predation : winter
NORWAY HERRING RUN: ORCAS AND WHALES
Orcas, humpback whales and fin whales feast on spawning herring in the northern fjords of Trøms and Finmark in the Norwegian Arctic.
IN BRIEF
Above the Arctic Circle, from November to February, millions of herring spawn in the protected waterways of the northern fjords. This natural event attracts some of the ocean’s most incredible apex predators, including orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales, who feast on the fatty, nutritious fish before they lay their eggs in February.
From the comfort of our remote private home base and chartered heated expedition boat, you will dive into the heart of the action. Prepare your thickest wetsuits for an unforgettable plunge into the northern ocean’s most spectacular wildlife events.
DAILY
MORNINGS: After a breakfast at the house, we embark on an approximately 5-6 hour daily boat trip from our home base in the Kvænangen fjord system to witness one of the most incredible oceanic wildlife spectacles on Earth. As we venture into the dark waters of the Arctic, you'll have the unique opportunity to swim alongside orcas, fin whales, and humpback whales in their natural habitat.
MIDDAY: During the winter months, daylight hours are limited, with the best conditions occurring between 9 AM and 2 PM. For five days out of the six, we head out in search of orcas, whales, bait balls and more. On one bad weather day per week, we stick to shore, and will plan activities on land like sauna visits, aurora chasing and more.
On water, our guides will ensure your safety and provide all necessary gear, including thick wetsuits to keep you warm. Expect temperatures to be cold (sometimes miserable, sometimes shockingly not that bad), but proper equipment will allow you to fully immerse yourself in this breathtaking adventure and the adrenaline will keep you going.
EVENINGS: We return back in the late afternoon to unwind at the accommodation, relax in the sauna, join in on our whale talks and photography workshops. We host a group dinner at the house nightly for everyone to dig in together.
In addition to the incredible wildlife encounters, you'll have the chance to witness the beauty of the aurora borealis dancing across the night sky. Not to mention, the shared experience of such an extreme (cold) and wild (truly) adventure fosters strong bonds and lasting friendships among guests.
ON WATER
Each morning, we head to the dock and board our expedition vessel OceanX, a sleek, purpose-built expedition boat designed for comfort and safety in Arctic waters. We use the limited Arctic light to search the fjords and open water for bait balls, orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales. This is not a fast-paced RIB trip. We use a larger, heated boat with an enclosed cabin, onboard seating, hot tea, and a low profile rear deck for gearing up and entering the water. It’s designed for long days on the sea.
Most importantly, our experienced captain, PB, is one of the best in this region, having worked with numerous blue-chip film crews and ecotourism expeditions. PB’s crew and our guides work together to safely position the boat for drops and support everyone during water entries, as well as our in-water guides. For safety, mask-mounted torches are mandatory so our crew can clearly identify all swimmers once you’re in the water.
EXPEDITION HOUSE NORWAY
For our new programs, we are in the process of setting up a new base away from the crowds in Skjervøy. We are working to position ourselves on a small island where we can experience true Norwegian Arctic life embedded within a small fishing community.
Therefore, we are currently keeping our base a secret until we are ready to announce it, but for now, you can assume we will be somewhere cool in the Kvænangen fjord.
Our house will be set up to accommodate the whole group in twin rooms, with limited singles available and will have a private sauna on the premises. We will make family breakfasts, lunches and dinners here every day and use it as a base for exploring the surrounding fjords.
2026/2027 NORWAY GUIDING TEAM
SK WATCHORN
Sarah-Kim (SK) is an Irish wildlife photographer and guide. She has led expeditions in French Polynesia, Norway and Ireland including trips focused on the herring run and orca encounters, as well as unique trips and workshops across Ireland. Her work combines a deep understanding of wildlife behaviour with a passion for creating meaningful experiences in the natural world. She is also a trained chef and will be helping with our family style meals.
ELIAS OUAGHRIB
Elias is a Belgian wildlife guide with experience across Mexico, Norway, Florida, Dominica, and French Polynesia. He's led encounters with mobula rays, sea lions, sharks, orcas, and humpback whales. What sets him apart is his genuine curiosity and joy in observing wildlife. He speaks Dutch, French, German, English, and Spanish, and connects easily with guests from anywhere. He has run Norway orca expeditions for three full seasons now.
ALEX PHAM
Alex is a wildlife guide with years of experience leading expeditions across six continents. He has guided encounters with humpbacks in Tonga, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Niue, and Comoros; sperm whales in Dominica, Timor-Leste, and Sri Lanka; orcas in Norway and Baja; gray whales in Baja; and mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. Before guiding, he advised government policymakers and led investments at major funds, and studied at Harvard.
