North Norway-Whale Safari, Aurora Borealis
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Overview
Highlights
- Explore Tromsø
- Enjoy Hike up a trail to the 306 metres high hill Storheia
- Chances to spot Orca's, Humpback Whales and if lucky White-tailed Eagles
- Opportunity to experience the Northern Lights
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Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- 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.
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Itinerary
The voyage starts in the town of Tromsø, also called 'the Paris of the North' because of its nice atmosphere. Here the 100 year old two mast schooner Noorderlicht will be waiting in the harbour. In the evening there is time to explore the town.
Highlights
Tromsø
Early in the morning we will depart from Tromsø and sail towards the north-east, into Langsundet. In this magnificent fjord we plan to land at the small village of Hansnes from where we will attempt to hike up a trail to the 306 metres high hill Storheia to admire the...
The next three days we will spend in Vengsøyfjorden and Kaldfjorden, the area where many whales have been seen in recent years. Besides Orca's and Humpback Whales there are also good chances to see White-tailed Eagles, as they also want their share in the Herring fren...
Then we continue our circumnavigation of Kvaløya and sail to the small island of Sommarøy. Also here there are good opportunities to see the Northern Lights and the island offers good hiking possibilities. Therefore we spend the daytime of the last expedition day on t...
In the afternoon we sail back to Tromsø and complete our circumnavigation of Kvaløya. We spend the last night on board in Tromsø, where we disembark the vessel in the morning on day 8.
Highlights
Tromsø
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Oceanwide Expeditions.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
Oceanwide Expeditions offers since 1996 unique, small-group polar expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica. We own, manage and operate the vessels: m/v Plancius (116 pax), m/v Ortelius (116 pax), s/v Rembrandt van Rijn (33 pax) and s/v Noorderlicht (20 pax). The Dutch ”Plancius Foundation“ (1981-1996) was the predecessor of Oceanwide Expeditions, the first cruise operator ever to organize since 1983 on a yearly basis expedition cruise voyages to and around Spitsbergen.
"Experience true emotions in the polar regions, with Oceanwide Expeditions”
Keeping days at sea short and implementing fast gangway operations allow us to give our guests maximum time ashore to explore. We offer two landings per day, morning and afternoon (weather permitting). Sailing schedules and land programs are flexible, and will always be adapted to local sea ice and weather conditions and wildlife opportunities. Our fleet of inflatable zodiacs are ready in no time for taxi shuttles to shore , and cruises among ice-floes and the local wildlife. While cruising and actively exploring the polar regions, we are sure that you will become increasingly fascinated by these unique wildernesses, places of drama, wildlife, history and true emotion. Welcome aboard!
“Join us for a quality discovery cruise in the Arctic and Antarctica”
Discover the pristine and mysterious polar planet with us! We are pioneers of ship-based exploratory tourism in the Arctic and Antarctica and awarded as ‘World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator’. We are organising unique expedition cruise programs to the polar regions for guests who want to actively enjoy the spectacular scenery, explore nature and wildlife of some of the world’s most stunning and pristine shorelines, above and below the oceans, at sea and on land.
“Oceanwide Expeditions brings your polar experience to a higher level”
The regions we visit during our wildlife expeditions contain hardly any infrastructure and are almost only reachable by boat. Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline of land and water, where daily guided excursions guarantee intensive and individual nature and wildlife experience in small groups. Our carefully prepared and unique voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory and environmentally friendly travel program, which is flexible and guarantees much time for adventure packed activities, combined with educational lectures on board. For special activities we provide industry leading equipment: tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, kayaks, diving compressors, scuba tanks and weights, rubber boots with grip sole, polar jackets, sledges (pulkas), mountaineering hard wear.
