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Killer whales & Northern Lights, Norway

COUNTRY:
Norway
LOCATION:
Fjords, Northern Lights
DEPARTURES:
This trip is no longer running
PRICE:
From £902 - £942 (4 days) including flights from the UK, from £595 excluding flights. Optional single supplement £100. Optional activities (day 3) - whale watching £80, snorkelling with Orcas £150
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Killer whales & Northern Lights, Norway

Killer whales & Northern Lights, Norway

Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

How this holiday makes a difference

As a part of our continued commitment to responsible tourism, we operate this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local communities. We work with a Norwegian operator, who has been operating Killer Whale safaris for 16 years and and are pioneers in this field. The tourism in this area has been developed around the Tysfjord research centre, which has been established since 1987.

The research centre closely monitors the behavioural patterns the large number of killer whales in this area, and are dedicated to preserving and managing their way of life, and minimising the impacts of tourism. With the preservation of the local wildlife as the main focus for the tourists, all clients attend a informative and educational lecture before going out on the excursions. They are also given strict guidelines as to their behaviour out on the water. The local guides will also explain how to maintain distance and how to follow whales without disturbing them. They limit the number of boats allowed near a whale group to 2, and the time spent with them to 30 minutes per group, if there are other boats in the area. The research vessels are always given priority. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism.

We have worked to reduce our offices' carbon footprint through reduced energy use and energy conservation measures. We reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit!

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Story of the thingstodo provider

This tour operator was the first to get access to China over 30 years ago and the first to take a truck to Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side. They have since expanded into 91 countries. Their product is driven by their clients because they listen to feedback and have to constantly evolve to provide a greater experience and better value. The exclusive centres they use have been grown organically and are often owned by ex-leaders. The holidays remain innovative, though you will now be travelling in a Mercedes 16-seater sprinter coach rather than a rusty old Bedford overland truck.

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Day tour/Attraction provider no: 55

Killer whales & Northern Lights, Norway

Reviewed 27 Dec 2007 by Helena Hodges1 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Sleeping in the Post Office Loo at the ferry port (with my 81 year old Dad) - as we were not met by Tysfjord company as we were late!!!
And the Orcas of course...and the fantastic moonlight mountains...

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Don't go at christmas time! Airport chaos!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Large carbon footprint - but kept old fishing boats in service

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


If it hadn't been for the airport choas i am sure it would have been great.

Read the operator's response here:

We apologise on behalf of SAS Airlines and Tysfjord Tourist Centre to Ms Hodges and her father, for the unpredictable chain of events that led to them overnighting at the Ferry Port. It is very difficult to predict flight delays and cancellations, and in the case of the Tysfjord region the consequences can be unpleasant, largely due to the lack of a 24hr ferry service or accommodation at the ferry port. In emergency situations like these, We do all they can to remain in contact with our clients via our own 24hr Duty Office contact line, but it is essential that clients provide us with reliable contact information, preferrably in the form of a GSM mobile phone number so that we can update them with progress in solving any problem.

Reviewed 03 Dec 2007 by Nigel Roberts1 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The most disappointing holiday ever ! The killer whale and northern lights weekend featured neither, and though the fjords were spectacular, the whole group felt that the operator, had been excessively optimistic about the chances of seeing orca. They spoke about 600 to 700 orca being in the fjords. The total seen on our trip was zero, and total sightings for 2007 equal 10 !! The orca expert estimated less than 40% of her groups actually see a whale.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Check out the tjisfjord website. The herring migration has changed, and whales are coming into the fjords less and less. Look on the web site to see if you are likely to be lucky. It is a long, long trip. Took one and a half days there and same back, arriving midnight to no dinner ! Did I say the most disappointing holiday ever -- you get the idea.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


They benefit financially from the tourism, but realise their industry is in trouble.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Liked the fjords, fellow travellers and local staff.
Hated the complete absence of whales, and relative lack all season.
No rep so we had no support.
No Northern Lights while we were there, which is no-one's fault, but but the tin lid on things !
Travel company set our expectations way too high.

Read the operator's response here:

We appreciate Mr Roberts disappointment, but it is fair to say that both the availability of whales in the fjord as well as the visibility of Northern Lights are, to some extent, out of our control. Yes, Tysfjord Tourist Centre posted a notice on their website at the end of this winter relating to the apparent change in the herring migration and the effect this was having on whale watching. This will be something we will be amending in our new Trip Notes for 2008/09, but an unknown factor last year and only became apparent to us after analysis of the feedback from previous trips. Looking to the future, Tysfjord aim to invest in smaller, faster boats, capable of travelling further out to the new whale feeding grounds if necessary. Plus, measuring the shift in herring migration is by no means 100% accurate in predicting where the herring will spawn in the coming winter. Tysfjord, in order to avoid greater disappointment, are predicting to view Orcas on 50% of all trips next winter - something that we will replicate in our TripNotes on the next reissue.
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Day tour/Attraction Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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