Skjervøy · Arctic Norway
Swim with wild orcas, under the northern lights
A small-group trip to the fjords of Northern Norway to meet orcas in the wild. Eight places, a house to ourselves, the feel of a group of friends rather than a tour catalogue.
from CHF 1,850 / €2,000 per person
An encounter, not an attraction
Every winter, herring move into the fjords around Skjervøy, north of the Arctic Circle, to spend the cold season. The orcas follow. We go out to find them, cut the engine, and when conditions allow, slip into the water to watch them on their own terms.
The rest of the time we simply live together: a whole house for the group, meals cooked in common, and evenings spent watching the sky whenever it clears. This is a trip built by enthusiasts, not an all-inclusive package. New to the subject? Our guide explains [where swimming with orcas is possible](page:guide) — and why the list is shorter than most articles claim.
See the tripThe trip at a glance
- Destination
- Skjervøy, Norway — fjords of the Far North
- Boat trips
- 2 to 4 outings in search of orcas, spread over several days
- Accommodation
- A whole house for 8 people (up to 9 depending on the layout)
- Price
- From CHF 1,850 / €2,000 per person — accommodation and excursions
- Not included
- Flights, transfers and meals
- Equipment
- Drysuit, mask and snorkel provided
The full details of the stay, what is included and what is not, are on the trip page.
What makes it different
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One small group
Eight participants, a whole house, one boat. No crowd on deck, no back-to-back departures.
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Professional crew
A professional skipper and a guide at sea, with an experienced local Norwegian agency handling boat logistics and safety.
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No experience needed
From age 16. If you can breathe through a snorkel, you can join: drysuit, mask and snorkel are provided.
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Northern lights included
We are well above the Arctic Circle in the season of long nights. The sky is part of the trip.
What you will see, and when
The season follows the herring: from late autumn into midwinter the shoals come to overwinter in the fjords around Skjervøy, and the orcas follow. Humpback whales are often part of the scene, sometimes a few dozen metres from the boat.
At that time of year, above the Arctic Circle, the sun no longer really rises: a few hours of very low blue light, then long nights that multiply the chances of northern lights. That atmosphere is as much part of the trip as the animals. We cover what each period changes in a dedicated article.
No sighting can be guaranteed: these are free-ranging animals, and the herring shoals shift from one year to the next. That is precisely why the trip includes several outings at sea rather than one.
Who this trip is for
For curious people, not seasoned divers. No experience is required: being able to swim and breathe through a snorkel is enough. Everything happens at the surface, in a drysuit we provide, and the trip is open from age 16.
What it does ask is that you accept the rules of the game: weather that decides for us, wild animals that cannot be summoned, short cold days, and group life where everyone cooks. Anyone looking for all-inclusive hotel service will be better served elsewhere.
The group is eight people, nine depending on the layout of the house. We do not try to fill it at any cost: fewer people on board means orderly water entries and a lighter presence for the animals. The trip details set out what each format includes, and we cover separately what it means to swim with orcas travelling from Switzerland.
Why Skjervøy?
The fjords of Northern Norway are among the few places in the world where wild orcas can be watched in winter, in their own environment and in full hunting activity. Here is what happens there, and how we approach it without disturbing the animals.
Read more
Dates are set with you
We run several trips each season, always with a small group. Tell us when you are available and how many you are: we will check what is possible and reply within 48 hours.
Ask about dates