Whale watching & Northern Lights Sailing Holiday in Norway
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Join expedition yacht Valiente and experience the breathtaking beauty of whale watching and the northern lights in Northern Norway.
Join expedition yacht Valiente for a whale watching and northern lights sailing holiday in the breathtaking Arctic fjords of Northern Norway. Setting sail from Tromsø in the depths of winter, this voyage explores the remote coastline around the Lyngen Alps where orca and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords and the Aurora Borealis lights up the sky above snow-capped peaks.
No sailing experience is needed, and the voyage is perfect for adventurous solo travellers and couples looking for a magically wild and memorable winter expedition.
- Whale watching in Arctic fjords
- Northern lights under sail
- Expedition sailing, no experience needed
- Historic fishing villages ashore
- Private cabins, full board
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Talk to the team
Telephone: +44 (0)1872 487288
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7804 472592
Northern Lights & Whale Watching in Norway: Sailing the Arctic Fjords
Tromsø → Grøtsundet → Reinfjord → Lyngen Alps → Uløya → Ringvassøya → Tromsø
Northern Norway in winter is one of the most extraordinary places on earth and certainly one of the best ways to experience it is under sail. Join expedition yacht Valiente in the harbour of Tromsø, getting to know your fellow guests and crew before setting sail into the Grøtsundet, with the Lyngen Alps rising ahead of you and the first long Arctic night beginning to settle in.
This is the polar night, where in the winter months, the sun barely clears the horizon. But far from feeling dark and forbidding, the light here at this time of year is unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. Imagine three hours of continuous sunrise and sunset, with mountain peaks glowing in the deepest pinks and oranges, deep blue tones fading to purple across the fjords, and then, in clear skies, the slow, shifting spectacle of the Aurora Borealis.
With minimal light pollution and a sky full of stars, the chances of spotting your first northern lights from the deck are good and the experience of watching them from a sailing boat, accompanied only by wind and water, is one that’s genuinely difficult to put into words.
- Whale watching in Arctic fjords
- Northern lights under sail
- Expedition sailing, no experience needed
- Historic fishing villages ashore
- Private cabins, full board
In Search of Whales: The Herring Grounds of the Arctic
The northern fjords around Tromsø and Skjervøy are where the herring come to spend their winter and where they go, the whales follow. Orca and humpback whales gather in these waters to feed on the vast shoals, and when the herring and whales converge, the sea itself seems to come alive at the surface. It’s an intense, humbling wildlife experience, and one of the primary reasons to make this voyage in winter.
After an exciting night of Aurora-hunting, the search for the herring spawning grounds begins in earnest. The exact location shifts from year to year, and in recent years, the main wintering area has moved from Tromsø towards Skjervøy. There will be time to try your hand at fishing your own dinner as you sail towards the roadless village of Reinfjord, a place with a long history of fishing and a quietness that feels earned.
Sailing through the Lyngen Alps, the scenery shifts into something spectacular with towering snow-capped peaks plunging thousands of metres into the sea, with the fjords reflecting the extraordinary winter light between them. A visit to the famous Hamnes Handlested on Uløya offers a welcome reward: a heated sauna and jacuzzi, and the chance to swim in the Arctic sea beneath the stars.
The Polar Night: Light, Landscape & Life Ashore
The final days of the voyage explore the archipelago north of Tromsø with remote anchorages, historic fishing settlements, and a coastline free from light pollution. There will be time for a proper hike ashore, a bonfire on the beach, and one last night at anchor around Ringvassøya or Kvaløysundet, away from the city lights, watching the sky for a final Aurora display.
- Wildlife encounters: orca, humpback whales and Arctic seabirds
- Bonfire on the beach and hiking ashore
- Historic fishing villages with no road access
- Anchorages chosen to maximise northern lights viewing
- Fishing for your own dinner with the crew
Life Aboard the Expedition Yacht Valiente
Valiente is a 70-foot steel-hulled expedition yacht built for exactly these conditions. Tough on the outside and wonderfully comfortable within, she is designed to handle the demands of Arctic sailing while ensuring guests are warm, well-fed, and at ease throughout.
Joining Valiente means taking part in the day-to-day running of the boat, winching sails, taking the helm, and cooking up meals with your fellow guests. The crew will guide you at every step, and no prior experience is needed. The owners of Valiente are also deeply committed to the environment, believing that small boats with fewer people are considerably less harmful to these vulnerable Arctic waters than larger vessels.
- Cabins: Mix of double and twin bunk cabins, all heated with duvets and wool blankets
- Meals: Full board – cooking together with crew is part of the experience
- Sailing style: Fully hands-on – guests are active crew members throughout
- Crew: Experienced Arctic sailors with deep local knowledge of the fjords
- Sustainability: Small-boat, low-impact expeditions in a vulnerable environment
Things to note
Sailing vs Shore time
Night-watches?
Travel insurance notes
As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.
Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.
This voyage will be not more than 12 miles offshore.
