BRITS raised on the 1990’s Free Willy blockbusters will want to add this to the holiday bucket list – swimming with killer whales in the wild.
The excursion, which costs £208 per person, takes place in northern Norway in the village of Sørkjosen in Reisafjord, which lies a three-hour drive from Tromso.
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Guests are given a talk by experts on the boat, who teach them about safety and which marine animals to look out for.
They are then dressed in an under suit and a dry suit to keep warm, before heading out into the water.
The fjords to the north of Tromso have a thriving population of killer whales, thanks to the huge numbers of herring who call the waters home.
VisitLapland, who run the programme, say of the experience: “To be in the water with orcas is a powerful experience and an unforgettable meeting with nature.
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“Wearing a warm dry suit, a mask and snorkel you float comfortably on the surface, and when you put your head under water you will first feel the silence, and then suddenly start hearing the whales communicating with each other, then see herring and parts of dead herring floating around.
“You are no longer an observer, but part of it.”
Because the trip revolves around wild animals, the company says that they can expect to see orcas on 90 per cent of the trips, but that there is no guarantee.
The two-three hour experience runs from November until January 20, and is accessible to anyone comfortable in the water and happy to be out on the water in a RIB boat.
The trip is a fresh way for orca lovers to see the animals, since the tide turned against Seaworld and other sea parks following the release of the Blackfish documentary.
The film was nominated for a BAFTA the year of its release and garnered critical acclaim.
Several companies including TripAdvisor and Virgin Holidays have chosen to stop selling tickets to the amusement park in the last couple of years.
