
M/V Kinfish
Accommodating just 12 guests at a time, the M/V Kinfish was recently transformed from a Norwegian research vessel to a classic passenger ship.
Duration | Price | When | Destination | Type |
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6 Days | £5495 | Nov | Norway | Small Group Safari |
An incredible ship-based safari with the unique opportunity to swim with, and be photographed alongside, killer whales (orcas) and humpbacks in the wild Norwegian waters. You’ll also have a chance to see the magnificent dancing Northern Lights.
Surrounded by icy fjords and imposing glaciers, this unforgettable trip offers you an incredible opportunity to (hopefully) witness pods of colossal orcas and humpback whales. Leaving dry land behind, you'll travel on our very own private chartered boat, the M/V Kinfish, for the duration of your marine adventure. This gives you the advantage of versatility in your routing while sailing through the Norwegian waters. The M/V Kinfish is our ice-strengthened vessel that operates in Svalbard in the summer and, due to her small size, is easily manoeuvrable.
As you are in search of wildlife, their exact journey (migration) can never be exactly predicted; by using a chartered boat you will be able to change direction and stay in specific areas for as long as you wish. If you are lucky enough to get a space on this incredibly exclusive trip, you will be one of the very few people in the world that will have got this close to the orcas in the wild. You will spend your days riding the waves in search of orcas, and when dusk falls, you will even have the chance of spotting the famous Northern Lights.
In 2023, our Orcas expedition is 6 days/5 nights.
Your guides will be experts in the world's whales: NWS specialist leader team Rita Messing, Patrick Dykstra, Peter Webster, Kayvon Malek, Sarah Conner and Joshua Barton have all travelled the globe in search of the largest creatures on the planet.
Upon arrival at Tromsø Airport, you'll make your way to the city's port to board the M/V Kinfish, your home for the next few nights. With state-of-the-art equipment and just six passenger cabins, this small yet well-appointed ship is perfectly suited to your ensuing voyage, being able to manoeuvre quickly and easily in response to whale sightings. Take the chance to get to know your expert team, the Kinfish's crew and your fellow passengers before you set sail for Arctic waters.
Overnight: M/V Kinfish (D)
Our expert team have been running whale trips to Norway for a number of years; almost the entire time in which orcas have been found migrating to these waters. In the past, our clients have remained close to land, watching and swimming with the whales during their hunts off the coast of Tromsø. However, this pioneering expedition will see you searching for Norway's whales in a way that few others have done before: out on the water for days on end, on board your own expedition ship.
Away from the bright lights of the coast, you'll be on the trail of orcas and humpbacks in the open ocean, tracking the movement of the pods as they hunt for huge shoals of herring. Head out in zodiacs to get closer to the water and, weather conditions permitting, you'll be able to take to the water in small groups and swim alongside these magnificent mammals. The considerable expertise of your team will ensure an unforgettable experience. The exact itinerary will depend on the cetaceans' locations, but regardless of where you find yourself, you can look forward to hearing about your guides' experiences with whales around the world, as well as delicious Nordic-inspired cuisine served by the on-board chef, and – if you're lucky – the cosmic light show that is the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.
Overnight: M/V Kinfish (B, L, D)
After arriving back into Tromsø and disembarking from the M/V Kinfish, your time with the whales will have sadly come to an end, but you will have undoubtedly made memories that will last a lifetime. It's now time to say your final farewells and begin your journey home.
This is a small group safari onboard the M/V Kinfish, departing on set dates in November, when orca and humpback whale activity in northern Norway is at its highest.
2023 prices are £5,495 / US$7,140 per person twinshare. Please note 2023 departures are 6 days/5 nights, and there is an Earlybird discount of £500pp for 2023 departures until 31st December 2022.
Trip date | Duration | Prices from |
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Nov 04 - Nov 09 2023 | 6 Days | £5495 |
Nov 09 - Nov 14 2023 | 6 Days | £5495 |
Nov 14 - Nov 19 2023 | 6 Days | £5495 |
This was an incredible trip. We were privileged to have Sarah and Patrick as our guides leading to some unprecedented wildlife interactions; one day over 100 orcas and the next day being in the midst of a pod of 19 humpbacks. We saw an incredible aurora; pinks, purple and green. All in all, it was more than we could have expected, and we feel like we have memories that will last a lifetime.
This was probably the best trip I've ever been on. The wildlife sightings were perfect, guiding and crew were fantastic, and the other members of the tour were lovely people. I would love to travel again!
This was an incredible experience, better than I could ever have imagined. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.
Overall, the trip exceeded expectations. the accommodation, whale sightings and the service received from NWS and the Kinfish crew were outstanding.
