HIGHLIGHTS
- You
spend the next several days along the north coasts of Senja and
Andfjorden, areas where many whales have been spotted in recent years.
Keep a look out for sperm whales and other whale species here.
- You
may also see white-tailed eagles, one of the largest birds of prey in
Europe, vying for their share of the herring.
- Once
the sun has set, you can make short hikes along the coast or in small
villages – and maybe even catch sight of the aurora.
- As
you sail to the small island of Sommarøy, there are good
opportunities to see the northern lights as well as embark on pleasant
hikes.
- As
you sail back to Tromsø you'll have enough time to shop for
souvenirs in town, visit a museum, or simply take a walk in the fresh
winter air.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Private Porthole | Twin Private Inside | Twin Private Porthole |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Private Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Private Inside | (High-end)
Twin Private Porthole |
|---|
ITINERARY
South
route: (around Senja)
Day 1: Paris of the North
Your
adventure begins in Tromsø, nicknamed the “Paris
of the North,” located in an area rich with Norse and
Sámi history.
Enjoy
exploring this sub-Arctic Norwegian town, said to have been inhabited
since the last ice age.
All
voyages with s/v Rembrandt van Rijn aim at departing from
Tromsø in the evening of day one, while s/v Noorderlicht
will set sail in the early morning of day two. All passengers of
Rembrandt are kindly asked to board the vessel by 17:00, while
passengers of Noorderlicht are welcome to board the vessel between
17:00 and 23:00.
Day
2: In search of Norway's whales
The
itinerary depends largely on the weather conditions, the amount of
daylight during the voyage, and the expected location of the whales.
You
might sail clockwise or counter-clockwise around the island of Senja.
Day
3 – 6: Whales of the shelf
You
spend the next several days along the north coasts of Senja and
Andfjorden, areas where many whales have been spotted in recent years.
Keep
a look out for sperm whales and other whale species here. Near Andenes,
along the edge of the continental shelf, whales dive particularly deep
to feed on giant squid.
You
may also see white-tailed eagles, one of the largest birds of prey in
Europe, vying for their share of the herring. In the afternoon, you
find a place for the night in one of the scenic fishing villages
nearby, such as Skrolsvik, Andenes, Gryllefjorden, Hamn and/ or
Sommarøy.
Once
the sun has set, you can make short hikes along the coast or in small
villages – and maybe even catch sight of the aurora.
Day
7 – 8: Under the northern lights
Continuing
your circumnavigation of Senja, you sail to the small island of
Sommarøy. Here there are good opportunities to see the
northern lights as well as embark on pleasant hikes.
You
spend the last morning of the cruise exploring the island’s
small bays and white beaches.
On
day seven, you sail back to Tromsø and arrive around midday.
You’ll have enough time to shop for souvenirs in town, visit
a museum, or simply take a walk in the fresh winter air.
After
spending the last night on board, you disembark on day eight (Saturday)
with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
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 intruced 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:
One
route (the described one) heads south around the island of Senja,
mainly in the period from mid-January till March.
The
other route (represented by the dotted line) heads north to the
Kvaenangen fjord, very likely to be visited during November to
mid-January.
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.
Our
chances of seeing orcas are minimal, while the odds of encountering
other species (for instance, humpbacks) are higher. The expedition
leader will adapt the sailing plan to maximize your chances of seeing
whales.
Additional note: 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.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- AECO
fees and governmental taxes.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