FALL 2026/7 DATES
Click on the session you want to join to sign up.
Session 1: Oct 25- Nov 1, 2026 (8 spots left )
Session 2: Jan 4-11, 2027 (coming soon)
Session 3: Nov 10-18, 2027 (coming soon)
COSTS
CORE PROGRAM COSTS
8-day Main Program: $5400.
OPTIONAL UPGRADES / EXTRAS
from +$510 for an 8mm custom open-cell wetsuit by Elios ($690 if shipped/imported directly to Norway).
+$550 for a full arctic swimming rental kit (wetsuit/fins/socks/gloves/hood/belt)
$700 for a single room (very limited supply)
INCLUDED
7 nights accommodation outside Skjervøy
5 full on-water expedition days on a heated expedition yacht (OceanX) with a spacious indoor cabin, specifically designed for Arctic film expeditions.
Expedition House with sauna and laundry/gear room.
All in-water guiding, photography, and safety support.
Local transfers between the expedition house and the boat.
6 breakfasts (DIY), 5 days of boat snacks, 5 lunches, 6 home cooked dinners (family style).
1 land day (this may include aurora chasing, sauna, town visits, Lapland day trip, all weather dependent).
Dive weights and fins.
EXCLUDED
Flights to/from Tromsø (nearest major airport).
Transfer from Tromsø to Skjervøy.
Personal dive/snorkel gear: mask, weight belt.
Travel/cancellation insurance.
Alcohol and personal snacks.
Lunches and dinners on land days.
FAQ
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7 nights accommodation outside Skjervøy (twin shared rooms).
5 full on-water expedition days on a heated yacht with an indoor cabin and shelter (weather permitting).
1 weather buffer day for flexibility. We will do a local land excursion on this day, weather-dependent.
In water torch, dive weights and scuba-style open-heel fins.
All in-water guiding and safety support.
Free access to any underwater photos/video our guides capture during the trip (not licensed for commercial use).
Local transfers between the expedition house and the boat.
6 breakfasts (DIY), 5 days of boat snacks / lunch, 6 home cooked dinners (family style).
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Flights to/from Tromsø (nearest major airport).
Transfer from Tromsø to Skjervøy (about 4 hours by car/bus or 2-4 hours by ferry).
Personal dive/snorkel gear: wetsuits (we can help get custom suits from Elios for you or you can also buy a rental kit), fins, mask, weight belt (must bring your own). Best to bring open heeled fins unless you have your own cold water pair (larger footpockets to account for the booties).
Travel/cancellation insurance.
Alcohol and personal snacks.
Lunches and dinners on land days.
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Due to the gulf stream, the weather in Arctic Norway in the winter is not as predictable than one would think, and it’s also not as cold either. But yes, it still definitely dips below freezing for the most part.
Air temperature: November averages around -4°C to +6°C. January is a bit colder, typically -10°C to 3°C. Some days will be just above freezing while others dip below.
Water temperature: 4–6°C.
With the included 7mm open-cell wetsuit, hood, gloves, and booties, most people are comfortable for repeated entries. Your body warms up the suit quickly, and our yacht provides heated indoor space between drops. You’ll be cold at times—it’s Arctic winter—but you won’t be “utterly miserable” if you follow gear and warm-up recommendations.
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All guests are paired up with someone of the same gender to bunk with in the house. Friends and couples joining together can, of course, room together.
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Typically 5–6 hours per day on the water, depending on whale activity and light (limited daylight in winter). The boat, OceanX, has a heated indoor cabin for shelter, seating, and warming up, as well as outdoor decks for fast entry into the water. It was specifically custom designed for film crews working in the Arctic. This is a very different experience from RIB-based trips—far more comfortable and warm.
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No. We do not rent dry suits for this expedition, and we do not allow them on our trips. Dry suits limit agility in the water, trap air, and can create unsafe situations during rapid entries with whales, especially because we also use fins and weights. Our program is specifically designed around thick, warm open-cell wetsuits, which are warmer in practice once you’re moving and allow much freer interaction. The minimum mm thickness acceptable for this trip is 7mm, whereas an 8mm (or 9mm if you get cold very easily) normally proves to be the most comfortable.
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Fly into Tromsø Airport (TOS), which has regular connections from Oslo and other European hubs.
From Tromsø, you can:
Take the daily early morning bus to Skjervoy or take the ferry, with normally one to two sailings per day. We will help you look up and purchase tickets if you’d like.
