Behind the whales under the bright lights of Aurora. Winter tour to the Kola Peninsula

In this winter tour on the Kola Peninsula, we will get acquainted with the capital of the Arctic on a sightseeing tour of the city, go to surf the seas and try our luck in search of whales, immerse ourselves in the ethnic world of the North, and an evening photo hunt in search of the Northern Lights will complement the journey with bright colors and amazing emotions.

Location

Murmansk
from
$598
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
3 Days
2 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • 5 – 7 September
    • 12 – 14 September
    • 19 – 21 September
    • 26 – 28 September
    • Dates for next season
    • 9 – 11 January, 2026
    • 16 – 18 January, 2026
    • 23 – 25 January, 2026
    • 30 January – 1 February, 2026
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
  • Premium
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
From 4 to 18 tourists
Minimum age
5 years old
Group meet at
Murmansk
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Boat trip
Get the opportunity to watch the bird markets and admire the vast expanses of the Barents Sea
Ethnic motives
You will play active games: lasso throwing, archery, Sami football and chat with the furry villagers.
The wonders of nature
Enjoy the view of the northern Lights, which can be seen far from the city lights.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Getting to know Murmansk. Northern Lights hunting trip

    You arrive in the hero city of Murmansk on your own.

    We recommend that you arrive before 13:00 so that you have time to get to the hotel and check in.

    Check-in at the hotel according to international standards starts at 14:00.

    Check-in time at the hotel can be changed/ different, in case of postponement of check-in time, things can be left in the luggage room.

    The general gathering of the group.

    The meeting time of the group is 14:30 at the address: 5/23 Five Corners Square, Vorovsky St., Meridian Hotel lobby (the exact time will be indicated by the guide the day before).

    We are going on a sightseeing tour of the hero city of Murmansk:

    • The first point of the tour will be the Marine Station and the first nuclear-powered vessel on the planet, the nuclear icebreaker Lenin (external inspection, guided tour if tickets are available);
    • we will go to the Memorial "To the Sailors who died in peacetime": a tower stylized as a lighthouse, a ship's anchor and part of the deckhouse raised from the Kursk submarine, the Church of the Savior on Waters;
    • looking into the distance, you will definitely notice the snow—white figure of a soldier, more than 35 meters high, the next point of the tour will be the Green Cape Hill and the memorial to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic, popularly known as Alyosha;
    • Not far from the defender of the Arctic, the Waiting stands and waits for her sailor, a touching and elegant monument, a collective image of all women who wait every minute of their lives for the return of their husbands, sons and fathers.

    After the tour, you will have free time to relax or take a walk around Murmansk in the evening.

    Buy souvenirs and have dinner at the restaurant.

    Let's go on a photo hunt!

    The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and no one can guarantee its appearance.

    Important! Departure is carried out according to favorable forecasts, in the absence of minimal chances, departure can be canceled and postponed to the next day.

    This amazing natural phenomenon does not leave indifferent even those who, it would seem, are accustomed to the wonderful iridescences of color in the night sky. What can we say about those who saw it for the first time!

    It's impossible to watch the flashes burning in the sky in the city. All the beauty is revealed far from the city lights, in the open spaces of the northern nature.

    Gathering of the group at the Meridian Hotel.

    The guide will inform you about the exact time the day before.

    Please do not be late and always stay in touch, as the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and check—out times may change.

    Hunting can take several hours, we kindly ask you to take care of warm clothes and shoes in advance!

    During the search, the guide will not only tell you the details and rules of shooting, but also tell you about the wonders that are associated with the northern lights, the nature of its origin, the legends and secrets of the unique phenomenon.

    Taking photos during the aurora is included in the price.

    During the shooting, you must carefully listen to the guide, observe safety precautions, and turn off the flash on the cameras.

    Important! The photographer guide takes several general group shots after each participant's photo.

    If the flash duration allows, you can take a few additional pictures.

    We are returning to Murmansk, to the starting point.

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  • Day 2 - Teriberka. Boat trip
  • Day 3 - Ethnic park. Departure
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone
Tour organizer's comments

The tour is not suitable for persons with disabilities, because boarding a boat is very difficult and is not suitable for this category 

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
  • Premium

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the tariff, rub.:

RateHabitationCost for double occupancySurcharge for single occupancy
StandardWithout accommodation

 

47 000

– 
Comfort (on request)Hotels for accommodation (standard rooms): iTerra, Asgard, Glarus59 2006 500
Comfort+ (4* hotel accommodation)Hotels for accommodation (standard rooms): Meridian, Azimut, Cosmos72 20013 500

Check-in on the tour is not provided.

iTerra Hotel or Meridian Hotel 4* or 2 nights
iTerra Hotel

Iterra hotel — a modern hotel with 25 rooms opens its doors to the guests of the region and residents of our region!

There are 17 rooms with amenities at our disposal, among which, of course, we did not forget to select rooms for families with children and four-legged friends. From a shoe spoon to a teacup, from a hair dryer to a refrigerator, you will find everything you need in every room, and all this is yours for the entire stay at Iterra!!

