Northern Norway covers about one third of the country as a whole. The lands boast mountains which hide surprising sweeps of green farm and grazing lands in the interior. The coasts are notable for their numerous fjords that come in a wide range of sizes and shapes.
The Northern Norway winters say good-bye to daylight. From the middle of November through to the middle of January the sun does not rise above the horizon. Conversely, from early May through to late July the sun does not fully dip below the horizon. The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are visible on clear nights from mid to late September through to the middle of April.
The seas surrounding the area are rich in a wide variety of sea food, most notably cod. Fishing has played a major part in the region’s economy for hundreds of years. The waters are home to all sorts of whales – Humpbacks, Minkes, Orcas, Pilots, and Sperm. Our North Norway voyages will be mostly dedicated to meeting Orca’s and Humpback Whales, which feed on the wintering herring in the fjords of Troms.
Cruises to North Norway
North Norway, Aurora Borealis & Whales
Explore the beauty of northern winter
NOO38-21 The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
s/v Noorderlicht
Cruise date:
30 Oct - 6 Nov, 2021
Price:
2400 USD
North Norway, Aurora Borealis & Whales
Explore the beauty of northern winter
NOO40-21 The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
s/v Noorderlicht
Cruise date:
13 Nov - 20 Nov, 2021
Price:
on request
North Norway, Aurora Borealis & Whales
Explore the beauty of northern winter
RVR40-21 The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
s/v Rembrandt van Rijn
Cruise date:
20 Nov - 27 Nov, 2021
Price:
on request
North Norway, Aurora Borealis & Whales
Explore the beauty of northern winter
NOO42-21 The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
s/v Noorderlicht
Cruise date:
27 Nov - 4 Dec, 2021
Price:
2400 USD
North Norway, Aurora Borealis & Whales
Explore the beauty of northern winter
RVR41-21 The North Norway cruise follows the path of more than one kind of whale as it travels amongst the fjords of Troms. The long Norway nights offer travellers on this expedition an excellent chance to take in the beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights.
s/v Rembrandt van Rijn
Cruise date:
27 Nov - 4 Dec, 2021
Price:
2500 USD
North Norway cruise
North Norway photo
North Norway story
Expedition in the Norwegian Arctic
Three big sails were set, the wind was blowing hard, and with frozen tears in my eyes, I could do nothing else but smile
North Norway blog
Six Arctic Seals
Owing to the large landmasses that populate the Northern Hemisphere, the Arctic has the most diverse wildlife of the pla
North Norway experiences
See the highlights you may experience:
North Norway wildlife
See the highlights you may experience:
Map of
North Norway cruise reviews
Truly amazing and wonderful experience
Trip far exceeded our expectations. The expedition guides and the Doctor Moniek were very knowledgeable, patient, kind, and wonderful. We got to know them fairly well. it was hard to say goodbye at the end o
Read full review »
Amazing Experience-Breathtaking Sights, Fantastic Crew and Guides
North Norway - Showshoe(hike) - Aurora Borealis
This was truly an amazing adventurous trip with Oceanwide on the Rembrandt van Rijn. This classic three masted sailing ship was compact but comfortable
Read full review »Trip of a life time
I want to thank the crew of the Rembrant van Rijn, 2/22 to 2/29 2020, for giving me a trip of a life time. My taking this trip caused reservations by many as I am 86 years of age. My son, William, and his wi
Read full review »Orcas, Humpbacks and Northern Lights
Seven night cruise arranged through Naturetrek. Despite some varied weather (only to be expected in January) the crew and leaders ensured that we enjoyed an excellent experience. We had great views of the wh
op zoek naar het noorderlicht.
Als je eenmaal het Noorse virus te pakken hebt raak je het nooit meer kwijt . Andermaal heb ik met volle teugen genoten van deze prachtige Walvis / Orka Safari , aan boord van zeilschip, De Noorderlicht . To
Second time
This year in january I have been onboard of the Noorderlicht for my second time. The new owners are amazing. One day we had lots of orcas and humpbacks around the ship - wow. Unfortunately we were not so luc
Read full review »North Norway FAQ
What is the Time in Northern Norway?
Northern Norway uses Central European Time (CET), which is the same thing as UTC +1 and +2, depending on the time of year. This means that if it is 23:00 CET (11 p.m.) during your expedition cruise to Northern Norway, it would be 17:00 (5 p.m.) in Ne
Read more »What is the Temperature and Weather Like in Northern Norway?
The section of Northern Norway that you visit will have a big impact on the type of climate that you can expect. Precipitation falls frequently throughout the year, and some areas of Northern Norway can be extremely windy. In Brønnøysun
Read more »What Wildlife Can I See in Northern Norway?
Your cruise to Northern Norway will give you the chance to see gray seals, harbor porpoises, humpback whales, sperm whales, and possibly orca whales (killer whales).
Read more »What is the Capital of Northern Norway?
Northern Norway does not have a single capital. Instead, the three counties that make up this region each have their own capital. Tromsø is the capital of Troms County, Bodø is the capital of Nordland and Vadsø is the capital of
Read more »How Many People Live in Northern Norway?
A trip to Northern Norway presents you with many exciting opportunities, but it is not a deserted area. Instead, Northern Norway has a population of almost 463,000. The residents of this region live within an 112,951 square km (43,611 square miles) r
Read more »What Unique Features Does Northern Norway Have?
Northern Norway’s unique features are as numerous as the diverse wildlife species that inhabit the region. Svalbard offers prime views of glaciers and wildlife, and the primary source of transportation is snowmobiles in the winter and boat in t
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About
North Norway Weather
Even though North Norway is in latitudes similar to Greenland or Alaska it has a much milder climate. Summer temperatures can reach as high as 25°C to 30°C.
During the winters the days become very short and between the middle of November through to the start of February the sun does not fully rise at all. The interiors of North Norway can get quite cold but the coasts remain relatively mild, dipping just a few degrees below the freezing point.
Facts about North Norway
- The best months to see the Northern Lights are from August to April.
- Norway means “way (or path) to the north”.
- Norway boasts the largest glacier on the northern European mainland, the Jostedalsbreen.
- Northern Norway is home to the largest collection of Sami and Lapps in the world. Over 30,000 of these indigenous people call the area home. They have lived in the region for over 10,000 years.
- Thanks to its many fjords Norway has a coastline that spans more than 20,000 km.
- Even though Norway is the 6th largest country in Europe it is 28th in population.
- The word “ski” is Norwegian for “piece of wood.”
Travel to North Norway
Your North Norway cruise carries you into a picturesque land dominated by thousands of kilometres of coastland and watched over by the Northern Lights. Your North Norway expedition cruise will be a whale watching delight offering you the chance to spot Sperm whale, Orca, Humpback, Minke, and Pilot whales.
