"The crew were very helpful, I was worried about sea sickness but they kept an eye on me and advised when it could have been choppy and where best to go on the boat. I was fine and very reassured by this. We saw lots of orcas and a hump back whale, lovely experience"
Illustration.
From Tromsø Harbour · Whale Area near Skjervøy · About 8 Hours
Whale Watching Tour Tromsø
Arctic Resorts' high-speed catamaran leaves the harbour behind the Nerstranda shopping centre in central Tromsø and sails about 2.75 hours north to the whale area near Skjervøy, where orcas and humpbacks feed on herring in winter. Coffee and tea are on board, and if you see no whales you can take a second tour free of charge.
From
$192
per person
current promotion, usually $226
Free cancellation
- 4.7 / 5 3762+ Reviews
- 8 h Tromsø harbour to the whales and back
- 2.5 h In the whale area near Skjervøy
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Catamaran Day Includes
A heated lounge with panoramic windows, outside decks, guides who talk you through the whales, and a second tour free if the first one sees none.
Highlights
- A high-speed catamaran from the harbour behind the Nerstranda shopping centre in central Tromsø
- About 2.75 hours each way through the fjords, with the Lyngen Alps on the way north
- About 2.5 hours in the whale area near Skjervøy, where orcas and humpbacks hunt herring in winter
- A heated lounge with panoramic windows, outside decks and guides who explain what you are seeing
- A second tour free of charge if no whales are seen on yours
What's Included
- The catamaran trip from Tromsø and back
- English and German or English and Italian speaking guides, depending on the departure
- A presentation about the whales and the region
- Hot coffee, tea and water
- Life jackets and safety equipment
Good to know: Food is not included; a kiosk on board sells snacks and drinks · About 48 hours before departure you are asked by email for the details the maritime authorities require · Sightings cannot be guaranteed; if none are seen, a second tour can be booked free at the Destination Tromsø Booking Point · Not suitable for wheelchair users; drones and smoking are not allowed on board · Seasickness tablets are not included: bring your own if the sea troubles you · Not suitable for: Wheelchair users · Not Included: Seasickness tablets, Food (snacks are available for purchase at the kiosk on board)
How the Whale Safari Works
Register your details two days before, board behind Nerstranda, sail north past the Lyngen Alps, and spend about two and a half hours in the whale area.
Pick a Date and Departure
The calendar below shows the dates, the 08:30 and 09:00 departures and the price per person. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Register Two Days Before
About 48 hours before you sail, an email asks for the names and details the maritime authorities need; filling it in early keeps the check-in short.
Board Behind Nerstranda
The catamarans lie at the harbour behind the Nerstranda shopping centre in central Tromsø. The trip north past the Lyngen Alps takes about 2.75 hours.
The Whale Area, then Home
About 2.5 hours searching the waters near Skjervøy with the guides on deck, then the same way back; in December and January part of the return is in the dark.
Photo Gallery
On the Catamaran to Skjervøy
The boat, the fjords on the way north and the whale area near Skjervøy.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Four Whale Watching Tours from Tromsø Compared
The catamaran safari from the harbour, a quiet hybrid-electric boat, a 12-seat RIB from Skjervøy with the bus, and a night at sea on an expedition ship. Prices per person, read on GetYourGuide in October 2026.
