Weather

We want to provide a remarkable landscape experience, but of the course we can’t control nature. As the workshop is always dependent on weather conditions, decisions on specific destinations might change on short term during our stay. Which doesn’t mean plan B will turn out less epic.

## Cancellation and refund policy

Your payment is refundable if the workshop is canceled due to not meeting the minimum required amount of attendees. Otherwise your ticket can only be fully refunded if it is replaced with a new attendee. If no replacement can be made your payment will be refunded according to this schedule:

1. **90+ days before departure:** Full refund minus €100 processing fee
2. **60-89 days:** 50% refund of total tour cost
3. **30-59 days:** 25% refund of total tour cost
4. **Less than 30 days:** No refund (travel insurance recommended)

## Risks & the nature of this workshop

Any activity in nature comes with a certain risk and even though our workshop will be accompanied by a skilled guide some risks can’t be eliminated due to nature itself and the nature of this workshop. These risk can come in a broad variety such as damage or loss to my equipment, accidental injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma or death. The following describes some, but not all, of those risks: weather events such as storms, lightning, and high winds; exposure to heat, cold, or cold water resulting in hyperthermia, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke; injuries related to hiking over uneven terrain or falling from heights such as muscle or joint strains and sprains, and broken bones; drowning in ocean waters or inland streams; injuries related to physical exertion including exhaustion, stroke, or cardiac events; and damage to photography equipment.

We and the guides are doing everything we can to provide you with the needed knowledge and safety for you to fully enjoy the workshop in an epic landscape, but even with full preparation risks can’t be eliminated to zero. We will spend a lot of time outside and nature is wild. You can accompany this workshop with normal health conditions and no special training is required to join. Just be aware that we will walk and hike for up to several hours in a mountainous environment including our photography gear and that the environment can be extremely windy, wet and slippery. You will certify that you are fully capable to participate in the workshop, fully responsible for yourself and have the skills and knowledge to do so. 

## Insurance

We highly recommend an international health insurance covering costs and a travel cancellation insurance covering the costs of your trip.
### Stay in contact
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/newsletter/
Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:42:54.000Z
If you are interested in updates about my work an me, I regularly post over at my personal blog on [blog.sturmsucht.de](https://blog.sturmsucht.de/?ref=zielecki.com). Feel free to join my mailing list there for private updates, new photo tour dates, and thoughts around the photography industry. I would be happy to see you over there!

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-solitary-bride-stands-still-before-the-towering--jagged-cliffs-of-Iceland--her-white-dress-a-striking-contrast-against-the-dark-volcanic-rock-----a-moment-of-quiet-strength-and-awe--captured-by-European-elopement-photographer-Sturmsucht.jpg) 

## Join my mailing list

[Subscribe now](https://blog.sturmsucht.de/?ref=zielecki.com#/portal)
### Tours & Workshops
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/tours-and-workshops/
Last updated: 2026-06-08T16:03:31.000Z
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### Landscapes & Travels
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/travels/
Last updated: 2026-06-09T15:38:30.000Z
_No content available._
## Posts
### Greenland
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/greenland/
Last updated: 2025-08-07T19:08:38.000Z
We all have destinations that we dream of visiting for years, but often it feels like they will remain out of reach forever. However, when the opportunity arises to explore new territories, it's essential to seize the moment and push your personal boundaries. Greenland was that place for me – a landscape so remote and pristine that it felt like stepping back in time to when the world was still wild.

The adventure began with one of those heart-over-head decisions that define the best journeys. I booked a flight to Greenland for August with nothing but my camera, a backpack and a tent, joining a group of landscape photographers for what promised to be the hiking trip of a lifetime. My rational mind screamed caution, but something deeper knew this was exactly where I needed to be.

![A red Air Greenland helicopter is parked on a wet runway under a cloudy sky, with one person boarding and another approaching, set against a backdrop of low, dark hills captured by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-red-Air-Greenland-helicopter-is-parked-on-a-wet-runway-under-a-cloudy-sky--with-one-person-boarding-and-another-approaching--set-against-a-backdrop-of-low--dark-hills-captured-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

After flying into Narsarsuaq airport, we took a helicopter to Nanortalik – a southern village in Greenland and our starting point for an unforgettable wilderness adventure. From there, we ventured into a world without roads or tourism, where the only sounds are wind, water, and your own footsteps on what feels like the most untouched spot on earth. We pitched our tents in valleys carved by glaciers millennia ago, surrounded by landscapes that seemed too dramatic to be real – towering icebergs drifting like frozen cathedrals, glaciers grinding their slow way to the sea, and mountains that rose from fjords in impossible vertical walls.

![Inside the cockpit of a helicopter flying over a rugged Greenland coastline, a pilot wearing a helmet operates the controls while monitoring the instrument panel and the view outside, captured by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Inside-the-cockpit-of-a-helicopter-flying-over-a-rugged-Greenland-coastline--a-pilot-wearing-a-helmet-operates-the-controls-while-monitoring-the-instrument-panel-and-the-view-outside--captured-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A naval ship moves through dark, calm Arctic waters scattered with small icebergs, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-naval-ship-moves-through-dark--calm-Arctic-waters-scattered-with-small-icebergs--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![Chris wearing a black cap and bright green ear protection sits inside a helicopter with a foggy window showing a blurred outdoor landscape, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-black-cap-and-bright-green-ear-protection-sits-inside-a-helicopter-with-a-foggy-window-showing-a-blurred-outdoor-landscape--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A large cruise ship sails through calm, dark waters near a rugged coastline under an overcast sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-large-cruise-ship-sails-through-calm--dark-waters-near-a-rugged-coastline-under-an-overcast-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A serene mountain lake with deep blue water is nestled between rocky, mist-covered hills under a cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-serene-mountain-lake-with-deep-blue-water-is-nestled-between-rocky--mist-covered-hills-under-a-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A moody, overcast sky hangs over a misty fjord with dark water and scattered islands, surrounded by rugged mountains in Greenland, captured by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-moody--overcast-sky-hangs-over-a-misty-fjord-with-dark-water-and-scattered-islands--surrounded-by-rugged-mountains-in-Greenland--captured-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A small red wooden house with white-framed windows stands on a grassy, rocky landscape under a cloudy sky, with a picnic table nearby, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-small-red-wooden-house-with-white-framed-windows-stands-on-a-grassy--rocky-landscape-under-a-cloudy-sky--with-a-picnic-table-nearby--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![An old green wooden house with white-framed windows stands amidst a field of yellow wildflowers and large rocks under a cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/An-old-green-wooden-house-with-white-framed-windows-stands-amidst-a-field-of-yellow-wildflowers-and-large-rocks-under-a-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A group of people dressed in outdoor gear are on a red boat navigating through a fjord with rocky cliffs under a cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-group-of-people-dressed-in-outdoor-gear-are-on-a-red-boat-navigating-through-a-fjord-with-rocky-cliffs-under-a-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

We hiked through valleys that started and ended in fjords. We climbed peaks that offered panoramic views over an endless archipelago, each island more remote than the last. The scale was humbling – standing on a summit, looking out over hundreds of uninhabited islands stretching to the horizon to the Labrador Sea, you understand what true wilderness means.

