Things to consider
- Almost any boat based trip to the Arctic is likely to encounter whales, with 17 different species to be found across the top of the world
- Hot spots include Disko Bay in West Greenland, as well as Svalbard where summer currents rich in nutrients attract cetaceans from across the globe
- The Northwest Passage is home to 75% of the global narwhal population
- Beluga congregate in huge numbers in Hudson Bay over the summer months of July and August
- Travelling on a boat with plenty of deck space is key to ensuring you get the best of any sightings
Svalbard & Norway whale-watching trips
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
Travelling at the height of summer, this trip is the longest of any Svalbard cruise and offers the best possible conditions for thrilling wildlife encounters. Your circumnavigation of Spitsbergen includes huge glaciers, epic bird cliffs and ice-choked channels. Plus, there's…
- 15 Days
- $12,471
Scouting Svalbard’s ice floes for wildlife by zodiac and on foot, cruising the magnificent 14th of July glacier and reaching the world’s most northerly settlement at Ny Ålesund are just some of this 10-day voyage’s many highlights. There's also the…
- 10 Days
- $6,000
Guided by an experienced team who know the best places in Svalbard for wildlife encounters, make the most of each day’s local ice and weather conditions. Fully immerse yourself in this Arctic archipelago, exploring by zodiac and on foot. Optional…
- 8 Days
- -
Truly escape the modern world and explore Svalbard on board a schooner. Sail north through the melting spring ice, spot wildlife and learn about the archipelago’s rich history. Highlights include the Monaco Glacier, 17th century whaling settlements, close encounters with…
- 8 or 11 Days
- $4,200
Maximise wildlife sightings with the chance to circumnavigate Spitsbergen island. Search for walrus, arctic fox, whales and of course the ‘King of The Arctic'. Sail through the Hinlopen Strait and visit abandoned trapping stations and experience glaciers up close all…
- 11 or 12 Days
- $18,695
Travelling in luxury aboard an outstanding expedition ship, we love this trip for its unusual combination of Svalbard and Norway’s northern tip, plus its focus on top-notch service and cuisine. After a hassle-free charter flight from Oslo to Svalbard, spend…
- 11 Days
- $17,600
Circumnavigate Spitsbergen on board a choice of three small ships and in the company of specialist guides. Travelling in such small groups allows you more time to explore, and some late-season departures benefit from stunning autumn light. Ask about special…
- 12 Days
- $9,290
Northwest Passage whale watching trips
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
This comprehensive westbound voyage stands out for its compelling combination of West Greenland, the east coast of Baffin Island and the historic Northwest Passage. Jaw-dropping scenery, towering icebergs, thrilling wildlife encounters, Inuit community visits and fascinating history pervade this epic…
- 17 Days
- $16,031
Spending time exploring Canada’s historic Northwest Passage and West Greenland, we like this voyage’s balance and variety as much as exploring little visited spots such as Thule, one of the northernmost towns in the world, and Smith Sound. Big ice,…
- 17 Days
- $20,521
The big ice and small towns of West Greenland provide a stunning start to this trip before you sail across the Davis Straight to Baffin Island and enter the Northwest Passage. Blend history, scenery and wildlife; pay your respects at…
- 17 Days
- $18,495
Only in 1956 did a ship complete an east to west transit of the Northwest Passage. The smoking cliffs of Cape Bathurst mark your entrance to an icy realm of wild beauty, staggering wildlife, culture and history. Explore the Passage…
- 29 Days
- $21,443
Embark on one of the world’s most iconic journeys – a full transit through the fabled Northwest Passage from Greenland to Alaska, following in the footsteps of the intrepid early explorers. What makes this particular voyage even more special is…
- 23 Days
- $57,728
Where to see whales in the Arctic
Svalbard & the Norwegian Arctic
Most famous for polar bear sightings, Svalbard is often overlooked as a whale watching destination. It's true that there is a dark history when it comes to man's relationship with whales, and the remains of whalers stations such as Smeerenberg and Bamsebu are testament to the slaughter. In recent years, however, it is a much happier story where the rich waters attract humpbacks, fin, minke, blue and beluga whales and numbers are growing year by year.
Northern Norway in the latter months of the year becomes a rich hunting ground for humpbacks, fin and especially orca as they follow the herring's migration routes. It was also be a great time to see the aurora borealis.
Humpback whales dive in sync
Northwest Passage
Lancaster Sound, a wildlife superhighway, opens each year for a couple of months as the ice retreats, allowing boats to navigate the channels that make up the Northwest Passage. Along this edge of ice runs a rich seam of zooplankton, a particular favourite of the massive bowhead whale who can eat up to 100 tonnes of them a year.
In the shallow water, narwhal and beluga hunt fish and shrimp and stay away from orca as best they can. Expeditions to the Northwest Passage offer amazing opportunities to see these rare cetaceans and many trips start or end in West Greenland, adding Disko Bay which is famous for its humpbacks, to the spectacle.
Churchill & the Canadian Arctic
For just a couple of months in late summer (July & August) thousands of beluga whales gather in Hudson Bay to feast on the rich waters of the Churchill River and to calve in the shallow, relatively warm waters. This amazing migration allows you to get up close to these cetaceans, affectionately known as sea canaries, either by boat, kayak or even by getting in the water with them.
Further north there are ice camps where you can catch sight of the elusive narwhal or 'Unicorns of the Sea' as they follow the ice edge during May and June. These trips also offer the chance of polar bears and beluga in one of the remotest corners on the planet.
Beluga whales in Hudson Bay
Greenland
Humpback whale in Disko Bay
While much of Greenland is ice trapped during the winter months, when the sun appears and the sea starts to move again the waters quickly fill with life. There are now fifteen species of whale that frequent these waters. While the beluga, narwhal and bowhead remain year round, the other species including humpback, minke and fin only pass by in warmer months.
In recent years the number of bowheads sighted in East Greenland has grown substantially. This magnificent mammal can live for 200 years (as evidenced by the find of an ancient harpoon found in an animal that had died of old age) and grow up 20m (66ft) long!
In West Greenland, Disko Bay becomes the humpbacks playground in the summer as they chase down herring-type fish in their tens of thousands. In the capital, Nuuk, it is not unheard of for residents to complain of a lack of sleep due to the noise made by humpback whales in the bay!
Swoop says
We'd really recommend choosing a trip that allows you to kayak in the presence of whales. There's nothing like being that close, with no sound but your paddles and the graceful rise and fall of these giants in the water.
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