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1 Week Whale & Lodge — private Arctic experience from Tromsø, Northern Norway

1 Week Whale & Lodge

One week at Lodge Havnnes, with Archipelago as your private vessel for daily whale encounters among the fjords of Northern Norway.

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Introduction

A private journey, shaped around you

This is not a scheduled tour. It is a complete private week, built around your group, combining the comfort of Lodge Havnnes with daily time on the water aboard Archipelago. You spend seven nights at Lodge Havnnes, a private luxury lodge in the Lyngen Alps, with eight suites, a personal host, private chef and spa. Each day, Archipelago is available for day trips into the fjords where orcas and humpback whales gather each winter to follow the herring. You return to the lodge each evening to warmth, dinner and stillness. Because the week is fully tailor-made, we shape the programme around your preferences. Alongside the whale days, we can add helicopter flights over the fjords and peaks, dog sledding through the Arctic valleys, snowmobile tours across the plateaus, Northern Lights excursions, fishing and guided mountain hikes. You tell us what you dream of, and we build the week around it. The combination of lodge and vessel is what makes this journey different. You are never bound to one location, yet you always return to the same comfort, the same host and the same view. The vessel gives you reach; the lodge gives you rest. Together they give you the whole Arctic.

Gallery

From the water

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A full week at Lodge Havnnes — a private luxury lodge in the Lyngen Alps, with eight suites, private chef, sommelier and spa.

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Archipelago available throughout your stay for daily whale expeditions, with no daily harbour commute.

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A complete tailor-made programme — add helicopter flights, dog sledding, snowmobile tours, Northern Lights, fishing and guided hikes.

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The patience and time of a full week, with the flexibility to follow the whales, the weather and your own interests.

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A marine biologist guide who explains orca and humpback behaviour, with responsible wildlife guidelines throughout.

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The combination of lodge and vessel — reach on the water, rest at the lodge, one continuous tailored experience.

The Lodge

Your base in the Lyngen Alps

Lodge Havnnes is a family-owned luxury lodge in the Lyngen Alps, available only for private groups. The site is staffed with a few carefully selected people dedicated to making your stay unlike any other.

The concept was to create a modern and architecturally exciting complex, perfectly integrated into the landscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows and direct terrace access offer an uninterrupted panoramic view of the fjords and mountains. Each of the eight suites has a private en-suite bathroom, contemporary Norwegian art and direct terrace access.

During your week, the lodge is your base. You wake to the same view each morning, breakfast with your group, and step aboard Archipelago for the day's whale expedition. In the evening you return to a warm lodge, a sauna and outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the fjords, and a menu composed around your preferences by your private chef and sommelier.

Having the lodge as a constant means the journey has rhythm — adventure on the water, stillness at the lodge — and the whole week feels like one continuous, tailored experience rather than a series of separate tours.

Eight private suites

Each bedroom has a private en-suite bathroom, contemporary Norwegian art, floor-to-ceiling windows and direct terrace access with panoramic fjord views.

Private chef & sommelier

Your personal chef and host Eirik compose every menu around your preferences, paired with rare vintages and premium spirits from the lodge cellar.

Private spa

Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the fjords, with the Arctic wilderness as your backdrop after a day on the water.

Your private vessel

Archipelago is available throughout your stay for daily whale expeditions, fishing and coastal exploration, departing directly from the lodge.

Dining & Hospitality

A private chef, sommelier and host

Sample Menu

First course

Norwegian scallops, brown butter & sea herbs

Second course

Arctic char, smoked dill cream & cloudberries

Main

Slow-cooked reindeer, juniper & root vegetables

Dessert

Cloudberry, brown cheese & sorbet

Dining is a central part of the week. Your private chef and host Eirik Wilhelmsen — a native of Lyngen and a trained sommelier — builds every menu around your preferences, dietary needs and the best seasonal produce Northern Norway has to offer: fresh seafood from the fjords, reindeer and game from the highlands, wild berries and herbs gathered from the surrounding landscape. After a day among the whales, you return to a warm lodge and a composed dinner, paired with wines chosen to lift the food. Breakfast and lunch are tailored to the day's plan, whether you dine on board Archipelago or back at the lodge.

What You Can Expect

An authentic day on the water

Weather, wildlife and local conditions may change the final plan.

Day 1 — Arrival

Arrival in Tromsø and transfer to Lodge Havnnes. Welcome by your host Eirik, settle into your suites, and a welcome dinner composed around your preferences. We review the week ahead and the current whale reports.

Day 2 — First whale day

Breakfast at the lodge, then step aboard Archipelago for your first day among the fjords. Your marine biologist guide explains the orca and humpback behaviour you encounter. Hot lunch on board. Return to the lodge for dinner, sauna and rest.

Day 3 — Tailor-made adventure

A day shaped around your wishes — a helicopter flight over the fjords and peaks, dog sledding through the Arctic valleys, or a snowmobile tour across the plateaus. Alternatively, a second day on the water with Archipelago.

