Cruising the Antarctic Peninsula
Be prepared to be dazzled. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of Gentoo, Adélies and Chinstraps.
The highlights of the Norwegian winter fjords at its best. Northern lights, whale watching and an amazing scenery!
Northern Light & Whale Watching Expedition Cruise Norway
Spotting the Northern light, or Aurora Borealis, is a bucket list item for many travellers. From the end of September until the beginning of April is the best time to spot it. Especially during the long winter days in December and January you are more likely to view the dancing lights in the sky. As you might know, it is a natural phenomenon, therefore it is never guaranteed that it is visible. However Northern Norway is the perfect location. During the polar nights there's no sunlight, and with almost no light polution in this region you have close to 24 hours per day to spot the Northern Lights.
Towards the end of January the days will slowly get longer again, and during twilight hours the sky turns into the most amazing colors. The light changes every minute, from yellow to pink and purple, turning the snowy mountains into a magical scenery. On deck of our comfortable expedition ship, the views are ideal for photographing this colorful spectacle.
Highlights of Northern Light Cruise:
- Small authentic expedition ships
- Whale watching & Wildlife photography
- View the Northern Lights
- Sail through the snowy fjords
- Visit small fishing villages
- Zodiac excursions
- Snorkeling opportunities, depending on weather and wildlife
- Expert guides on board
We start our expedition cruise from Tromsø, just above the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway. This town is known to be the 'Gateway to the Arctic' and has been the starting point for many polar expeditions in the past.
Tromsø is surrounded by mountains and fjords and is the world's capital for Northern Light observations! It's definitely worth spending a day or two here. Visit the Polar Museum for a fascinating tour through polar history. Or start your arctic adventure with an optional dog sled excursion or snowmobile safari.
In the afternoon of the first day you board the ship and make yourself at home in your cozy cabin. After dinner we say goodbye to Tromsø and start our Northern Light Cruise!
For five full days we will sail through the beautiful fjords of Northern Norway and explore the surroundings. It's exciting to go out on deck in the morning and to find a new scenery each day. Expect to spend a lot of time on deck as the views are often too beautiful to stay inside. High mountains and remote tiny villages pass by on the horizon. We spend most of the daylight hours out looking for whales, going for shore visits and hikes and taking Zodiac rides. When it get's dark we might visit small fishing villages that are often hidden in the most beautiful scenic locations. For example the village of Andenes. A small town situated against a backdrop of high mountains with a lovely red light house from where you have a good chance of viewing the Northern Lights. Or we might sail North towards the village Skjervoy where whales can be spotted whole year round. Another spectacular highlight of Northern Norway is the famous Trollfjord which is only 100m wide at the entrance and has steep cliffs towering up on both sides. Expert guides accompany you on your adventures and share their knowledge about the region, the Northern Lights and wildlife.
During the long polar nights there is a good chance we will see the Northern Lights. The crew on board will keep an eye out and will alert the guests when the Northern Lights are visible. If we are in port you can go ashore and walk up a hill to get away from any artificial lights and have a clear view on the sky. On land you have the best opportunities to take pictures of the Northern Lights as you can put your camera of phone on a steady surface.
But also from the ship you can have the most spectacular views of the Northern Lights dancing above the water and the mountains. When we are at anchor in a calm bay you can have a 360-view on the sky and the lights seem to surround the ship.
In the morning on day 7 we will arrive back in the harbour of Tromsø. After breakfast you will disembark the ship and say farewell to your fellow passengers and ship crew.
There are several options to extend your stay in Northern Norway. Contact us for more information.
Call us today on +31 (0) 858 771 583