17th January 2024 to 21st January 2024
Arctic Winter Sail, Northern Lights and Whales Around Lyngen and Skjervøy
From £1740 per person
Deposit 25%. Balance due 12 weeks before departure
From: 22,800 NOK / £1,740 per person*
*Trips are priced in the operator’s local currency. The sterling amount shown is a guide only and the amount you pay in sterling will change with currency fluctuations.
Arctic Winter Sail, Northern Lights and Whales Around Lyngen and Skjervøy
Duration: 4 Nights 17 - 21 January 2024
Experience the indescribable feeling of sailing under the northern lights with only the sound of the wind and the waves as your soundtrack. Hop on board our comfortable expedition vessel, the Valiente, and sail between the majestic peaks of Lyngen and northern Troms deep into the Arctic Circle, meeting whales and other wonders along the way.
The feeling of sailing underneath the dancing northern lights accompanied only by the sound of wind and waves is hard to describe. Northern Norway, and especially the area around Tromsø, is the epicentre of the famous Aurora Borealis. From Tromsø to Lyngen, Skjervøy, Ringvassøy, and Reinfjord visit historical fishing settlements, anchorages, and small harbours free from light pollution, and sail underneath the snow-covered alpine peaks that plunge into the sea.
We will aim for the parts of these northern fjords that the herring call their winter home. As the whales come to our coast to feed, they will most easily be found where the herring are.
The winter months in the North are characterised by the polar night, where the sun rises above the horizon only briefly each day, if at all. This is not only a good thing for catching the Aurora, but it also makes all the light we actually get during the day super beautiful.
Sail aboard the sturdy and comfortable 70 feet expedition yacht Valiente. The boat has enough space and privacy to make you feel at home, and sufficient power to charge all cameras and gadgets. On board Valiente, find ideal spots to rest and tune into the pure and honest nature surrounding us.
Why You’ll Love This Trip
- Experience the mesmerising dance of the Northern Lights, as vibrant ribbons of light illuminate the Arctic sky, creating a captivating spectacle. Northern Norway, and especially the area around Tromsø, is the epicentre of the famous Aurora Borealis.
- Uncover hidden gems as you explore historical fishing settlements, secluded anchorages, and small harbours revealing the region's rich maritime heritage.
- Follow the herring's migratory path and encounter majestic whales up close, immersing yourself in the wonders of marine life.
- Embrace the mystical polar night, with fleeting moments of sunlight illuminating the Arctic landscape, providing unique opportunities to capture breathtaking photos. This is not only a good thing for catching the Aurora, but it also makes all the light we actually get during the day super beautiful.
- Disconnect from the world and reconnect with the untouched beauty of Northern Norway, sailing beneath snow-covered alpine peaks that meet the glistening sea. Find peace and tranquillity in this vast Arctic landscape.
Who The Trip Is For
- The trip is perfect for photographers with a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. Immerse yourself in the pristine landscapes of Northern Norway, witness the Aurora Borealis, and capture breathtaking images of the Arctic's unique wonders.
- Adventure seekers who long to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Discover hidden gems, explore historical settlements, and navigate through breathtaking fjords, embracing the thrill of the unknown and immersing yourself in the untamed beauty of the Arctic.
- Travellers who want to see the world in a sustainable way. The trip emphasises sustainability in every possible way, both on and off the boat.
- Those who embrace the flexibility of ocean travel. While we will attempt to reach as many destinations as possible, the final route will be determined during the trip depending on the weather conditions.
Itinerary: Arctic Winter Sail, Northern Lights and Whales
As a sailing ship, we are largely dependent on the weather. We will attempt to reach as many destinations as possible under sail, however, the specified itinerary is simply a guide. With all tours as exciting as this, flexibility is important as the final route will be determined during the trip depending on the weather conditions.
Day 1: Welcome on board!
Meet in the harbour of Tromsø at 15:00. Get to know fellow guests and the boat. The crew will talk you through the vessel, and safety routines onboard, and go through the program for the week. Aim to leave Tromsø that evening making way through Grøtsundet and having a beautiful view of the Lyngen Alps – bound for Skjervøy. Spend a bit of the night underway, hoping to start the trip with some northern lights!