Day 4 — Deeper exploration

Back on the water with Archipelago, moving to different fjords based on the latest whale reports. The flexibility of a full week means we can follow the herring and the whales wherever they gather.

Day 5 — Northern Lights & stillness

A slower day. A morning excursion or a guided mountain hike, an afternoon at the lodge with the spa, and an evening Northern Lights excursion — either from the lodge or aboard Archipelago under the Arctic sky.

Day 6 — Final whale day

A last full day on the water, with time to revisit the most rewarding fjords and savour the rhythm of life at sea. A farewell dinner at the lodge to close the week.

Day 7 — Departure

Breakfast and a final farewell from your host. Transfer from Lodge Havnnes back to Tromsø for departure.

Wildlife & Nature

The natural environment

Each winter, orcas and humpback whales follow the migrating herring into the fjords of Northern Norway. This is one of the greatest gatherings of whales in Norwegian waters, and it is what brings us out on the water each day. The orcas travel in family pods and work together to hunt the herring, often herding the fish into tight balls near the surface. The humpbacks use a different strategy — lunge feeding through the schools with enormous gulps. Watching both species in the same fjord, sometimes on the same day, is a remarkable experience. Your guide is a marine biologist who can explain the behaviour you are seeing — the herring that brings the whales, the seabirds that mark feeding activity, the orcas' hunting strategies and the humpbacks' feeding techniques. We operate under responsible wildlife guidelines throughout. We do not chase or surround whales. We observe from a distance and let the animals' behaviour dictate the encounter. Because you have the whole week, there is time for both striking days on the water and quieter days at the lodge or with other activities. The whales are wild, and we are honest about the uncertainty — but a week in the region gives us the flexibility to be in the right place at the right time.

The Vessel

Your vessel

Archipelago

Expedition Motor Catamaran

Archipelago is the flagship of Northern Yachting AS, an expedition motor catamaran built for extended private journeys through the fjords and islands of Northern Norway. The catamaran hull gives exceptional stability and generous deck space, making her an ideal platform for whale watching, northern lights cruises and photography.

Inside, a warm and fully insulated interior, a heated saloon with panoramic windows and comfortable overnight cabins let guests stay out for several days and wake up in a different fjord each morning. She is the mobile base for our most exclusive journeys, including whale adventures from Lodge Havnnes and sea to summit ski touring to remote peaks.

Onboard dining is prepared by the crew, including Pelle, our marine biologist and chef. Operated from Tromsø with captain, guide and chef on every journey.

Request this journey

Enquire about 1 Week Whale & Lodge

We offer only private journeys. Every tour is exclusive to your group, with no shared departures. Demand for our experiences is high, and because each journey is fully bespoke and of a very exclusive nature, our tours are correspondingly priced.

We tailor every journey around your group, around your dates, your interests and the conditions on the day. From the vessel and crew to the itinerary, dining and accommodation, every detail is shaped around what you want from your time in Northern Norway.

Share your dates and what you're hoping for, and our team at Tromsø Pure will be in touch soon with availability and the next step.

Contact

Your stay

An indicative budget for this journey — helps us tailor the proposal to what you have in mind.

Interested in other experiences while here?

Select any you'd like to combine with this one.

Seven nights at Lodge Havnnes with full service and private chef

Daily use of Archipelago for whale expeditions and coastal exploration

Professional captain and crew

Marine biologist wildlife guide

Private host and sommelier at the lodge

All meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — tailored to your preferences

Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi at the lodge

Safety equipment and warm beverages on board

Tailor-made activity programme designed around your group

Tailor-made week

Every programme is built around your group. Tell us your wishes — helicopter, dog sledding, snowmobile, Northern Lights, fishing, photography — and we shape the week around them.

The lodge and the vessel

You stay at Lodge Havnnes for the full week and use Archipelago for day trips. You sleep at the lodge each night and return each evening.

Whale season

Orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords from November to February. We cannot guarantee sightings on any given day, but a full week gives us the best possible chance.

Weather and flexibility

We plan each day around conditions. The route and activities may change, and we may spend more time on one fjord than another. Flexibility is a key part of the experience.

Clothing

Bring warm, layered clothing for time on deck and on land, waterproof outer layers, warm hat, gloves and boots. We can advise on gear before you arrive.

Photography

A full week gives photographers exceptional opportunities. Bring a zoom lens for wildlife and a wide-angle lens for the landscape. Your guide can help with positioning.

Not included

  • Flights to and from Tromsø
  • Optional add-on activities (helicopter, dog sledding, snowmobile) — quoted separately
  • Personal clothing and gear
  • Travel insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages beyond the included wine pairings

Ready to experience Northern Norway privately?

Send us your preferred travel dates and we will put together a journey around your group.

Request Journey

FAQ

Frequently asked questions