| Feature | SECOND TOUR FREE Catamaran from Tromsø | QUIET ENGINE Hybrid-Electric Boat | 12 A BOAT RIB from Skjervøy | CABIN AND MEALS 24 Hours on MV Quest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $192/person in current promotion (usually $226) | From $184/person in current promotion (usually $204) | From $346/person | From $456/person in current promotion (usually $702) |
| Rating | 4.7 from 3,762 reviews | 4.5 from 6,816 reviews | 4.8 from 1,295 reviews | 4.9 from 49 reviews |
| Starts from | Tromsø harbour, behind Nerstranda | Brim Explorer's pier, Tromsø | Bus at 05:00, Scandic Ishavshotel | Prostneset harbour, Tromsø |
| In the whale area | About 2.5 hours | 1 to 1.5 hours | At least 3 hours on the water | About 4 hours in the morning |
| Length | About 8 hours | 8 to 9 hours | About 12 hours | 24 hours |
| Guests | A large catamaran | Up to 135 | 12 a RIB | A small group, private cabins |
| Food | Coffee and tea; kiosk | Water; café on board | Hot drink and a sandwich | Dinner, breakfast and lunch |
| If no whales | A second tour free | No offer | No offer | A daytime tour free |
| Check Availability | See the Boat | See the RIB | See the Night at Sea |
More Options
Other Whale Watching Tours from Tromsø
A 12-seat RIB from Skjervøy with the bus, a quiet hybrid-electric boat, smaller boats from town, and a night at sea on an expedition ship.
RIB, 12 A BOATTromsø: Skjervøy RIB Whale Watching Tour
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QUIET ENGINETromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat
Imagine sailing silently through Arctic waters, surrounded by icy fjords and low winter sun, visuals that form core memories and are great for photos. Then our …
90 GUESTS AT MOSTTromsø: Whale Watching - fast and comfortable catamaran
Each winter, whales follow the herring into the nutrient-rich waters of Northern Norway, offering a unique opportunity to experience these incredible animals in …
SNACKS INCLUDEDTromsø Whale & Orca Safari – All-Inclusive (Max 50 pax)
Whale Safari from Tromsø – A Personal Arctic Experience Join Polar Adventures for an unforgettable whale safari through the Arctic waters between Tromsø and …
RIB, BOAT ONLY OPTIONFrom Tromsø or Skjervøy: Whale Safari by RIB Boat
From October to January, the herring migration draws an abundance of majestic whale species to the fjords of Skjervøy — and you can be right there with them. Joining …
NIGHT AT SEATromsø: Whale Expedition | 99% success rate | All-Inclusive
Step aboard the MV Quest and set out for 24 hours at sea, where Northern Lights, whales, fjords, and Arctic silence come together in one unforgettable journey. This …
The Guide
Which Boat, Which Weeks, and What Happens If the Whales Stay Away
A big catamaran from the harbour in town or a 12-seat RIB from Skjervøy after a four-hour bus ride; early November or late January. Here is what each choice costs, how long you spend with the whales, and what the season depends on.
A whale watching tour from Tromsø is a full day at sea: the whales feed in the fjords near Skjervøy, about 2.5 to 3.5 hours north of the city by boat, so every tour either sails there from the harbour in town or takes you to Skjervøy by bus for a smaller boat. The season runs from about the start of November to the end of January. The tour we would book is Arctic Resorts’ high-speed catamaran from the harbour behind Nerstranda, with about 2.5 hours in the whale area and a second tour free if you see none, rated 4.7 from 3,762 reviews and from $192 a person in current promotion (usually $226) (checked October 2026).
Check dates for the catamaran safari →
Two ways to reach the whales
Since the herring moved north, the whales are no longer just off Tromsø. Visit Tromsø writes that orcas and humpbacks have gathered to feed on herring in the Kvænangen area since 2017, and that the herring, and the whales with it, can shift from year to year. So the choice you make first is how you get there.
By boat from Tromsø. Catamarans and other large boats leave the harbour in the centre in the morning, sail north through Grøtsundet and past the Lyngen Alps, and spend one to two and a half hours in the whale area around Kågsundet and Skjervøy before sailing back. The day is seven to nine hours, you sit in a heated lounge with windows, and you step out on deck when the whales are close. In December most of the trip home is in the dark.