![A hiker with a large backpack crosses a narrow wooden suspension bridge over a rushing river in a rocky, mountainous landscape, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-hiker-with-a-large-backpack-crosses-a-narrow-wooden-suspension-bridge-over-a-rushing-river-in-a-rocky--mountainous-landscape--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Bright red jackets are hung on a clothesline stretched between large rocks in a rugged outdoor setting under a cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Bright-red-jackets-are-hung-on-a-clothesline-stretched-between-large-rocks-in-a-rugged-outdoor-setting-under-a-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Jagged mountain peaks rise dramatically under a partly cloudy sky, overlooking a calm body of water with a small settlement nestled at the base, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Jagged-mountain-peaks-rise-dramatically-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--overlooking-a-calm-body-of-water-with-a-small-settlement-nestled-at-the-base--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A towering, jagged mountain rises above a grassy slope beside a calm body of water under a partly cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-towering--jagged-mountain-rises-above-a-grassy-slope-beside-a-calm-body-of-water-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person wearing a protective hat with a mesh face covering stands in a mountainous campsite with tents and dramatic clouds overhead, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-protective-hat-with-a-mesh-face-covering-stands-in-a-mountainous-campsite-with-tents-and-dramatic-clouds-overhead--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Three people dressed in warm jackets stand on a boat under a dramatic cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Three-people-dressed-in-warm-jackets-stand-on-a-boat-under-a-dramatic-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A misty mountain landscape features a flowing stream winding through rocky terrain with low clouds partially obscuring snow-capped peaks, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-misty-mountain-landscape-features-a-flowing-stream-winding-through-rocky-terrain-with-low-clouds-partially-obscuring-snow-capped-peaks--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A wide fjord stretches between rugged mountain ranges under a cloudy sky, with dark green terrain in the foreground, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-wide-fjord-stretches-between-rugged-mountain-ranges-under-a-cloudy-sky--with-dark-green-terrain-in-the-foreground--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A dramatic sky glows with vibrant pink and purple hues above dark mountain silhouettes at dusk, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dramatic-sky-glows-with-vibrant-pink-and-purple-hues-above-dark-mountain-silhouettes-at-dusk--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A dark-furred arctic fox stands amidst green moss and vibrant pink wildflowers on rocky terrain, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dark-furred-arctic-fox-stands-amidst-green-moss-and-vibrant-pink-wildflowers-on-rocky-terrain--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A small red boat moves across calm, dark waters surrounded by towering mountains under a cloudy, overcast sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-small-red-boat-moves-across-calm--dark-waters-surrounded-by-towering-mountains-under-a-cloudy--overcast-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A dramatic glacier flows down between jagged mountain peaks under a moody, cloudy sky, reflected in the calm waters below, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dramatic-glacier-flows-down-between-jagged-mountain-peaks-under-a-moody--cloudy-sky--reflected-in-the-calm-waters-below--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A glacier with jagged blue ice descends between rocky cliffs, melting into a flowing stream surrounded by ice chunks, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-glacier-with-jagged-blue-ice-descends-between-rocky-cliffs--melting-into-a-flowing-stream-surrounded-by-ice-chunks--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person in outdoor gear crouches near a flowing stream that leads into a calm lake surrounded by steep, rocky mountains under a cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-in-outdoor-gear-crouches-near-a-flowing-stream-that-leads-into-a-calm-lake-surrounded-by-steep--rocky-mountains-under-a-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person pulls a bright orange boat to shore with a rope while two others prepare to disembark on a calm fjord surrounded by steep mountains, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-pulls-a-bright-orange-boat-to-shore-with-a-rope-while-two-others-prepare-to-disembark-on-a-calm-fjord-surrounded-by-steep-mountains--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A lone hiker walks near two tents pitched on rocky terrain with low fog drifting around towering mountain peaks under a clear blue sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-lone-hiker-walks-near-two-tents-pitched-on-rocky-terrain-with-low-fog-drifting-around-towering-mountain-peaks-under-a-clear-blue-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A group of hikers traverses a rocky slope above a sea of clouds with jagged, snow-dusted mountain peaks under a clear blue sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-group-of-hikers-traverses-a-rocky-slope-above-a-sea-of-clouds-with-jagged--snow-dusted-mountain-peaks-under-a-clear-blue-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A uniquely shaped iceberg floats in calm blue waters under a bright sun and clear sky, with misty mountains in the background, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-uniquely-shaped-iceberg-floats-in-calm-blue-waters-under-a-bright-sun-and-clear-sky--with-misty-mountains-in-the-background--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person stands on rocky terrain overlooking a vast sea of clouds filling a mountain valley, with the sun setting behind jagged peaks, casting warm light across the scene, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-stands-on-rocky-terrain-overlooking-a-vast-sea-of-clouds-filling-a-mountain-valley--with-the-sun-setting-behind-jagged-peaks--casting-warm-light-across-the-scene--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A lone hiker stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast sea of clouds nestled between rugged mountain peaks bathed in warm sunlight, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-lone-hiker-stands-on-a-rocky-outcrop-overlooking-a-vast-sea-of-clouds-nestled-between-rugged-mountain-peaks-bathed-in-warm-sunlight--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person stands on rocky terrain overlooking a vast valley filled with clouds, surrounded by jagged snow-dusted mountain peaks illuminated by the warm light of the setting or rising sun, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-stands-on-rocky-terrain-overlooking-a-vast-valley-filled-with-clouds--surrounded-by-jagged-snow-dusted-mountain-peaks-illuminated-by-the-warm-light-of-the-setting-or-rising-sun--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Jagged mountain peaks rise above a thick sea of clouds under a vibrant purple and orange sunset sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Jagged-mountain-peaks-rise-above-a-thick-sea-of-clouds-under-a-vibrant-purple-and-orange-sunset-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A full moon rises over jagged mountain peaks with a clear gradient sky transitioning from deep orange near the horizon to blue above, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-full-moon-rises-over-jagged-mountain-peaks-with-a-clear-gradient-sky-transitioning-from-deep-orange-near-the-horizon-to-blue-above--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Under a starry night sky with a bright moon illuminating a valley filled with low-lying clouds, three people are seen on rocky terrain surrounded by towering mountains, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Under-a-starry-night-sky-with-a-bright-moon-illuminating-a-valley-filled-with-low-lying-clouds--three-people-are-seen-on-rocky-terrain-surrounded-by-towering-mountains--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A glowing orange tent is pitched on dark ground beneath a rocky ridge, with a vibrant green aurora borealis lighting up the starry night sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-glowing-orange-tent-is-pitched-on-dark-ground-beneath-a-rocky-ridge--with-a-vibrant-green-aurora-borealis-lighting-up-the-starry-night-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A cruise ship sails through a narrow fjord surrounded by steep, jagged mountains with low clouds drifting above the water, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-cruise-ship-sails-through-a-narrow-fjord-surrounded-by-steep--jagged-mountains-with-low-clouds-drifting-above-the-water--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![A colorful village with red, blue, and white houses is nestled in a rocky valley surrounded by towering mountains, with a fjord visible in the distance, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-colorful-village-with-red--blue--and-white-houses-is-nestled-in-a-rocky-valley-surrounded-by-towering-mountains--with-a-fjord-visible-in-the-distance--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

We also visited remote villages where people still live from hunting, where children grow up without internet, maintaining a connection to the land that feels increasingly rare in our modern world.