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Another option
Meridian Hotel 4*

The Meridian 4* Hotel is the main hotel of the tour. 

Meridian is a modern and comfortable hotel in the business center of the Arctic capital. Meridian Congress Hotel is located in the very center of Murmansk. 

The main museums are within walking distance, for example, the historical exposition of the first nuclear icebreaker Lenin, moored in the city bay. 

There are train, bus and marine stations within walking distance. And the trip from the airport or back will take no more than 40 minutes.

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Another option
Azimut Hotel 4*

AZIMUT City Hotel Murmansk 4* is located on the central square of the city "Five Corners". 

The hotel building is the tallest in the Arctic Circle, so our guests enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the city and the Kola Bay. 

Each room has household supplies and shower cosmetics.

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Another option
Cosmos Hotel 4*

Cosmos Murmansk Hotel 4* — it offers a gym, sauna, parking and wireless internet access.

Rooms of various categories are presented to your attention. Absolutely everyone has a TV, comfortable furniture, a split system, a refrigerator and a spacious bathroom with a set of disposable personal hygiene products. The windows offer a beautiful view.

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Another option
Asgard Hotel

Smart hotel "Asgard". All rooms are equipped in the best traditions of the hotel business. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Comfortable rooms for one or two guests. The room is heated during the cold season.

The room has everything you need for a comfortable stay: a comfortable bed with new linens, a large TV with Smart TV, and a private bathroom with a shower and all necessary hygiene products. All rooms have underfloor heating not only in the bathroom, but also in the room itself.

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Another option
The Glarus Hotel

Glarus is a cozy oasis in a quiet park area, in the very center of the city, a five—minute walk from the car, railway stations and the central square. Original design, 13 spacious rooms from economy to luxury class, high ceilings. The rooms have a shower, safe, refrigerator, hairdryer, TV and internet connection. Delicious breakfasts are included in the price.

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Tour conditions

Group
From 4 to 18 tourists
Minimum age
5 years old
Duration
3 days 2 nights
Group meets at
Murmansk

Included in price

For all tariffs

  • tour service:
    • City sightseeing tour;
    • Teriberka;
    • boat trip;
    • ethnic village;
  • 2 trips for the Northern Lights:
    • 1 required;
    • 1 extra if the forecast is favorable (in case of failure in 1 day);
  • entrance fees:
    • icebreaker Lenin (subject to availability of tickets);
    • Teriberka Nature Park;
    • ethnic village;
    • a place on the boat;
  • guide services;
  • transportation support.

Comfort rate

  • this rate is available on request, comfort hotels, standard rooms;
  • nutrition:
    • continental breakfasts;

Comfort+ rate

  • 4* hotels, standard rooms;
  • nutrition:
    • Breakfast is a buffet.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Murmansk and back;
  • accommodation, when choosing the Standard rate;
  • single room at the hotel;
  • airport transfer (independent);
  • nutrition:
    • breakfasts, when choosing the Standard fare;
    • lunches and dinners not included in the program;
  • tourist tax (payable upon check–in) - 100 rubles/person (day).

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour

Clothing and shoes:

  • Autumn: Windproof and waterproof clothing. Jackets preferably with a hood. The weather in the North is often changeable, precipitation is possible. A headdress. A set of thermal underwear and a fleece jacket. Comfortable waterproof shoes. Ideally, trekking boots or running shoes.
  • Winter: Thermal underwear, warm winter jacket and trousers, high-top warm winter shoes, hat, scarf, gloves (take spare items with you).

Documents, money, etc.:

  • passport;
  • compulsory medical insurance policy;
  • cash money;
  • Portable charging;
  • personal hygiene items;
  • personal first aid kit;
  • a backpack for personal belongings.

Snack, water. It is best to always have a snack, a bottle of water, and a small travel thermos with you (optional).

At what time are the chances of seeing the aurora higher?
Are there any guarantees to see the northern Lights?
Is it possible to see the northern Lights as in most photos?
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
What are the features of the tour?
What do you need to know about a boat trip?
What will be the program in Kirovsk if the road to Teriberka is closed?
Can I book a transfer?
For what period of time should I come?

Dates and Prices

Reviews

  • E
    Elena
    about provider
    22 Jan, 2025
    The organization of the tour was excellent. However, there was one downside: on the last day, the departure was scheduled for seven in the morning, and the group had to leave without breakfast. This isn’t our first trip, and in similar situations, we’ve usually been provided with packed meals. Unfortunately, this time that didn’t happen, and the hotel breakfast also starts at seven.
  • N
    Nina
    about provider
    22 Jan, 2025
    Everything was great. The tour fully delivered on its promises. Thank you!
  • OA
    Olga Angarova
    about provider
    6 Dec, 2024
    6 more photos
    We really enjoyed it, and we were lucky with the weather too. Ruslan, who accompanied our group, was outstanding—truly top-notch! He made everything interesting, easygoing, and highly informative. Thank you, Ruslan, and thanks to the entire hosting team as well. Everything was fantastic!