Day 2: Set sail towards the whales and the roadless fishing village of Reinfjord
After an exciting night of Aurora-hunting and hopefully, some restful sleep, have an easy start and set sail after a good breakfast. Aim to approach the spawning grounds of the herring and possibly catch your first whale sighting! Later, sail to the roadless village of Reinfjord, where they have a long history of fishing, and where you also spend the night. Go fishing, and maybe catch your dinner for this evening.
Day 3: Whales, the Lyngen Alps, and sauna night
Not possible to sail through the Alps you say? This is the day when you’ll be proven wrong, with a sail through the Lyngen Alps. This part of Norway offers spectacular fjords, sounds, and mountains where your eyes will never be satisfied and want to see more – more – more of this. After a good day of alpine sailing, hopefully, with more whale sightings, dock at the pier of the famous Hamnes Handlested on Uløya. Here they have heated up the sauna and jacuzzi all set for a swim in the sea underneath the stars!
Day 4: The magical winter season light
The best part of this season here in the North is the shifting and always beautiful light. Even though there isn’t much sun in winter, the light you actually get is often like an everlasting dawn and dusk! Perfect for great pictures and landscape views. Spend the last full day together exploring the archipelago north of Tromsø, and aim to have a landfall, hike, and enjoy a bonfire on the beach. Anchor away from the city lights, around Ringvassøya or Kvaløysundet, for our last night – hopefully with an Aurora show in the sky!
Day 5: Return to Tromsø, and goodbye!
Pack your bags and get ready to disembark. After breakfast, sail for a couple of hours back to Tromsø after breakfast and arrive back in Tromsø just after lunch. The trip will end at 15:00 at the latest. Leave Valiente with your heart full of unforgettable memories and some new friends.
- Trip experience with a sailboat – experienced and locally familiar skipper on board
- Co-skipper/guide from onboard
- All the food we eat on board during the trip
- Sauna night on one of the days of the trip
- An environmentally friendly, local, sustainable, unique, exotic, and exclusive Norwegian adventure holiday
- A shared experience and friendship with like-minded adventurers from around the world
- A lot of time outdoors – raw and honest nature experiences
- Use of our shared trip equipment: dinghy, kayaks, fishing equipment, etc.
- All boat-related expenses such as diesel, gas, harbour fees, etc.
- Personal safety equipment, Helly Hansen inflatable lifejacket
- Advice, guidance, and practical training on sailing and boating
- Travel to and from the start/end location
- Optional meals at cafés/restaurants (we sometimes have the chance to visit local restaurants on the way, see the itinerary for more details)
- Entrance to galleries, museums, and similar, or other activities that you/we may come up with along the way
- Drinks like wine, beer or cider and other luxuries (yes, we drink beer and wine on board, bring your own)
- Travel/cancellation insurance – recommended, but it’s up to you
Travel – In general
Sometimes we have to fly, but not always. If you have the luxury of time, we always encourage you to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. Traveling slowly also allows you to start your holiday in a special way. Cycling, taking the train, or driving a car together can be good options! Feel free to add some extra time before and after your trip, since up north the weather can be unpredictable and might affect your plans!
Travel – Tromsø
The fastest option for getting to or from Tromsø is to fly. But if you have time to travel slowly we recommend doing that instead. Taking Hurtigruten south from Tromsø to Bodø and train from there is one option.
Safety and risk – In general
We take safety seriously and on our trips we train on handling different situations that can occur at sea. On board a boat and on trips, everyone must know what to do in potentially dangerous situations. For us it is important that you as a guest and participant are trained quickly enough to be a participant – not a passenger. It contributes to learning, a sense of achievement, and increased safety for all. It’s also why our trips are considered to be sailing courses: you are trained to be one of the crewmembers on board. Feel free to contact us to discuss risk.
Level of this trip
This is our most accessible winter trip, for anyone interested in wildlife and spectacular scenery! In terms of sailing, this trip is not very difficult, and we mostly stay in protected waters throughout the voyage. You still need to be prepared for both calm winds and sailing in harsher weather. If you are a beginner, we will try to make you a seaman/ woman as soon as possible, and if you are experienced, you will quickly get responsibilities and greater challenges.
