A Land-Based Tour of the Fjords of Tromsø
A Tour of the Fjords of Tromsø - About My Tour with Explore the Arctic
For my fjord tour out of Tromsø, Norway, I chose the group “Explore the Arctic.” Not only did Enjoy the Arctic have excellent reviews, but pick-up time wasn’t until 10:00 A.M. Having just experienced a Northern Lights Chase that put me back in my hotel room around 5:00 A.M, the late start was crucial.
In Tromsø, there are two types of Fjord Tours: van tours or boat tours. Since the high temperatures were only going to be 20ºF, I opted for the van tour. Enjoy the Arctic picked me up outside my hotel at the well-marked bus stop. I received a confirmation email the night before reminding me of the pick-up destination. Our tour featured Horia, our guide/driver, and seven total participants, including me.
The tour lasted from 10:00 A.M until 3:30 P.M. Due to some heavy snow storms, we returned a little bit late. I was appreciative that Horia was in no rush and promised that we would hit all of the best viewing sites regardless of time. The tour included a light lunch of Norwegian sausage, which we rolled in a type of Norwegian tortilla. I thought it was delicious and was excited when Horia said there were extras. Five sausages, later he might have been regretting offering me the unlimited lunch option.
At kr1,100 ($135), I thought this fjord tour was well worth the price. A final perk of my fjord tour was that Horia took pictures with his camera and then shared them with us individually via email a few days later.
Our fjord tour took us a little over an hour to the northwest of Tromsø Island and featured three different fjords. Horia was happy to stop anywhere that was safe for us to take photographs. That wasn’t necessary, as he seemed to know the very best spots and angles to take spectacular pictures. Horia never rushed us and encouraged us to take our time, as the view was constantly changing due to storm clouds off in the distance.
The three fjords we visited were Kaldfjorden, Ersfjorden, and Katsfjorden. It was hard to keep them straight without a map as the three fjords converged in a triangle. It seemed like our route was dictated by weather, as we skipped places and returned later.
During some of this extra driving, I was able to upload my pictures to social media via the free WIFI.
A Land-Based Tour of the Fjords of Tromsø - Table of Contents
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A Land-Based Fjord Tour of Tromsø, Norway - Stop One - Kaldfjorden
The first stop on the Land-Based Fjord Tour of Tromsø, Norway, was the shores of Kaldfjorden. During this stop, we got out of the van and were able to walk the shoreline of this beautiful fjord.
There is a small village near Kaldfjorden. The village provided a beautiful backdrop with the fjord and the freshly fallen snow. This view was exactly what I expected of a Norwegian Fjord.
It didn’t take long for a storm to roll in, which quickly put us back into the van. Throughout this entire tour, we would constantly be fighting poor weather conditions.
A Land-Based Tour of the Fjords of Tromsø - A Bonus Stop - Norwegian Reindeer
One of the things Exploring the Arctic’s website claims is that it is possible to see Norwegian Reindeer out in the wild. Horia explained that although they appear in the wild that none of the reindeer actually are. The Sami People own all reindeer in Norway. They care for these reindeer and use them to pull sleds and as a source of food. Horia explained that it is not legal for a non-Sami to own a reindeer in Norway. If someone hits a reindeer with their car, their insurance agency will pay the Sami the equivalent of $500. The person who hits the reindeer can keep the deceased reindeer for meat but must present the tracking tag on the reindeer to their insurance to ensure the Sami receive their money.
We were lucky enough to see multiple reindeer, including some close-up. I was thrilled I brought my zoom lens with me as I was able to get some fantastic pictures. Horia told us that both male and female reindeer have antlers, and it was the time of year when they began to lose their antlers so new ones could grow. It isn’t uncommon to see reindeer hitting their heads against trees or rocks in an attempt to knock their antlers off.
A Land-Based Fjord Tour of Tromsø, Norway - Stop Two - Ersfjorden
Everyone was super excited after seeing the reindeer. Horia decided to bypass the second fjord and drove all the way to the end of the third fjord due to heavy snow. As the day went on, Horia presented us with many more exceptional views. The second stop was Erdfjorden. Here, we were able to get out of the van and walk the shores of the fjords.
As the weather was constantly changing, the low clouds and dark blue sky created terrific contrast with the white snow. The fjord tour was an experience that I will never forget, and I am so glad I opted for the van tour with Exploring the Arctic.
The photos of Ersfjorden were some of my favorite photos taken during my trip to Tromsø, Norway.
A Land-Based Fjord Tour of Tromsø, Norway - Stop Three - Katsfjorden
The final stop was Katsfjorden. Horia decided to find a place to ditch the van so we could walk up the road to see an amazing view. Horia was worried that he wouldn’t be able to turn the van around due to the narrow, snow-covered road.
I now see why Horia passed this part of the Fjord Tour during the snowstorm. Had there been clouds, they would have totally obstructed the view of Katsfjorden.
As another storm rolled in, the third or fourth storm of the day, Horia took us to a part of the fjord that had three red barns. The red-colored barns, freshly fallen snow, and incoming storms created the perfect contrast.
Hyperlapse Video
Below is a Hyperlapse Video taken by my iPhone while sitting in the front seat of the van. It doesn’t have sound, but it should give you the idea of the type of scenery I saw during the fjord tour.
Some Tour Options
A guided tour is definitely the best way to see the Fjords of Tromsø. There are many tour options, including land-based and water-based tours. Below are links to various tour options for all budgets.
I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
If you prefer to book the same tour I took, you may book directly with Exploring the Arctic by clicking HERE. I do not receive a commission for direct bookings.
 Norwegian Fjords Tour, Including Professional Photos in Tromso - $137.36 While in the warmth of the car, you will get to experience the beautiful arctic landscape and you will also have the possibility to stop at any requested place for gazing and taking photos. |
 Private Tour: Customizable Cruise on Luxury Yacht from Tromso - $263.30 Welcome to Private Exclusive Cruise A first class cruise for you, along with friends and family. Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in Norway from a private, exclusive yacht, Arctic Queen. |
 Fjord Cruise with Arctic Wildlife Sightings from Tromso - $130.28 Come and join us for a beautiful Fjord tour by boat on our charming, pleasant and exclusively classic wooden boat Fjord Queen. Observe the genuine Arctic wildlife such as sea eagles and various species of seabirds on this 5-hour sightseeing tour from Tromsø. This is a fantastic trip if you like to explore the beautiful nature around Tromsø while taking great photos. |
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