Best Whale Watching Tours in Tromsø

Every winter, orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords north of Tromsø, and every morning a small fleet sails out to meet them. Six whale safaris side by side: the fast catamaran that boards beside the cruise terminal, the quiet electric boat, the high-speed catamaran with seasickness tablets on board, the all-inclusive boat for 50, the open RIB that leaves at five in the morning and the heated small boat for twelve. What they cost, how long they keep you out, and whether they fit around your ship.

Our Top Pick Coming by cruise ship? Compare all 6

Tromsø whale safaris at a glance

  • A whole day, not an afternoonThe big boats leave between 7:30 and 9 am and are back around 4 to 5:30 pm. The two Skjervøy bus-and-boat days start before dawn and take about twelve hours
  • Possible from a cruise shipAll six start in the city center, our pick right beside the Prostneset terminal. It only works on a long call or an overnight, because every boat is out until late afternoon
  • What you pay~$196 to ~$235 on the big boats, ~$334 for the open RIB with bus, and ~$383 for the heated boat that takes only twelve guests
  • Winter onlyThe whales come for the herring from about late October to January, sometimes into February. Outside those months there are no whale safaris from Tromsø

If you only have a minute

Whale watching in Tromsø: the answers before you book

If a friend asked us over coffee which boat to take, this is what we would tell them.

Ask us which whale safari to book and we will point you to the fast and comfortable catamaran, from ~$217. It boards in front of the Clarion Hotel The Edge, right next to the Prostneset terminal, leaves at 8:30 am and takes seven and a half hours, the shortest day of the big boats. It carries no more than 90 guests on a boat with 147 seats, so everyone gets a seat inside and a place at the rail. Travelers rate the guides 4.9 out of 5, and if you see no whales you can go again for free on another date that season.

Want the quietest approach? The hybrid-electric boat from Brim Explorer, from ~$196, switches to its silent electric motor once it reaches the whales and has more reviews than any other whale tour in Tromsø. The high-speed catamaran from Rødne costs about the same, hands out seasickness tablets and has German and Italian departures too. If you would rather have lunch and thermal suits included and share the deck with fewer people, the all-inclusive boat for 50 at ~$235 is the one.

For the closest view, the Skjervøy RIB safari at ~$334 puts you in an open speedboat at water level, after a bus that leaves at 5 am. The heated boat for twelve at ~$383 makes the same trip but keeps you behind glass when you want it. Coming by ship? Check the times first, because these are full days. And read the tips before you pack, the sea is colder than the town.

Our pick

The whale safari we would book in Tromsø: the fast catamaran from Prostneset

It is not the cheapest boat and not the most reviewed. But it has the best-rated guides of the big boats, keeps a third of its seats empty on purpose, and gets you back in town earlier than any of them.

An orca surfacing in a calm Arctic fjord, its fin and back lit by low golden winter light Our pick

Tromsø: Whale Watching by Fast and Comfortable Catamaran

4.7 / 5 · over 650 verified reviews

You walk to the pier in front of the Clarion Hotel The Edge, a minute from the Prostneset terminal, and look for the boat with "Helgøy Skyssbåt" on its side. At 8:30 am, in the dark of a northern winter morning, it pulls out of the harbor. The catamaran is built for speed, and the operator puts it plainly: less time traveling, more time with the whales. The crew follows the latest reports of where the whales were feeding and adjusts the route on the day, while you wait in a heated lounge with big panoramic windows or stand on the open top deck as the light comes up over the fjords.

What sets it apart is space. The boat has 147 seats and the company sells no more than 90 of them, which means a seat inside for everyone and a spot at the rail when a fin breaks the surface. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate are free all day, and there are toilets and a kiosk on board. Travelers rate the guides 4.9 out of 5, the boat itself 4.8 and the value for money 4.7, and 93 percent of English-speaking guests gave it full marks. Orcas and humpbacks are the main hope; fin whales and white-tailed eagles turn up too.