Getting Involved
You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays, just a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure. Sailing with Valiente is a real hands-on, humbling experience as you work with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness together. Get stuck into all aspects of life on board, from taking the helm, setting & trimming the sails, basic sail theory and domestic duties.
The skipper and first mate (co-skipper), plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages, will be on board for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, all guests are included in the sailing experience.
The physical sailing of Valiente is relatively straightforward, so she’s a great boat to learn on if you haven’t sailed before. Her simple rig has three sails: the main, genoa and jib, all working off a winch system. The wheelhouse is set at deck level, with a modern navigation system. You can take the helm and work with the skipper to keep your course. The crew who sail in these waters are highly skilled, resourceful, and calm, and they are always on hand to guide guests.
The boat works on a relaxed watch system, usually 4 hours on and 8 hours off. This gives guests a real chance to have some focused sailing time, while also having time to just be. To sit, watch the world go by, relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon, or simply sit at the bows, watching and reflecting as the world glides by. If Valiente spends time on anchor, the watch system will run overnight, but with all guests and crew participating, you wouldn’t be on watch on consecutive nights.
There is always a thorough safety briefing and introduction once guests have settled onboard, followed by a “man overboard” procedure (don’t worry – this is a fender, not a real person!) and a fire safety drill.
Sleeping and Relaxation
Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat (there’s even heated towel rails in all bathrooms and a heater in the wheelhouse), so there she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set midships with 360-degree windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is really well equipped with an induction hob, two domestic ovens, two fridge drawers and plenty of storage space. All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and proper facilities for their needs!
There are full-size domestic showers with plenty of hot water, although, as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful with their water consumption. A small bath towel is provided per person, but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.
Eating Aboard
Aside from setting the sails and taking the helm, the next most important aspect of Arctic sailing on Valiente is definitely the food! Once you’ve boarded the boat, a crew member will split all guests into pairs, who are then divided over a rota for breakfast, lunch and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll normally end up doing one of each service over a week’s voyage.
If you’re not much of a cook, fear not! There will be a menu plan for the whole voyage, with all provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the day’s plan— maybe you catch a fish, or perhaps the more confident cooks want to experiment a little! Alongside the menu plan, there is a correlating recipe book, especially made with ingredients, quantities and cooking methods to match the meal plan. Cooking on board is an integral part of how a sailing ship operates. A hearty feed after a sailing adventure, a chance to bring everyone together, for confidence to grow, and cultural culinary tips to be shared.
Sample menu
This is an example of what could be served while sailing with Valiente. There is no dedicated cook on board Valiente. Guests all take it in turns on a rotation basis to cook for the boat. This is an enjoyable part of sailing with Valiente as you make firm friends and experience recipes from around the world!
Breakfast
- Eggs, bacon, beans and toast
- Pancakes with jam and spreads
- Oatmeal with various toppings
- Bread and spreads
- Yoghurt and/or milk with cereal
Lunch
- Cauliflower or onion Soup
- Fish soup (using fish we’ve caught from our lines!)
- Cream porridge with cured meats
- Tomato soup and omelette
- Pancakes
Dinner
- Fish or veggie burgers
- Pasta with smoked salmon
- Chilli con carne
- Tacos
- Vegetable lasagne
- Bali chicken stew
- Salmon with root vegetables and sour cream
- Pasta bolognese with salad
- Sautéed reindeer stew
- Self-caught cod with pea puree
Dessert
- Fruit salad with vanilla sauce and firkløver chocolate
- Cream buns
- Sweet biscuits or chocolate
Valiente
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff
From week-long adventures in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to offshore Barents Sea crossings and ski & sail voyages in Norway, sailing with Valiente requires no prior experience. It is perfect for adventurous souls of all ages.
Joining Valiente will see you becoming an active member of the crew, taking part in all aspects of sailing. From the day-to-day running of the boat, winching sails and taking the helm to cooking up meals with your fellow guests, the crew of Valiente will be on hand to guide you at all times.
Tough on the outside, soft on the inside. With her steel hull made to withstand icy waters, below decks is a welcome contrast. Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat, so you’ll be wonderfully cosy! The saloon and well-equipped galley are set midships with 360° windows at deck level with plenty of storage space.
All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs!
The Arctic sailing grounds are a vulnerable area increasingly under pressure from climate change. The owners of Valiente are committed to protecting the environment as much as possible and believe that small boats with fewer people are considerably less harmful to the environment and local wildlife than larger cruise ships.
Deck plan
More about Valiente
More holidays in Norway or Scandinavia
Scandinavian Sailing Adventure from Copenhagen to Gothenburg
Sail the Baltic Sea onboard a Tall Ship
Baltic Sea Adventure: Finland Sailing
Sail the Baltic Sea onboard a Tall Ship
More holidays on Valiente
Sailing the Barents Sea: Tromsø to Svalbard
The Wonders of Arctic Svalbard: Sailing Expedition
The Wonders of Arctic Svalbard: Sailing Expedition
South Greenland Sailing Expedition: Fjords, Ice and Viking History
Inspiration for your voyage
Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below. Be inspired to discover the world under sail! Read our latest journals below.
JOURNAL
