Norway · WHALE WATCHING IN TROMSø
Good whale watching in Tromsø fill up weeks ahead and the short-season ones go first. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Gabriele: a warm, fast catamaran hunt for orcas and whales near Skjervøy, plus Arctic fjord scenery and options if whales move on.
“It was very nice, we saw a lot of whales and orcas😍”
Go by small RIB from Tromsø to Skjervøy for Arctic whale watching, with thermal gear, warm food, and possible orca and humpback sightings.
“This has been my dream for years and it did not disappoint! We must’ve seen about 100 orcas and 30 humpbacks. It was such an amazing experience start to finish!”
Silent hybrid-electric whale watching from Tromsø to Skjervøy and Kvaenangen for humpbacks and orcas, warm boat, long fjord day.
“The cabin was lovely and warm with comfortable seats. The trip out to where the whales were was over 3 hours and the sea was very choppy but we did see some whales. Didn't managed to get any photo's as they were to quick when they appeared but it was lovely to see them. And it was an added bonus seeing the northern lights on the trip back.”
Chase migrating whales off Skjervøy on a fast RIB, staying warm in Arctic gear with English guides from Tromsø and nearby.
“This was mine and my boyfriend’s best experience of our lives. Both guides were absolutely fantastic! The tour was incredible and it was run so well. We saw so many orcas and got to take loads of pictures etc. if you are wanting to book a whale watching safari I would definitely recommend you book this one! 10/10”
A 24-hour Tromsø cruise mixing Northern Lights chasing and whale watching near Skjervøya, with an overnight cabin, meals, and lectures.
“The crew and tour guides are lovely, couldn’t do more for you to ensure upmost comfort. Knowledgeable about the whales and northern lights with several talks across the 2 days. We learnt lots of new things. Cabins are comfy and warm and there’s several food choices at each meal. All you of what we had was lovely. Whilst we didn’t get to see the northern lights due to cloud cover the polar twilight gave impressive scenery and beautiful colours in the sky. We did see loads of humpback whales including several breaches and several pods of killer whales some getting pretty close. An amazing trip and one to remember for…”
Full-day whale watching by RIB boat from Tromsø to Skjervøy. Small group, warm gear, and strong odds for orcas and humpbacks.
“Very cool experience! The drive is about 3-4 hours in one direction and with only ~3 hours of daylight it's important to be on time. The location of the bus pick up is a bit incorrect. If you go to the described location (the hotel), facing the water you need to look right and you'll see a bus terminal with red buses parked, about a 3 minute walk. That is the proper pickup location. Staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and kind. You need to dress very warmly, especially your fingers and toes as you're on a speeding RIB boat and the windchill was definitely in the negative double digits (which you…”
Whale safari from Tromsø on a comfortable catamaran, guided in English. Search fjords for orcas and humpbacks, with onboard WiFi.
“Great day out, Mario and the team were fantastic. Super knowledgable and friendly! Managed to see a few different groups of orcas and the northern lights.”
Winter whale watching from Tromsø aboard MS Alba, with heated lounges, expert guides, hot drinks, and a Whale Pass if no whales show.
“Niesamowita wycieczka i niezapomniane przeżycie! Udało się zobaczyć wieloryby i orki z bliska, a cała wyprawa była świetnie zorganizowana. Widoki zapierające dech w piersiach, a emocje zostaną z nami na zawsze. Zdecydowanie warto! 🐋✨”
Silent whale watching from Tromsø on a hybrid-electric boat, then a scenic bus ride back past the Lyngen Alps and possible whale sightings.
“Very nice experience onboard of modern catamaran. We saw fjords with different wildlife. Crew was nice, giving us the best possible service and telling us a lot of interesting info about the locality, animals, history and traditions.”
24-hour Tromsø cruise for whales and Northern Lights chances, with ocean-view cabins, thermal suits, expert talks, and real Arctic food.
“L'accueil a été génial et l'accompagnement fantastique durant toute la croisière. La cabine était très confortable et les repas servis à bord de qualité. Tout l'équipage se met en quatre pour rendre votre expérience inoubliables et pour nous c'est réussi. La rencontre avec les orques et les baleines fût un moment magique. Vous pouvez demander à être réveillé si des aurores boréales apparaissent pendant la nuit. Ce ne fût pas le cas cette nuit là. Nous referions cette croisière sans hésiter. En plus nous avons eu la chance d'être seulement 10 passagers pour une capacité de 52. Cela ajoute à la qualité de l'expérience.”
Hybrid-electric whale watching from Tromsø to Skjervøy with boat or bus scenic route, heated lounges, and 95% whale-spotting odds.
“It was beautiful. We had some waves and I was sick as most of the people on board but the crew was so helpful. We didn't see that well the whales cause it's the end of the season. We were able to buy some drinks and food from the bar . We took some nice pictures and it was a beautiful experience.”
Heated yacht comfort from Tromsø to Skjervøy for Arctic whale watching, with the Lyngen Alps ride and possible orca and whale sightings.
“Fuimos de Tromso a Skervoy en autobus comodo. Al llegar el propietario del yate nos estaba esperando. El trayecto en el yate fue agradable con calefacción en todo momento. Vimos muchas orcas y ballenas de cerca. Estuvimos mucho rato con ellas y con la posibilidad de poder estar a fuera o cubiertos con la calefacción por el frío. Nos ofrecieron bebidas calientes y galletas. Un acierto este tour para la gente que lo pasa mal por el frío. Ves a las orcas y ballenas igual que en las lanchas rápidas pero sin pasar frío!”
Every kind of day out on this coast, and the best of each.