Price
from ~$217 per person
Duration
7.5 hours, 8:30 am to about 4 pm
Boat
High-speed catamaran, Helgøy Skyssbåt
Rating
4.7 / 5 from over 650 reviews
Meeting point
Clarion Hotel The Edge, next to Prostneset
Group size
Up to 90 guests on 147 seats
Guide
Live in English
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before
See dates and prices Compare with the others

Live availability and prices

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How the day runs, step by step

The whales decide where the boat goes, so no two days follow quite the same course. This is the shape of it, from the listing and the timetable:

In town

  • Be at the pier in front of Clarion Hotel The Edge before 8:30 am
  • Find a seat in the heated lounge, grab a free coffee or hot chocolate

Out to the feeding grounds

At sea

  • Fast run through the fjords while the sky turns from black to blue
  • Slow approach once whales are spotted, at the distance the guidelines set
  • Time on the open top deck or behind the panoramic windows, whichever you prefer
  • White-tailed eagles and seabirds on the way, if you keep watching
  • Back at the same pier around 4 pm

What the price covers

The listing confirms all of this in writing. Food is the one thing to plan for, because the kiosk sells it but nothing solid is included.

Included
  • Fast, stable catamaran with an experienced crew and guide
  • Heated panoramic lounge and an open-air top deck
  • Free coffee, tea and hot chocolate all day
  • A free trip on another date if you see no whales
Not included
  • Food, though snacks are sold at the kiosk
  • Warm outdoor clothing, so bring your own
  • Access for wheelchair users, boarding is by gangway
  • A guarantee of calm seas

Between us, before you go

A little advice, as one traveler to another. Eat a proper breakfast and pack a sandwich, because seven and a half hours on coffee and chocolate is a long day. Take a seasickness tablet before you board if you are prone to it; most of the trip is in sheltered fjords, but the operator warns of waves on some stretches. And wear far more than you think you need. Standing still on an open deck in the wind of a polar morning is colder than any walk through town.

If you come by ship, this is the safari to try first. You can see the boat from the Prostneset terminal, and it is back around 4 pm. On a call that ends before evening, though, no whale safari fits, and it is better to know that before you book.

The light you will be sailing in

From late November to the middle of January the sun does not rise over Tromsø at all. That sounds grim, but it is the most beautiful part of the trip. The boat leaves in the dark, and for a few hours around midday the sky over the fjords turns deep blue, then pink and amber along the mountains, before it fades again in the early afternoon. You watch whales in that twilight. It makes for stunning views and tricky photos, and our photo guide explains how to cope with it.

Who we would not send on it

Wheelchair users, because boarding is over a gangway and the tide can make it steep; Brim's hybrid-electric boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. Anyone with a ship that sails before evening. And travelers who want to be eye to eye with an orca at sea level, who should look at the open RIB instead. Families with small children are better served by a boat with lunch and suits on board, like the all-inclusive safari.

Book it if

You want the day at sea to be as short as a whale safari can be, with room at the rail and good guides, and you are staying in town or your ship is in port until evening.

Skip it if

You need wheelchair access, want lunch included, would rather ride an open RIB or your ship sails before 5 pm.

Ready to meet the whales?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and with reserve now, pay later you hold your seat without paying anything today.

Book this tour

From your ship

Whale watching in Tromsø for cruise passengers

Many winter cruises call at Tromsø for the Northern Lights, and the whales are a bonus few passengers know about. The catch is time. Every whale safari takes most of a day, so the question is not which boat is best but whether your ship gives you that day.

Berth · city center

Prostneset terminal

Smaller cruise ships and the coastal express

On foot1 to 10 minutes to every meeting point

You step off into the center. Our pick boards in front of the Clarion Hotel The Edge next door, and the Skjervøy buses leave from the bus terminal under the same building or from the Scandic Ishavshotel beside it.

Berth · 4 to 5 km north

Breivika quay

Larger cruise ships, in a port area you cannot walk from

15–20 mineach way by the ship's shuttle or a taxi

Add the ride into town at both ends. For an 8 am boat that means a shuttle around 7 am, before many ships run one, so a taxi is often the only way.

When each tour has you off the ship

  • Boat from town
  • Bus to Skjervøy and boat
  • Can run longer

Times include the check-in each operator asks for. The heated small boat to Skjervøy runs on the same early-bus pattern and takes about twelve hours. Keep at least an hour spare before all-aboard, more from Breivika. The ship waits for its own excursions, not for a boat you booked yourself.