![A child runs toward the camera on a dirt path in an outdoor area with large wrapped pallets and other children playing in the background, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-child-runs-toward-the-camera-on-a-dirt-path-in-an-outdoor-area-with-large-wrapped-pallets-and-other-children-playing-in-the-background--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Children play energetically outdoors on a rocky terrain with mountains in the background, some standing on large wrapped pallets, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Children-play-energetically-outdoors-on-a-rocky-terrain-with-mountains-in-the-background--some-standing-on-large-wrapped-pallets--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Two children play outdoors near a wooden building, with one sitting on a rock and the other sitting on a raised platform, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-children-play-outdoors-near-a-wooden-building--with-one-sitting-on-a-rock-and-the-other-sitting-on-a-raised-platform--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A small blue house with white-trimmed windows stands at the base of rocky, moss-covered mountains, flying the Greenlandic flag, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-small-blue-house-with-white-trimmed-windows-stands-at-the-base-of-rocky--moss-covered-mountains--flying-the-Greenlandic-flag--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![A fluffy brown and white dog lies relaxed on a concrete surface near wooden steps and a blue building, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-fluffy-brown-and-white-dog-lies-relaxed-on-a-concrete-surface-near-wooden-steps-and-a-blue-building--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A wooden wall displays a collection of photographs, drawings, and a framed certificate, featuring scenic mountain and fjord landscapes along with handwritten notes and sketches, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-wooden-wall-displays-a-collection-of-photographs--drawings--and-a-framed-certificate--featuring-scenic-mountain-and-fjord-landscapes-along-with-handwritten-notes-and-sketches--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person wearing a blue Eddie Bauer jacket stands against a bright blue wall, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-blue-Eddie-Bauer-jacket-stands-against-a-bright-blue-wall--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-2.webp)

![A person wearing a red Arc'teryx jacket and a red-and-black striped beanie stands against a weathered red wooden wall, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-red-Arc-teryx-jacket-and-a-red-and-black-striped-beanie-stands-against-a-weathered-red-wooden-wall--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-2.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-bright-orange-Arc-teryx-jacket-and-a-red-knit-hat-stands-against-a-yellow-wooden-wall--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person wearing a black The North Face jacket with a red zipper stands against a dark gray paneled wall, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-black-The-North-Face-jacket-with-a-red-zipper-stands-against-a-dark-gray-paneled-wall--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A person wearing a blue and black Mountain Hardwear jacket stands in front of a weathered blue wooden wall, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-person-wearing-a-blue-and-black-Mountain-Hardwear-jacket-stands-in-front-of-a-weathered-blue-wooden-wall--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A colorful village with red, blue, yellow, and white houses is nestled among rocky terrain with towering mountains and a fjord in the background, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki-sharpen](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-colorful-village-with-red--blue--yellow--and-white-houses-is-nestled-among-rocky-terrain-with-towering-mountains-and-a-fjord-in-the-background--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-sharpen.webp)

![A white sailboat with the number 18 on its hull floats on calm water, reflected clearly beneath towering rocky mountains under a clear blue sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-white-sailboat-with-the-number-18-on-its-hull-floats-on-calm-water--reflected-clearly-beneath-towering-rocky-mountains-under-a-clear-blue-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-seal-rests-on-a-floating-ice-floe-in-calm-waters-with-towering--snow-capped-mountains-shrouded-in-clouds-in-the-background--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A group of people unload gear from a small boat onto the grassy shore of a calm lake, set against a dramatic mountain landscape with the sun shining through clouds, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-group-of-people-unload-gear-from-a-small-boat-onto-the-grassy-shore-of-a-calm-lake--set-against-a-dramatic-mountain-landscape-with-the-sun-shining-through-clouds--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A dramatic mountain landscape features towering peaks with clouds rising above them, casting shadows over a calm body of water under a clear blue sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dramatic-mountain-landscape-features-towering-peaks-with-clouds-rising-above-them--casting-shadows-over-a-calm-body-of-water-under-a-clear-blue-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![The sun sets behind rugged mountains, casting light over a sharp, pyramid-shaped peak reflected perfectly in the still waters of a lake, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/The-sun-sets-behind-rugged-mountains--casting-light-over-a-sharp--pyramid-shaped-peak-reflected-perfectly-in-the-still-waters-of-a-lake--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A serene fjord is surrounded by towering mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with the calm water reflecting the landscape and sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-serene-fjord-is-surrounded-by-towering-mountains-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--with-the-calm-water-reflecting-the-landscape-and-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![The sun shines brightly through a mountain valley, illuminating a small winding stream and patches of green grass among rocky terrain, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/The-sun-shines-brightly-through-a-mountain-valley--illuminating-a-small-winding-stream-and-patches-of-green-grass-among-rocky-terrain--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A twilight sky with scattered clouds casts a deep blue hue over a calm fjord surrounded by dark mountain silhouettes, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki.A twilight sky with scattered clouds casts a deep blue hue over a calm fjord surrounded by dark mountain silhouettes, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-twilight-sky-with-scattered-clouds-casts-a-deep-blue-hue-over-a-calm-fjord-surrounded-by-dark-mountain-silhouettes--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A cruise ship sails on calm waters near towering, jagged mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-cruise-ship-sails-on-calm-waters-near-towering--jagged-mountain-peaks-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki-1.webp)

![A winding dirt path cuts through green tundra leading to a blue fjord dotted with icebergs, framed by rugged mountains under a clear sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-winding-dirt-path-cuts-through-green-tundra-leading-to-a-blue-fjord-dotted-with-icebergs--framed-by-rugged-mountains-under-a-clear-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A weathered corrugated metal building stands in a grassy field bathed in warm sunlight with mountains visible in the distance, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-weathered-corrugated-metal-building-stands-in-a-grassy-field-bathed-in-warm-sunlight-with-mountains-visible-in-the-distance--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A sunlit mountain valley with rocky terrain and patches of green grass lies under a clear blue sky with clouds rising above distant peaks, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-sunlit-mountain-valley-with-rocky-terrain-and-patches-of-green-grass-lies-under-a-clear-blue-sky-with-clouds-rising-above-distant-peaks--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-massive-iceberg-floats-in-the-ocean-under-a-bright-blue-sky-with-wispy-clouds--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![An aerial view of a coastal Greenland town shows colorful buildings clustered on rocky terrain surrounded by water dotted with floating icebergs, with mountains rising in the background, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/An-aerial-view-of-a-coastal-Greenland-town-shows-colorful-buildings-clustered-on-rocky-terrain-surrounded-by-water-dotted-with-floating-icebergs--with-mountains-rising-in-the-background--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A wide fjord stretches between rocky, low-lying islands and mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky, captured in Greenland by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-wide-fjord-stretches-between-rocky--low-lying-islands-and-mountains-under-a-partly-cloudy-blue-sky--captured-in-Greenland-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