This was literally the trip of a lifetime. Sarah and Kayvon were absolutely top-notch guides throughout the trip. They were so informative and always put us in a great position to capture the best videos and photos. The crew of the Kinfish were the best crew a person could ask for. They were so kind and helpful with anything you would possibly need. They would literally let you do anything on the boat from driving the boat to checking out the engine room. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to go on this trip and it wouldn’t have been the same without the people that were on it with me. Thank you so much!
I really couldn't have asked for any more from this trip. I will remember this trip for the rest of my life and would certainly recommend it to any whale lovers. Thank you to all who made it happen. The wildlife, guides and Kinfish staff were all fantastic. It was incredible getting up close to the whales, not just orca but humpbacks too. I had a feeling on the first day that we would get lots of good orca encounters but feared the humpbacks may be a little more elusive, however, Rita and Kayvon made sure we got the drops we needed to encounter these fantastic animals underwater too. I couldn't thank the two guides enough, they went out of their way to ensure all guests were happy. The accommodation and Kinfish staff were all wonderful, the food was fantastic and we were very well looked after.
Everyone in the NWS team who I communicated with was great. The staff of the Kinfish were amazing and you can tell they truly love what they do which makes a huge difference. I would love to travel with NWS again as the company go above and beyond to make the experience authentic with knowledgeable and experienced guides.
Thanks to everyone involved for an overall an amazing trip!! Amazing wildlife sightings, and once-in-a-lifetime aurora displays. We came away with unique memories that will stay with us for a long time - thank you.
Gemma gave us an outstanding service from the moment we asked whether there was a chance to have the Kinfish for the swimming with whales adventure. Not only the trip was organised, but Gemma also responded promptly to our numerous requests and helped us dealing with the uncertainty of who was to be the 4th member of our group. She even managed to get an extra dry suit at the last minute. We always received very professional service.
This trip was easily a 10 out of 10 experience. Everything was very professional and ethical.
My experiences far exceeded my expectations. The staff of the MV Kinfish were the heart and soul of the trip. The meals were exceptional and well thought out. The guides were world-class. They brought knowledge and experience that proved to be superior to all the other tours in the area. They treated you like family and ensured every person had a good experience. I would definitely book again. That week was the highlight of my life.
It was an amazing trip! Northern lights almost every night and many many orca every day. The guides were awesome and the crew on the ship were fabulous too. So many amazing memories and lots of outstanding pictures and videos.
Thanks so much for everything, Gemma - especially your help transitioning Jess for Andy! We would recommend this trip to anyone. The trip was absolutely incredible. We had success encountering orca and humpbacks every day, and the fulfillment of a life's dream to experience killer whales in their natural habitat, in the water, was everything I imagined it would be. On top of that, the professionalism of NWS, the guides, Kinfish and her crew, all helped make for a fluid, pain-free trip - thank you
The crew of MV Kinfish was amazing. They put their heart and sweat in making sure the boat was ready for the trip, made sure we achieved our objectives, and made sure we were very well taken care of. They were very accommodating and professional. Our guides Rita and Joshua were also very fun to be with. They definitely made the trip memorable.
The whole trip was a fantastic experience. I couldn't fault anything on this trip if i tried, truly wonderful experience! Everything was organised to such a high standard it made everything stress free and made the trip more enjoyable. Everything from the boat, the crew and the guides were fantastic and I imagine the same level of care and detail is applied to all NWS trips.
Everything went according to plan and it was an experience we will never forget! It was incredible! The encounters we had were amazing and the time on the water and boat were perfect. Patrick and our captain Oddgeir were great! Patrick did his best to ensure we got as many amazing encounters as possible. He ensured we were safe at all times and took us to remote locations, which allowed us to experience the whales in their natural habitat, not surrounded by multiple boats but rather by themselves, behaving as naturally as can be. It was absolutely incredible and we hope to travel with Patrick again in the future!
Fantastic. It exceeded expectations in every way. A very personal service from our destination specialist, Gemma, who was knowledgeable, helpful and extremely efficient. It was a pleasure to engage with her. Overall: excellent service, unique experiences, great ethos, friendly people, and our guides Patrick and Rita were amazing. They made our holiday perfect.
The trip was absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone with a love for the ocean and its wildlife. I have a passion for travelling and your company was able to set up one of the best trips I have ever taken that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!
Traveled to Norway to swim with Orca Whales. The trip was incredible. Very nicely put together. The guide, Patrick was absolutely amazing. Very knowledgable, great to be around, and made the trip fun and exciting! Gemma at NWS was very reachable and informative. Was easy to get questions answered and quickly.
The trip was very good. Usually we don't use travel agencies, but I loved travelling with you!
Amazing time. Great experience with wildlife, nature and fun company. Relaxed atmosphere.
A once-in-a-lifetime adventure!