Absolutely fabulous!

Throughout her childhood days in the steamy land of peninsula of Malaysia, Joanna Lumley harboured a dream to see the Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis. The realisation of her dream, filmed for the BBC and broadcast on BBC1 7th September 2008, took Ms Lumley to the remote wilderness of northern Norway.

After several abortive chilly nights her wish was fulfilled, “…just above one of the hills was this extraordinary bloom, like a kind of algae, just growing, like a weird fence or curtains or snakes. It began to throb and pulsate into a very vivid green and then it began to split up and change. For about the next hour and a half it was just mind-blowing, we were all shouting to each other, sometimes lying on our backs like babies, it was like nothing I'd ever seen.” said Joanna.

Natural history specialists Naturetrek offer a unique 4-day family break north of the Arctic Circle in Norway’s Tysfjord, coinciding with a high probability of auroral displays by night and by day an almost guaranteed encounter with some of the 700 Orca taking up annual residence in the fjord. Departing London 26th December 2008.

Situated several hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, at the head of a deep fjord surrounded by rugged snow-capped mountains, Tysfjord is just about the most picturesque and remote location in which to spend a short break. Each year hungry whales take advantage of the fjord’s estimated 7-million tons of over-wintering herring in a fish food frenzy, gorging themselves on the almost captive shoals.

Simultaneously Naturetrek travellers embark on a programme of whale-watching cruises aboard a large and comfortable, converted deep-sea fishing vessel - though for hardy souls there’s an opportunity to don a dry-suit and snorkel! Breaching is a common but spectacular form of surface display – imagine the impressive splash a 9-metre, 10-tonne adult male creates as it falls back into the water after leaping several metres clear of the surface. Frequently these inquisitive creatures will raise their heads out of the water to check out boat and passengers, behaviour known as 'spy-hopping'.

By lowering a microphone into the water it is even possible to eavesdrop on the Orcas’ symphony of clicks and whistles. As the light disappears over the horizon and the skies darken, attention is diverted from the water to the heavens, when, weather permitting, Tysfjord is illuminated by the sparkling reds, greens and whites of the Aurora Borealis, a fitting and rather festive finale to a spectacular holiday!

The tour costs £1,095 p/p including scheduled flights, transfers, 3-nights’ half-board hotel accommodation, whale watching excursions.

For more information, log on to Naturetrek.co.uk.