By bus to Skjervøy, then a RIB. A bus leaves Tromsø at about five in the morning and takes 3.5 to 4 hours to Skjervøy, where you put on a floating suit and board an open rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with up to 12 people. You spend about three hours on the water, low and close to it, then take the bus back: a 12-hour day. Smaller covered boats run from Skjervøy too.
| Tour | Boat | Starts from | In the whale area | Length | From, per person | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale safari by high-speed catamaran (Arctic Resorts) | Catamaran | Tromsø harbour, 08:30 or 09:00 | About 2.5 h | 8 h | $192 in current promotion (usually $226) | 4.7 (3,762) |
| Hybrid-electric whale safari (Brim Explorer) | Hybrid-electric, up to 135 guests | Tromsø harbour | 1 to 1.5 h | 8 to 9 h | $184 in current promotion (usually $204) | 4.5 (6,816) |
| Fast catamaran, 90 guests at most (Helgøy Skyssbåt) | Catamaran | Tromsø harbour | Not stated | 7 to 7.5 h | $226 | 4.8 (699) |
| Whale and orca safari, snacks included (Polar Adventures) | Heated boat, up to 50 guests | Tromsø harbour, 08:00 | 2 to 2.5 h | 8 h | $243 in current promotion (usually $270) | 4.6 (1,725) |
| Skjervøy RIB whale watching (Arctic Adventure Tours) | Open RIB, 12 a boat | Bus 05:00, Scandic Ishavshotel | At least 3 h on the water | 12 h | $346 | 4.8 (1,295) |
| RIB whale watching at Skjervøy (Green Gold of Norway) | RIB, up to 12 | Bus 05:20, Prostneset | 2.5 to 3 h on the water | About 12 h | $367 | 4.7 (1,218) |
| Heated covered boat at Skjervøy (Skua Nature Group) | Covered, heated boat | Bus from Prostneset | 3 to 3.5 h on the water | 12 h | $351 | 4.7 (261) |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways for the prices and ratings.
Prices, ratings and review counts from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026). Times in the whale area are each listing’s own; the boats from Tromsø include the trip north, the Skjervøy tours include the bus.
Which one should you book?
Pick by the day you want:
Warm, with a second chance
Catamaran from Tromsø
Arctic Resorts: from the harbour behind Nerstranda, about 2.5 hours near Skjervøy, coffee on board, and a free second tour if no whales are seen.
Check dates →Closest to the water
RIB from Skjervøy
Arctic Adventure Tours: the 05:00 bus to Skjervøy, then at least three hours in an open RIB with 11 others, suit and goggles lent. From age 14.
See the RIB tour →Quiet near the whales
Hybrid-Electric Boat
Brim Explorer: a large sightseeing boat that switches to its electric engine around the whales, with three outside decks. Food is sold on board.
See the electric boat →Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026); operators change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Catamaran or RIB
The catamaran is the easier day. You leave at half past eight from the middle of town, you can sit inside when the wind is hard, and the boats carry toilets and a kiosk. The cost is distance: you share the deck with many other guests, and you watch from higher up. The RIB puts you a metre above the sea with a dozen people, in a floating suit, for longer in the whale area, but it starts with a bus at five in the morning, spray and cold, and limits on age, height and back problems. Catamaran or RIB goes through who suits which.
When the whales are there
Visit Tromsø gives the season as usually from the beginning of November to the end of January, with the timing changing from year to year. The tours sell earlier dates: Arctic Resorts’ 08:30 catamaran runs from 23 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, and guests who sailed between 24 and 28 October 2026 wrote of orcas and humpbacks. The end of the season is the weak point. Reviews of the same catamaran from the last week of January 2026 say the guides warned that the orcas had usually left by then, and some boats came back with porpoises only. From 27 November to 15 January the sun stays below the horizon in Tromsø (Visit Tromsø), so a December trip has a few hours of blue light around midday. The best time for whale watching in Tromsø goes week by week.
What it costs
At their usual prices, the day trips by boat from Tromsø cost about $200 to $270 a person in October 2026, and the RIB days with the bus to Skjervøy about $310 to $370. Several listings carry a promotional price, which our tables show while it lasts. A night aboard an expedition ship, with a cabin, meals and a morning in the whale area, costs several hundred dollars more. Whale watching prices in Tromsø sets out the whole ladder and what each step adds.