“What makes us different”
Oceanwide Expeditions own and operate a modern fleet of small ice-strengthened expedition vessels which comply with highest international safety standards and allow our professional crew to navigate safely through pack-ice and remote narrow waterways. The size, capacity and capability of our small ships have proven to be a successful formula for exploring the remote regions for many years. Our expedition vessels offer a comfortable, friendly, intimate and informal atmosphere. Oceanwide Expeditions is known for exceptional standard of service offered to all passengers on board the ships. Our ships provide cosy and comfortable accommodation and on-board life. Our chefs prepare excellent international and well balanced international cuisine. Our friendly international crew, expedition and hotel staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. Qualified and experienced expedition guides share their knowledge in lectures on board during sea days and during field excursions; our guides come from all over the world and speak several languages.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Transfers to / from the vessel.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is mandatory).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
Day 1: We will embark our vessel s/v Noorderlicht in Tromsø and sail the next morning. The voyage starts in the town of Tromsø, also called 'the Paris of the North' because of its nice atmosphere. Here the 100 year old two mast schooner Noorderlicht will be waiting in the harbour. In the evening there is time to explore the town. Highlights Tromsø Day 2: Hike up a trail to the 306 metres high hill Storheia Early in the morning we will depart from Tromsø and sail towards the north-east, into Langsundet. In this magnificent fjord we plan to land at the small village of Hansnes from where we will attempt to hike up a trail to the 306 metres high hill Storheia to admire the view across the fjord. We will spend the night in Dyrsfjorden at the northern tip of the island Ringvassøya. Highlights Hansnes Hill Storheia Dyrsfjorden Day 3 - 5: Orca's and Humpback Whales and also good chances to see White-tailed Eagles The next three days we will spend in Vengsøyfjorden and Kaldfjorden, the area where many whales have been seen in recent years. Besides Orca's and Humpback Whales there are also good chances to see White-tailed Eagles, as they also want their share in the Herring frenzy. This eagle is one of the largest birds of Europe and a resident in northern Norway. In the afternoon, when the daylight is over, we plan to make small hikes in the area and hope for some clear sky in order to see the ‘Tricky Lady, as the Aurora is sometimes called. Highlights Northern Lights Humpback Whale Day 6: Opportunities to see the Northern Lights Then we continue our circumnavigation of Kvaløya and sail to the small island of Sommarøy. Also here there are good opportunities to see the Northern Lights and the island offers good hiking possibilities. Therefore we spend the daytime of the last expedition day on this lovely island to explore the coastline with its small bays and white beaches and maybe even climb to the top of the 211 metre high Mount Hillesøya. From here there are excellent panoramic views of the rugged coastline. Highlights Kvaløya Sommarøy Mount Hillesøya Day 7 - 8: Complete our circumnavigation of Kvaløya and disembark in Tromsø In the afternoon we sail back to Tromsø and complete our circumnavigation of Kvaløya. We spend the last night on board in Tromsø, where we disembark the vessel in the morning on day 8. Highlights Tromsø
Passengers:20 in 10 cabins Staff & crew:5 Length:46 meters (153 feet) Breadth:6,5 meters (22 feet) Draft:3,2 meters (11 feet) Ice class:Strengthened bow Displacement:300 tonnes Propulsion:360 hp diesel Speed:7 knots maximum
In the case of cancellation by the contracting party, OE is entitled to charge the following cancellation fees to the contracting party:
- up to and including 90 days prior to departure: 20 % of the total price;
- from 89 days up to and including 60 days prior to departure: 50 % of the total price;
- from 59 days up to and including the day of departure: 100 % of the total price .
Other (deviating) cancellation policies / fees (for example in the case of group charters, block charters or whole boat charters) may be applicable; these are valid only if confirmed by OE in writing (in e.g. the original offer made, travel confirmation, (block) charter agreements or in communication sent later) and these cancellation policies shall prevail over those of the cancellation policy
In the case of flight and hotel reservations, a 100 % cancellation fee will apply for those involved costs unless this is a non-refundable ticket / hotel accommodation; in that case the terms and conditions of the related airline company / hotel will apply.
If the contracting party after booking wishes to introduce changes into the booked trip, this is considered a cancellation and the cancellation costs. In case of minor changes, OE is entitled to charge reservation costs of at least 50 EURO per alteration.
OE STRONGLY RECOMMENDS the contracting party in the case of a (travel) organisation: the client(s) of the (travel) organiser to take out a cancellation insurance to cover the costs of any cancellation of the trip
PLEASE NOTE:
Norway has a spectacular coastline, its fjords and mountains are renowned for their beauty. In the far north, about 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle we find the island of Kvaløya, the whale island. In early winter enormous schools of Herring from the Barents Sea come together here in the fjords to winter. The Herring attracts large numbers of whales, as they feed on it. On an exploratory voyage in 2015 about a 100 Orca's and 60 Humpback Whales were seen in one single fjord at Kvaløya. Therefore this voyage will be dedicated to meeting these giants of the seas.
During the voyage the fjords and islands around Kvaløya and Ringvassøya will be explored. Three days will be spent in the fjords near Kvaløya to see the whales. The other days offer plenty of opportunities to sail under canvas and to explore some of these remote islands on foot.
In winter the amount of daylight is limited but during the dark hours we have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights. This amazing phenomena can only be seen when it is dark and the sky is clear, with not much light pollution around. The voyage will offer ample opportunities to admire the Aurora Borealis from the remote bays where we will be staying for the night.
A typical itinerary to North Norway is illustrated below. This itinerary is for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions, the availability of landing sites and opportunities to see wildlife. The final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.
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