Island Migration

Northern Lights and Whale Watching Holiday on Senja Island

Senja is Norway's second largest island with enough internal landmass to create two contrasting landscapes and microclimates. Ocean-facing Senja features sharp jagged mountains dotted with fishing villages where they can find a platform as well as pristine beaches. The southern parts are dominated by forests, fells and rivers where a milder climate rules. Every winter large pods of orca and humpback whales migrate thousands of miles to the Arctic waters where they feast on herring. Fringed between towering mountains and overlooking the sea, the quaint fishing village of Mefjordvaer witnesses some of the most spectacular shows the Arctic offers between the months of December and March, whether its magnificent whales or the magical Northern Lights. This short break at Mefjord Brygge can be combined with a stay in the city of Tromso for your winter holiday.

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SUGGESTED ITINERARY

WHAT, WHERE & WHEN

DAY 1:

Arrival to Tromso. Your adventure will begin with an afternoon ferry boat departure from Tromsø to Finnsnes. The journey by boat takes around 75 minutes and gives you your first insight into Norway's Arctic coastal scenery.

You’ll meet your hosts at the boat terminal in Finnsnes who will drive you through the beautiful scenery of Senja Island - a journey of about 1 hour along one of Norway’s designated National Tourist Routes. You’ll witness beautiful fjords and mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. There are two fantastic viewing platforms where you can stop on the National Tourist Route between Tungeneset and Bergsfjorden.

You’ll arrive at Mefjord - a small fishing village and part of a thriving coastal community. You’ll check-in at the comfortable apartments at Mefjord Brygge. Dinner will be served in the maritime-style restaurant. The chef serves delicious locally sourced meals and the friendly service creates a cosy atmosphere. After dinner you’ll have time to relax or go for a small walk in the evening to discover the outer coast of Senja.

Staying at: Mefjord Brygge

DAY 2:

After breakfast you’ll meet with the guide and make a plan for the next couple of days based on the season and local weather conditions. During the day you’ll enjoy a boat or bus fjord safari to see wildlife and marine landscapes.

If you are visiting Senja between the months of December and February we recommend one of the greatest winter adventures Senja can offer - whale watching. The coast in this area has one of the richest fish stocks in the world. You can see the pods of magnificent sperm whales, humpbacks and orca. During winter you may be lucky and spot up to five different species of whale. Lunch will be provided before an afternoon at your own pace - go for a hike, skiing or ice climbing.

A traditional Norwegian dinner will be served in the early evening and after that will get ready for night time adventure. The guide will take you to some remote spots to try to spot the Northern Lights. Senja has many idyllic spots with low light pollution all within short distances where you can see the magnificent Aurora Borealis.

DAY 3:

After breakfast you will decide on any optional activities you would like to join depending on the season. This will include a bus, boat or snow-shoeing trip to see Senja’s dramatic landscapes. In case of bad weather you’ll join a special minibus trip to show you the harsh yet beautiful Arctic coast and power of the ocean.

During winter we recommend Cross-country skiing – during the winter season around 5 km of cross-country tracks are prepared with a snowmobile. The tracks go all around the village, passing lakes and the foothills of nearby mountains. The gateway is just outside Mefjord Brygge.

For an adventurous activity, you could also join a winter mountaineering expedition. You can choose from ice-climbing, waterfall climbing, deep snow and top-tour skiing adventures.

Lunch during the excursion or upon return to Mefjordvær. You’ll be surprised how different Senja looks depending on the time of the day and weather conditions. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own pace.

Dinner will be served at the resort’s restaurant. Afterwards you’ll set out for some more nighttime explorations in the area. The guide will tell you interesting facts about Senja, and you’ll also have plenty time to take pictures. You can finish off the day by relaxing in sauna.

DAY 4:

After breakfast the transfer will take you to Finnsnes where you will catch the boat back to Tromso. Alternatively you can extend your stay on Senja or in the city of Tromso where further excursions are available to book.

BUDGET

From £1105 per person excluding flights (based on two travelling)

This roughly converts to: 1,271 EUR | 1,448 USD

Remember that each trip we craft is unique, and you'll receive a personalised trip proposal based on your travel dates and preferences, and in the currency of your choice (GBP, USD, or EUR).

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Additional Info

This trip has flexible daily departures

Many of trips can be tailored to your requirements and departure dates. Please get in touch with us for a tailored quotation and details of availability for your preferred travel dates. All trips and departures are subject to availability.

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Winter Spring Summer Autumn

IDEAL TRIP LENGTH:

3 nights

Reviews

Northern Lights and Whale Watching Holiday on Senja Island

5/5

What an amazing experience. Thank you so much to this wonderful travel agent our trip went off without a hitch. We have a 5 year old and 8 year old. The hotel in Tromso was great but our best experience was in Mefjord. Our guides were kind and accommodating. Wonderful and memorable

by Bonnie Lovett, Stavanger on Feb 17 .

5/5

My husband and I have recently returned from an awesome few days in the Arctic, such a stunning, isolated and unpredictable environment. Matt at Magnetic North was great from start to finish in dealing with our booking and everyone at Mefjord Brygge was fantastic as well giving us a real personal experience. Although we didn't see whales, we didn't have expectations due to everyone's honesty about their movements this year but we did get the Northern Lights which was a surreal experience. The hotel in Tromso was ideally located and very clean and comfortable and the accommodation on Senja was fantastic, exceeding our expectations. I would and have already recommended Magnetic North to others and would book with them in the future.

by Joanne, Cork on Jan 15 .

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