Equipment/packing
As with all activities, there is plenty of specialized equipment and clothing for sailing. If you do not have any of this, you can use regular hiking/skiing/mountain clothing. What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and warm, layered with clothes underneath. For winter sailing, the most important thing to remember is to have enough air in between the layers of clothing. So bring spacious clothes and shoes, preferably a couple sizes too large, and plenty of wool! We will send you a detailed recommended packing list in good time before departure.
Food and cooking
On our trips you will be part of the crew onboard and get the chance to participate in all aspects of the running of the sailboat. This includes the cooking, where everyone is taking turns in the galley! Skippers and guides assist as much as they can along the way. Before the trip we set up a menu and purchase what is needed. We offer good menus with healthy “boat friendly” food. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and we will take that into account. During the trip, we often sail by a good restaurant or two where we stop and eat.
What we expect from you
We want you to take part in the routines onboard the sailboat, whether it is sailing, docking, navigating, looking for whales and icebergs, washing up, cooking, cleaning the boat, or contributing in other ways when required. Our trips require a little work of the participants – and you must be open to contribute and open up a bit socially. We have many different people with us on our trips, and most people get along very well. Our experience is that doing things with others out in nature, and not least doing things with new people with different personalities than one might be used to, is what creates the best, most interesting and memorable stories :)
Life on board and accommodation
Life on board a sailboat is social and pleasant, but for some it can be perceived as quite intimate and crowded, which one should be prepared for. On our trips everyone participates in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. We would like to get to know you well and hope that you will get to know everyone else on the boat as soon as possible. It requires some patience, generosity, and an open mind to thrive, but the new acquaintances and completely raw nature experiences will take your focus as soon as you become comfortable with life at sea.
Accommodation on the boat is part of the fun. The accommodation is generally in shared cabins, some of which have a double bed and some of which have bunk beds. Figuring out who sleeps where can be a bit of a puzzle, but we do believe we’ve gotten quite good at it. Let us know if you have any special needs or reservations. You must arrange any accommodation before and after the trip on your own. If you have any doubts about where to stay, we’re happy to give you some recommendations.
We have plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day we are either in a harbor with fresh water or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. And a morning swim in the sea is always available all year round!
What kind of people join this trip – and how many will we be on board?
Many come alone, some travel as couples, and others travel as a group of friends. The common denominator for everyone is that these are fun and interesting people you will become friends with almost no matter what. Sharing grand experiences creates strong ties! Many people wonder about the age composition of our trips, but this isn’t so important to us. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old as long as you want to go on a trip and intend to do your part in making this a great trip for everyone. The number of participants varies from trip to trip. If we have many participants, we will expand with more boats and skippers.
Environment and sustainability
In general sailing is an environmentally friendly activity,, and we sail as much as we can and use the engine as little as possible. We encourage crew and participants to travel as environmentally-friendly as possible, and we use local ingredients and resources as much as we can. We also run trips where we collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.
Philosophically, we often say that sailing is an exercise in sustainability: we move with the wind and we have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity and food. In order to run sustainably, knowledge, patience, flexibility, and hard work are required. The same can be said about many other things that one tries to do in a sustainable way.
Fly to Tromsø Airport.
Fly from Tromsø Airport.
Itinerary: Arctic Winter Sail, Northern Lights and Whales
As a sailing ship, we are largely dependent on the weather. We will attempt to reach as many destinations as possible under sail, however, the specified itinerary is simply a guide. With all tours as exciting as this, flexibility is important as the final route will be determined during the trip depending on the weather conditions.
Day 1: Welcome on board!
Meet in the harbour of Tromsø at 15:00. Get to know fellow guests and the boat. The crew will talk you through the vessel, and safety routines onboard, and go through the program for the week. Aim to leave Tromsø that evening making way through Grøtsundet and having a beautiful view of the Lyngen Alps – bound for Skjervøy. Spend a bit of the night underway, hoping to start the trip with some northern lights!
Day 2: Set sail towards the whales and the roadless fishing village of Reinfjord
After an exciting night of Aurora-hunting and hopefully, some restful sleep, have an easy start and set sail after a good breakfast. Aim to approach the spawning grounds of the herring and possibly catch your first whale sighting! Later, sail to the roadless village of Reinfjord, where they have a long history of fishing, and where you also spend the night. Go fishing, and maybe catch your dinner for this evening.
