Best time to go
november
An incredible ship-based safari with the unique opportunity to swim with, and photograph killer whales (orcas) and humpbacks in the wild Norwegian waters. Surrounded by icy fjords and imposing glaciers, this unforgettable trip offers you an opportunity to 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 due to her small size, is easily manoeuvrable. You’ll also have a chance to see the magnificent dancing Northern Lights.
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.
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.
As you are in search of whales, 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.
When dusk falls, head up to the open bridge and keep an eye out for the famous Northern Lights.
We’ve collaborated with Patrick Dykstra who is well-known among the nature documentary field. He is the visionary for the trip and even though he won’t be on-board, his involvement has been key in creating our 2023 expert team, along with being at the centre of developing this experience. He won a BAFTA for his cinematography work on BBC’s Blue Planet 2 and has also filmed major nature programs for Netflix, National Geographic, Apple, Discovery, BBC and others. His latest feature film about his friendship with a sperm whale titled 'Patrick and the Whale' was released in September 2022. Read more about Patrick.
After arriving into Tromsø Airport, you'll make your way to your hotel for the night. If you feel like a casual coffee or something freshly baked, stop by Smørtorget for delicious pastries and local artwork in a friendly and relaxed setting. Koseverden is another option for fans of baked goods, boasting an impressive array of options along with a lunch menu and coffee from a local roaster. Read more about what to do in Tromsø.
On your day of embarkation, you'll head away from the bright lights of the coast 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. When you find the whales, you will 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, see the beautiful landscapes of Northern Norway.
Built in 1958, the M/V Kinfish has recently been transformed from a Norwegian research vessel to a classic passenger ship, ready to explore the Norweigan fjords in search for whales. With room on board for just 12 passengers, the ship has an intimate atmosphere, and her small size allows her to access some of the smaller fjords and coves along the coastline. Kinfish has an expansive deck space spread across multiple levels, two spacious lounges, and a fantastic presentation room. Enjoy delicious Nordic-inspired cuisine served by the on-board chef, catered to your individual dietary requirements. All meals are included, including tea, coffee and hot chocolate and soft drinks on board, and alcohol with dinner. Read more about M/V Kinfish.
Date | Ship | Passengers | Trip Length | Trip Style | Prices from | |
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9th - 14th November 2024 | M/V Kinfish | 12 | 6 Days | Sold out - Enquire now for 2025 | ||
14th - 19th November 2024 | M/V Kinfish | 12 | 6 Days | Sold out - Enquire now for 2025 | ||
19 - 24th November 2024 | M/V Kinfish | 12 | 6 Days | Sold out - Enquire now for 2025 |
Trip was phenomenal, outstanding experience overall. Surpassed his expectations in every aspect, had a fantastic time. Great group onboard, wonderful crew and service. Ship was very nice. Food was far better than expected, nice mix of meals. Great guides, they were fun, helpful and extremely knowledgeable. App and pre-trip communication were great, a lot of prep work that was very well done. More support from NWS than expected. NWS team were very helpful, even when members were out of office somebody would jump in and make sure the quick responses were maintained.
Had a great trip, really good time. Great luck with whale sightings, especially a 'rad' last day with numerous humpbacks and killers whales. Excellent guides who executed everything well, clearly very knowledgeable and knew what they were doing. Loved the chef, very funny dude and good food. App and documents were great, no issues there. Felt supported by NWS, 24hr emergency contact was great.
This was one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. I still can’t even believe that this is something I did. The whales were beautiful and getting a chance to swim with my favorite animal and an apex predator was life changing. The app was incredibly useful and I loved the daily countdown and individualized itinerary!! Lisa, Kayvon, and Sarah: I am so grateful for every single talk, instruction, for their experience, safety awareness, and love of the ocean and these incredible creatures we were able to see. They were all so passionate which gave space and fostered an environment of excitement and learning. Jasper, Willhelm, Patrick, Harold, Olaf, Alice, Emma, Jessica, Lynn, and Crista: The crew was incredible! I wanted to be a part of the crew. Haha! It takes a lot of people to run a ship safely and smoothly and the mix of these human beings together was a beautiful thing to witness. They were always willing to chat with us about the different components of the ship, their specific roles, and their lives off the ship. The food/wine on the Kinfish was top notch! Crista works magic in the kitchen. He had to create a vegetarian dish, a meat dish, and a gluten-free dish every single meal. I will be coming back. The Kinfish was home away from home. Thank you again to everyone who made this a possibility.
Whole trip was amazing, incredible experience overall, no real complaints - Blown away by everything, team was awesome, ship was great, was not expecting such amazing food as this wasn't really mentioned much before attending, wonderful surprise - Felt lucky throughout the whole trip, from Northern Lights on the first night, plenty of whales throughout and a great final day - got everything that they wanted to see out of the trip - Loved the crew - especially Krista, Lynn and Olaf - Small group size of 8 passengers was lovely - Felt very lucky to have Sarah added to their departure, were so grateful her her being onboard, she was absolutely amazing