Sailing with Orcas in the Lofoten Islands
| country: | Arctic Circle, Norway |
| location: | Northern Lights |
| departures: | 2008: 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 2 Dec |
| price: | From £870 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes meals & snacks, excursions/zodiac activities, lectures, expedition staff, taxes & port charges, and pre-departure material. Single supplement available. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Lofoten Islands form a picturesque archipelago north of the Arctic Circle. Resident pods of killer whales (Oricinus orca), sometimes as many as 300 strong, come in search of the vast shoals of Atlantic herrings which migrate here during the Winter months.
The Whales of the Tysfjord area are unique in their use of ‘carousel’ feeding techniques, working as a group to herd herring into an increasingly tighter ball, before using the strength of their tail flukes to stun and kill their prey.
This Arctic sailing expedition almost certainly guarantees close encounters with these magnificent and intelligent creatures from both the deck of the sailing yacht and at close proximity from a zodiac rib.
Such a voyage under canvas is a memorable experience. Here magnificent mountains, peaks and sheltered inlets surround spectacular clear-water fjords more than 800m deep. The tranquillity of sailing within spectacular scenic fjords and observing wildlife without intrusion enhances your contact with this Arctic wilderness. Those keen to participate in the sailing of the vessel are welcome to assist and be part of an international team of polar travellers in the tradition of the 19th Century explorers.
This trip features a program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
The Whales of the Tysfjord area are unique in their use of ‘carousel’ feeding techniques, working as a group to herd herring into an increasingly tighter ball, before using the strength of their tail flukes to stun and kill their prey.
This Arctic sailing expedition almost certainly guarantees close encounters with these magnificent and intelligent creatures from both the deck of the sailing yacht and at close proximity from a zodiac rib.
Such a voyage under canvas is a memorable experience. Here magnificent mountains, peaks and sheltered inlets surround spectacular clear-water fjords more than 800m deep. The tranquillity of sailing within spectacular scenic fjords and observing wildlife without intrusion enhances your contact with this Arctic wilderness. Those keen to participate in the sailing of the vessel are welcome to assist and be part of an international team of polar travellers in the tradition of the 19th Century explorers.
This trip features a program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Board the yacht at the harbour of Lødingen. |
| Day 2: | Sail to Tysfjord for a full day in search of groups of Orcas which hunt in these fjords for herring. Their specialised hunting technique attracts White Tailed Sea Eagles which can be observed feeding on the by-catch of herring in the fjord. |
| Day 3: | Today we sail into Vestfjord, which separates the Lofoten Islands from the Norwegian mainland. Land at Skrover Island with the option to climb its modest peak for commanding views of the archipelago. There are also excellent coastal treks here, a breeding site for White Tailed Sea Eagles, 9,000 year old rock paintings and good vantage points from which to observe the Aurora Borealis. |
| Day 4: | We set sail for Henningsvaer which with its scattered island and islets, unique architecture and clear blue waters, is known locally as the Venice of Norway. We moor here overnight. |
| Day 5: | Today we set sail for Trollfjord Raftsund, said to be one of the most spectacular fjords of Norway. We then sail to the island of Tramoya where we spend the evening. |
| Day 6: | We work our way back to across Vestfjorden, mooring at Korsnes. This is another good place from which to observer the Northern Lights. |
| Day 7: | We spend most of the day in Tysfjord in search of orcas and return to the harbour of Lødingen after dark. |
| Day 8: | In the morning we disembark at Lødingen for our transfer to the airport of Evenes. |
how this holiday makes a difference
 Harnessing the power of the wind not only reduces the use of engine power (and thus diesel usage) but allows for a passage which is quiet and unobtrusive. This is particularly important when in the company of Orcas and other whales. The deck of this strong and elegant sailing ship is an appropriate and inspiring way to enjoy these magnificent marine mammals in the Arctic wilderness. This comfortable ship carries a maximum of 20 passengers making for a small and personally tailored group trip to the Arctic. Your on board natural history expert, through guided walks and evening talks, reveals the wonders of Artic scenery and wildlife and introduces some of the conservation issues which this fragile habitat faces. Our polar trips are made under full membership of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and so abides by its strict codes of conduct. We have calculated the average CO2 emissions of our Arctic and Antarctic voyages and will automatically offset each client’s share of emissions via the charity Rainforest Concern’s new Rainforest4Climate programme. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |