Expedition
Winter Whales of Norway
Snorkeling with Orcas & Humpback Whales
Join us on a unique whale watching expedition, where you can see hundreds of orcas and humpback whales up close in their natural habitat. During the winter months in northern Norway, we observe the animals’ feeding and hunting behaviour in a responsible manner while snorkeling.
Snorkeling with Orcas and Humpback Whales in Norway
During five full days, our expedition takes you into the majestic fjords of Northern Norway, in search of pods of orcas and humpback whales. Our two expert guides will inform you about the behaviour of the orcas and whales, and how to snorkel with them in a responsible way. When the weather conditions and the whales allow, you will get a chance to go into the water for a look into their world. On board, we provide specially designed Waterproof® snorkeling drysuits and snorkeling equipment. Snorkeling is not mandatory and whale watching from the ship, and up-close in the zodiac, is equally fascinating!

Highlights of our expedition
- Responsible whale watching
- Snorkeling package included
- Small groups
- Luxury expedition ships
- Experienced wildlife guides
The combination of wildlife encounters, the beautiful scenery of the Norwegian fjords and the amazing Northern Lights, makes our Winter Whales of Norway expedition a one of a kind experience. From many years of experience, we know the best time of the year for spectacular wildlife encounters is from the end of October to mid-January, when the balance between light and presence of the whales is at it’s best.
Programme
The success of our Winter Whales of Norway Expeditions very much depends on the whales and weather conditions. Two things which are beyond our control. Our itineraries are flexible and will be altered according to weather, wildlife behaviour, daylight, and other elements which may vary from day to day. We count on your realistic expectations and personal flexibility.
DAY 1 | Arrival & boarding - Tromsø
Your expedition starts in Tromsø, above the Arctic Circle in Norway. We recommend arriving at least one day prior to embarkation, just in case your flight or luggage is delayed. Boarding takes place late in the afternoon on the first day and the ship departs during dinner time.
Be prepared for cold but rewarding days out at sea with good chances for seeing whales, orcas and northern lights. Bring a good portion of adventurous spirit. You never know what the day will bring!
DAY 2-6 | In search of Whales and Orcas
Whale Watching & Snorkeling with Orcas
For the next five days, we will search for orcas, humpbacks and other whales in the protected surroundings of the Norwegian fjords. Make sure to spend lots of time out on deck and on the bridge, so you can take in the amazing scenery and watch for whales.
Two expert wildlife guides will accompany you on your orca snorkeling expedition. They are constantly on the look-out for whales and orcas. Whenever the conditions are right, they will give the sign to put on your drysuit while they lower the zodiacs in the water. These small boats will bring you within a safe distance of the whales. Approaching whales will always be done cautiously, at a low speed towards the side of the pod. Our guides are specialists in whale behaviour and have experience in zodiac driving around orcas. They will assess their behaviour in order not to disturb them or make them deviate their course.
In order to experience a few precious moments in the water, you will likely spend hours in the zodiac, waiting for the right circumstances. When your guide gives you a ‘go’, gently slide into the water and look for the orcas and whales. You may need to climb in and out of the zodiac several times before finally getting a good look at them under water. It’s sometimes hard work, but you will enjoy every moment of it!
Of course, you can also choose not to go snorkeling and watch the animals from the surface instead. Seeing them spy-hopping and feeding at close range is equally beautiful and special!
Enjoying the darker hours
During the darker hours, we usually stay at anchor in a quiet bay where you can enjoy the warm comfort and facilities of the expedition ship. Our guides offer educational lectures about whale behaviour, wildlife conservation, research and other interesting topics. Since we are in a remote region out in the fjords, don’t expect nightlife or shopping possibilities, but we may go ashore one or two evenings.
Northern Lights in Norway
You’ll have good chances of seeing the amazing Northern Lights. If the ship is docked in a harbour, the guides may take you out for a hike to find a good spot to photograph the aurora. Northern Lights watching from the ship can be equally spectacular!
Activities
Snorkeling with Orcas and Whales
Our main goal during our Winter Whales of Norway expeditions is to go snorkeling with orcas and whales as often as possible. We provide high-end snorkeling drysuits, specially designed by our partner Waterproof International in Sweden. You don’t have to be a diver to participate, but you should have basic snorkeling skills and feel confident swimming in open water that may sometimes get choppy. The water is cold and the use of a drysuit might be a new experience for you. Putting on your snorkeling gear, swimming in deep water and repeatedly lifting yourself in and out of the zodiac are both physically and mentally challenging. Passengers who are not fit for such an activity for any reason that could entail a risk to your safety or the enjoyment of other passengers on board, will not be allowed to join the snorkeling activities. Snorkeling is not mandatory during our expeditions, if you are unable to go snorkeling you can still join the zodiac for exceptional top-side whale watching. Learn more about the snorkeling package here!

Waterproof® Snorkeling Package – included
- Snorkeling Drysuit
- Thermal Overalls
- High Visibility Hood
- Marine Boots & Mittens
- Fins, Snorkel and Mask
Photography and Whale Watching in Norway
Our expedition is a unique opportunity for everybody interested in orcas, humpback whales, white-tailed eagles, Arctic winter, Northern Lights and breathtaking landscapes. It offers a rare opportunity to photograph whales in their natural habitat. If you choose not to go snorkeling, the zodiac excursions offer great opportunities for topside whale watching and photography.