If you see no whales
No tour can promise whales, and every listing says so. Several make up for a blank day: Arctic Resorts lets you book a second tour free at the Destination Tromsø Booking Point, Helgøy Skyssbåt lets you join another tour free on any date with space in the season, and Arctic Whale Tours gives a Whale Pass for a free rebooking within 12 months. None of these is a refund, and they only help if you have a spare day in Tromsø. What if there are no whales? compares the offers.
The rules on the water
Norway’s whale-watching regulation of 5 December 2019 forbids any whale safari that disturbs the whales in their natural habitat, and keeps whale boats at least 0.2 nautical miles (370 m) from fishing boats and their nets; swimmers, divers and paddlers must stay 0.4 nautical miles (740 m) away. Visit Tromsø’s guidelines for operators go further: less than 5 knots within 300 m of whales, at most three boats on one group, and no more than 30 minutes per boat when others are waiting. Visit Tromsø discourages getting into the water with whales; swimming with orcas in Tromsø explains why.
What to wear
Dress for a long day of standing still on a cold deck: wool next to the skin, a warm layer, a windproof jacket and trousers, winter boots, a hat and mittens. The RIB tours lend a floating suit, boots and mittens; the catamarans lend nothing. If you get seasick, take your own tablets, because the crossing of open water on the way north can be rough. What to wear for whale watching has the list, and the whale watching FAQ answers the rest.
Departure times, harbours, times in the whale area, inclusions, ages, second-chance offers and prices from the GetYourGuide listings, read in US dollars on 29 October 2026; guests’ accounts from the newest 350 reviews of the catamaran safari, read the same day. Season, the Kvænangen herring, polar night dates and the operators’ guidelines from Visit Tromsø. Distances in the regulation from Forskrift om utøvelse av hvalsafari (FOR-2019-12-05-1651), as published on Lovdata.
Guest Reviews
What Guests on the Catamaran Say
4.7/5
from 3762 verified guests
"The staff were fabulous...Happy, friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was very comfortable and good facilities.We had perfect conditions and saw a large pod orcas and...humpbacks ...who breached and played nearby for a wonderful show. A truly memorable and beautiful experience x"
"We had a lovely trip. Crew were great and very helpful and kept us entertained. There was no overcrowding which was the biggest advantage. There was free tea and coffee to keep us warm. I would strongly recommend."
"Unbelievable day! More whales than we good possibly see - absolutely insane as whales in all directions for over an hour! Crew exceptional - knowledgeable & helpful. Great focus too education about the whales. Great day - worth every bit of the cost!"
"It was the best day! We were so lucky to see both orcas and humpback whales! The two guides were lovely and their information and presentation was really informative and interesting. The northern lights also came out on our way back to the port. Definitely recommend."
"Even though we didnnot make the whale tour, as the whales are away, but a fjord tour, it was really amazing. The guides were nice and gave us many information on the tour."
"Despite the whale watching being cancelled we had an amazing fjord cruise, our guides were amazing, informative and passionate, thoroughly recommend despite no whales"
"The trip was great! We didn’t see any whales or orcas during our trip as it seems they have already migrated but the captain has informed us in advance about that. But we were able to see a lot of harbour porpoise which made us very excited. The staff was polite and responsive. The only thing that I didn’t like was that our departure time was changed and the boat was full."
Read all 3,762 verified reviews
See All ReviewsSail from Tromsø to the Orcas and Humpbacks
Arctic Resorts' whale safari: a high-speed catamaran from the harbour behind Nerstranda, about 2.75 hours each way past the Lyngen Alps, about 2.5 hours in the whale area near Skjervøy, coffee and tea on board, and a second tour free if no whales are seen, as listed in October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $192 per person in current promotion (usually $226).
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
Browse More Available Options
Find a tour that fits your schedule. Dates and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Tromsø Whale Watching FAQ
The questions people ask before booking a whale tour from Tromsø, answered in the first sentence and explained in the ones after.
Usually from the beginning of November to the end of January, according to Visit Tromsø, with the timing changing from year to year. The tours sell dates from late October: Arctic Resorts' catamaran runs from 23 October 2026 to 31 January 2027. Mid-November to mid-January is the safest stretch; in the last week of January the orcas have often left. The best time for whale watching goes week by week.
