Arctic animal tours – Discover the wildlife in Northern Norway!
The Arctic is home to unique animals such Arctic foxes, bears, reindeer, lynx, moose, whales and many bird species. Check our tours and select the ones where you may be able to spot your favourite animal!
Arctic animal tours from Tromsø:
Go on a dog sledding tour and drive your own sled!
Many of our guests dream of going on a dog sledding tour, when in Norway! It’s an exciting Arctic adventure, where you get to drive your own sled with several dogs pulling it (between 4 to 6) and you change half way with the other person on the sled.
We have several options for you to choose, which is great since some times of the year, some tours might be fully booked. We have dog sledding tours with the dog camp located in Brevivikeidet (45 minutes from Tromsø, with transport included). Here you can choose between the Dog sledding at Breivikeidet – morning tour (with departure from Tromsø at 08:30 am) or, if you prefer to go a bit later, our Dog sledding at Breivikeidet – afternoon tour (with a later departure from Tromsø at 11:30 am).
If you prefer another location, we also have tours in the Tamok Valley area (about 1 hour from Tromsø), check our Morning Husky Safari tour (departing Tromsø at 08:45 am) or our evening Husky Safari Tour at 11:45 am.
Are you looking for tours in Tromsø with reindeer and the Sami?
Get to know the indigenous Sami people from the North of Scandinavia and their reindeers, and learn it all about their traditions, way of living and stories!
Do you want to feed the reindeer and learn all about the Sami culture?
You can visit our reindeer and Sami camps, learn about the culture of the Sami and feed their reindeer. They are adorable and not dangerous at all! You can go on these tours during the day, with our Reindeer Feeding and Sami Culture (located in the beautiful area of the Lyngen Alps, 45 minutes from Tromsø), or our Sami Reindeer Feeding (located 30 minutes away from Tromsø, at Krokelvdalen). If you prefer to do these activities during the evening with dinner included (and leave the daytime for other activities), we do recommend you our Reindeer Sledding, Reindeer Feeding, and Chance of Northern Lights (Lyngen Alps area) or our Sami Reindeer Camp Dinner (Krokelvdalen area, 30 minutes from Tromsø).
Try a reindeer sledding tour, with reindeer feeding and Sami culture!
Have you always wanted to try reindeer sledding? This very chilled activity is also available during daytime with our Reindeer Sledding, Reindeer Feeding and Sami Culture tour (Lyngen Alps area) or on our Sami Reindeer Long Sledding (30 minutes on the sled) or on our Sami Reindeer Short Sledding (15 minutes on the sled), both located on the Krokelvdalen area, 30 minutes away from Tromsø).
If you fancy trying reindeer sledding during the evening, this is also possible with our Reindeer Sledding, Reindeer Feeding, and Chance of Northern Lights tour (located in the Lyngen Alps area) or at our Sami Reindeer Camp Dinner & Sledding (located on the Krokelvdalen area) – both these two include dinner.
Sleeping at a Sami and Reindeer Camp
You can also overnight on a reindeer camp with our Overnight in Lavvo: a Sami tent as accommodation, with reindeer feeding and reindeer sled activity during the evening.
Arctic animal tours in Narvik:
Polar Park
Visit Polar Park, located in Bardu (1 hour away from Narvik), where you will be able to see Arctic animals such as the Arctic fox, bears, wolves, wolverines, among very other special ones! Transportation is not included, only the entrance ticket. You can visit Polar Park all-year round.
Arctic animal tours from Lofoten:
Silent Trollfjord Cruise
Lofoten is one of the most famous destinations, during Summer, in Northern Norway!
If you are planning to visit the Lofoten islands, we recommend you going on a day trip boat cruise to get to know the famous Trollfjord.
You can check our Silent Trollfjord Cruise, onboard a modern hybrid and very comfortable catamaran.
What is the Arctic and where is it located?
The Arctic is located in the Northernmost part of Earth and is considered a polar region.
It includes parts of several countries like Canada, Finland, Iceland, Russia, the USA (Alaska), Sweden, and Norway as well as Greenland.
This area can be defined as all areas north of the Arctic Circle (above 66° 34’N), where phenomena like the Midnight Sun and the Polar Night can be experienced.
Which animals are in the Arctic?
The Arctic is known for its cold winters and cool summers, with long periods of sunlight or darkness and cold, snow-covered areas.
This habitat is preferred by animals that have adapted to these conditions such as the Arctic fox, reindeer, several species of whales, Arctic wolf, polar bear, and brown bear, among other fascinating creatures.
Which Arctic wildlife can I see in Northern Norway?
If we talk about mainland Norway, you can probably find many different creatures that you have never seen back home or in zoos.
This includes whales, bears, wolves, wolverines, and lynx.
In Northern Norway, you may be able to see most of them in the wild.
However, encountering them is rare because they like to hide from any human interaction.
In the Tromsø region, above the Arctic Circle, you can spot orcas and humpback whales feeding on herring in the fjords during the winter (approx. November to January).
You may wish to join one of our popular whale-watching tours during this period and see these beautiful marine mammals and maybe others.
We really recommend this tour, which is one of our best sellers.
If you would prefer to observe the Arctic fauna on land, and you are a reindeer lover, we have many tours where you can observe and even feed them!
If you are lucky, you may even spot reindeer wandering freely in Northern Norway like in forests or even on the roads (the island of Kvaløya near Tromsø is one such example).
The moose (aka elk) can also be found in forests or even close to roads, although they are much shyer.
Although it’s possible to spot other large predators like bears, wolves, lynx or wolverines in the wild in Northern Norway, it’s rare because they are also shy and tend to keep their distance from humans.
If you visit the Polar Park near Narvik, which is the world’s northernmost animal park, you can observe and learn about these predators, and many others, like the Arctic fox.
If you are in Tromsø, you can take the Arctic Route transportation from and back to Tromsø to go to the Polar park (with an entrance ticket included) here.
If you are worried about the well-being of animals, you can rest assured that this wildlife park puts a lot of emphasis on animal welfare.
They create habitats that are as natural as possible, so the animals have large areas to wander around.
The Arctic Route enables you to visit the Polar Park with transport from Tromsø and return on the same day.
Can I see polar bears in Tromsø?
We get this question frequently and unfortunately (or luckily!) the answer is no!
Norway’s mainland is too mild for these amazing creatures, which prefer colder areas with almost permanent ice.
If you want a chance to spot these animals, you should travel to Svalbard, an archipelago located north of mainland Norway.
Can I see polar bears in Tromsø?
Svalbard, which is part of Norway, has a population of around 300 polar bears.
They wander freely around the archipelago and can sometimes be spotted on boat excursions departing from Longyearbyen, the main settlement in Svalbard.
You can also spot other marine creatures in Svalbard like walruses, puffins, Arctic foxes, seals, and narwhals.
However, it’s important to remember that these are all wild animals, and spotting them is never guaranteed!
The Arctic is home to unique animals such as reindeer, moose, whales and lots of different birds.
Check out this section if you want to visit a reindeer farm (and try reindeer sledding!), go on a whale-watching trip to see humpback and killer whales in their natural Arctic habitat, or try dog sledding, among other tours.
You can also visit Polar Park, the world’s most northern animal park, where you can observe muskox, wolves, and bears among others.
