Onboard our comfortable expedition vessel Valiente, sail between the majestic peaks of Lyngen and northern Troms.
4 Nights: Various dates available
From: 21,800 NOK / £1,790 per person*
The feeling of sailing underneath the dancing northern lights accompanied only by the sound of wind and waves is hard to describe. Onboard the comfortable expedition vessel Valiente, sail between the majestic peaks of Lyngen and northern Troms.
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.
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 characterized 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.
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 for now
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.
The program
The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to the weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to change and improve our itineraries. We will have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach on all our trips – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
Travel – In general
Sometimes flying is the only option, but not always. If you have the luxury of time, always try to travel as environmentally friendly as possible. Travelling 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 training 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. 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 crew members on board. Feel free to contact us to discuss the risk.
Level of this trip
This is the 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 of sizes too large, and plenty of wool! You will receive a detailed recommended packing list in good time before departure.
Food and cooking
On board, you will be part of the crew and will 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, set up a menu and purchase what is needed. Great menu options are offered, with healthy “boat-friendly” food. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know in the registration form and it will be taken into account. During the trip, possibly sail by a good restaurant or two to stop and eat at.
What we expect from you
Guests are encouraged 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. Trips require a little work from the participants – and you must be open to contributing and opening up a bit socially. There are many different people on the trip, and most people get along very well. Take the opportunity to make new friends, and create new and interesting memories!
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. Everyone should participate in the operation of the sailboat and everyone is considered crew. 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. 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.
There is plenty of heating and good food on the boat, but not always an abundance of fresh water. This means it will not be possible to shower every day, but more or less every other day when in a harbour or when sailing through a place with available showers. A morning swim in the sea is also 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 great experiences creates strong ties! Many people wonder about the age composition of our trips, but this isn’t so important. 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, with skippers sailing as much as possible and using the engine as little as possible. Crew and participants are encouraged to travel as environmentally friendly as possible, and local ingredients and resources are used as much as possible. There are also trips to collect litter and clean ocean trash from beaches.
Philosophically, sailing is an exercise in sustainability: to move with the wind and have limitations on things like water, diesel, electricity, and food. In order to run sustainably, knowledge, patience, flexibility, and hard work are required.
Take an internal flight to Tromsø.
Take an internal flight from Tromsø.
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 for now
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.
The program
The program should be seen as a rough itinerary that we can adapt to the weather and conditions. We also reserve the right to change and improve our itineraries. We will have a dinghy for beach trips and small expeditions, fishing gear for cod, and gear to hike or make bonfires on the beach on all our trips – we are ready for adventure! Are you?
PS: This is a recommended packing list. Please take into account if there are other items you may need on board.