Those August nights, lying in my tent under the Arctic sky and watching a northern light, I felt more alive than I had in years. It's those moments when we step outside of our comfort zone that we truly grow and expand our horizons – and Greenland redefined what I thought possible for me.
### Swedish Summer
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/swedish-summer/
Last updated: 2025-08-03T13:20:46.000Z
Some journeys begin long before you pack your first bag. My Swedish adventure started decades earlier, curled up with Astrid Lindgren's books, dreaming of endless summer days by mirror-smooth lakes and adventures on tiny islands where anything seemed possible. In 2014, I finally decided to chase those childhood dreams – I threw my tent in the car and headed north with nothing but a full tank of gas and a week of freedom ahead of me.

There's something liberating about traveling without a plan, especially when you're on your own. No reservations, no rigid itinerary, just the open road through southern Sweden and the promise of discovering whatever called to me along the way. I'd wake up each morning, consult my map over coffee, and simply point myself toward whichever lake or forest looked most inviting.

Arriving in midsummer felt like stepping directly into those beloved stories. The mornings greeted me with the scent of dew-soaked grass and a symphony of birdsong that seemed to stretch on forever. While I didn't experience the midnight sun this far south, the evenings stretched endlessly, bathed in that golden Scandinavian light that makes everything look like it's been touched by magic.

The landscapes were pure fairy tale – lakes so still they perfectly mirrored the sky, dotted with small islands that beckoned like secret kingdoms. I couldn't resist channeling my inner Pippi Longstocking, building makeshift rafts and wooden castles on secluded shores, laughing like the child I once was while reading about these very adventures.

My favorite moments came in the early morning hours, when long shadows painted the world in soft contrasts and I felt like the only person awake in all of Sweden. There's a particular quality to Scandinavian light at dawn – gentle but brilliant, making even the simplest pine forest feel cathedral-like.

That week taught me the value of spontaneity and solitude. Away from schedules and obligations, I rediscovered the art of just being present, of appreciating the small magic that happens when you give yourself permission to wander without purpose.

Sweden will always hold a special place in my heart – not just for its beauty, but for proving that sometimes the best way to honor childhood dreams is to live them exactly as you imagined.

![A field of delicate white cotton grass swaying gently under a partly cloudy sky, with a soft focus on the foreground plants, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-field-of-delicate-white-cotton-grass-swaying-gently-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--with-a-soft-focus-on-the-foreground-plants--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A rustic red wooden house with a weathered, moss-covered tiled roof and a black door featuring lace curtains, framed by lush green bushes, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-rustic-red-wooden-house-with-a-weathered--moss-covered-tiled-roof-and-a-black-door-featuring-lace-curtains--framed-by-lush-green-bushes--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A peaceful Swedish coastal village with red wooden houses topped with orange roofs, numerous Swedish flags flying, lush greenery, and small boats docked along the calm waterfront, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-peaceful-Swedish-coastal-village-with-red-wooden-houses-topped-with-orange-roofs--numerous-Swedish-flags-flying--lush-greenery--and-small-boats-docked-along-the-calm-waterfront--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A vast, calm lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky with wispy clouds stretching across the horizon, bordered by a distant tree-lined shore, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-vast--calm-lake-reflecting-a-partly-cloudy-sky-with-wispy-clouds-stretching-across-the-horizon--bordered-by-a-distant-tree-lined-shore--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A dramatic sunset over a dark lake with heavy, textured clouds filling the sky and the sun’s golden light reflecting in a sparkling path on the water, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-dramatic-sunset-over-a-dark-lake-with-heavy--textured-clouds-filling-the-sky-and-the-sun---s-golden-light-reflecting-in-a-sparkling-path-on-the-water--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A Swedish flag with a yellow Nordic cross on a blue background waves atop a white flagpole surrounded by lush green foliage and a red-roofed house under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-Swedish-flag-with-a-yellow-Nordic-cross-on-a-blue-background-waves-atop-a-white-flagpole-surrounded-by-lush-green-foliage-and-a-red-roofed-house-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A peaceful Swedish countryside scene at sunset with golden light filtering through scattered trees, casting long shadows over a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-peaceful-Swedish-countryside-scene-at-sunset-with-golden-light-filtering-through-scattered-trees--casting-long-shadows-over-a-grassy-field-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A quiet country road lined with tall trees casting long shadows in the golden light of a setting sun, with grassy fields on either side, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-quiet-country-road-lined-with-tall-trees-casting-long-shadows-in-the-golden-light-of-a-setting-sun--with-grassy-fields-on-either-side--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A solitary stone house with a red roof stands beside a narrow road under a dramatic, dark, and heavy cloud-filled sky, surrounded by green fields and a few trees, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-solitary-stone-house-with-a-red-roof-stands-beside-a-narrow-road-under-a-dramatic--dark--and-heavy-cloud-filled-sky--surrounded-by-green-fields-and-a-few-trees--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A golden sunset shining brightly through the branches of a lone tree in a grassy field, casting warm light and long shadows across the landscape under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-golden-sunset-shining-brightly-through-the-branches-of-a-lone-tree-in-a-grassy-field--casting-warm-light-and-long-shadows-across-the-landscape-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A warm sunset casting golden light across a grassy field dotted with scattered trees, with dramatic clouds in the sky and the sun partially hidden near the horizon, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-warm-sunset-casting-golden-light-across-a-grassy-field-dotted-with-scattered-trees--with-dramatic-clouds-in-the-sky-and-the-sun-partially-hidden-near-the-horizon--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A pair of weathered blue wooden doors set in a white wall partially covered by lush green ivy, with a stone block resting at the base, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-pair-of-weathered-blue-wooden-doors-set-in-a-white-wall-partially-covered-by-lush-green-ivy--with-a-stone-block-resting-at-the-base--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A handwritten list of items and prices on graph paper rests on a wooden table next to a pen, two garlic bulbs, and plastic bags containing tomatoes, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-handwritten-list-of-items-and-prices-on-graph-paper-rests-on-a-wooden-table-next-to-a-pen--two-garlic-bulbs--and-plastic-bags-containing-tomatoes--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A charming white house with a red roof sits beside a quiet country road bathed in the warm golden light of the setting sun, with open fields stretching into the distance, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-charming-white-house-with-a-red-roof-sits-beside-a-quiet-country-road-bathed-in-the-warm-golden-light-of-the-setting-sun--with-open-fields-stretching-into-the-distance--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A calm body of water reflecting a small grassy island and a tree-lined shore under a clear sky at dusk, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-calm-body-of-water-reflecting-a-small-grassy-island-and-a-tree-lined-shore-under-a-clear-sky-at-dusk--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A solitary white swan glides on a calm lake surrounded by rocks and trees, with a clear sky reflecting on the water, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-solitary-white-swan-glides-on-a-calm-lake-surrounded-by-rocks-and-trees--with-a-clear-sky-reflecting-on-the-water--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A quiet Swedish village street lined with trees and houses, featuring a blue flag with a yellow elk hanging from a white wooden building, bathed in warm sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-quiet-Swedish-village-street-lined-with-trees-and-houses--featuring-a-blue-flag-with-a-yellow-elk-hanging-from-a-white-wooden-building--bathed-in-warm-sunlight--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A lone figure stands at the end of a wooden pier stretching into a choppy sea, silhouetted against a bright setting sun with long shadows cast on the pier, under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-lone-figure-stands-at-the-end-of-a-wooden-pier-stretching-into-a-choppy-sea--silhouetted-against-a-bright-setting-sun-with-long-shadows-cast-on-the-pier--under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A tranquil lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky and a tree-lined shore bathed in soft sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-tranquil-lake-reflecting-a-partly-cloudy-sky-and-a-tree-lined-shore-bathed-in-soft-sunlight--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A wooden footbridge stretches across calm water towards a small rocky island, with a marina of sailboats visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-wooden-footbridge-stretches-across-calm-water-towards-a-small--tree-covered-rocky-island--with-a-marina-full-of-sailboats-visible-in-the-distance-under-a-partly-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki-3.webp)

