Most people come to Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland for the Northern Lights. But just across the border in Norway sits Tromsø — the "Gateway to the Arctic" — and its fjords are one of the best places in Europe to see whales in winter. Put the two together and you get a rare kind of trip: the aurora dancing overhead one night, and humpbacks and orcas moving through the fjords the next morning.
That's exactly what our 2-Day Tromsø Arctic Adventure is built around. This guide explains how the trip works, what you'll see, when to go, and how to book.
Two Countries, Two Arctic Icons
Tromsø is around a day's drive north-west of Rovaniemi, sitting on the Norwegian coast at nearly 70°N. Rather than piecing together transfers, hotels and separate excursions yourself, our tour runs the whole route with pickup from Rovaniemi, Ruka or Kuusamo — you simply settle into the vehicle and watch the landscapes of Finnish and Norwegian Lapland roll by.
The trip pairs the two experiences the Arctic is most famous for:
- The Northern Lights — an evening aurora hunt away from Tromsø's city lights, guided by real-time weather and forecast.
- Arctic whale watching — an approximately 6-hour cruise through the fjords in search of whales and other marine wildlife.
How the 2 Days Work
Day 1 — Journey to Tromsø & Northern Lights hunt
Pickup from your accommodation in Rovaniemi, Ruka or Kuusamo, then a scenic drive north into Norway. After checking in and having some time in Tromsø, you head out after dark on a guided Northern Lights hunt, travelling to wherever the skies look clearest that night.
Day 2 — Whale watching & the return journey
The second day is all about the sea. You board a comfortable vessel for an approximately 6-hour whale-watching expedition through the fjord landscape, with lunch served onboard. Afterwards, you meet your driver for the journey back to Finland.
What Whales Might You See?
The seas around Tromsø are a genuine winter whale hotspot. The classic sightings are:
- Humpback whales — famous for their flukes and surface behaviour.
- Orcas (killer whales) — often seen travelling in family pods.
- Fin whales, porpoises and seabirds — along with other Arctic marine life.
As with the aurora, whales are wild animals — sightings depend on wildlife behaviour and natural conditions, and can never be guaranteed. But few places give you a better chance in winter.
When to Go
| Element | Best window | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights | Dec–Jan | Long, dark Arctic nights give the aurora the most time to appear. |
| Winter whales | Dec–Jan | Humpbacks and orcas are active in the fjords around Tromsø through the winter. |
| This tour runs | 1 Dec 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | The window where both the aurora and the winter whales line up best. |
Availability: the 2-Day Tromsø Arctic Adventure runs from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2027. Because it's a small-group, cross-border trip with a minimum of 2 guests, dates are limited — check the tour page to book.
What to Bring
- Warm winter clothing and thermal / base layers
- Gloves, a hat and warm, insulated footwear
- A camera (with spare batteries — the cold drains them fast)
- Motion-sickness prevention if you're prone to seasickness
Who It's For (and Who It Isn't)
This is a compact, active trip with long road journeys between Finland and Norway and time out at sea. It suits travellers who want to tick off two Arctic bucket-list experiences in one short window. It's not suitable for children under 2, or for anyone prone to severe seasickness. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult, and infants under 2 travel free.
How to Book
The tour is €1200 per person (minimum 2 people) and includes round-trip transport, an English-speaking guide, one night's hotel in Tromsø, the Northern Lights hunt, the whale-watching cruise and lunch onboard. Availability is limited to 1 December 2026 – 31 January 2027, so book early. Prefer to stay in Finland? See our Guaranteed Northern Lights Tour from Rovaniemi.