  1. Check your hours in portYou need roughly 7:30 am to 5:30 pm ashore, plus a buffer. An overnight call or a late evening sailing works; an afternoon call does not.
  2. Check the monthWhale safaris run from about late October to January. On a summer cruise there are no whales near Tromsø, whatever you read online.
  3. Book, then hold a backupAll six cancel for free up to 24 hours before, with reserve now, pay later. Weather sometimes cancels sailings, so keep a plan B on a long stay.
  4. Pack from the cabinShip card, your warmest layers, a hat that covers your ears and food for the day. Our packing list has the rest.

The full guide for cruise passengers: the two berths, all-aboard maths and what to do if your call is too short.

How to choose

How to pick the right whale safari in Tromsø

The whales do not care which company you book. Six decisions do matter: what kind of boat, how many people share it, how long the day lasts, how warm you stay, what you get if the whales stay down, and how your stomach copes with the sea.

Big boat or open RIB

The four big boats sail from the harbor all the way to the whales, about two and a half to three and a half hours each way, with heated lounges and toilets. The two Skjervøy tours drive you north by bus first, then put you on a smaller boat for about three hours. The open RIB is fast, low and cold; the heated small boat is the middle ground. All four types compared.

How many on board

Brim's electric boats take more than 100 guests, our pick no more than 90, Polar Adventures caps at 50, and the Skua boat at 12. Fewer people means more room at the rail and more time with the guide, and you pay for it. On a big boat, a seat by the door to the deck is worth more than a window.

How long you are out

Seven and a half hours on our pick, eight on Rødne and Polar Adventures, seven to nine on Brim. The Skjervøy days run about twelve hours from a start before 5 am. That rules out many cruise calls, and it makes the RIB a poor choice for the morning after a Northern Lights tour that brought you home at 2 am.

Warm clothes and warm food

Thermal suits come with Polar Adventures and the two RIB tours; on the other boats you wear your own layers and retreat to the lounge. Only Polar Adventures includes lunch, the RIB tours give you a sandwich afterwards, and everyone else sells food at a kiosk. What to wear is in the guide.

If the whales stay down

No operator can promise whales, and none does. Our pick gives you a free trip on another date in the season, and Rødne a free second tour booked in town. The other four listings say nothing about it, so ask before you book. Every policy compared.

Waves and stomachs

Most of the route is sheltered fjord, but there are open stretches, and all the operators warn about waves. Rødne hands out seasickness tablets, Polar Adventures says its trip is not for people prone to seasickness. A big catamaran rolls less than a small boat. How to keep it at bay.

Everything else to do in Tromsø

All tours

The 6 best whale watching tours in Tromsø

Six ways to the feeding grounds, from the big electric boat to the open RIB. Price, rating, operator and the catch for each one.

A guest at the rail of a catamaran's deck looking out over a fjord under a pink and lilac twilight sky Our pick

Tromsø: Whale Watching by Fast and Comfortable Catamaran

A high-speed catamaran that boards beside the Prostneset terminal and spends less time getting to the whales than the bigger boats. No more than 90 guests on 147 seats, a heated panoramic lounge, an open top deck, free hot drinks, and a free trip on another date if the whales do not show.

  • Duration7.5 hours, from 8:30 am
  • OperatorHelgøy Skyssbåt
  • Rating4.7/5 (over 650 reviews)
  • GroupUp to 90 guests
  • StrengthsBest-rated guides, shortest day, room at the rail
  • Ideal forCruise guests on a long call and first-timers

Good to know: Not suitable for wheelchair users or guests with serious mobility problems, because boarding is over a gangway and the tide changes its angle. No food is included, only drinks. Look for "Helgøy Skyssbåt" on the boat. Prone to seasickness? Read this first.

~$217per person Check availability
A large white hybrid-electric sightseeing boat at dusk with a whale's tail rising from the water beside it Most reviewed

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

Brim Explorer's purpose-built boats sail three hours or more north toward Skjervøy, then switch to a silent electric motor near the whales to cut noise and vibration. Heated saloons with panoramic windows, three outdoor decks and Wi-Fi. Several departures each morning and more reviews than any whale tour in town.

  • Duration7–9 hours, from 7:30, 7:45, 8 or 9 am
  • OperatorBrim Explorer
  • Rating4.5/5 (over 6,600 reviews)
  • GroupOver 100 guests per boat
  • StrengthsQuiet near the whales, wheelchair accessible, lowest price
  • Ideal forTravelers who care how the boat approaches the whales

Good to know: About one to one and a half hours with the whales out of a seven-to-nine-hour day. Only tap water is free; pastries, sandwiches and soup are for sale. Online check-in is mandatory before the trip. The rating sits a little below the other big boats, and with 100 or more on board the rail can get busy.

