Arctic Hiking Cruise: Ready for the Northern Lights?

Your cruise

Aboard the catamaran, a stable and comfortable sailing boat, you will discover the snowy fjords of the Far North
Your journey will take you beyond the Arctic Circle where the northern lights will delight many of you. During this period, you will have the chance to observe the humpback whale, killer whale or pilot dolphin that have come in search of herring straight from the Arctic
It will also be necessary to scan the sky to see the sea eagle, the white-tailed eagle but also at night to observe the Northern Lights
The hiking activity will allow you to gain height to admire the wilderness of the islands, fjords and observe the wildlife hiding there.

Your possible stops during this cruise

Day 1: Embarkation in Tromso
Arrival at Tromso airport, then transfer to the city centre to join the boat
Welcome snack and meeting between the crew and the supervising team: Marc your skipper and Julien your guide.
You take possession of the cabins and bunks. We'll meet on the bridge for a briefing and safety briefing. Our cruise starts in the great Grøtsundet fjord on our way to Vannøya, where we spend the night. We may be lucky enough to see the first aurora borealis.

Day 2: After a full breakfast we dock on the island of Vannøya
For the first time we are treading the wilderness of Norway. While hiking, we take the direction of a summit that gives us a breathtaking view of the north of the island with its fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters. We head for one of these beaches and then change sides to find the boat. Once on board, a snack is served
We set sail again for a change of island, direction Arnøya. The crossing of the Skervoy fjord famous for its fauna will bring us its share of surprises, whales, killer whales and sea eagles. We drop anchor not far from the Trolltinden to spend the night. Hiking: 10km / 400m D+ / 4 to 5 H

Day 3: We leave our anchorage in this small fjord and head back to Langfjorden
A short sail takes us to the bottom of the fjord to land. The nature is wild on Arnøya, we go deep into a forest of thorn and birch trees. After a few minutes, the ground becomes splendid and vertiginous. The route, whitened by the first snows, abounds in glacial lakes and a source of life. We walk through them to pass under the highest peak of the island, the Arnoyhogda and its 1170m. As we cross a pass, a new landscape opens up to us. We pass by a waterfall to go down to the boat huddled in the protected harbour. Hiking: 13km / 450m D+ / 5 to 6 H

Day 4: We set sail again to go around the island of Laukoya
A huge fjord opens up again, Navuotna. We head south to Skervoy, a fishing village nestled in the middle of the alpine mountains. During this crossing, we take the time to contemplate and observe the wildlife in search of food. We make a short stopover in the village as the polar expedition ship Fram de Nansen would have done in 1896 for the exploration of the North Pole. After this visit, we take the direction of the Maursundet Fjord. We take this opportunity to learn about cod fishing. We anchor near Uloya to spend the night and scan the sky for the magical ripples of the Arctic.

Day 5: Drive to the heart of the Lyngen Alps
The closer we get to those sharp mountains, the colder the air gets. The massif covered by glaciers is immense, a veritable open-air book on geological history. It all starts with a climb between the pines which were once covered by ice, we then walk through the boulders to reach a plateau and its glacial lake. Our view of the Strupbreen Glacier is breathtaking. We take advantage of this break to warm up with a good tea and to give some explanations about the ice age. Descent by the same route to get back to the boat. Hiking: 7km / 600m D+ / 3 to 4 H

Day 6: We will take the sea again to go along the north-east of the massif
The fjords are gigantic and vertiginous, the cliffs drop steeply into the icy ocean giving visions of the end of the world. Yet life has settled there, you have to look around to observe the fauna hiding there. We're heading back down south. We find a place near a beach to anchor and moor, the opportunity to have a barbecue, which we have the secret. The place will be ideal for scanning the sky and looking for the majestic Northern Lights.

Day 7: Return to Tromsø
After a night spent on the deck scanning the sky, the dawn points the tip of its nose and brings with it the colours that only the Arctic has the secret to. An early morning stroll on a promontory will whet our appetite for breakfast, also an opportunity to see the reindeer. For the most courageous, it's the opportunity to dive and swim beyond the Arctic Circle in water no higher than 8°, magical and invigorating at the same time! We set sail again for Tromsø.

Day 8: At the port of Tromsø, it is time to recondition the equipment in this charming and lively town. Considered as the capital of the Arctic and the departure point of many expeditions, you will be eager to visit it. After unloading the luggage and equipment, we settle down in the guest house or hotel. A free area allows you to visit the city and discover the Polar Expedition Museum or the Polaria Polar Aquarium. We meet at the end of the day to enjoy this last evening, have dinner together in a restaurant in the city and close this stay.

Day 9: Disembarkation
Depending on the time of your departure, it will be possible to take a last little tour of the city. Finally, the transfer to the airport will be arranged to allow you to catch your flight on time.