Northern Lights Arctic Fjord Whale Watching Cruise with Husky Safari
- Details
Details
Arctic fjords, whale watching, husky safari, reindeer, Northern Lights, Sámi culture and an Arctic train journey - the bucket list activities in this itinerary just keep coming and coming! This short break incorporates so many of the highlights of Arctic Norway, but what makes it even more special is the expert local team of guides who will be on hand throughout your time onboard to make sure you get the best holiday experience.
By choosing this holiday you really are giving yourself the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights whilst also enjoying some other awesome winter activities too. After one night in Tromsø, your adventure starts with a night-time visit to the Fjellheisen Cable Car which provides stunning panoramic views across the city of Tromsø and its surrounding fjords. Once back on board the ship you will depart on your adventure.
Over the next few days, you will explore this local area both by sea and on some hand-selected land excursions too, which will allow you to meet some of the fascinating locals. A real highlight of this tour will be seeing the Arctic animals along the way. We can't guarantee that you'll see such sightings, but it is common to see killer whales, humpbacked whales and white-tailed sea eagles and you will have the opportunity to get up close to reindeer and huskies during some of the activities
At the end of your Arctic adventure, you will disembark and travel back to Tromsø from Narvik which is close to the Swedish border. When you are back in Tromsø you will spend your final evening in the city with a host of restaurants to choose from. Depending on your flight time home, the following day you may be able to visit one of the city's many museums before transferring to the airport for your return flights.
Please note: All the wildlife watching excursions by RIB boat and the Northern Lights hunts are weather dependent.
Itinerary
Tromsø, situated in Northern Norway, is a vibrant city with plenty of local restaurants and attractions. Upon arrival at Tromsø Airport, you will be met and taken to your hotel via private taxi transfer.
Dinner is not included tonight, but you could head into town to try some of the local cuisine as well as the bustling bars and restaurants.
Included Meals: None
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel ahead of some free time to explore Tromsø, which is surrounded by beautiful landscapes. You could see the Arctic Cathedral or taste some of the local cuisine.
You will meet the expedition team at 4 pm and be taken to the MV Quest for the check-in. It’s only a 10-minute walk from your hotel to the meeting point, but a transfer can be arranged for a supplement. From the meeting point, depending on the docking location of the ship on that day, you may have to take a short walk to the MV Quest or a transfer may be arranged.
After dinner onboard the boat, you will undertake a short transfer to Fjellheisen Cable Car where you will spend an evening on top of the world! On a clear night, you can see for miles and it is quite common to see the Northern Lights from this viewpoint too! After this excursion, you will return to the ship which will depart from Tromsø during the night.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, you will wake up near Andøy and the crew onboard will be in constant contact with the local network of guides and fishermen to head toward any whale sightings in the nearby waters. The flexibility allowed on a small ship voyage like this one is unparalleled by some of the larger cruise lines which visit nearby and are on a very strict routeing and schedule.
After watching out for any whales nearby you will then head to Sortland to enjoy a Sámi culture experience and speak to some local reindeer herders about these iconic animals and their lifestyle. With the firelit and tales being told you will also keep an eye skywards and hopefully be rewarded with an Auroral display. The Northern Lights hunt will continue when you return to the boat and head out to sea, away from any light pollution.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, you will sail towards Raftesund and the famous Trollfjord. It is normally quite common to see the white-tailed sea eagle in this area and your expedition team will be on deck keeping their eyes peeled to alert you to watch this majestic bird in flight.Depending on the weather you may use the zodiac boats to get closer to the majestic mountains, as you travel through the fjord.
Following this, you will land at the small fishing village of Henningsvær where the local fishing community has put together the ‘full steam experience’ which teaches visitors about cod fishing in the local region, the lifestyle of a fisherman and their families and the products and importance of cod liver oil. This is an interesting industry that, prior to such an experience, is easy to take for granted. As with the other nights, the expedition crew will keep watch for any Northern Lights activity and alert guests should they start to display.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s programme will incorporate several more of the charming small communities in this area. Nusfjord village is the first stop today – this isn’t one of the better-known villages in Lofoten but that is what this holiday is all about, finding the hidden gems! This tucked-away little village was selected by Norway in 1975 as one of three Norwegian villages protected to preserve traditional buildings which were slowly becoming less common. Due to this protected status the village can feel like an open-air museum, it boasts an old-fashioned shop with a small, cosy café along with a workshop to make cod liver oil, a forge and a sawmill. The village is a perfect time capsule of how so many of these small villages looked 50 years ago.
