Whale watching & Northern Lights Sailing Holiday in Norway
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- Vessel: Valiente
- Where: North Norway
- Duration: 5 days
- Embark: Tromsø - 27 November 2024, 16:00
- Disembark: Tromsø - 1 December 2024, 16:00
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This voyage is fully crewed. Check out our voyage finder to see what else we have available.
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 holiday in Northern Norway. This time of year is perfect for observing the Northern Lights, as the winter months bring about the polar night.
This voyage is ideal for adventurous couples or solo travellers who are interested in meeting like-minded individuals on an expedition sailing adventure of a lifetime!
- Fjord sailing
- Arctic circle exploration
- Whale Watching
- Private cabins
- Northern Lights
- Full Board
- Sail area & highlights
- Gallery
- Life on board
- Kit list
- Sample menu
- Travel planning
- The boat
- FAQs
- What's included
- Boat schedule
YOUR SAILING AREA
Norway, Lyngen Alps
Northern Norway, and especially the area around Tromsø, is famous for the Aurora Borealis and this a great time of year to watch them. From Tromsø to Lyngen, Skjervøy, Ringvassøy and Reinfjord, Valiente will sail to discover historical fishing settlements, anchorages and small harbours free from light pollution.
The northern fjords here are also where the herring call their winter home, attracting many orca and humpback whales for winter feeding. Over the past few years, the main wintering area of the herring has moved from Tromsø to Skjervøy, but nobody knows exactly where the feeding frenzy will take place this year. Luckily, we are ready to spend the necessary time at sea to get to wherever the whales and herring are!
The winter months here are called the polar night, where the sun rises above the horizon briefly each day – if at all. This is not only a good thing for catching the Aurora, but it also makes all the light we actually get during the day super beautiful. Imagine a day with three hours of continuous sunrise/sunset among some of the most stunning landscapes our beautiful coastline has to offer!
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Meet Valiente in the harbour of Tromsø, getting to know fellow guests and crew before setting sail to Grøtsundet with beautiful views of the Lyngen Alps. Spend some of the night underway as you watch out for your first sightings of the northern lights!
After an exciting night of Aurora-hunting, enjoy a relaxed breakfast as we begin our search for the spawning grounds of the herring and hopefully find some whales. Later, we sail to the roadless village of Reinfjord, where they have a long history of fishing and where we also spend the night. Maybe we will also manage to catch our own fish for dinner this afternoon!
Sail through the Lyngen Alps, a beautiful part of Northern Norway with spectacular fjords and mountain scenery. We should hopefully spot whales today as we sail towards the famous Hamnes Handlested on Uløya. Here, they have heated up the sauna and jacuzzi for us, so all is set for a swim in the sea underneath the stars!
Spend our last full day together exploring the archipelago north of Tromsø, where we aim to have a landfall, hike, and enjoy a bonfire on the beach. We anchor away from the city lights, around Ringvassøya or Kvaløysundet, for our last night – hopefully with an Aurora show in the sky!
All voyages for Valiente
Valiente
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff
Expedition yacht Valiente has been designed to withstand tough icy conditions so it’s little wonder she makes a great boat for Arctic sailing adventures.Â
From exploring the fjords on the West coast of Norway, to crossing the Arctic circle to Svalbard or Barents Sea sailing to Greenland, Valiente offers a unique, safe and comfortable way to explore sailing territories far off the beaten track.Â
EXPEDITION SAILING
Joining Valiente will see you become part of the crew, taking part in all aspects of sailing. From the day to day running of the boat, to cooking up meals with your fellow guests, the crew of Valiente will be on hand to guide you in this bucket list experience.
Read more about what life is like on board here
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 mid ships with 360° windows at deck level with plenty of storage space.Â
Below Decks
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!Â
The Arctic sailing grounds are a vulnerable area increasingly under pressure from climate change. The owners of Valiente are committed to taking care of the environment as much as possible and believe that small boats with less people, are considerably less harmful to the environment and local wildlife, than larger cruise ships.
Deck plan
More about ValienteLife on Board Valiente
You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays; you just need a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure.
Getting Involved
Sailing with Valiente is a real, hands-on, humbling experience as you work together with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness. 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 (plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages) will be onboard for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, we will include all guests in the sailing experience.Â
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, working with the skipper to watch your course. The crew that sail in these waters are wildly 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 focussed sailing time but equally have the time just to be. To sit, watch the world go by, relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon or just 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.
Below Decks
Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat (there are even heated towel rails in all bathrooms and a heater in the wheelhouse), so she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set mid-ships with 360° windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is 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. Cabins are not allocated until all guests are booked and on board so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and the right facilities for their needs! A small bath towel is provided per person, but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.
There are full-size domestic showers with plenty of hot water, although, as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful of their water consumption. It may not be possible to shower every day, but more or less, every other day, we are either in a harbour with fresh water or we sail through a place where we can borrow showers or enjoy a sauna. A morning swim in the sea is free and is available all year round!
Naomi from the VentureSail team sailed with Valiente in Norway – you can read her blog here for an insight into her experience!Â
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, then divide you over a rota for breakfast, lunch, and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll typically do 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 the provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the plan for the day. Maybe you catch a fish, or the more confident cooks will want to experiment a little! There is a correlating recipe book alongside the menu plan, 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.