~$196per person Check availability
An orca leaping half out of the sea, its white belly and black dorsal fin clearly visible Tablets on board

Tromsø: Whale Watching Safari on High-Speed Catamaran

Rødne's two catamarans leave the harbor behind the Nerstranda shopping center for the waters around Skjervøy, with views of the Lyngen Alps on the way. About two hours and three quarters out, two and a half in the whale area, and the same back. Coffee, tea, a whale presentation and seasickness tablets are included.

  • Duration8 hours, 8:30 or 9 am
  • OperatorRødne Fjord Cruise
  • Rating4.7/5 (over 3,700 reviews)
  • Meeting pointHarbor behind Nerstranda
  • StrengthsLong time with the whales, German and Italian guides
  • Ideal forTravelers worried about the waves, groups with a German or Italian speaker

Good to know: You must send your personal details by email 48 hours before, for the maritime authorities. The 8:30 am boat runs from October 23 to January 31 with an English and German guide; the 9 am boat from December 1 with English and Italian. Food is extra. No whales? Then you can go again for free, if there is space, by booking at the Destination Tromsø point in town.

~$196per person Check availability
Guests in winter jackets on the deck of a boat, one in red pointing out to sea in the orange winter light Lunch and suits

Tromsø: Whale and Orca Safari, All-Inclusive (Max 50)

A local family company that caps its boat at 50 guests and aims to be first at the whales, then stays two to two and a half hours with them. Thermal suits, lunch, snacks, cookies and hot drinks are all in the price, with a heated lounge, open decks, toilets and USB charging on board.

  • Duration8 hours, from 8 am
  • OperatorPolar Adventures
  • Rating4.6/5 (over 1,700 reviews)
  • GroupUp to 50 guests
  • StrengthsSmaller group, most time with the whales, suits and food included
  • Ideal forTravelers who want the whole day taken care of

Good to know: Not for children under 4, adults over 70, people with mobility problems or anyone prone to seasickness. Meet 20 minutes early at their office on the harbor front; latecomers get no refund. Vegetarian food yes, gluten-free no. The listing promises lunch but its small print also says lunch can be bought on board, so confirm when you book.

~$235per person Check availability
Guests in thermal flotation suits on an open RIB speedboat beneath a snow-covered mountain and blue sky Open RIB

Tromsø: Skjervøy RIB Whale Watching Tour

An early bus takes you four hours north to Skjervøy, the town closest to the whales' feeding grounds. There your skipper hands out flotation suits, boots, goggles and mittens, and you spend about three hours on an open RIB, low on the water and quick to reach the whales. A hot drink and a sandwich afterwards, then the bus home.

  • DurationAbout 12.5 hours, 4:45 am to 5:30 pm
  • OperatorArctic Adventure Tours
  • Rating4.8/5 (over 1,250 reviews)
  • Meeting pointOutside the Scandic Ishavshotel
  • StrengthsHighest rating here, closest view, suits provided
  • Ideal forAdventurous adults and photographers who travel light

Good to know: The bus leaves at 5 am sharp and does not wait. Nobody under 14 or shorter than 140 cm, and not for pregnant guests or anyone with back problems. Eight hours of the day are on a bus. Bring your own snacks, and keep cameras in a waterproof bag, they ride at your own risk. Why the whales are up there.

~$334per person Check availability
Two orcas swimming side by side at the surface, close enough to see the white patches on their heads Max 12 guests

Tromsø: Orca and Whale Watching Heated Boat Trip

The Skjervøy day for people who want to be close without freezing. A red Arctic Route bus takes you north, then a covered, heated boat with an open observation deck spends three to three and a half hours with the whales. The captain also sails in Svalbard, a nature guide explains the animals, and wildlife photographers help with your shots.

  • DurationAbout 12 hours
  • OperatorSkua Nature
  • Rating4.7/5 (over 250 reviews)
  • GroupUp to 12 guests
  • StrengthsTiny group, warm cabin, photo help, guides rated 4.9
  • Ideal forPhotographers and wildlife lovers who want the RIB view in comfort

Good to know: The most expensive tour here, and the fewest reviews. Not for children under 6 or pregnant guests. No flotation suit is needed because the boat is covered, but the deck is still Arctic. In Skjervøy the bus stops twice; look for the Skua flag at the first stop. How to photograph whales in the low light.