About $200 to $270 a person for a day trip by boat from Tromsø harbour and $310 to $370 for a RIB day with the bus to Skjervøy, at the usual prices read in US dollars in October 2026. Some listings carry promotional prices below that, and a night at sea on Arctic Resorts' MV Quest is about $700 at its usual price. Whale watching prices in Tromsø sets them side by side.
Likely in November and December, less so at the end of January, and never guaranteed. Brim Explorer gives its success rate as over 95% and Arctic Adventure Tours says whales were seen on over 98% of its RIB tours; both are the companies' own figures. Guests on the catamaran in the last week of January 2026 wrote that the orcas had usually left by then. What if there are no whales? has the detail.
On some tours you get another trip free; on others nothing, and none gives your money back for it. Arctic Resorts offers a second tour free at the Destination Tromsø Booking Point, Helgøy Skyssbåt another tour on any date with space in the season, and Arctic Whale Tours a Whale Pass for a free rebooking within 12 months. Book your whale day early in your stay so a second chance still fits.
A catamaran from Tromsø harbour for most people; a RIB from Skjervøy if you want to be low on the water and can take a 12-hour day in the cold. The catamarans leave town at 08:30 or 09:00 and have a heated lounge; the RIBs start with a bus at about 05:00, carry about 12 people and spend about three hours on the water, but take nobody under 14 on most tours. Catamaran or RIB compares them.
Seven to nine hours by boat from Tromsø, and about 12 hours for the RIB tours with the bus to Skjervøy. The boats from town need 2.5 to 3.5 hours each way to the whale area and spend one to two and a half hours there; the bus to Skjervøy takes 3.5 to 4 hours each way and the RIB about three hours at sea. A 24-hour trip with a night on board is the longest.
From the harbour in the city centre for the boats, and from the Scandic Ishavshotel or the Prostneset bus terminal for the buses to Skjervøy. Arctic Resorts' catamarans lie behind the Nerstranda shopping centre, Arctic Whale Tours' MS Alba near Fridtjof Nansens plass, and Njord Adventures by the Scandic Ishavshotel; all are a few minutes' walk apart. Check the exact pier in your booking confirmation.
It is not banned, but Visit Tromsø discourages getting into the water with whales, and we list no swim tours. Feeding whales may not notice a swimmer, the winter sea is cold and dark, and Norway's whale-safari regulation applies to swimming and diving as much as to boats. Swimming with orcas in Tromsø explains the rules and risks.
Wool next to the skin, a warm middle layer, a windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers, winter boots, a woollen hat, a buff and mittens. The catamarans lend no clothing; the RIB tours lend a floating suit, boots, mittens and goggles to go over your own layers. What to wear has the full list.
You might: the boats cross open water on the way north, and several listings mark their tours as not suitable for people prone to seasickness. Arctic Resorts does not include seasickness tablets, so bring your own and take them before you board. Guests on the Skjervøy RIBs give the same advice.
Yes, on the boats from Tromsø; most RIB tours take nobody under 14. Arctic Resorts' catamaran states no age limit, Polar Adventures takes children from 4 and Njord Adventures from 1 year. On the RIBs, Arctic Adventure Tours and Frozen Frontiers set 14 and 140 cm, while See & Explore and Skua Nature Group take children from 6.
Only with a full day in port: the boat tours from Tromsø last seven to nine hours and leave between 08:00 and 09:00, and the RIB days start with a bus at about 05:00. Check your ship's arrival and all-aboard times against the tour's return before you book; a stop of a few hours is too short for any whale tour here.
Sometimes on the way back in the dark season, but no day tour is built for it. Some guests on Arctic Resorts' catamaran saw the northern lights as they returned to the harbour. Arctic Resorts' 24-hour MV Quest trip spends the night at sea and wakes guests if the lights appear.
Still have questions? Email us at info@whalewatchingtourtromso.com