Norway : Tromsø Whale Watching
Norwegian summer in search of the world's largest mammals
The charming island town of Tromsø boasts a beautiful location in the Arctic North, surrounded by dramatic coastal and glacial mountain scenery. During the summer months, the town offers an ideal base to explore the polar world, experience the Midnight Sun and the thrilling wildlife adventure of whale watching. Enjoy the long summer days and cruise through the spectacular fjords heading for the deep ocean waters in search for the world’s largest mammals.
Itinerary
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Day 1 -
UK to Tromsø
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On arrival at Tromsø airport, transfer to your chosen accommodation and enjoy time at leisure to explore this delightful location.
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Day 2 -
Whale watching
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After breakfast, time is at your leisure before pick up for the whale watching adventure at 16.00 hrs Sat-Sun and 09:00 hrs Mon-Fri. Take in the stunning scenery full of contrasts as you sail along the fjords to the border of the Nordic Ice Sea. When reaching the continental shelf look out for sperm, mink, humpback and killer whales that, along with dolphins, gather here to feed.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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Day 3 -
Optional activities
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After breakfast, enjoy more of what this Arctic destination has to offer on one or more of the many exciting optional activities available. What about kayaking in Tromso. Also recommended is a guided trip in the Midnight Sun For more information on these tours, please see, below, our list of suggested optional activities.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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Day 4 -
Tromsø to UK
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After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Or you might like to stay another night or two to make the most of this beautiful arctic destination.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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Prices
| Dates |
Tromsø Whale Watching |
| Adult |
Child |
20/05/2009 - 31/08/2009
| £874 |
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| Notes |
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Prices are per person, based on two adults sharing.
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What's Included?
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Return scheduled flights to Tromsø from London Heathrow
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All airport taxes and passenger service charges
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3 nights accommodation in a twin or double room with private facilities on a bed and breakfast basis, based on 2 sharing
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Whale watching adventue on day 2
What's NOT Included?
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Airport transfers
Tromsø Airport, Langnes, is centrally located just 4 km from the city centre. The Airport Express Bus (Flybussen) costs approximately £4 per person one way (NOK 45) and a typical one-way taxi fare is approximately £11- £14 (NOK 120-150). Bus routes 40 and 42 also serve the airport.
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Meals other than where indicated
The Whales:
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Life span: 65 – 70 years
Size: Male: 20 m. Female: 12 m
Weight: Male: 45–75 tonnes Female 15-20 tonnes
Birth weight/length: 900 kg/4 m
Staple diet: larger fish and cephalopods
Distinctive features: Biggest of the toothed whales. Dark grey in colour. Visibly slanting spout. The sperm whales observed off Andenes are all males.
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Life span: 40-50 years
Size: 9.5 m
Weight: 6 – 8 tonnes Male and Female
Birth weight/length: 450 kg/3 m
Staple diet: smaller shoal fish such as herring and capelin
Distinctive features: the most common of the baleen whales along the Norwegian coast. Dark coloured back, lighter on both sides. Rarely spouts. Does not reveal tail fin when diving.
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Life span: 80 years
Size: 9m
Weight: Male 6 tonnes, Female 4 tonnes
Birth weight/length: 180 kg/2.4 m
Staple diet: fish and other marine mammals
Distinctive features: clearly contrastin
Other Whales:
Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena)
Average length 5.5 m, maximum 8.5 m. Males distinctly larger than females. Blunt skull with large forehead. The dorsal fin is set forward on the back and sweeps backwards. The body is elongated but stocky in the tail fin. Prefers the open sea. Can be seen in schools of some tens to hundreds of individuals.
Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Average length 1.5 m, maximum length approx. 2 m. Small species with rounded head and poorly demarcated beak. Small, triangular dorsal fin (very characteristic). Common, particularly along the coast. Normally seen alone or in small groups.
Humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Can be up to 19 m in length and weigh up to 40 tonnes. Baleen whale. Dark back, with long, knobbly pectoral fins. Small dorsal fin positioned on a hump. Distinctive spout. Often reveals tail fin when diving deep. Light markings underneath. Known for its song. Common along the Norwegian coast.
To help you identify the whales, seabirds, the majestic white tailed sea eagle, otters and seals, marine biologists will guide you on this fascinating trip. Return to your accommodation in Tromsø around 21.00 hrs.
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In the far North above the Arctic Circle, the fishing village of Andenes presents a unique location for a wildlife adventure unparalleled in Northern Europe. With its short distance to the deep oceanic waters, this is the only place in this part of the world where you can see the giant male ...
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