Description
The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
Nice to know: The coasts and fjords of Norway are renowned for their beauty
In the far north of the country, about 350 km (217 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, lie the islands of Kvaløya and Senja. Enormous schools of herring gather in the fjords around these islands to live out the winter. This abundance of food creates one of the largest concentrations of biomass on Earth, which in turn attracts large numbers of whales. It is these giants of the sea that this voyage is dedicated to finding.
During winter the daylight is limited, but the nighttime hours are far from wasted: North Norway is one of the best areas in the world to see the northern lights, a magical phenomenon that can only be fully appreciated when the sky is clear and dark, with minimal light pollution. This voyage offers ample opportunities to admire the auroras from the remote bays and fishing villages where you’ll spend the night.
Polar Night in Tromsø, North Norway: Polar night is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the winter months
Polar night is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the winter months. The polar night season officially starts in Tromsø on November 27 and lasts until January 15 but technically, the sun already disappears on November 21 and doesn’t come back to the city until January 21 due to the city being surrounded by high mountain ranges. In this period, there won’t be any daylight but it isn’t pitch black either. There is a twilight and a form of weak daylight between roughly 9am and 2pm.
Important note: –
Tromsø is the base and gateway in which our voyages start and end. These voyages focus on viewing the aurora borealis and whales, and the expedition leader determines the final itinerary to be introduced during the welcome briefing on day one. The map shows two possible routes that we may take in order to raise our chances for wildlife sightings:
The main route (bold line) heads north to the Kvaenangen fjord, very likely to be visited during November to mid-January.
The alternative route (dotted line) heads south around the island of Senja, mainly in the period from mid-January till February. The expedition leader will determine the final route.
Because of the seasonal occurrence of herring and whales in these fjords, the whale safari cruises take place in winter, when the Northern Norway days are short and the nights long. Whale watching (orcas and humpbacks) is highly dependent on the variable herring stocks in the area, and this is ultimately unpredictable. Other whales (i.e., sperm whales) are not dependent on herring, which is why we have a good chance of seeing them in specific areas, such as along the south route near Andenes. The expedition leader will adapt the sailing plan to maximize your chances of seeing whales.
Other highlights of these trips: Arctic Norway (mountains and fjords) and Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In the winter the daylight hours are limited, but during the dark hours we have the opportunity to see the northern lights. These amazing phenomena are only visible when it is dark and the sky is clear, and without other disturbing light sources. The trip will provide ample opportunity to admire the Aurora Borealis in the remote fishing towns and bays where we spend the night at the pier or at anchor. In some places the ship will also sail at night.
