Many visit Alta in winter to experience the polar nights and the northern lights. Whale watching in Alta is another winter activity not to miss out on. Best season for whale safari in Alta is October to January, when whales come to the herring-rich fjords in northern Norway to hunt.
A magical moment in the fjords outside Alta
We went on a whale watching safari in the fjords outside of Alta over Christmas holidays. The trip started at Æventyr´s store conveniently located in the city center of Alta. They supplied us with everything we needed for the trip, including ultra warm winter suits. You want to make sure you are properly dressed if you are going on the fjord in the arctic in December.
From Øksfjord outside the city of Alta we jumped into the rib they had prepared for us. After leaving the harbour it took no more than 5-10 minutes before we found the first pod of whales. We soon realised there were at least two pods of humpbacks hunting for prey in the fjord.
It was not only humpbacks hunting in the fjord, we also observed killer whales. And eagles picking up whatever the whales hadn’t eaten. The sound of the whales breathing and seagulls screaming was quite a concert.
We had so many great encounters! At one point one of the humpbacks decided to swim beneath the rib. We could see the large dark shadow going under the boat. I definitely had butterflies in my stomach at that moment!
One of the humpbacks waving goodbye
Many who has not experienced the polar night think it is dark all the time, which is not the case. The sun is nowhere to be seen in December and January in Alta, but during mid-day there is often a beautiful light that later turns into magical blue.
Returning to Øksfjord after successful whale watching
One happy whale watcher!
Thank you to Æventyr for bringing us along! All views expressed in this post are solely mine – and I think the photos and my happy face can almost speak for themselves.
Amazing photos.
Thank you so much! Challenging to shoot during polar night period but not impossible with a decent camera:)
SUPER!
Thank you so much! Appreciate the lovely comment:)
The icy landscape almost looks mythical. Plus the cold weather probably made the experience that much harder to forget!
Thank you so much Jess! The combination of the mountainous scenery, the small of sea water and the whales – an unbeatable combo! 🙂
Great stuff! What a fabulous experience, Inger. Thanks for sharing with us. 🙂
Thank you so much Frank! 🙂
Fabulous!!!
Much appreciated Cindy!
Hmm, over here it’s dark = black all the time! Maybe to get that polar blue yoy need to be even further north?? 🤣 Amazing images though!!!! The time I saw whales from a boat is forever etched in my mind. This brought back the memories! Such magnificent creatures 😊
They are absolutely magnificent creatures! Anyone who’s had the chance to experience them close up are lucky! What do you mean black all the time, not even polar blue during mid-day? That it too bad, it is such a beautiful blue:)
Oh, we have “sunlight” (through clouds) for a few hours during the day…
What amazing experience. Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for the lovely comment! 🙂
What a fantastic experience, you two! I’d take the cold with the views and encounters, and I had no idea there is some light in the arctic in the middle of winter. I’ve seen plenty of whales before in my life, but always from bigger boats (like a power boat or our sailboat). I think the experience is much more personal and unique from a dinghy (rib), but also a bit more scary, probably… 🙂
What a fantastic experience, you two! I’d take the cold with the views and encounters, and I had no idea there is some light in the arctic in the middle of winter. I’ve seen plenty of whales before in my life, but always from bigger boats (like a power boat or our sailboat). I think the experience is much more personal and unique from a dinghy (rib), but also a bit more scary, probably… 🙂
Wow! What an incredible opportunity!
What an adventure! I went whale watching in a lagoon in Mexico and it was magical. You did the inverse of Mexico – icy waters compared to the nearly warm waters of the lagoon. I imagine you enjoyed your trip as much as I did mine!
Truly a bucket list experience!
What a wonderful experience that must have been!
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us!
What a fantastic experience!
Fantastic photos and experience, Inger! 🐋
Looks like you had an awesome time. Amazing pics!
Stunning photos. And what an amazing experience.
Nice images, loved the edit in the first one.
Splendid! The opening photos are incredible. I can relate to the feeling, I did whale watching in Sri Lanka and the sight of a blue whale is, certainly, one of my happiest moments. Incredible animals, these cetaceans.
Fabrizio
That’s what I call an ‘experience’! Great photo’s Inger, colors are lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic! Yay for a happy face!
Supoerb watching the whales
Seeing whales in reality is one of my dreams. So big, so majestic, so elegant in motion. You are definately a lucky one!
Oh wow. That would be quite the concert! Trying not to be jealous!
I would love to do this, you got some fabulous photos!
Looks like a wonderful trip . Thanks for sharing the information.
Thank you for sharing these amazing photos!! Wow!! What an exciting adventure !!
Excellent images under most difficult circumstances. The narrative was just right too. Felt like I was on board. Thanks for the experience!
Sounds like an incredible experience. Those photos are straight up beautiful!
This looks so spectacular. The whales, the barren, snowy mountains and the steely water make such a dramatic scene.
Wow, what an amazing experience this must have been!
Wow, for en tur, opplevelse og for noen bilder, for en stemning❤️Jeg kunne nesten kjenne havets sprut og bølger her jeg leste. Tusen takk for et herlig innlegg🦋
Fantastic photos of whales, a great experience
Wow fantastisk 😃
Wow!!!! For noen bilder! og for en tur! Tusen takk for at du delte opplevelsen!