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I took a short wildlife holiday in Norway's Lofoten Islands with a small group of people led by our excellent leader Neil McMahon. The weather was not the best but this didn't put us off and we travelled on road and boat to see as much wildlife as we could. It did not disappoint, with some awesome birds which were on all our wish lists-White-tailed sea eagles, a Bluethroat, Divers, Mergansers and Goosanders and many others. We took to the water to see a blowing Sperm whale and hoards of Puffins. Accommodation was in cabins in beautiful Reine and en-suite rooms in wonderful Andoya. The going was easy and all the effort of finding the wildlife was willingly undertaken by our knowledgeable leader, so all we had to do was enjoy and take pictures.
S.S. Leicestershire, June 18
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Norway's Lofoten Islands: Summer in the Arctic Circle
Tour Code: NOR07An 8-day holiday to the land of the midnight sun, focusing on the mammals, seabirds and landscapes of Norway's spectacular Lofoten Islands.
£3,495 (Inc flights)
£3,095
Highlights
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Summary
The Lofoten Islands lie deep within the Arctic Circle and, for many, their inky-blue seas and majestic mountains epitomise the soul of northern Norway. Jutting far out into the Atlantic Ocean, under the influence of the Gulf Stream, the Lofoten Islands attract a wealth of wildlife. Sperm Whales gather off the continental shelf along with dolphins and other smaller whales, while White-tailed Eagles are frequently seen off Sto. We’ll explore the island of Andøya for birds such as Redpoll, Whimbrel and Brambling and visit Moskenes, where some of the oldest rocks in Europe can be found. Evening drives near our base in Andøya may reveal Elk and Short-eared Owl, and a day trip to the Seabird Colony of Bleik will reveal tens of thousands of puffins, razorbills and guillemots.
- Sperm, Minke, Orca & Pilot Whales possible, plus White-beaked Dolphin
- White-tailed Eagle, Merlin & Rough-legged Buzzard
- Willow Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Ruff & Red-necked Phalarope
- Visit seal & seabird colonies
- Walk on 3 billion-year-old rocks
- Fresh Arctic air, midnight sun & breathtaking scenery
- Picturesque fishing villages, beautiful fjords & quiet roads
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
Grading
Grade A. Easy to moderate day walks.
Norway is a country of many spectacular landscapes. From the gentle rolling green hills surrounding Oslo, to the harsh snowy tundra of the Arctic and the towering mountains, cut by deep dark fjords, it is a land of breathtaking contrasts and beauty. Even amongst such natural splendour, however, one region stands out. The Lofoten Islands lie deep within the Arctic Circle and offer a wild beauty that can best be described as humbling; their majestic mountains rising vertically out of an inky-blue sea, leaving room for only a threadlike shore. This is the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’, a place of dramatic landscapes, idyllic summers and abundant wildlife; a source of inspiration for many and the soul of northern Norway.
Jutting out from the mainland, the Lofoten archipelago extends westwards far out into the Atlantic Ocean and it is this unique location that attracts such a wealth of wildlife. The open sea, the influence of the Gulf Stream and the proximity of the continental shelf offer a rare opportunity to experience the atmosphere and the excitement of an Arctic whale-watch with a difference. We hope to witness the natural phenomenon of Sperm Whales gathering on the edge on the continental shelf, where the warmer Atlantic currents and cold Arctic waters merge to create rich feeding grounds for some of the largest creatures on the planet. On land we will explore the spectacular birdlife in one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine archipelagos — travelling on the quiet roads that snake around beautiful fjords and through some dramatic countryside, where breathtaking views present themselves at every corner.
Our 8-day holiday begins with a flight to Bodø via Oslo, from where we transfer by ferry to Moskenes on the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands. The scenery here is magnificent: dominated by mountains whose peaks form a jagged ridge across the skyline, and which trap a string of tiny fishing villages tight against the shore. Our time exploring this beautiful region will be split between three nights at Moskenes and four nights on the island of Andøya, on the northern Vesterlån Islands.
Moskenes is a spectacular region that has been sculpted over the millennia by glaciers and other elemental forces, creating one of the wildest and most fascinating places in Norway. The area is characterised by sheerfaced mountains and some of the oldest rocks in Europe: approximately three billion years old. Here, rising to an altitude of 1,029 metres, Mount Hermannsdalstind dominates the western Lofotens and is one of the highest mountains in the archipelago. We will also embrace the rich cultural heritage of the Lofotens and during our time in the south of the islands we will observe the processing of the area’s most important export, ‘Stockfish’ (air-dried cod). Naturally, we will also be making frequent birdwatching stops as we explore the region, including a visit to the wetlands at Leknes. During our stay in Moskenes, we may expect to see such species as Red and Black-throated Divers, Willow Ptarmigan, Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Goosander, Golden Plover, Curlew, Ruff, Redpoll and Brambling.
