Sail along Norway’s stunning coastline, spotting majestic whales in the clear, calm waters, and marvel at colonies of vibrant puffins nesting on rugged cliffs. As the Midnight Sun bathes the landscape in golden light, experience the magic of endless daylight. This tour offers the perfect combination of wildlife encounters and serene natural beauty in one of Norway's most remote and captivating regions.
Day 1
We will land in Ivalo, a small town in Lapland located approximately 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, and from there, we will enter in the eternal taiga, a landscape that will mark the first part of our journey. Along the way, we will stop to admire and enjoy the spectacular landscapes that emerge after the thaw, seeking enchanting corners where small streams begin to flow again after a long inactive winter. We will stop and have a typical lunch in Kaamanen, where the local restaurant has set up a series of bird feeders frequented by red squirrels, allowing us to take photos of these little acrobats both at rest and in action. At sunset, we will continue the tour through the fishing villages of Varangerfjorden, with the possibility of observing the large European eagles. Moving towards our accommodation in Kongsfjord, we will enter the highlands of northern Norway, which, under the lights of an eternal sunset, will offer us unique opportunities for landscape photography.
Day 2
From our accommodation in Kongsfjord, we will head to the town of Berlevåg, the northernmost town on the Norwegian mainland. The route will be one of the highlights of the journey: the road winds through three small fjords where tundra and rock merge, giving rise to impressive cliffs covered in green. Along these cliffs, which are home to sea eagles, gyrfalcons, and groups of reindeer, the sea and the mountains merge, and the small bays serve as meeting and resting points for seals and many seabirds. In the town of Berlevåg, we will visit an old fish oil production facility, currently unused and abandoned, but still hiding the old machinery. Later, we will document the fish landing work at an active fishing industry, the main form of employment in the town. In the afternoon, we will discover other villages around the area of Berlevag, also reaching the beautiful beach of Store Molvik. Before heading back to Kongsfjord through the spectacular scenic and coastline road, if the weather will be good enough, we will stop for a relaxing and scenic BBQ in front of the eternal sunset.
Day 3
A day dedicated to discover Kongsfjord and Veines and to enjoy various activities we can offer. The town of Kongsfjord has a rich history that takes us back in time, during World War II, and on the Veines Peninsula, some German bunkers still remain. A spectacular path will take us to the top of the hill overlooking the village of Veines. During the hike, we will enjoy an extraordinary landscape dotted with cliffs nestled in the Barents Sea. We will have the opportunity to gather various berries and forest fruits that color the meadows during summer season. We will stop at a sheltered viewpoint, where we can also enjoy a well-deserved picnic surrounded by sea eagles and other seabirds. Later, we will descend to the beach of Veines, where we can walk to the visitor center and take advantage of the various activities that can be undertaken from our Lodge, such as kayaking, snorkeling, bike riding or use our sauna for a well-deserved relaxation. In the evening, we can savor a meal at the guesthouse restaurant based on excellent fish of Nordic haute cuisine, caught in the Barents Sea.
Day 4
The day unfolds through a wide variety of pristine landscapes: from the cliffs of Varangerfjord, flowing along the great Tana River, to the plateaus surrounding Batsfjord where it will be possible, among the beautiful lakes, to spot and observe various species of Arctic birds. We will travel along a long scenic road along the high plains surrounding Kongsfjord, trying to observe and photograph also mountain hares that are difficult to spot due to their new summer coat. The colorful houses surrounding the area will provide shades of color to the harbor waters, creating pleasant reflections in our images. Arriving in Syltefjord, we can join a two-hour King crab fishing excursion and on our return, we can savor this delicacy together for lunch. As soon as we finish, we will depart again for an extraordinary experience always by boat. We will try to spot a spectacular colony of gannets near the village and if we will be lucky also some whales and seals before reaching the village of Hanninberg where our Skua guide is waiting with the Minivan to head to Vardo for dinner and overnight.
Day 5
In the morning we will take a boat to the famous island of Hornøya, the jewel of the Barents Sea. The island of Hornøya hosts a colony of over 100,000 seabirds. It is a unique enclave where we can photograph puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, as well as tufted puffins. It will be a unique opportunity to capture the courtship rituals of couples, gift exchanges, or territorial battles. Additionally, the boat tour will allow us to go whale watching and perhaps enjoy the wonderful view of the cetaceans of the Barents Sea. After that we will start a cultural tour in Vardø: we will visit some points of great cultural interest: the Vardøhus fortress, the world's northernmost and Norway's easternmost fortress, the Steilneset Memorial, in memory of 91 witch trial victims persecuted in the seventeenth-century and the Leviathan of Drakkar: a sculpture that is a story about sea, people migrations, myths, ships, historical events, wood and whales. It is an anthem to the Arctic, human and nature. During evening we will cook a barbecue dinner in Hamninberg or Vardo, finding a magical place under the sunlight of an eternal sunset and midnight sun. Before going to bed, we will stop to have a fresh beer at one of the most historic pubs in the entire area located in Vardø, near our hotel.
Day 6
On this day, we will travel along the northern coast of Varangerfjord from the town of Vardø to the beautiful Forest of Øvre Pasvik. This scenic road will allow us to visit parts of the settlements of Ekkeroy, Vadso, Nesseby, Varangerborn and the entire coast of Varangerfjord, frequented by sea eagles, particularly in the Kiberg area. We will take our route to Øvre Pasvik, a national park at the triple border with Russia and Finland. Along the way we will stop to see the beautiful waterfall nearby the village of Neyden and also visit the Neiden church, located in the middle of the forest. We arrive in Øvre Pasvik in the afternoon and we’ll have time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of lakes, woodlands with a peaceful atmosphere. We can rent a Bike or a Kayak for an outdoor experience. For dinner we will set up a barbecue, surrounded by the sounds of nature before the overnight.
Day 7
In the morning, we will leave Øvre Pasvik and we start our road back to Finland and to Kaamanen village. On the way to Kaamanen, we will pass through endless Finnish forests with Reindeer and arctic wildlife and birds and along the northern part of the beautiful Lake Inari. We arrive in Kaamanen in the evening to enjoy a delicious dinner. We will have the opportunity to use a photography hide to spot various bird species typical of this forested area. After dinner, we will go for a walk to see the our last midnight sun.
Day 8
On our last day, after a delightful breakfast overlooking the forest where you can see squirrels hopping from one branch to another, we will head to the airport in Ivalo, depending on the flight schedule. If we have the opportunity, we may take one last stroll in the stunning Lapland scenery, with an appointment for our next adventure together.
Please be advised: the itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of our Skua guides based on their experience, observations, and logistical considerations. We strive to provide the best possible experience, and adjustments may be made to ensure your safety and enjoyment throughout the journey.
Bring:
Participants: min 4 - max 8
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian
Important information: This tour is confirmed with a minimum of 4 participants. If the minimum is not met, a full refund will be provided. Temperatures remain above 0 °C and can reach between 15 and 20 °C.
Ivalo Airport
Single room charge 400 € on request
