Welcome to Norway
Preparing for Your Adventure
We can’t wait to share this incredible adventure in Norway with you.
To prepare for our trip, please make sure you have completed these important steps:
Important Next Steps
☐ Book your flights into Tromso (TOS)
☐ Purchase travel insurance
☐ Make sure you have a valid passport
☐ Fill out the Expedition On-boarding Form
☐ Let us know if you need any rental gear
Trip Plan
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Day 1 - Arrive into Tromso & Transfer to Skjervoy
Arrival day.
Book your flights to arrive into Tromso, Norway (TOS). If possible, we recommend arriving a day earlier in case of travel delays.
We will show you how to take the nightly ferry from Tromso to our base in Skjervoy. It is straightforward and easy. Depending on arrival times, we may be able to also drive some guests up to Skjervoy.
Once in Skjervoy we will settle into our expedition house, have a quick trip briefing, and get ready for our first day on the water.
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Day 2 - Safety Check & 1st Whale Day
Our first day searching for Orcas.
After breakfast we will demonstrate how to put on and use your cold water gear. We will also have a briefing on how we approach Orca & whale encounters in a thoughtful way to encourage the best encounters.
Once we get to the boat we will have a safety check dive in the harbor. This will give you a chance to make sure all of your gear is working properly and get acquainted with what the water feels like.
Then we set off in search of Orcas and whales!
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Day 3 - 2nd Whale Day & Whale Talk
Our 2nd day searching for Orcas.
We will now fall into a regular rhythm: searching for Orcas and whales in the morning, coming back for a late lunch and relaxing in the expedition house and jacuzzi.
In the evenings we will have whale talks on Orcas, the herring migration that brings together so many whales to Norway, and the history and evolution of whales.
If the conditions are right, we will also search for the Aurora Borealis.
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Day 4 - 3rd Whale Day
Our 3rd day searching for Orcas.
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Day 5 - 4th Whale Day & Whale Talk
Our 4th day searching for Orcas, with a whale talk in the evening.
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Day 6 - 5th Whale Day & Whale Talk
Our 5th day searching for Orcas, with a whale talk in the evening.
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Day 7 - Weather Flex Day or Land Activities / Search for Aurora
We have two additional flex days in our itinerary that we can use in case we have bad weather during the week.
If we do not need to use them, then on these days we will explore the surrounding area, visit local towns, or search for the Aurora.
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Day 8 - Weather Flex Day or Land Activities / Search for Aurora
Our 2nd weather flex day.
Guests that want to fly back on Jan 18th can transfer back to Tromso late tonight, if needed.
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Day 9 - Transfer back to Tromso
Departure day.
The end of an incredible trip. Thank you so much for joining us on this Thoughtful adventure.
Guests can catch the afternoon bus or ferry back to Tromso.
Our base in the Arctic Circle
Skjervoy: We will be based in the town of Skjervoy, in Norway’s far north.
Expedition Houses: We have two charming, modern Norwegian houses that have beautiful views over the surrounding fjords, high-speed Wi-Fi, washer/dryer, heated floors, and more.
Our spacious main expedition house has a lot of room for us to have whale talks, bond in the jacuzzi, unwind looking at the fjords, or have some private time.
Meals are included: We will prepare fresh, homecooked meals to be shared family-style after our days on the water.
Address: Ørnveien 22, 9180 Skjervøy, Norway
What to Expect
What are the conditions like and how cold will it be?
This is true Arctic winter: remote, raw, and incredibly beautiful. There will be a few hours of daylight per day, with dawn/sunset colors. We will see the fjords surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains.
Temperature: It will usually be between -10° to 2° C (15° to 35° F) in the air and 5° C (~40° F) in the water. Winter conditions, but comfortable with the right clothing and equipment.
With the right equipment, most people feel fine in the water: Being in the water in Norway is a lot less intimidating than many people expect. With open cell neoprene wetsuits, most people feel fine in the water. You may feel cold when getting back on the boat, which is why having a windproof swim parka is essential.
Will we see the Aurora / Northern Lights?
This is an excellent time for Aurora potential: Visibility will depend on how much solar activity is occurring and how clear the sky is. In practical terms, if the sky is clear we will likely see Aurora.
We will keep our evening schedule flexible: If Aurora conditions are good on any particular evening then we go out to search for them.
What is the chance of us seeing Orcas?
We have a very good chance of seeing Orcas: Norway in the winter has one of the densest aggregations of Orcas and whales in the entire world. Our captain has years of experience tracking Orcas and we will use multiple methods to find the best aggregations.
We should not expect to see Orcas everyday: This is a true wildlife expedition, not a zoo. We have a very good chance of seeing and interacting with Orcas, but nothing can be taken for granted. We set up the trip to have 5 days on the water with an additional 2 weather flex days so we can maximize our chance of getting good encounters. On an average trip we should expect to see whales on 3 out of 5 days.
Our encounters will depend on how the Orcas are feeling and the conditions: We take a slow and thoughtful approach to whale interactions. We do not force anything that is not there. We believe this leads to higher quality, safer, and better interactions. We will use our years of experience to determine when to get into the water so that you get better encounters.
When things align, we can see magic: There is nothing like seeing Orcas, Humpbacks, and Fin Whales in the water in Norway. We can see them swimming past, interacting with each other, or hunting for herring bait balls. These are lifetime experiences that you cannot see anywhere else.
Packing List
Cold Water Equipment
7mm open cell neoprene wetsuit with hood
7mm open cell gloves
7mm open cell booties / socks
Fins
Mask and snorkel
Wind/water proof Swim Parka
Optional Items
GoPro or similar camera + cold weather batteries
Dry bag to keep your personal items dry on the boat
Motion sickness or seasickness tablets
On Land
Winter Parka
Winter pants
Warm thermal base underlayers (merino wool or synthetic materials are better than cotton)
Thermal mid-layers (fleece, insulated jacket, etc)
Warm Hat / beanie
Neck gaiter or buff
Winter Gloves
Wool socks
Snow boots or shoes
Power adapter for European-style electrical outlets
Water bottle
Optional Items
Wind/waterproof Outer Shell
Hand warmers
Swimsuit for Jacuzzi / sauna
Lip balm & moisturizer
Your Trip Leaders
Alex Pham
Phone / WhatsApp: +1 (714) 305-0088
Email: alex@thoughtfulexpeditions.com
Instagram: @alexpham.underwater
Jamie Lalli
Phone / WhatsApp: +44 7812 741326
Email: info@bajawildencounters.com
Instagram: @bajawildencounters
Norway On-Boarding Form
We cannot wait to share this amazing experience with you.
To help us finalize logistics, please fill out this expedition on-boarding form accurately and completely.