--- title: "Arctic Winter Cruise from Tromsø — Whole-Boat Sailing" description: "A slower winter voyage in the fjords around Tromsø: blue light, aurora, whales in season and a heated yacht. Whole-boat charter with Boreal Yachting." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization", "name": "Boreal Yachting", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com", "logo": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/logo.png", "description": "Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Whole-boat expeditions and charters from Tromsø since 2003.", "foundingDate": "2003", "email": "post@boreal-yachting.com", "telephone": "+4777729200", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Tromsø", "addressCountry": "NO" }, "memberOf": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)", "url": "https://www.aeco.no" }, "sameAs": [ "https://facebook.com/borealyachting", "https://youtube.com/@borealyachting" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Experiences", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Winter Cruise", "item": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/winter-cruise" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "TouristTrip", "name": "Winter Cruise", "description": "The Winter Cruise is a whole-boat sailing voyage in the fjords around Tromsø during the dark season. There is no mountain programme and no fixed schedule: short days of blue light, long evenings on a heated boat, aurora when the sky is clear, and whales when they are in the fjords.", "url": "https://boreal-yachting.com/experiences/winter-cruise", "image": "https://boreal-yachting.com/assets/expedition-wintercruise-hero-B6dTJ6bL.jpg", "touristType": [ "Small private groups", "Experienced travellers" ], "provider": { "@id": "https://boreal-yachting.com/#organization" }, "duration": "3 to 7 nights", "itinerary": { "@type": "ItemList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Tromsø, 69.6°N" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Tromsø" } } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is it too cold to enjoy?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not with the right clothing. The boat is heated day and night, and most time outside is in short spells." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will we see the northern lights?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Often, but never on demand. Any clear evening between September and March is a chance, and we anchor away from town lights." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can we combine this with dog sledding or a land trip?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. We work with operators around Tromsø and can build a day ashore into the voyage." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long should we come for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Three nights works. Five to seven gives the weather time to turn in your favour." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is the sea rough in winter?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Inside the islands it is usually sheltered. We stay in protected water when the outer coast is unpleasant." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you sail in the dark?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Short passages, yes, with radar and a skipper who knows the coast. We normally anchor before the evening." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main-content) [Boreal Yachting ](/) [Experiences](/experiences) [Destinations](/destinations) [Our Fleet](/fleet) [About Us](/about) [Journal](/journal) [For Partners](/partners) [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey) 1. [Home](/) 2. / [Experiences](/experiences) 3. / Winter Cruise Experience # Winter Cruise The Winter Cruise is a whole-boat sailing voyage in the fjords around Tromsø during the dark season. There is no mountain programme and no fixed schedule: short days of blue light, long evenings on a heated boat, aurora when the sky is clear, and whales when they are in the fjords. ![Sailing yacht in a snow-covered fjord under low winter light](/generated-images/expedition-wintercruise-hero-1824.webp) Midday in December. For a few weeks the sun does not rise, and the light stays blue for hours. ## At a glance Season October to March Duration 3 to 7 nights Base Tromsø, 69.6°N Group size Up to eight guests, whole boat Sold as Whole boat — private and group charter Level No experience needed. Short walks ashore if you want them Crew Skipper, plus crew on longer voyages ## Why is winter the quiet season? Winter is the quiet season because Northern Norway empties out. The fjords that hold a dozen boats in July hold none in January. Anchorages are yours, the water is usually flat inside the islands, and the coast looks entirely different under snow. The polar night is not black. Around midday the sky turns a deep blue that lasts for hours, and the snow reflects enough of it to see clearly. Photographers call it the blue hour; here it is most of the day. This voyage has no programme attached to it. Some guests walk ashore, some fish, most spend a great deal of time on deck doing nothing in particular. ## How does a warm boat make a cold coast work? A warm boat makes a cold coast work because our winter vessels are heated continuously, with insulated interiors and hot water. Wet gear dries overnight. The contrast between a cold deck and a warm saloon is a large part of why winter sailing works at all. The skipper plans each day around wind and cloud. Sheltered fjords are close at hand, and the boat rarely needs to be anywhere in particular by a fixed time. Aurora, sea eagles and — from November to January — whales are all possible on the same trip. None of them are on a timetable. ## A typical week The