Auroras and Whales #005

The price includes:
accommodation in a 2/3-bed cabin
cruise on a fully equipped expedition yacht
yacht navigation and the care of an experienced captain
yacht insurance and search and rescue insurance
individual participant’s insurance against personal accidents, costs of medical treatment and luggage
contributions to the Tourist Guarantee Fund and the Tourist Assistance Fund
taxes and cruise fees
sailing knowledge training

The common contribution includes:

food and drinks for the participants
administrative fees
possible car rental

Additionally we provide:

assistance in finding the most favourable flight options
advice on preparing for the trip

The price does not include:

transport to and from the cruise
additional expenses ashore, such as shopping or restaurants
dinner in cosy pub on Spildra (about 350 NOK – 30 EUR)
optionally we can organize snorkeling with orcas – prior notification required

Payment schedule:
20% – at the time of booking
40% – 5 months before the beginning of the trip
40% – 3 months before the beginning of the trip
If any of the dates falls later than three months before the expedition starts, the payment should be made at the time of booking or three months before the expedition starts.

We start embarkation at 4 p.m. We explore Tromsø by walking its streets – admiring the historical centre of the town, interesting colourful houses, the open-air museum, the cathedral, to reach the most popular Storgata street, where we can stock up on souvenirs and relax in one of numerous bars. In the evening we socialise over a shared dinner and, if conditions are favourable, we end the day with a walk together and await the appearance of the extraordinary aurora borealis.

We set sail after breakfast. We sail along picturesque fjords, admiring Tromso from the water. After a few hours, we pass the Lyngen peninsula with its landscapes of the rocky Lyngen Alps, whose steep slopes almost rise out of the water. The surrounding Ullsfjorden and Lyngenfjorden are thus extremely picturesque.

OPTION: We stop for the night in Nord-Lenangen, from where we trek towards the Lyngstuva headland in an attempt to catch aurora borealis.
We sail to the picturesque Kvænangen fjord. Here we spend the next few days looking for herds of humpback whales and orcas and watching flying eagles. Whales usually move here in whole herds of a dozen to several dozen individuals, hunting for herring. We may be able to witness the ‘carousel technique’ used by the orcas in order to forage for food. Afterwards, we try our hand at fishing ourselves and, with a bit of luck, enjoy the unique taste of fresh cod. We pass Skjervøy and arrive at the picturesque island of Spildra. In the evening, we “hunt” the Northern Lights again.
Our base for the next few days will be the island of Spildra, our northern gem, full of beautiful and atmospheric places with its beaches, bays, skerries, cottages and rock formations. Here, there are good spots for observing and photographing the Northern Lights. From here we will set off to meet whales that have chosen the nearby waters.
We will find time to go trekking (we have our own snowshoes in case of snow) to the most beautiful places on the island, and in the evening we will go for a barbecue in a secluded glazed cabin. There is a sauna available in the harbour for an extra fee for those wishing to relax. We will also go together for a paid dinner at Rita and Roy’s. We are friends with the inhabitants of the island, so we also enjoy being here, sharing the atmosphere and life in this Norwegian end of the world with the participants of our trips.
Then we return to Tromsø, which again gives us ideal conditions for aurora sightings from the deck of the yacht, away from civilisation

OPTION I: We go on a car trip along the picturesque shores of Kvaløya island admiring beautiful views, fjords, coves and beaches along the way. We drive through a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains with waterfalls flowing into lakes. Then again, mountains, fjords, cottages and charming beaches. On the way – numerous warnings about wandering reindeer and moose. The landscape changes every now and then, there is a full range of colours and shapes. We stop at beautifully situated villages of Kaldfjord and Ersfjordbotn.
We reach the island of Sommarøy – the Arctic Maldives. Sandy white beaches, turquoise water, Lofoten-like cottages and the Arctic aura painting the place with the seasons. In summer, a polar day that lasts nearly 70 days; in winter – wind, snowstorms and skies painted with auroras. Beautiful. The residents of Sommarøy are said to be among the happiest Norwegians. It is said that they have applied to the government to establish a timeless zone here. The place is so beautiful that Norwegians very often choose it for their holidays. Arctic surfers also try their luck here.
On site, we explore the most beautiful places, beaches, bays and hills. From here you can also see the island of Håja, whose unusual shape inspired the architect who designed the famous Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø. If the conditions are favorable, we trek to the Hillesøytoppen mountain. The view is breathtaking. However, you need to be careful because the eagles that nest here fly low. After descending, coffee in the atmospheric, warm Arctic Hotel tastes delicious.

OPTION II: Equipped with snowshoes, we go on an easy trek to the Brosmetinden mountain, from where there is a fantastic panorama of the ocean and nearby islands. The peak is 525 meters high and the round trip distance of about 4 km is covered in about 1-2 hours. If we have enough strength and will, we go to the center of the island and climb the small, 300-meter-high Nattmålsfjellet mountain, belonging to the Kattfjordeidet mountain chain, called the “Scandinavian Chamonix” due to its high peaks and spectacular views. The ascent is not difficult either and takes about 40 minutes one way.

OPTION III (optional trips): On the seventh day of the expedition, those interested in extra activities may skip our program and choose optional trips organized by other local companies. We can assist with booking them.
DOG SLEDDING: Animals and adrenaline lovers spend the first part of the day at a husky farm, where they try their hand at mushing.

SAMI VILLAGE AND REINDEER-SLEDDING: An excursion to the village of the Sami, who have lived in this area for centuries. As Sami culture has always been associated with reindeer farms there is an opportunity to see a huge herd of around 200 animals. The trip includes feeding reindeer, reindeer-sledding and refreshments, such as hot drinks and a traditional bidos soup – a dish cooked with reindeer meat with vegetables. The dish might be served in a vegetarian version, as well.

FLOYA MOUNTAIN: A trip to the nearby summit, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of Tromsø. Floya may be reached by cable car or climbed via the Sherpa Stairs.
In Tromsø, we take one last walk together and, as every evening, wait for the aurora to appear.

We use the time before departure to explore Tromsø further. We start the day with an ascent to the viewpoint on Mount Fløya (671 m above sea level), offering a magnificent panorama of Tromsø and the surrounding area. The viewpoint is located halfway up the mountain, at the upper station of the Fjellheisen cable car. For the ambitious ones, willing to reach the summit, another 45 minutes of gentle climbing awaits. Descending from the summit, we take a close look at the Arctic Cathedral, a Tromsø landmark.
We also recommend a visit to the planetarium, where you can watch a film about the auroras. The show allows you to understand where the auroras come from.
We say goodbye to Norway and return home full of excitement and new plans.
Checking out of the yacht is by 10 o’clock.