![A serene lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky and a small rocky island with trees, surrounded by forested shores bathed in warm sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-serene-lake-reflecting-a-partly-cloudy-sky-and-a-small-rocky-island-with-trees--surrounded-by-forested-shores-bathed-in-warm-sunlight--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Five open brown paper bags filled with various seeds and beans are arranged on a wooden surface, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Five-open-brown-paper-bags-filled-with-various-seeds-and-beans-are-arranged-on-a-wooden-surface--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Bottles of orange and dark berry juice labeled in Swedish stand on a wooden table alongside cartons of fresh strawberries and a rusty metal cash box, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Bottles-of-orange-and-dark-berry-juice-labeled-in-Swedish-stand-on-a-wooden-table-alongside-cartons-of-fresh-strawberries-and-a-rusty-metal-cash-box--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A vast open grassy field under a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds, with a distant line of small trees on the horizon, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-vast-open-grassy-field-under-a-bright-blue-sky-dotted-with-white-clouds--with-a-distant-line-of-small-trees-on-the-horizon--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A small white rowboat with wooden oars rests beside a narrow, weathered wooden dock surrounded by tall green reeds under a cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-small-white-rowboat-with-wooden-oars-rests-beside-a-narrow--weathered-wooden-dock-surrounded-by-tall-green-reeds-under-a-cloudy-sky--taken-in-Sweden-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)
### Svalbard
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/svalbard/
Last updated: 2025-08-03T10:24:45.000Z
Some destinations exist so far beyond ordinary experience that they feel almost mythical until you're actually there. Svalbard was that place for me – an Arctic archipelago that had lived on my bucket list for years, whispering promises of polar bears and endless wilderness from the very top of the world.

In May, when the winter darkness already left the far north, my two friends and I boarded a flight to Longyearbyen – our basecamp for a week in what might be the most remote location on the planet. We arrived to a landscape caught between seasons: snow still blanketing the mountains, but bathed in the surreal glow of 24-hour daylight that transforms the Arctic into something almost otherworldly.

The endless daylight messes with your sense of time in the most wonderful way. Midnight feels like afternoon, and you find yourself hiking or exploring at what should be bedtime, simply because the light makes it impossible to believe the day should end.

Our adventures took us deep into Svalbard's wild heart. A snowmobile tour across the frozen tundra and glaciers rewarded us with the sight every Arctic traveler dreams of (in a good or bad way): a polar bear, magnificent and solitary, moving across the ice at a respectfully safe distance. We were also blessed with sightings of Arctic foxes, their white coats perfect camouflage against the snow, darting between rocks with an almost supernatural grace.

The boat trip to find walruses became an adventure in itself. We spotted a small group of these massive, whiskered giants hauled out on a rocky island, their deep bellows carrying across the water. But the Arctic reminded us who was really in charge – the weather turned quickly, forcing us to cut our wildlife watching short and race back to safety. It was a perfect lesson in respecting the power of this unforgiving environment.

Standing in that vast, pristine wilderness, I understood why people choose to live and work in places like this. There's something about the raw honesty of the Arctic – its beauty, its harshness, its complete indifference to human convenience – that strips away everything unnecessary and leaves you with something essential.

This was my first trip to Svalbard, but I already knew it won't be my last. Some places get into your blood, and the High Arctic has claimed me completely.

![A narrow channel of dark, open water cuts through a frozen Arctic fjord toward a snow-covered mountain under a clear blue sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-narrow-channel-of-dark--open-water-cuts-through-a-frozen-Arctic-fjord-toward-a-snow-covered-mountain-under-a-clear-blue-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![A solitary white reindeer walking across a vast, snowy, and foggy landscape in Svalbard, captured by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/A-solitary-white-reindeer-walking-across-a-vast--snowy--and-foggy-landscape-in-Svalbard--captured-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Abandoned wooden and metal mining structures partially covered in snow on a rugged, snow-dusted mountainside in Svalbard](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Abandoned-wooden-and-metal-mining-structures-partially-covered-in-snow-on-a-rugged--snow-dusted-mountainside-in-Svalbard.webp)

![Calm Arctic sea with gentle ripples under a moody, overcast sky, with snow-covered mountains visible on the horizon, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Calm-Arctic-sea-with-gentle-ripples-under-a-moody--overcast-sky--with-snow-covered-mountains-visible-on-the-horizon--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Colorful buildings of Longyearbyen spread across a snowy valley with winding roads, set between snow-covered mountains and a calm fjord in the background, captured in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Colorful-buildings-of-Longyearbyen-spread-across-a-snowy-valley-with-winding-roads--set-between-snow-covered-mountains-and-a-calm-fjord-in-the-background--captured-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Dark, rippling Arctic waters stretch toward a distant range of snow-capped mountains under a heavy, overcast sky, with a large flock of birds flying near the horizon, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Dark--rippling-Arctic-waters-stretch-toward-a-distant-range-of-snow-capped-mountains-under-a-heavy--overcast-sky--with-a-large-flock-of-birds-flying-near-the-horizon--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Five people dressed in black cold-weather gear walking across a vast snowy plain toward snow-covered mountains under a bright, partly cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Five-people-dressed-in-black-cold-weather-gear-walking-across-a-vast-snowy-plain-toward-snow-covered-mountains-under-a-bright--partly-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Fluffy white dog standing on snowy ground in front of a brown wooden building, with its eyes closed and tail curled, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Fluffy-white-dog-standing-on-snowy-ground-in-front-of-a-brown-wooden-building--with-its-eyes-closed-and-tail-curled--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Dark, rippling Arctic waters stretch toward a distant range of snow-capped mountains under a heavy, overcast sky, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Dark--rippling-Arctic-waters-stretch-toward-a-distant-range-of-snow-capped-mountains-under-a-heavy--overcast-sky--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Gray wooden door set in a dark gray wooden wall with triangular windows on each side, decorated with a cluster of antlers and various tools leaning against the wall, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Gray-wooden-door-set-in-a-dark-gray-wooden-wall-with-triangular-windows-on-each-side--decorated-with-a-cluster-of-antlers-and-various-tools-leaning-against-the-wall--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person standing on a snowy ridge overlooking a vast snow-covered valley and distant mountains under a bright sun in a clear blue sky, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-standing-on-a-snowy-ridge-overlooking-a-vast-snow-covered-valley-and-distant-mountains-under-a-bright-sun-in-a-clear-blue-sky--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Gray wooden house with red trim partially surrounded by snow, a red car parked nearby, and snow-covered mountains in the background, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Gray-wooden-house-with-red-trim-partially-surrounded-by-snow--a-red-car-parked-nearby--and-snow-covered-mountains-in-the-background--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Panoramic view of a vast snow-covered mountainous landscape under a bright blue sky with the sun shining, captured in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Panoramic-view-of-a-vast-snow-covered-mountainous-landscape-under-a-bright-blue-sky-with-the-sun-shining--captured-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki..webp)

