Whales & Seabirds Pelagic Boat Tour to Hornøya from Vardø
Discover the pelagic circus of Finnmark on this scenic whale and bird-watching boat tour to Hornøya from Vardø!
Practical information
On this excursion, you'll depart from Vardø and embark on a boat tour to Hornøya to witness birds and other incredible Arctic wildlife! Enjoy:
- Observing some of the 80.000 seabirds that make Hornøya their home
- Searching for humpback, fin, and minke whales
- A family-friendly adventure for ages 6 and up
Course of events
You should plan to spend around 3 hours on this activity:
- Arrive at the starting point in Vardø
- Meet the expert instructor
- Equipment distribution
- Safety and itinerary briefing
- 30-metre walk to Vardø Harbour and board the Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB)
- Start of your whales & seabirds pelagic boat tour to Hornøya from Vardø!
- Sail towards Hornøya
- Spot different birds and whales in the surrounding area
- Make stops at a safe distance from the animals
- Return to Vardø Harbour
- Disembarkment
- Equipment return and end of the activity
Activity requirements
All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All participants must be a minimum of 120 cm (3'9").
Special terms
Please note that since wildlife is unpredictable, sightings are never guaranteed.
Please note that the duration and itinerary of the activity depend on weather conditions. Due to unforeseen meteorological occurrences, your itinerary might be shorter or take a different path than usual for your safety.
Included
- Professional and experienced guide
- Thermal suit
- Life jacket
- Goggles
- Mittens
- Boat tour
Excluded
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Food and drinks
- Personal expenses
Do not forget to bring
- Warm winter clothing (Thermal layers, wind and waterproof outerwear)
- Woollen socks
- Warm boots
- Hat
- Scarf
- Camera or smartphone
- Water bottle
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Practical information
About the activity
This wonderful whale and seabird-watching boat tour from Vardø to Hornøya takes off from the easternmost town in Norway and all of the Nordic countries. It is located on Vardøya Island, in the Barents Sea, surrounded by Arctic tundra and a rugged coastline. On this boat tour from Vardø, you'll travel to Hornøya, a small, rocky islet off the coast of the town in far northeastern Norway.
The adventure starts at the meeting point in Vardø, where you'll be greeted by the experienced Explore 70 Degrees guide. After receiving a welcome and safety briefing, you'll walk approximately 30 metres (98 feet) to Vardø Harbour, where you'll board the comfortable Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). This is an easy and safe activity, perfect for families and children. After receiving your equipment (thermal suit, life jacket, goggles, and mittens), the RIB boat tour to Hornøya begins!
During the boat tour to Hornøya, you'll travel across the Arctic waters to the beautiful island, which is one of the most important seabird nesting sites in the Barents Sea. You'll drift in the water around the islet, keeping an eye out for different bird species. During nesting season, the cliffs and surrounding sea come alive with sound and motion from over 80,000 seabirds, including shags, common and Brünnich's guillemots, Atlantic puffins, and razorbills. At this time of the year, the Varanger region is a birdwatcher's paradise!
While drifting in the water and peacefully observing the surrounding birds, you'll also try to spot whales, which migrate for some periods to the areas around Hornøya and Varanger due to good conditions in the feeding ground. Humpbacks, orcas, fin whales, minke whales and even belugas can sometimes be found in this area! The knowledgeable guide will share their expertise about the diverse marine life you encounter. Afterwards, you'll return to the starting point in Vardø with wonderful memories of your amazing boat tour to Hornøya.
Experience the spectacular wildlife in Eastern Norway on this exciting bird and whale-watching boat tour to Hornøya from Vardø. Book now!