Things to note
Sailing vs Shore time
Night-watches?
Kit List
Valiente has limited space for possessions, so please be considerate and travel as light as possible. There is no storage for rigid cases, so please bring your items in a soft bag or rucksack. We recommend a travelling light principal with lots of lightweight, easy-drying layers.
We must prepare for unpredictable weather on expeditions to north Norway, Svalbard, and Greenland. It’s wild and beautiful, and we’ve experienced temperatures from minus 3 to 15-20 degrees Celsius during summer trips. The most important thing is to enjoy the journey, using what we have, borrowing if possible, and investing in new gear when necessary.
CLOTHING & SAIL WEAR
- Woollen/thermal underwear, two sets
- Woollen socks and thermal soles, two sets
- Hat and gloves (preferably wool with wind and waterproof outer layer)
- Scarf, buff (something to keep you warm around your neck), preferably wool.
- Warm sweater, preferably with a high-neck
- Warm trousers, preferably with an inner layer
- Down Jacket or fiber-jacket (like Primaloft)
- Nice/party/”Restaurant clothes”
- Watertight sailing boots
- Trainers/light shoes to use onboard
- Hiking shoes for hiking trips ashore
- Waterproof sail-wear / oilskins. Preferably, one light shell set for hiking and one heavier for sailing
- Sailing gloves (not a must). You may also use bicycle gloves or ski gloves
- High water-tight boots of the kind you use when fishing in a river. It’s not a must but smart when going ashore in the dinghy on unsheltered beaches
OTHER EQUIPMENT
- Sunglasses, Sun cream
- Small towel, soap
- Swimming wear
- Thermos for hot water if eating freeze-dried food on a hike or hot beverages
- Personal water bottle
- Backpack for trips onshore, 40-60 litres
- Earplugs and eye-cover (if you’re a sensitive sleeper)
- Cash – NOK (sometimes useful when going ashore at smaller places)
What’s included
- Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. soft/hot drinks)
- All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
- Full crew plus tuition
- Marina and fuel fees
- All tender trips to and fro the boat
- Lifejacket
- Fishing equipment
- Use of the onboard small sailing dinghy for extra practice!
What’s not included
- Alcohol
- Wetsuits
- Waterproofs > Guests can rent oilskins from us for 500NOK per trip, per person
- Swim towel
- Any flights
- Transit hotels
- Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
- Travel Insurance
- Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
- Crew tips
- Personal expenses
- Any meals ashore
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.
FAQ
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Are all meals included?
Yes, all meals and soft drinks are included. Guests work on a rotation basis to cook together onboard.
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes - please specify at time of enquiry.
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Are there any added extras?
There's an honesty bar for soft drinks and alcohol that can be settled at the end of the voyage.
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
3x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin, 1 x quad bunk cabin.
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Is there a porthole in my cabin?
Yes, all cabins have portholes and deck hatches.
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How many toilet/showers does she have?
The three double cabins have en-suites and the twin cabins share a bathroom.
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Are bedding and towels included?
Yes, all bedding and a towel is provided.
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Is there a hairdryer on board?
No, please do not bring one. The sea breeze makes a great natural alternative!
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Will I be able to wash my clothes?
No, Valiente does not have laundry on board.
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Is there heating on board?
Yes!
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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What language is spoken onboard?
English is the common deck language but there will be international guests and crew.
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Is there WIFI?
No! It's time to disconnect from the modern conforms and reconnect with nature! When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan.
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Can I charge my phone/Camera?
12v charging available 24/7 in every cabin and 220 EURO 2pin when connected to shore power/generator.
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What is the currency on board?
Norwegian Krone.
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Are there life jackets provided?
Yes, every bunk is numbered with an allocated life jacket.
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How do I get on and off the boat?
Valiente is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy and climbing up the boats step ladder over the gunwale - there will always be a crew member to steady. There is also a swim ladder on the stern of the boat.
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Are waterproofs provided?
Guests can rent oilskins from Valiente for 650NOK per trip, per person.
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure.
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Does the boat have any water toys?
Valiente has folding kayaks and hand fishing lines.
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Will I be sea sick?
Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.
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Is there an age limit?
Minimum age 14, between 14-18 need to be accompanied by parent/guardian.
Gallery
imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageTravel Planning
From: Tromsø
To: Tromsø
To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.
Getting There
Tromsø
AIR
Tromsø Airport (TOS) is about a 20 minute bus journey from Tromsø. The port/marina area is in the heart of the city. Take a bus from the airport, operated by Troms Fylkestrafikk running every 20 minutes or Bussring hourly. Alternatively a taxi is about 10 minutes.Â
Fly direct to Tromsø Airport from the UK (TOS) with Norweigan Air International (Gatwick) and Wizz Air (Luton).
Oslo Airport is Norway’s main airport offering direct flights to 112 international destinations and 30 domestic. Fly to Oslo to pick up a flight to Tromsø.Â
STAY
If you wish to extend your trip in Tromsø, there are plenty of places to stay. Try; Radisson Blu Hotel, Thon Hotel Polar, Thon Hotel Tromsø.