We suggest arriving in Tromsø the day before your trip starts if possible, in case of winter weather delays.
From Skjervoy, we will transport you to our home base.
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Our in-water guides carry cameras and document encounters when possible. We do not guarantee coverage, as their priority is safety and leading the group. However, when photos or video are captured, they are shared with all guests at no extra cost. These are for personal use and sharing only—not for commercial publishing or resale.
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Weather & water: Safety always comes first in these conditions. The boat is stable, heated, and enclosed— far more comfortable than RIBs. We only go out when conditions allow. One buffer day each week is built in for weather downtime.
Gear: Everyone uses thick open-cell wetsuits, which are warmer and safer than dry suits in this context. Our guides are trained in cold-water protocols, and you’ll be monitored closely during water entries.
Orcas: Wild orcas are not a threat to humans. They are highly intelligent apex predators but have no history of harming people in the wild. Our approach is strictly non-intrusive: no chasing, no harassing, and we let the whales choose interactions.
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We target the Kvænangen Fjord because it’s the world’s most reliable orca aggregation, with whales following the herring migration each winter— we’re talking over 1000 orcas in the greater fjord. While sightings are very likely, wildlife can never be guaranteed, and orcas can be very avoidant in water. Our flexible schedule and multiple days on the water give the best possible chances.
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This is a snorkeling/freediving trip, no scuba. You need to be comfortable swimming at least 100 metres unaided in dark open water and able to pull yourself back onto the boat (flat platform on the back). Freediving experience is welcome but not required, as almost all action you will see is at the surface or very close to the surface. The focus is slow, quiet encounters at the surface.
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Breakfasts: DIY style each morning. The fridge is stocked with eggs, bread, cereal, fruit, and coffee/tea. Guests can prepare what they like, and guides often cook eggs.
On-water boat snacks and lunch (5 days total): Light snacks onboard the boat plus a simple hot lunch when we return to the house (think— salad, soup, pizza style).
Dinner: Home-cooked group meals at the expedition house (6 dinners, including arrival night). We do curry nights, pasta nights, Thai night, Mexican night, mix of veg and meat. Homey, fun, nothing fancy. And we have a Captain’s dinner one night on board the boat. We also bring some board games for group bonding.
Land days (1 day): Meals are not included. We usually go out together to local restaurants, or guests can explore on their own.
We can cater for vegetarians and common allergies with advance notice. For very specific dietary restrictions, we may ask you to bring certain specialty items yourself, as grocery selection in Arctic Norway can be limited.
Coffee, tea, and water are always available.
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Most orca trips in Norway are run from small RIB boats (rigid inflatables), which means hours of exposure to Arctic wind and cold spray with no shelter and are based at hotels or on liveaboards. Our expeditions are designed to be very different, family-style programs, hosted on a nice vessel, with an incredible expedition house, where we focus on group bonding and dynamics— workshops, lectures, game nights, aurora chasing and more. We want to create a special program, not another orca tour.
Heated vessel, Not RIBs
We use a stable yacht with an indoor heated cabin, space to rest, warm up, and change between drops. This makes a huge difference in comfort and safety compared to open RIBs.
Custom Elios Wetsuits or rental kits
Every guest may choose to purchase a made-to-measure 8mm open-cell wetsuit (with hood, gloves, and booties), ensuring proper thermal protection OR purchase a rental kit with a wetsuit, gloves, socks, fins, belt, mask and snorkel. These options are made available when you sign up for the trip.
Small Groups, Quality Time
We keep group sizes quite small (8 guests per week) so that time on the water is intimate and relaxed, without crowding the whales or each other.
Flexible Schedule with Weather Buffers
Our trips are 7 nights / 8 days, with 5 dedicated water days and 1 buffer day. This flexibility helps ensure multiple high-quality encounters despite Arctic weather.
Home-Cooked Meals & Comfortable Lodging
Instead of not including meals, we provide hearty group dinners at the expedition house, DIY breakfasts, and boat snacks/ simple lunches on water days. This is not just to make things more convenient for guests, but actually designed to make the expedition more communal.
Expedition house
We like to make the program special by really staying together and having a truly bonded group experience. We don’t room at a hotel, we live together in a small Norwegian fishing town to experience life north of the Arctic Circle.Photography Included
Our guides carry cameras during in-water sessions. While not guaranteed, photos and video captured are shared free with guests for personal use.
Safety & Ethical Encounters First
We never chase or harass whales. Encounters are on their terms. Safety protocols are strict, both for guests in the water and in respecting the orcas themselves.