![Group of five reindeer resting on a snowy plain with snow-covered hills and a clear blue sky in the background, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Group-of-five-reindeer-resting-on-a-snowy-plain-with-snow-covered-hills-and-a-clear-blue-sky-in-the-background--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Partially frozen dark Arctic waters with floating ice chunks in the foreground and snow-covered mountains under a blue sky with scattered clouds in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Partially-frozen-dark-Arctic-waters-with-floating-ice-chunks-in-the-foreground-and-snow-covered-mountains-under-a-blue-sky-with-scattered-clouds-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person dressed in warm Arctic clothing including a fur-lined hat, orange jacket, and layered neckwear, standing outdoors against a bright blue sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-dressed-in-warm-Arctic-clothing-including-a-fur-lined-hat--orange-jacket--and-layered-neckwear--standing-outdoors-against-a-bright-blue-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person---s-black-snow-covered-boots-standing-on-a-frozen-surface-with-white-air-bubbles-trapped-beneath-the-ice--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Polar bear walking across a snowy plain with a large snow-covered mountain in the background under a cloudy sky, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Polar-bear-walking-across-a-snowy-plain-with-a-large-snow-covered-mountain-in-the-background-under-a-cloudy-sky--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Polar bear warning sign standing beside a snowy road with a vast frozen landscape and snow-covered mountains in the background, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Polar-bear-warning-sign-standing-beside-a-snowy-road-with-a-vast-frozen-landscape-and-snow-covered-mountains-in-the-background--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person wearing a yellow Arc'teryx jacket with a blue inner layer, holding a small stuffed unicorn toy indoors under warm lighting, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-wearing-a-yellow-Arc-teryx-jacket-with-a-blue-inner-layer--holding-a-small-stuffed-unicorn-toy-indoors-under-warm-lighting--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Road leading toward a cluster of red and brown buildings at the base of a snow-covered mountain under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Road-leading-toward-a-cluster-of-red-and-brown-buildings-at-the-base-of-a-snow-covered-mountain-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person wearing a layered outfit including a red jacket and gray scarf, sitting indoors in soft lighting, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-wearing-a-layered-outfit-including-a-red-jacket-and-gray-scarf--sitting-indoors-in-soft-lighting--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person wearing a blue Adidas jacket with arms crossed, sitting indoors in soft lighting, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-wearing-a-blue-Adidas-jacket-with-arms-crossed--sitting-indoors-in-soft-lighting--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Row of colorful buildings stretching along a snowy hillside beneath a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Row-of-colorful-buildings-stretching-along-a-snowy-hillside-beneath-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Rustic wooden cabin surrounded by snow with a frozen circular pattern on the ground in front, set against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Rustic-wooden-cabin-surrounded-by-snow-with-a-frozen-circular-pattern-on-the-ground-in-front--set-against-a-backdrop-of-snow-covered-mountains-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Small settlement with scattered buildings on a partially snow-covered tundra by calm blue waters, with a distant range of snow-capped mountains under a clear sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Small-settlement-with-scattered-buildings-on-a-partially-snow-covered-tundra-by-calm-blue-waters--with-a-distant-range-of-snow-capped-mountains-under-a-clear-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Small settlement with scattered colorful buildings situated in a snowy valley surrounded by steep, snow-covered mountains in Svalbard](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Small-settlement-with-scattered-colorful-buildings-situated-in-a-snowy-valley-surrounded-by-steep--snow-covered-mountains-in-Svalbard.webp)

![Snow-covered hills overlooking a calm blue fjord with several boats anchored near the shore under a bright, partly cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Snow-covered-hills-overlooking-a-calm-blue-fjord-with-several-boats-anchored-near-the-shore-under-a-bright--partly-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Snow-covered hilltop with several large white radar domes under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Snow-covered-hilltop-with-several-large-white-radar-domes-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Snow-covered mountainous island partially surrounded by dark Arctic waters and shrouded in low clouds in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Snow-covered-mountainous-island-partially-surrounded-by-dark-Arctic-waters-and-shrouded-in-low-clouds-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person wearing a teal jacket and black pants walking alone across a vast snowy landscape with snow-covered mountains in the distance, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-wearing-a-teal-jacket-and-black-pants-walking-alone-across-a-vast-snowy-landscape-with-snow-covered-mountains-in-the-distance--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Snow-covered rugged mountains rise sharply from dark Arctic waters under a clear blue sky with wispy clouds, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Snow-covered-rugged-mountains-rise-sharply-from-dark-Arctic-waters-under-a-clear-blue-sky-with-wispy-clouds--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person wearing a blue beanie and a black jacket with "Better Moments" logo, standing behind a rain-speckled boat window on a gray, overcast day in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-wearing-a-blue-beanie-and-a-black-jacket-with--22Better-Moments-22-logo--standing-behind-a-rain-speckled-boat-window-on-a-gray--overcast-day-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Snow-covered street lined with colorful wooden houses and several parked snowmobiles, set against a backdrop of snowy mountains in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Snow-covered-street-lined-with-colorful-wooden-houses-and-several-parked-snowmobiles--set-against-a-backdrop-of-snowy-mountains-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Two people dressed in cold-weather gear sitting on a snowy mound in a vast snowy landscape with distant mountains under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-people-dressed-in-cold-weather-gear-sitting-on-a-snowy-mound-in-a-vast-snowy-landscape-with-distant-mountains-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Two people dressed in cold-weather gear sitting on a snowy mound overlooking a vast snowy landscape for polar bear patrol with distant mountains under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-people-dressed-in-cold-weather-gear-sitting-on-a-snowy-mound-overlooking-a-vast-snowy-landscape-with-distant-mountains-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Vast expanse of snow-covered rolling hills and mountains under a cloudy sky in Svalbard, photographed by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Vast-expanse-of-snow-covered-rolling-hills-and-mountains-under-a-cloudy-sky-in-Svalbard--photographed-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person inside a vehicle showing their hands with a tattoo reading "Adventure" on one finger, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Person-inside-a-vehicle-showing-their-hands-with-a-tattoo-reading--22Adventure-22-on-one-finger--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![View from inside a boat cabin showing two people navigating through rough, rainy waters with raindrops on the windows and a navigation screen visible, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/View-from-inside-a-boat-cabin-showing-two-people-navigating-through-rough--rainy-waters-with-raindrops-on-the-windows-and-a-navigation-screen-visible--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![View of a calm sea with snow-covered mountains in the distance, seen through a window from inside a darkened boat, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/View-of-a-calm-sea-with-snow-covered-mountains-in-the-distance--seen-through-a-window-from-inside-a-darkened-boat--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![View through a boat window of a calm sea scattered with small ice floes and a snow-covered rocky shoreline in the distance, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/View-through-a-boat-window-of-a-calm-sea-scattered-with-small-ice-floes-and-a-snow-covered-rocky-shoreline-in-the-distance--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Walrus partially submerged in dark, choppy Arctic waters under a foggy sky, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Walrus-partially-submerged-in-dark--choppy-Arctic-waters-under-a-foggy-sky--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![White dog sitting behind a chain-link fence with a snowy landscape and industrial structures in the background, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/White-dog-sitting-behind-a-chain-link-fence-with-a-snowy-landscape-and-industrial-structures-in-the-background--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Two people walking down a snowy street in a small town with red wooden buildings and snow-covered mountains in the background, one carrying a large inflatable orca, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/Two-people-walking-down-a-snowy-street-in-a-small-town-with-red-wooden-buildings-and-snow-covered-mountains-in-the-background--one-carrying-a-large-inflatable-orca--photographed-in-Svalbard-by-Chris-Zielecki.webp)