route is decided by weather and the people on board. This is what a good few days tend to look like. ### Day 1 — Tromsø Board in the afternoon and run the safety briefing. An evening sail out to a quiet anchorage in a nearby fjord. ### Middle days — the fjords Late breakfast, then a passage through the blue hours of the middle of the day. A walk ashore, a village visit or an hour fishing, depending on the group. Anchored before dark, with aurora watch after dinner when the sky is clear. ### Final day — back to Tromsø A morning sail back through the islands. Alongside around midday, with time in town before flying out. ## What is included ### Included - — Whole-boat charter for your group - — Skipper and crew - — All meals on board and hot drinks - — Warm outer suits and boots on request - — Heated cabins and on-board linen - — Fuel and harbour fees ### Not included - — Flights to and from Tromsø - — Hotel nights before and after - — Travel insurance - — Land excursions such as dog sledding, which we can arrange - — Alcoholic drinks - — Crew gratuities ![Sailing yacht at anchor in a snow-covered Arctic fjord](/generated-images/expedition-skiandsail-hero-1920.webp) ## The boat Winter voyages sail on Arctic-prepared vessels with diesel heating, insulated interiors and a sheltered cockpit. Group size and dates decide which of the nine boats you take. [See the fleet](/fleet) ## Who this is for - Couples and small groups who want quiet rather than a programme. - Guests who like winter, snow and long evenings indoors. - Photographers working in low light. - First-time sailors. If you need something scheduled every day, or you dislike cold and darkness, this is not the trip. Summer sailing will suit you better. ## Practical ### What fitness and experience do I need? You need nothing beyond ordinary mobility and confidence on a ladder and a moving deck. ### What should I bring? You should bring thermal layers, a windproof outer shell, insulated boots, hat and gloves. Indoor clothing for the saloon, which is warm. ### What are the weather and light like? Temperatures usually sit between minus 12 and plus 3°C. There is no true daylight from late November to mid-January, and by March the days are long again. ### How do I get to Tromsø? You reach Tromsø on direct winter flights from Oslo and several European cities, with the harbour a short taxi ride away. [Read the full Arctic sailing packing list](/arctic-sailing-packing-list) ## Questions guests ask Is it too cold to enjoy? Not with the right clothing. The boat is heated day and night, and most time outside is in short spells. Will we see the northern lights? Often, but never on demand. Any clear evening between September and March is a chance, and we anchor away from town lights. Can we combine this with dog sledding or a land trip? Yes. We work with operators around Tromsø and can build a day ashore into the voyage. How long should we come for? Three nights works. Five to seven gives the weather time to turn in your favour. Is the sea rough in winter? Inside the islands it is usually sheltered. We stay in protected water when the outer coast is unpleasant. Do you sail in the dark? Short passages, yes, with radar and a skipper who knows the coast. We normally anchor before the evening. ## Where this sails [ Destination ### Tromsø Our base at 69.6°N and the starting point for almost every voyage. ](/destinations/tromso) ## Related reading [ Practical ### Need to know when sailing in Northern Norway ](/journal/need-to-know-sailing-northern-norway)[ Nature ### The Arctic climate: what to expect ](/journal/arctic-climate)[ Experience ### Northern Lights by Sail ](/experiences/northern-lights-sailing)[ Compare ### Whole-boat charter vs joining a group departure ](/whole-boat-charter-vs-group-departure)[ Compare ### What an Arctic-adapted boat actually means ](/what-is-an-arctic-adapted-boat) ## Enquire about Winter Cruise. Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you within two working days with a considered answer — not a template. [Plan your journey](/plan-your-journey?experience=winter-cruise)[Speak to us directly](/contact) Boreal Yachting Premium Arctic sailing in Northern Norway and Svalbard. Sailing these waters since 2003. [![AECO member — Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators](/assets/aeco-member-Crcpxqbv.svg)](https://www.aeco.no)[![Eco-Lighthouse certified — Miljøfyrtårn programme](/assets/eco-lighthouse-CNcwtWaN.png)](https://www.miljofyrtarn.no/en/) ## Experiences - [Ski & Sail Norway](/experiences/ski-and-sail-norway) - [Ski & Sail Svalbard](/experiences/ski-and-sail-svalbard) - [Svalbard Expeditions](/experiences/svalbard-expeditions) - [Private charter](/experiences/private-charter) - [Group charter](/experiences/group-charter) - [Bareboat charter](/experiences/bareboat-charter) ## Destinations - [Tromsø](/destinations/tromso) - [Lyngen Alps](/destinations/lyngen-alps) - [Lofoten](/destinations/lofoten) - [Svalbard](/destinations/svalbard) - [Senja](/destinations/senja) - [Vesterålen](/destinations/vesteralen) ## Company - [About us](/about) - [Our crew](/about/crew) - [Safety](/about/safety) - [Sustainability](/about/sustainability) - [Company facts](/about/facts) - [Journal](/journal) - [For partners](/partners) - [Contact](/contact) Boreal Yachting AS · Tromsø, Norway · [post@boreal-yachting.com](mailto:post@boreal-yachting.com) · [+47 77 72 92 00](tel:+4777729200) - [Facebook](https://facebook.com/borealyachting) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/@borealyachting) - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/borealyachting) © 2026 Boreal Yachting AS - [Privacy](/privacy) - [Terms](/terms) - [Booking conditions](/booking-conditions) Cookies on this site We use essential cookies to run the site. 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