It was early light on our final whale-watching outing from MS Virgo. We were sitting aboard a zodiac, on a flat calm sea, at the the end of an idyllic fjord. Orca and humpbacks were approaching from all directions. This was the start of a bait ball frenzy spectacle. Unbelievable to be so close to these impressive hunters - the herring didn't stand a chance. Words can't really describe the scene, the excitement, the emotion. You just have to be there!
M.S. Surrey, Dec 25
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Norway: Orcas, Humpbacks & Northern Lights - A Winter Arctic Cruise
Tour Code: NOR10An 8-day winter holiday to northern Norway including a 6-night cruise on a 12-berth expedition vessel in search of Orcas, Humpback Whales and the Northern Lights.
£6,995
£6,495
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Summary
Each winter, the precipitous fjords of northern Norway become the stage for one of Europe's great wildlife spectacles. Between November and February, vast shoals of Herring congregate in the fjords and inlets in the region of Tromsø, several hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. Such an enormous glut of food does not go unnoticed in the natural world and shadowing these huge shoals are pods of Orcas (Killer Whales), Humpback Whales and, overhead, White-tailed Eagles. This 8-day holiday will include six nights aboard the expedition vessel MS Virgo, which holds just 12 guests across nine cabins. From this comfortable floating base we will explore the magnificent scenery of the north Norwegian fjords in search of the wintering whales, eagles and other wildlife. In early December there is sufficient daylight from the hidden sun to enjoy northern Norway's winter highlights whilst maintaining long winter nights, perfect for witnessing the ethereal flickering of the Northern Lights.
- Spectacular scenery of the Norwegian Fjords
- Orca (Killer Whales) and Humpback Whales
- Join the 12-berth expedition vessel MS Virgo
- No single cabin supplement!
- Look for the Northern Lights
- Birds including White-tailed Eagles, Common Eiders & Long-tailed Duck
- Led by a Naturetrek naturalist & experienced expedition crew
Each winter, north Norway becomes the place to see some of the greatest concentrations of whales the natural world has to offer. Between November and January, enormous shoals of herring seek shelter in the fjords and inlets of the Tromsø region and, taking advantage of the abundant food supply, pods of Orcas and Humpback Whales move in. In recent years Sperm Whales have also become regular visitors to certain sea areas.
Our holiday begins with a direct flight to Tromsø where we will stay the night in a comfortable hotel in the city centre. The next day, we'll explore the city on foot before boarding our home for six nights, the exclusively chartered expedition vessel MS Virgo. Over the course of six nights we will sail around the inlets, sounds and fjords of Norway’s north-west coast. The route taken by the ship, and our evening mooring sites, will be kept flexible in order to follow the movements of the whales. We will also make every effort to find Orcas — following cetacean-watching ‘best practice’ guidelines, we will seek more remote groups of Orca, away from those visited by other commercial operators.
In previous years, guests have enjoyed sightings of Orcas and Humpback Whales at close range over several days, and we will be hoping for further close encounters on this cruise! As we admire the whales, our attention may be caught by the sight of a White-tailed Eagle soaring through the sky or plunging down to snatch an item of food from the surface of the water. Norway is the stronghold for this species in Europe and, at this time of year, the spoils of an Orca hunt provide them with plenty of food to scavenge. North of the Arctic Circle the hours of daylight are few but, although the sun never rises above the horizon, a long twilight enhanced by reflected light off the snow-covered mountains gives a surprisingly long period during which to view and photograph wildlife. During this extended twilight, the landscape is often bathed in a soft Arctic light beloved of photographers. After dark, the ship will moor at an island or village to give the group an opportunity to walk ashore (often through soft powder snow) and to explore, aided by bright moonlight.
Northern Norway lies under the Auroral Oval and during the long winter nights there is a very good chance of witnessing one of nature’s greatest spectacles — the Northern Lights. Formed as charged particles from the Sun are channelled down the Earth’s magnetic field lines and interact with the upper atmosphere, the gently swaying, ever-changing arcs and curtains of light are a mesmerising sight. As with many natural phenomena, the Aurora cannot be guaranteed; indeed, on the nights they occur, displays vary in form and intensity from minute to minute. Spending a full week under the Auroral Oval gives us a good chance of experiencing the Northern Lights in many different guises! For this trip, we are taking full charter of the MS Virgo. The boat, which was built as Buoy-laying vessel was completely repurposed as a winter expedition vessel. with just nine cabins, MS Virgo can accommodate an exclusive 12 clients in comfort, and the crew provide simple but hearty meals, as well as hot drinks and treats from the kitchen throughout the day!
At the beginning and end of the voyage we will have time to explore the city of Tromsø with its Arctic cathedral, art galleries, museums and shops. The city has a long association with polar exploration and those who are interested in the voyages of the Norwegian explorers Amundsen, Nansen and others, should visit the excellent Polar Museum.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
For this cruise we will join the 12 -berth MS Virgo. Virgo holds a maximum of 12 passengers in nine cabins (6 single, 1 twin, 2 superior suites). In Tromsø we use a comfortable hotel with private facilities.
- Food:
All food and accommodation are included in the cost of the holiday except for evening meal in Tromsø and lunches on Day 2 and Day 8.
Reviews
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"The ship was great; warm and cosy and quite spacious. Having single cabins is such a luxury; they were a good size and with plenty of storage space. The food was excellent, with a great crew on board."
C.S. West Yorkshire, Dec 25 -
"This is one of the most enjoyable Naturetrek tours I've done. Close encounters with cetaceans every day amidst stunning scenery. One bonus I hadn't anticipated was the "afternoons off". Limited daylight meant that we were at leisure for several hours which I found very relaxing."
A.C. Surrey, Dec 25 -
A fantastic trip seeing wildlife (whales, birds and mammals) and the northern lights, both exceeded expectations as did the organisation and management of Naturetrek who were superb from first approach to our trip home. Just magic! Attentive and reliable, always went the extra mile to ensure satisfaction for all participants, first advice and preparations were well handled and appropriate for us as new clients. The manager of the trip was knowledgeable and engaging throughout. The vessel was magnificent. We can not praise Naturetrek enough.
G.K. Somerset, Dec 25
Dates & Prices
2026
Tour Leader: Hazel Pittwood
Tour Leader: George Nicholson
George has always had a passion for the outdoors, spending much of his childhood exploring his home counties of Hampshire and Surrey where he grew up, as well as the coastlines of Devon, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. Training as a Marine Biologist at Swansea University, George developed a love for all things oceanic, from dogwhelks to whales! While completing his studies, George worked as a field researcher on Canada’s east coast, collecting visual tag data on a variety of shark species, and concluding his time by travelling across the country, with regular encounters with bears, wolves, elk and moose. Since joining Naturetrek as a member of the operations team in 2022, George has bolstered his wildlife knowledge and experience across a variety of taxa, and has led tours across Mexico, Yellowstone, Norway, the Azores and the Canary Islands, to name a few!
Please note that cabin grades are subject to availability. We recommend phoning the office before booking to confirm that your preference is available.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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