Following your visit to Nusfjord, you will travel even further back in time to visit the Lofotr Viking Museum. The living museum was built around the discovery of the longest Viking Age longhouse that has been found and excavated. Here, a wealthy and mighty chieftain dynasty flourished throughout the Viking Age. Both the longhouse and its natural surroundings have undergone a complete renovation.
Following your lunch, you will travel to the small town of Svolvær, which is known as the gateway to the Lofoten.
After dinner, you will go for a wander around Svolvær (weather permitting) and your guide will keep an eye on the sky where hopefully the Northern Lights will appear.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast this morning you will sail past Barøy Lighthouse, which will be the signal that you are close to the town of Narvik.
When sailing towards Narvik the expedition team will provide a lecture on the role of this small town in WW2. It was home to the biggest battle on Norwegian territory. Here, you will have some free time to explore as you wish.
In the evening, after a short transfer, you will board the Arctic Train for your final Northern Lights hunt. You will be taken to a base camp where your guide will make a fire as you wait for the Aurora to make an appearance. Depending on the weather conditions, the guide may decide to go on a walk instead.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you will disembark and bid farewell to the MV Quest and its crew, you will be taken by coach to a camp. After a full safety briefing, you will be out for around 60 to 90 minutes sharing a team of dogs between two guests (one driving and one sitting in the sled). Enjoy lunch by an open fire before your transfer to Tromsø for your final night. After being dropped off at the harbour, you will be transferred to your hotel.
For dinner this evening, which is not included so you have the advantage of flexibility, you can dine in the hotel restaurant or visit one of the other options within easy reach.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, you will check out of the hotel and make your way to the meeting point for the scheduled Flybus shuttle coach and transfer to the airport.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return from London to Tromsø (either direct or via Oslo depending on departure date). Flight routes are subject to change
- Transfers: return airport transfers (taxi transfer on arrival, scheduled Flybus transfer on departure), transfer from the drop-off point to the hotel on day 7, all activity transfers in the itinerary and Arctic train journey
- Accommodation: 5 nights in a standard twin cabin (upgrades may be available depending on availability and subject to supplement), 2 nights in a standard double/twin room at Clarion Hotel – The Edge
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
- Fjelheisen cable car visit and night-time photgrapy workshop
- multiple whales and other Arctic animal watching excursions (either by zodiac or onboard the MV Quest)
- Sámi culture experience and Aurora Camp
- Trollfjord, Henningsvær and history of Arctic fishing
- Nusfjord village and Lofotr Viking Museum
- World War II history and Northern Lights chase
- Arctic train journey and husky safari
- Multiple lectures and photography workshops and mentoring with the onboard expert expedition crew
- Coffee and tea whilst on board
- Cold water outerwear and boots for the duration of your time onboard
- 24/7 assistance from our UK-based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
|
|||||||
|
Situated right in the centre of Tromsø, the Clarion Hotel The Edge puts you in a prime location to explore the ‘Paris of the North’ and is an excellent base to transfer to your memorable activities. Hotel Facilities
NB: The hotel is cash-free. They take payment by credit or debit card and accept all major international cards |
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
|
|||||||
|
The Mv Quest has a rich history of Arctic sailing expeditions. The ship was originally built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a passenger ferry along Greenland’s west coast. In 2005, this sailing ship was completely refurbished to become a comfortable expedition ship with a maximum capacity of 52 guests, with 26 cabins in total, all with ensuite facilities keeping guests warm and comfortable throughout their sailing expedition in the Arctic. The dining room on this ship has a panorama lounge, a small bar and a quiet library. In the lounge, there will be entertaining talks on the area’s history, wildlife, and other relevant topics by the team of expert local guides onboard. There are also five zodiac boats which can be used to take guests ashore, or pretty much anywhere you choose to explore! The Mv Quest is a slightly smaller ship than most, which allows you to discover the untouched areas that some of the larger cruise ships along Northern Norway and the zodiacs can take you even closer to the stunning scenery and wildlife in this area. The food onboard is “pure, fresh and straight from the source” and the onboard chefs use the freshest local ingredients, including seafood and game, to provide a cultural experience through their menu choices. Any dietary requirements can be catered for, please let us know at the time of booking. |
Tour Map
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