~$383per person Check availability

These are GetYourGuide affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a commission and you pay the same price. That does not change which tour sits on top or which catches we write underneath.

Before you go

Eight things about whale safaris that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and every one of them changes your day on the water.

What you should know

  1. The whales moved north. Around a decade ago the herring wintered in the fjords right outside Tromsø, and the whales followed them there. In recent winters they have gathered further north around Skjervøy, which is why every tour now means three hours at sea or four on a bus, each way. The story of the move.
  2. Most of the day is the journey. On the big boats, expect one to two and a half hours with the whales out of seven to nine. The scenery on the way is spectacular, but bring a book for the dark hours.
  3. It is a winter trip, and only a winter trip. From about late October to January, sometimes into February. In summer the whales are out in the open ocean, and no safari from Tromsø goes looking for them. The season month by month.
  4. You sail in twilight. In the polar night the sun stays below the horizon, and the light lasts only a few hours around noon. It is beautiful and hard on cameras. Raise the ISO, and do not expect sharp shots on a phone. Our photo guide.
  5. The deck is colder than the street. Tromsø sits a few degrees below freezing most winter days, but on deck the wind and the speed of the boat make it feel far colder. Wool underneath, windproof on top, a hat over your ears and two pairs of socks.
  6. Seasickness is a real risk. The fjords are mostly sheltered, but every operator warns about waves on the open stretches. Take a tablet before you board, not after you feel ill. Rødne includes them; on the others, bring your own.
  7. Eat before, and pack food. Only Polar Adventures includes lunch. The rest sell snacks on board or nothing at all, and on the RIB days you start before breakfast is served anywhere in town.
  8. Read the paperwork. Rødne needs your details 48 hours ahead, Brim a mandatory online check-in. Miss it and you may wait at the gangway while others board. Polar Adventures gives no refund if you arrive late.

Everything in one table

Tromsø whale safaris compared: price, length and the catch

The six tours side by side, with the strength and the catch of each one in the same row.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Boat and start Operator and rating Strength and catch Book
Fast catamaran, max 90 (our pick) Long cruise calls, first-timers ~$217 7.5 h, 8:30 am Catamaran, 90 of 147 seats · Clarion The Edge, by Prostneset Helgøy Skyssbåt
4.7/5 (650+)		 Shortest day, guides rated 4.9, free repeat without whales. No food, not for wheelchair users. View tour
Hybrid-electric boat Quiet approach, wheelchair users ~$196 7–9 h, 7:30–9 am Electric catamaran, 100+ guests · Brim pier, center Brim Explorer
4.5/5 (6,600+)		 Silent motor near the whales, most reviewed, lowest price. Big crowd, short time with the whales. View tour
High-speed catamaran Queasy stomachs, German or Italian ~$196 8 h, 8:30 or 9 am Large catamaran · harbor behind Nerstranda Rødne Fjord Cruise
4.7/5 (3,700+)		 2.5 h in the whale area, tablets included, second tour free. Registration 48 h ahead, food extra. View tour
All-inclusive, max 50 Everything taken care of ~$235 8 h, 8 am Heated boat, 50 guests · Polar Adventures office Polar Adventures
4.6/5 (1,700+)		 Suits, lunch and drinks included, 2–2.5 h with the whales. Not under 4 or over 70, no refund if late. View tour
Skjervøy RIB safari Adventure, eye-level views ~$334 12.5 h, 4:45 am Bus, then open RIB · Scandic Ishavshotel Arctic Adventure Tours
4.8/5 (1,250+)		 Highest rating, about 3 h on the water, suits provided. 8 h on a bus, nobody under 14. View tour
Heated boat, max 12 Photographers, small groups ~$383 About 12 h Bus, then covered heated boat · Prostneset bus platforms Skua Nature
4.7/5 (250+)		 12 guests, 3–3.5 h at sea, photo tips on board. Most expensive, fewest reviews. View tour

We took prices and ratings straight from the GetYourGuide listings, in US dollars. They change with the date, the option and the exchange rate, and the price shown in the booking step is the one that counts.

Who went

Reviews from travelers after their whale safari in Tromsø

Eighteen travelers, some on a cruise and some staying in town, on what won them over and what did not.