Next we move north to Andøya, and on one day we will travel to the picturesque fishing village of Andenes for a day’s whale-watching, the undoubted highlight of the tour. On our way out to the whales’ feeding grounds we will visit seal and seabird colonies, where we will look for Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Common and Black Guillemots and Arctic Skuas, as well as lots of comical Puffins; we will also keep a look-out for the majestic White-tailed Eagles which are frequently seen here. By spending a whole morning out at sea we hope to optimise our chances of seeing several different species of cetacean. Although Sperm Whale, the largest of the toothed whales, is the most frequently observed species, we will also look out for Minke, Humpback and Long-finned Pilot Whales, as well as White-beaked Dolphins, and the distinctive tall dorsal fins that signal a patrolling pod of Orcas. While Andøya is not strictly part of the Lofotens, it is one of the most productive regions for birds, having a diverse avifauna representative of a wide range of habitats that includes mountains, moorlands, bogs, lakes and woodlands.
The magnificent scenery, wealth of bird and marine-life together with fresh Arctic air will surely combine into a unique and unforgettable experience, but the greatest experience of all is, perhaps, just being in the Lofoten Islands themselves. While nothing in nature is guaranteed, one thing is certain on this tour: enduring memories of awe-inspiring landscapes quite unlike any other in Europe!
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We stay in a comfortable guesthouse on Andoya where rooms have private facilities. On the island of Moskenes our group will be split amongst a series of attractive cabins with wonderful mountain views. Each cabin has two bedrooms sharing one bathroom.
- Food:
All food is included in the price.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Neil McMahon
Neil McMahon grew up in Northamptonshire and, from a very young age, developed an interest in the natural world. His first love is the study and identification of wild birds and he enjoys the challenge of trying to identify birds by the way they move and act as well as by their calls and songs. His passion for bird and wildlife-watching has taken him all around the world and he's visited more than 50 countries. Neil is a retired Police Officer and, when not leading Naturetrek tours, spends much of his time completing various conservation and wildlife management surveys as well as volunteering for his local Wildlife Trust. He is also a licensed Bird Ringer and Trainer. During the winter months he maintains numerous wild bird feeding stations in central Northamptonshire and is a serving committee member of the Northants Bird Club.
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[description] => Whale Watching Cruises – See Whales in their Wild Habitat
Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions.
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?
- Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
- Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
- Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
- A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
- A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
- A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
- A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s
Our specialist recommends...
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Arctic Wildlife Holidays – Specialist Tours and Cruises in the Arctic
The Arctic is special. Bathed in a surfeit of light and pale blue skies during summer, then plunged into constant darkness during the winter, the seasonal contrasts in scenery, light and wildlife at the poles compared with the rest of the planet are stark. Still visited only by the lucky few, the Arctic has for centuries held an irresistible magnetism for explorers.
For the wildlife enthusiast and the adventurous-spirited, the Arctic has a bewitching appeal and well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s top wildlife destinations. Naturetrek Arctic expeditions are special in that we usually charter an entire ship (30 to 80 berth), and operate our Arctic holidays as dedicated wildlife cruises, focusing solely on the region’s wildlife and visiting the very best wildlife sites. All our Arctic holidays are also accompanied by expert naturalist guides.
Here are some of the reasons why Naturetrek’s Arctic holidays are so successful:
- Our cruises focus solely on the Arctic’s spectacular wildlife.
- We only charter small ships ranging in size from 30 - 80 berths.
- All operate at the best times of year for wildlife.
- Flexible itineraries to ensure the best wildlife sightings.
- We use a team of hand-picked & experienced expedition staff.
- Led by naturalist guides with expert knowledge of the Arctic region.
- We offer a wide range of tours both above and below the arctic circle.
- Cruises include daily zodiac excursions, accompanied by naturalist guides.
- Daily briefings & recaps held.
Wildlife seen on a Naturetrek Arctic holiday:
- Look for Polar Bears, Walrus, Arctic Fox & seals in Spitsbergen
- See the Northern Lights, spectacular fjords & snowy mountains
- Glaciers, icebergs, pack-ice, taiga forests and Arctic tundra Experience 24-hour daylight
- Humpback, Fin & Sperm Whales
- Little Auks, Grey Phalaropes, Ivory Gull & Long-tailed Skua in Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land
- Steller’s & King Eiders plus Gyr Falcon in Iceland
- Bears, Wolves & owls in sub-arctic Finland, Sweden & Norway
- Colourful tundra flora
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