Supporting Happy Whale
Ship
The advantages of travelling on board our comfortable small expedition ships are numerous. Most importantly, we don’t have to return to port each night, allowing us to maximise our time looking for whales. The ship is our platform at sea from where we provide the best possible snorkeling experience. With two zodiacs and two guides, we can operate with only 6-8 guests in each zodiac. The warm comfort and facilities onboard are a welcome treat during the evening hours.
Dates & Rates
All prices are per person and depending on availability. Please contact us for more details.
FAQ
From October until January you have the best possibilities to see whales and orcas. They usually come to the fjords of northern Norway during this period, however we can’t guarantee any wildlife sightings.
Please note that days are short during the winter months. At the end of November, the polar night sets in. We don’t offer any trips from mid-December until the second week of January. Have a look at the following website for the amount of daylight during our expeditions: https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/norway/tromso
Our voyages take place during the winter months, far above the arctic circle. We might have calm and sunny weather, but rain, snow and even storms are not uncommon. Expect temperatures to be slightly below freezing during the day.
The starting point of our Winter Whales of Norway voyages is Tromsø. This small city is situated on the island Tromsøya, high above the arctic circle at 69° north. From here, you embark on an adventurous expedition cruise in the fjords of Northern Norway.
Our ships usually dock very close to the city center and are easy to reach from your hotel. It’s definitely worth spending a few days in Tromsø. There’s a long shopping street that runs right through the center of town, and lots of cosy bars and restaurants for you to try out. Be certain to visit the Polar Museum, which gives you a good insight in the history and culture of Arctic Norway. You can also cross the bridge to the mainland for a visit to the iconic Arctic Cathedral, or a ride up Fjellheisen, the cable car that will bring you up to 420m above sea level.
Embarkation/boarding usually starts around 4.30 pm on the first day. We will gather at a hotel near the harbor in the center of Tromso. From the hotel we will either walk to the ship or we will arrange transport if the ship is not docked in the city center.
You will receive an email with the exact details for your trip several weeks prior to your departure.
Disembarkation is after breakfast on the last day. If you wish to leave earlier due to an early flight or excursion we are able to arrange early check-out.
Our snorkeling expeditions are intended for persons in good health. Participants should have basic snorkeling skills, and be confident swimming in open water that may sometimes get choppy.
You need to have a certain level of fitness and strength in order to participate. Putting on your snorkeling gear, actively swimming in cold water and getting in and out of the zodiac can be challenging. You have to be able to lift yourself out of the water, with the help of small ladder, and into the zodiac.
If you decide not to go snorkeling you can still join the zodiac for wonderful topside whale watching.
You don’t need to snorkel and can enjoy the close whale encounters from the zodiac. You will also have an excellent view on spy hopping and tail waving from the ship. Plus the beauty of the scenery and twilight are amazing topside experiences.
For this trip we provide you with a complete snorkeling package from our partner Waterproof Sweden, this includes
- Waterproof Snorkeling Drysuit*
- Waterproof Thermal Overalls*
- Waterproof Neoprene High Visibility Hood
- Waterproof 7 mm Gloves
- Waterproof Marine Boots
- Fins, Snorkel and Mask
* Please note that we only have a limited range of sizes available on board. We offer the following sizes: S – M – L – XL -XXL
If you are uncertain of a fitting size, we strongly recommend to bring your own drysuit which you have tried out prior to the trip!
The drysuit is the key component for snorkeling, designed to keep you completely dry in cold water. It must be worn with insulating layers underneath. For this purpose, we provide special thermal overalls. These will not only keep you warm while snorkeling but also double as a comfortable outer layer, perfect for whale watching from the ship.
Please note that we only have a limited range of sizes available on board.
We offer the following sizes: S – M – L – XL -XXL
If you are uncertain of a fitting size, we strongly recommend bringing sufficient warm clothing to wear underneath your drysuit!
We don’t offer diving or free diving activities, because we don’t want to disturb the animals, make them deviate from their course or interfere with their feeding behaviour. We only carefully observe them from the surface by snorkeling. We are much more flexible getting in and out of the water with only snorkeling gear. The whales are often seen at the water surface, therefore it is not necessary to dive deep to see them.
The minimum age for children on our expedition cruises in Northern Norway is 12 years old. Due to the nature of our expeditions, they must be under constant parental supervision and must share a cabin with their parent.
Please note that our polar snorkeling activity is accessible for passengers from 16 years and older but only when a drysuit is available in their size. The drysuits provided on board start from small, similar to a EU women’s size 36. It is also allowed to bring your own drysuit.
In Norway, you are generally allowed to fly in the open category if you are registered as an operator. However, any drone use during the expedition must be approved by both the expedition leader and the captain to ensure it doesn’t disturb wildlife or interfere with operations. Please notify us upfront when making your booking in case you would like to bring a drone.
Drones can only be launched from the ship, and flights are limited to daylight hours and calm weather conditions. These windows often overlap with our snorkeling activities, so if you choose to fly your drone, you’ll need to remain on board while others head out on the water.
General rules for flying a drone in Norway:
- Your drone must be registered.
- For drones up to 2.5 kg, the maximum speed limit is 60 knots (111 km/h) and for aircrafts up to 25 kg the maximum speed limit is 80 knots (145 km/h).
- Maximum altitude is 120 metres.
- Stay at least 50 metres from the whales.
- Only 1 drone is allowed to film a whale or group of whales at any one time.
- Keep the drone in sight at all times and only fly in daylight.
- You are required to have a responsibility insurance.
We have WIFI onboard our ships, however this is not always stable. We are usually close enough to shore to have cell phone reception and data roaming network.
We have no fixed itinerary for these expeditions, instead, we look at the weather and wildlife to determine our direction. We might go ashore once or twice for a hike and some northern light photography.













