discovering Norway’s wildlife and northern lights

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In the region close to the Arctic Circle, the blue sky is barely visible, because the sun hardly rises in the north of Norway. Off the coast of Tromsø, passengers on a boat will discover a fascinating spectacle. Orcas move around without worrying about spectators. In their midst, the back of a humpback whale emerges. Seen from the sky, a 20 m long sperm whale slips alongside the boat.

French people from Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) gathered all their savings to experience the adventure of the Great North. “We’ve been contributing for two years, we’re very happy,” says Alessandro Renoux, French tourist. “It’s great. It’s wonderful. You don’t see it 50 times in a lifetime.”continues Damien Renoux, also a tourist.

The sun rises timidly. In the cabin, Inda, the captain, is the one who knows where to find whales. “If we see a lot of birds, that means there are whales because there is food. Herring are very numerous in this area at this time of year”says Inda Steuben, captain Cruise service AS. On this day, the herring schools are 2 hours by boat from Tromsø. A long journey at -7 degrees to reach the cetacean refueling point.

It’s only 2 p.m. and night is coming. But there’s no question of going back and locking yourself in the warmth. It’s time for Faustine, a French tourist, to visit other emblematic animals of the Far North. “It’s great, it’s fun. I make videos for the grandchildren of the family,” confides Faustine Depraz-Depland, French tourist. John-Michael raises 150 reindeer. It belongs to the Sami people, whose culture is closely linked to reindeer herds. “The reindeer give us meat and leather for clothes. Working with them is more than a job, it’s a way of life,” he assures.

But nature remains hostile. Difficult to find your way in this white and dim landscape. French tourists chose snowshoes. Rémi accompanies three young doctors from Lille (North). Rémi is a guide in the Pyrenees but, every winter for the past four years, he has come to work in Norway. “It’s my office, but my office is ultimately very large, it’s the mountain itself. I say that I have no limits. With our French diplomas which are quite renowned, we can work anywhere in the world”says Remi Sempère, high mountain guide. Night will soon fall, there are many clouds. But when the sky is clear, another spectacle appears: the Northern Lights dance in the starry night of the Far North.