![Person standing on a rocky shore with snow-covered mountains in the background, raising a fist toward a large inflatable orca whale floating above, with the text "FREE WILLY How far would you go for a friend?" above, photographed in Svalbard by Chris Zielecki](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/free-willy.webp)
### Southern Norway
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/southern-norway/
Last updated: 2025-08-03T10:26:19.000Z
There's something irresistible about pointing your car north and just driving until you hit something spectacular. That's exactly what my friend and I did one crisp autumn – we loaded up our car with camping gear, an embarrassing amount of chocolate, and headed for the fjords of southern Norway.

The journey itself became part of the adventure. Hours of Danish countryside rolled past our windows until we reached the ferry terminal, where we joined the queue of fellow adventurers bound for Kristiansand. As our ferry cut through the North Sea, we could feel the anticipation building – Norway's legendary landscapes were waiting.

Once we hit Norwegian soil, we spent a week living out of our tent, chasing autumn light through some of the country's most dramatic scenery. We made our base around the Lysefjord region, with Stavanger serving as our supply stop and Kristiansand as our final farewell to this incredible corner of Scandinavia.

The hiking was everything we'd hoped for and more. Each trail demanded something different from us – steep ascents that left our legs burning, rocky scrambles that tested our nerve, and moments where we'd simply stop, breathless, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what surrounded us. The autumn colors painted the landscape in brilliant oranges and reds, a perfect contrast to the deep blue fjord waters below.

But nothing – absolutely nothing – prepared me for Preikestolen.

Standing on that flat-topped cliff, 604 meters above the endless expanse of Lysefjord, I understood why people travel thousands of miles for moments like this. The view stretched beyond what seemed possible, the fjord snaking through the landscape like a ribbon of liquid mercury. Wind whipped across the plateau, carrying the scent of pine and salt water, while the autumn sun cast everything in golden light.

It became one of my favorite places on Earth – not just for the view, but for that perfect moment when adventure, friendship, and natural beauty collided into something unforgettable. Some places just get under your skin, and Preikestolen claimed a permanent spot in mine.

![Several dried fish hang on lines stretched between red-walled buildings under a partly cloudy sky, depicting a traditional fish-drying practice in Denmark.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130902-DSC_3639.jpg)

![A calm marina near Kristiansand filled with numerous sailboats and yachts reflects a clear blue sky with wispy clouds, bordered by a small coastal town and green trees, in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130903-DSC_3728.jpg)

![A single sailboat floats on calm water reflecting a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by green, tree-covered hills and a distant shoreline, in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130903-DSC_3738.jpg)

![A wide expanse of deep blue water stretches toward rugged, green-covered mountains under a partly cloudy sky, capturing a scenic fjord landscape in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130903-DSC_3746.jpg)

![A narrow fjord flanked by steep, rocky mountains with patches of green vegetation extends under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds, showcasing a dramatic natural landscape in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130903-DSC_3758.jpg)

![A glowing tent illuminated by two lanterns sits on grass surrounded by trees under a clear, star-filled night sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130903-DSC_3808.jpg)

![A wooden boardwalk winds through a grassy, rocky landscape under a cloudy, overcast sky, surrounded by low hills and sparse trees in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3828.jpg)

![A narrow stream flows through a grassy, marshy landscape with scattered rocks, bordered by dense trees under a cloudy, overcast sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3840.jpg)

![A dramatic fjord landscape with steep, dark mountains on either side is partially illuminated by a narrow beam of light breaking through heavy, low-hanging clouds in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3869.jpg)

![A dark fjord winds between steep, rocky mountains under a thick layer of low clouds, with rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds and illuminating parts of the landscape in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3876.jpg)

![A fjord with dark, rocky hills is partially illuminated by rays of sunlight breaking through thick, low-hanging clouds, creating a dramatic contrast in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3877.jpg)

![A sunlit cliff juts out over a shimmering fjord surrounded by distant mountains under a clear blue sky, capturing a breathtaking view in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3956-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A person stands on a rocky cliff overlooking a sunlit fjord and distant mountains under a clear sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3934.jpg)

![A person stands on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking a vast fjord and mountainous landscape under a partly cloudy blue sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3960-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A rocky hillside is reflected in the still water of a mountain pond under a clear blue sky with a single contrail in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_4029.jpg)

![A calm mountain pond reflects the blue sky and clouds, with rocky terrain and distant fjords visible under a partly cloudy sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_3989.jpg)

![A sunlit valley with a grassy field and scattered trees is framed by steep, rocky cliffs, with the sun setting behind the mountains in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130904-DSC_4077.jpg)

![A wooden building perched on a rocky hillside overlooks a deep fjord surrounded by steep, mist-covered mountains under a cloudy sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4098-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A series of power lines stretch across a dark, foggy landscape with hills on either side under a heavy, overcast sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4175.jpg)

![A person wearing a purple jacket and yellow pants sits on a large rock surrounded by green hills and trees under a cloudy sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4144-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A lone hiker wearing a bright orange backpack and yellow pants walks along a rocky trail toward a serene lake surrounded by rugged hills under a cloudy sky, in a remote area of Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4184-2.jpg)