★★★★★

Our Northern Lights cruise had a full day in Tromsø, 7 am to 9 pm, so we took the fast catamaran that leaves right next to the terminal. We could see the boat from the gangway. Three pods of orcas and a humpback that rolled over beside us. Back at the ship before five with time for a nap.

JMJanet M. · Charlotte, North Carolina
★★★★★

We stayed four nights in Tromsø and booked the 8:30 Rødne catamaran with the German-speaking guide, which made it easy for my parents. It took almost three hours to reach the whales near Skjervøy, past mountains that looked like the Alps had been dropped into the sea. Then it was humpbacks everywhere, blowing in the pink light, and a group of orcas working a school of herring so close that we could hear them breathe. The tablets they hand out did their job on the way back, when the swell picked up for half an hour.

ALAndreas L. · Stuttgart, Germany
★★★★☆

Lovely day and plenty of whales, but it is a long time on a boat. We had maybe an hour and a quarter with them out of almost nine hours. The electric motor really is quiet, you only hear the blows. Bring food, the soup on board sells out.

RBRachel B. · Manchester, England
★★★★★

The RIB was the best thing I have done in Norway. Cold, early, wonderful. An orca surfaced two boat lengths away and looked at us.

TKTakeshi K. · Osaka, Japan
★★★★★

We were nervous about the cold, coming from Arizona, so we chose the all-inclusive boat because the thermal suits are part of it. Best decision of the trip. The suits went over everything we owned, lunch was hot and filling, and the crew kept the cocoa coming. They were the first boat at the whales and stayed until the light was going. Our ship had an overnight in Tromsø, which is the only reason we could do it.

DSDebra S. · Scottsdale, Arizona
★★★★★

Booked the 9 am departure for the Italian guide. A real expert, and very funny. Humpbacks, orcas, a sea eagle and sunrise colors at noon. Perfetto.

MHMarco H. · Milan, Italy
★★★★☆

The heated boat to Skjervøy is expensive, and the bus is long, but with twelve people on board you are never fighting for the rail. Our guide knew every whale by its fin. Four stars only because the bus was late back and we missed our dinner booking.

SCSusan C. · Vancouver, Canada
★★★★★

Ship was in Tromsø from early morning until 11 pm on a Northern Lights itinerary. We asked at the excursion desk, the ship's own whale tour cost a lot more. Booked the fast catamaran ourselves instead, took a taxi from Breivika at 7:45 and walked to the pier with time to spare. The crew is relaxed and kind, the lounge is warm, and with only about ninety people on board there was always a gap at the rail. We saw orcas twice and two humpbacks lifting their tails. Back in town just after four, a coffee by the harbor and a shuttle to the ship. Perfect day.

PWPeter W. · Melbourne, Australia
★★★★★

I have done whale watching in Iceland and Canada. Nothing compared to watching orcas round up herring in the middle of the polar night. Take the RIB if you can stand the cold.

LNLena N. · Uppsala, Sweden
★★★★★

We were worried about my wife's wheelchair, but the Brim boat was easy. Boarding was easy, the doors are wide and there is space inside by the windows. When the whales came, a crew member helped her out onto the lower deck. A very kind team.

CGCarlos G. · Madrid, Spain
★★★★☆

The tablets on board are a good idea and I needed them. The sea on the open stretch was lumpy and half the lounge went quiet. Once we reached the fjord with the whales, everything was calm and magical. Just be ready for that part.

HFHelen F. · Edinburgh, Scotland
★★★★★

Overnight in port on a two-week cruise. We started our day at 4:45 at the Scandic and spent twelve hours with the RIB crew and their bus. Eight hours of driving sounds awful, but the drive itself is beautiful and we slept half of it. The three hours on the water were the highlight of the whole cruise.

BRBrian R. · Minneapolis, Minnesota
★★★★★

Small group, big whales. The photographers on the Skua boat taught me to shoot in that strange blue light. I came home with the best pictures I have ever taken.

YCYuki C. · Singapore
★★★★★

Our first boat was cancelled for a storm and the second one saw nothing but porpoises. We used the free repeat on our last day, and that was the one: humpbacks lunging right beside the boat, gulls everywhere. Keep a spare day if you can.

KDKate D. · Cork, Ireland
★★★★★

We went in early November on our winter cruise and were not sure the whales would be there yet. They were. Orcas within minutes of reaching the whale area, then a humpback that breached twice. The fast catamaran is aptly named.