Day 3: Whales, the Lyngen Alps, and sauna night
Not possible to sail through the Alps you say? This is the day when you’ll be proven wrong, with a sail through the Lyngen Alps. This part of Norway offers spectacular fjords, sounds, and mountains where your eyes will never be satisfied and want to see more – more – more of this. After a good day of alpine sailing, hopefully, with more whale sightings, dock at the pier of the famous Hamnes Handlested on Uløya. Here they have heated up the sauna and jacuzzi all set for a swim in the sea underneath the stars!
Day 4: The magical winter season light
The best part of this season here in the North is the shifting and always beautiful light. Even though there isn’t much sun in winter, the light you actually get is often like an everlasting dawn and dusk! Perfect for great pictures and landscape views. Spend the last full day together exploring the archipelago north of Tromsø, and aim to have a landfall, hike, and enjoy a bonfire on the beach. Anchor away from the city lights, around Ringvassøya or Kvaløysundet, for our last night – hopefully with an Aurora show in the sky!
Day 5: Return to Tromsø, and goodbye!
Pack your bags and get ready to disembark. After breakfast, sail for a couple of hours back to Tromsø after breakfast and arrive back in Tromsø just after lunch. The trip will end at 15:00 at the latest. Leave Valiente with your heart full of unforgettable memories and some new friends.
As with all activities, there is plenty of specialised equipment and clothing for sailing. You are not expected to buy lots of new equipment to join any of our trips, so, use what you have, borrow what you need from a friend, try to purchase used equipment, and if you have to invest in new equipment – buy quality items that will last. What you need is something waterproof and windproof on the outside, and layered clothing underneath.
Some jackets may not be waterproof enough, or might not perform well in saltwater, so you might want to consider purchasing or renting a set of “oilskins” to use on the wettest days. Even in summer, it can be cold at sea, so bring both swimwear and warm clothing.
You will receive a detailed recommended packing list in good time before departure.
Packing
- Pack like a sailor; in a soft bag or backpack, NOT in a rigid suitcase
- Pack as little as possible, but bring what you need!
- The fewer items you bring, the faster you sail, and the less time you spend fooling around with your gear
Adventure-wear
- Woollen underwear – shirt and long johns/zip longs (bring two pairs so you have spare)
- Woollen socks (multiple pairs) and woollen soles (bring two pairs so you have spare)
- Woollen scarf/buff/high neck and hat (preferably warm and windproof)
- Mittens or gloves preferably with wind or water-resistant covers
- Woollen sweater, preferably a turtle-neck
- Warm pants, preferably multi-layered with warmer materials. (For use on the deck or while sailing)
- Warm winter jacket – down jacket or preferably Primaloft (as they can handle water)
- “Shore” clothing for exploring towns
- Sea/sailing/rain/rubber boots, preferably winter-style. Bring some big enough so that they breathe even with woollen socks and woollen soles
- Light shoes/sandals/crocs that breathe well. (For use indoors and on deck in nice weather)
- Trainers/deck shoes (no black-soled shoes please – they mark the deck)
- Sailwear/oilskin – jacket and pants (we rent out/sell good quality oilskins at reasonable prices, see separate information)
- Sailing gloves (not a must) and here you can also use skiing gloves or rubber/fishing gloves with wool liners
Other equipment
- Sunglasses (polarised lenses are ideal, but not essential)
- Sunscreen (water-resistant, SPF 30 or higher)
- Water bottle(s), minimum 0,75 – 1 litre, hydration reservoir (Camelbak)
- Small washing cloth and soap
- Towel and swimming gear
- Flask (insulated bottle) for hot water
- A head torch (preferably one with a dimming function/red (night) light)
- Walking boots, shoes for onshore, and trainers with good grip
- Sea sickness and personal medication
- Camera
- We have enough life vests for everyone, but if you have a vest of your own that you want to use, then bring it! Make sure to unscrew the gas cylinder before checking in your bag at the airport
Electronics
- Onboard the boats there are USB (USB-B ‘regular’ USB, no USB-C) outlets for charging phones when we sail. 220V outlets are available when we’re docked
- We have cellular coverage most of the time in Mainland Norway
Note: This is a recommended packing list