![A person with a bright orange backpack walks along a narrow trail through a grassy, rocky landscape toward a lake surrounded by hills under a cloudy sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4189.jpg)

![A small cabin sits by a lake surrounded by rocky hills under a heavy, overcast sky in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4190.jpg)

![A moody, overcast sky hangs over a calm lake surrounded by rocky hills and grassy terrain in Norway.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130905-DSC_4206-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A misty river flanked by dense pine forests reflects the cloudy sky and fog-covered mountains in a serene Norwegian landscape.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130906-DSC_4251-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A misty lake bordered by rocky shores and pine trees reflects fog-covered hills and a cloudy sky in a tranquil Norwegian setting.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20130906-DSC_4252.jpg)
### Faroe Islands
URL: https://www.zielecki.com/faroe-islands/
Last updated: 2025-08-10T08:59:16.000Z
Sometimes you go to a place and immediately feel at home. You feel energy flowing into your body, your mind, your soul, rather than taking it away. You feel yourself instantly calming down and recharging. The Faroe Islands are that for me. These islands in the North Atlantic combine many of the things I love about the North. Rough weather, high cliffs, mountains & the sea, waterfalls and wide grassy valleys. I have met friendly, open-minded people who have provided me with an endless supply of cake, good conversation and a place I can truly call home. And that's all I need.

My first trip there was a solo journey of discovery. I stayed in a cozy bed and breakfast tucked away in a small coastal village on Streymoy, the island that houses the capital. Each morning, I'd wake to the sound of waves crashing against the rocky shore and set out with my rental car to explore whichever island called to me that day.

What captivated me most was the raw, uncompromising nature of these islands. The Faroes don't try to charm you with gentle beauty – they hit you with something far more powerful. Brutal Atlantic storms can sweep across the landscape in minutes, transforming serene valleys into dramatic theaters of wind and rain. Yet within this harshness lies some of the most stunning scenery I've ever witnessed: emerald grass carpeting impossibly steep mountainsides, waterfalls plunging directly into the ocean, and cliffs that seem to scrape the belly of storm clouds.

The contrast is intoxicating – one moment you're battling fierce winds on an exposed mountain pass, the next you're sheltered in a peaceful village where locals invite you in for coffee and homemade cake, sharing stories as if you've been neighbors for years.

That first trip hooked me completely. I've returned several times since, each visit deepening my connection to these remarkable islands and their people. The Faroe Islands have become more than a destination – they're a refuge for my soul.

![Dark, mist-covered island with gentle hills surrounded by calm, deep blue water under a heavy, overcast sky, taken on the Faroe Islands](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170401-DSC_3646.jpg)

![A small village nestled in a valley between rolling brown hills, leading down to a calm body of water under a dramatic sky with thick clouds and patches of blue, taken on the Faroe Islands](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170401-DSC_3644.jpg)

![Two small, black, dome-shaped houses with grass-covered roofs sit on a grassy plain surrounded by rolling brown hills under a cloudy sky with patches of blue, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3676.jpg)

![A person wearing a bright yellow jacket stands on a large rock beside a small cascading stream flowing through a narrow, rocky gorge with steep dark cliffs covered in patches of moss, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3886.jpg)

![A dark, cloudy sky hangs over a calm sea with several distant islands, framed by shadowed hills on either side and circular fish farming pens visible in the water, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3897.jpg)

![Steep, dark cliffs drop sharply into a deep blue, choppy sea with distant islands visible under a gray, overcast sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3924.jpg)

![](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3692.jpg)

![A towering dark cliff rises sharply from a choppy sea under a pale, overcast sky, with a tiny figure standing at the cliff’s edge, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170408-DSC_5452.jpg)

![A dramatic cliff with steep, dark rock faces and a grassy top extends into a deep blue sea, with a calm lake and rolling brown hills behind it under a cloudy gray sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_3975-Pano-Bearbeitet.jpg)

![A group of small, rocky islands with steep, brown cliffs rises from a calm, dark sea under a pale, overcast sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_4214.jpg)

![Remote coastal cliff with a tall waterfall plunging into a dark blue ocean, topped by a small village under a cloudy, misty sky, taken on the Faroe Islands](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170402-DSC_4263-Pano-Bearbeitet-3.jpg)

![Raindrops streak down a windowpane, blurring the view of an indistinct, gray, and overcast landscape beyond.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170403-DSC_4302.jpg)

![View through a window overlooking a small coastal village with colorful houses perched on rocky shores beside a turbulent sea, with misty hills in the background, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170403-DSC_4296.jpg)

![Strong rain and waves crash against a rocky shoreline with houses perched on a steep hill under a gray, stormy sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170403-DSC_4400.jpg)

![Waves crash against a coastal house with a green roof under a dark, stormy sky, while a misty island looms in the background, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4447.jpg)

![Sunlight breaks through dramatic dark clouds, casting rays over a calm sea framed by distant hills, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4524.jpg)

![A wet road stretches straight ahead between dark hills and a body of water under a heavy, gray sky with raindrops on the camera lens, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4555.jpg)

![A misty scene with a small white house near a winding road beside a flowing stream, set against a steep, fog-covered hillside, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4661.jpg)

![A lone sheep stands on dark rocky ground with a misty, gray sky in the background, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4667.jpg)

![A solitary white church stands in a misty valley between steep hills with a waterfall cascading into a lake, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4680.jpg)

![A white church sits in a sunlit valley surrounded by steep hills with waterfalls under a partly cloudy blue sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4717.jpg)

![A small white pot holds a bouquet of dried pink roses behind a weathered window frame with peeling white paint, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4758.jpg)

![Sunlight breaks through dark clouds to illuminate snow-capped mountain peaks above a shadowed lake, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4827.jpg)

![A small village with colorful houses nestles in a valley between steep hills leading to a narrow sea inlet under a cloudy sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4865.jpg)

![A narrow stream cuts through steep, grassy hills under a heavy, overcast sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4895.jpg)

![Heavy rain falls over steep, brown cliffs beside a dark sea under a stormy gray sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4902.jpg)

![Waves crash against a rugged cliff jutting into a dark sea beneath a dramatic sky of heavy clouds and patches of blue, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4936.jpg)

![Waves crash against rocky cliffs along a rugged coastline with scattered houses under a cloudy, gray sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_4993.jpg)

![Dark storm clouds gather over a snow-capped mountain island surrounded by a turbulent sea, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170404-DSC_5031.jpg)

![A fjord winds between steep, grassy mountains with small villages along the shore under a partly cloudy blue sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170405-DSC_5043.jpg)

![A snow-dusted, pyramid-shaped mountain overlooks a blue sea and distant islands under a partly cloudy sky, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170405-DSC_5063.jpg)

![A large, layered mountain partially obscured by thick fog rises above a dark body of water, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170406-DSC_5312.jpg)

![A vast, dark ocean stretches under a heavy, gray sky with fog obscuring the horizon, taken on the Faroe Islands.](https://www.zielecki.com/content/images/2025/08/20170408-DSC_5351.jpg)