GAGrace A. · Atlanta, Georgia
★★★★☆

Everything was well organised, and the fixed lunch and suits are a big plus with kids. Our ten-year-old loved it until about hour six, then asked every ten minutes if we were nearly there. Bring a tablet or a card game for the ride home.

OMOliver M. · Bristol, England
★★★★★

Stayed a week in Tromsø and did two safaris, the electric boat and the fast catamaran. Both found whales. The catamaran felt more personal, the electric boat quieter around the animals. You will not regret either.

NTNadia T. · Toronto, Canada
★★★★★

Our cruise had a long call in Tromsø, and I was worried about getting back. The guide checked our all-aboard time at boarding and promised we would make it. We were back by four, with orca photos on my phone and frozen fingers. Wear proper gloves.

FWFrank W. · Hamburg, Germany

Whenever suits you

Book the fast catamaran from Prostneset

If you have a free day in Tromsø between late October and January and want the best chance of orcas and humpbacks without the longest day, we would book the fast and comfortable catamaran. It boards beside the cruise terminal at 8:30 am, keeps the group to 90 on a boat with 147 seats, and is back around 4 pm.

The guides are rated 4.9 out of 5, and if the whales stay away you go again for free on another date. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve today and pay later. Pack a lunch, dress warmer than you think, and take a seasickness tablet if the sea worries you.

~$217

per person · 7.5 hours · from 8:30 am

Check availability
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Reserve now, pay later
  • ✓ No more than 90 guests
  • ✓ Free repeat trip if you see no whales

Good to know

Why the whales come to Tromsø, and what they are doing there

Five minutes of reading, and you will know what you are looking at when the first fin breaks the surface. Your guide will be impressed.

It starts with a small silver fish. Each autumn, a huge stock of herring swims in from the Norwegian Sea to spend the winter in the deep, sheltered fjords of the north, packed together and barely moving. For the whales that is a buffet that stays in one place for three months, and they come from far away to eat it. Many of Norway's orcas follow the herring through the year; the humpbacks stop by on their way south, building up fat before a long journey to their breeding grounds in the tropics.

01The herring decide where you go

The herring do not winter in the same fjord forever. In the 2010s they gathered right outside Tromsø, and whale safaris were short trips from town. Then they shifted north, and in recent winters the whales have been feeding in the waters around Skjervøy and Kvænangen, a long sail or drive from Tromsø. That is why the boats now leave at dawn, and why the crews spend the season swapping reports on where the whales were seen the day before.

02The orcas' carousel

Norwegian orcas have a hunting trick of their own. A family group circles a school of herring, blowing bubbles and flashing their white bellies to drive the fish into a tight ball near the surface. Then they slap the ball with their tails, stunning the fish, and pick them off one by one. Scientists call it carousel feeding. If you see orcas circling slowly and tails slapping the water, that is what is going on below.

03The humpbacks' long commute

The humpbacks you meet here may spend the rest of their year an ocean away. Photographs of individual tails have matched whales seen in northern Norway to breeding grounds in the Caribbean and around Cape Verde, thousands of kilometers south. They come north to feed, and in the fjords they lunge through the herring with their mouths wide open, often right in the middle of the orcas' carousel.

The underside of a humpback's tail is as individual as a fingerprint, and researchers identify whales from tourists' photos.

04Your photo could name a whale

Because every tail fluke has its own pattern of black, white and scars, a clear photo of one is data. Citizen-science projects such as Happywhale collect pictures from whale watchers around the world and match them to known individuals. If you catch a humpback raising its tail as it dives, you may find out where it spends the summer. How to get that shot in polar light is in our guide.

05A town that lived from the Arctic sea

Tromsø grew rich in the 19th century as the base for Arctic hunting and polar expeditions, and the Polar Museum by the harbor tells that story without much sugar on it. Norway still hunts minke whales today, and you may see whale meat on menus in town. The whale safaris are a much younger business, and for many people here a welcome sign that the animals are worth more alive.

06Two months without a sunrise

From late November to mid-January the sun never clears the horizon in Tromsø. It is not pitch dark all day, though. For a few hours around midday the sky glows blue, then pink and amber over the mountains, the light photographers call the blue hour, stretched over half a day. That is the light of a December whale safari, and the reason this site has the colors it does.

69.6°North, Tromsø's latitude

~3 hEach way to the whales

Up to 16 mLength of a humpback

~7Weeks of polar night

Which months bring the most whales, and how the polar night shapes the day, is in our guide When the whales are near Tromsø.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about whale watching in Tromsø

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does whale watching in Tromsø cost?

Roughly $200 to $400 per person online. The big boats start at ~$196 for Brim's electric boat and Rødne's catamaran, ~$217 for our pick and ~$235 for the all-inclusive boat with lunch and suits. The Skjervøy tours with a bus cost ~$334 for the open RIB and ~$383 for the heated boat for twelve. What each one includes for the money is in our price guide.

Which whale watching tour in Tromsø is the best?

For most travelers, the fast and comfortable catamaran that boards next to the Prostneset terminal. It has the best-rated guides of the big boats at 4.9, takes no more than 90 guests on 147 seats and is back around 4 pm. For the closest view, the Skjervøy RIB has the highest overall rating, and for the quietest approach, Brim's hybrid-electric boat.

When is whale season in Tromsø?

From about late October to the end of January, sometimes into February, while the herring winter in the northern fjords. Rødne's season runs from October 23 to January 31, and some operators say December and January are the peak months. There are no whale safaris from Tromsø in summer.

Can I go whale watching from my cruise ship?

Yes, if your ship is in port for most of the day. Every tour on this page starts in the center, and our pick boards a minute from the Prostneset terminal. The big boats leave between 7:30 and 9 am and return between about 4 and 5:30 pm, so you need a call from early morning to evening, or an overnight. From the Breivika quay, add 15 to 20 minutes each way.

Will I be back before my ship leaves?

Only on a long call. Our pick is back around 4 pm, Rødne and Polar Adventures around 4 to 4:30 pm, Brim's boats after seven to nine hours, and the Skjervøy tours at about 5:30 pm. Keep at least an hour between the return and all-aboard. The ship waits for its own excursions, not for tours you booked yourself.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. Whales are wild animals and weather can cut a trip short, and every operator says so. Sightings in the season are frequent, and Brim states a success rate of over 95 percent. Our pick and Rødne offer a free trip on another date if you see none; the other listings do not mention it.

Which whales will I see?

Mostly orcas and humpback whales, which come for the herring. Fin whales turn up regularly, and some days bring sperm whales or minke whales. Harbor porpoises and white-tailed eagles are common extras. How to tell them apart is in our species guide.

How long does a whale safari last?

Seven and a half to nine hours on the big boats that sail from Tromsø, of which one to two and a half hours are spent with the whales. The tours that drive to Skjervøy first take about twelve hours, with around three hours on the water.

Should I choose a RIB or a big boat?

A RIB brings you low and close to the whales, fast, but it is cold, bumpy and open to the weather, with an age limit of 14 on the tour we list. A big catamaran is warm, has toilets and a lounge, and rolls less, but you watch from higher up and share the deck. Our comparison covers the middle options too.

What should I wear on a whale safari?

Layers: thermal underwear, a wool or fleece sweater, a windproof and waterproof jacket, warm trousers, a hat, a scarf or buff, gloves with liners and insulated winter boots with two pairs of socks. On deck the wind makes it feel much colder than in town. The RIB tours provide flotation suits, but you still need your own warm layers underneath.

Will I get seasick?

Possibly. Most of the route runs through sheltered fjords, but there are open stretches with waves. If you know the feeling, swallow a tablet before boarding; Rødne includes them, the others do not. Stay on deck with your eyes on the horizon, and choose a big catamaran over a small boat. More tips in the guide.

Can children go whale watching?

On the big boats, yes. Polar Adventures takes children from 4, and our pick, Brim and Rødne set no age limit in their listings. The heated small boat takes children from 6, and the open RIB only from 14 and 140 cm. A whole day at sea is long for small children, so pack food and something to do. Families have their own guide.

Is there a wheelchair-accessible whale safari?

Brim Explorer's hybrid-electric boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. Our pick, Rødne and Polar Adventures state that they are not suitable for wheelchair users, and the RIB is not an option. Contact the operator before you book to check the boarding at your departure.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes, on all six tours on this page, up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. All six also offer reserve now, pay later, so you can hold a seat without paying today. If the operator cancels because of weather or too few guests, you get a full refund or a new date.

Read before you travel

Guides to whale watching in Tromsø

Twelve questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.