What to Wear for Whale Watching in Tromsø

Dress for standing still on a cold, windy deck for up to two hours: wool next to the skin, a fleece or down layer, a windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers, winter boots, a woollen hat, a buff and mittens. The catamarans from Tromsø lend nothing, so bring all of it; the RIB tours from Skjervøy lend a floating suit, boots, mittens and goggles to go over your own layers. On a catamaran you can warm up inside between sightings, which is why we would book Arctic Resorts’ safari, rated 4.7 from 3,762 reviews and from $192 a person in current promotion (usually $226) (checked October 2026).

The list

• Base layer: wool top and long johns, wool socks (two pairs if your boots allow).
• Middle: a fleece or a light down jacket.
• Outer: a windproof, waterproof jacket with a hood, and waterproof trousers.
• Feet: insulated winter boots with a grip for wet, icy decks.
• Head and hands: a woollen hat, a buff or scarf for your face, thin gloves for the camera under warm mittens.
• In your bag: seasickness tablets, a packed lunch or snacks if your boat sells only a kiosk menu, binoculars, a spare battery, and a waterproof bag for the RIB.

Visit Tromsø’s own advice for the whale season is warm clothes, winter boots, a woollen hat and mittens. Arctic Adventure Tours tells RIB guests to dress warm from home in layers even though it lends the suit, and to bring mittens, a hat and a buff.

What each kind of tour lends

On a phone, swipe the table sideways.

From the GetYourGuide listings, read on 29 October 2026.

Seasickness

Take it seriously. To reach the whales from Tromsø the boats cross stretches of open water, and Njord Adventures names the crossing of Lyngenfjord as the rougher part of the way. Helgøy Skyssbåt, Polar Adventures, Arctic Whale Tours, See & Explore and Frozen Frontiers all mark their tours as not suitable for people prone to seasickness, and Arctic Resorts lists seasickness tablets among the things not included. Brim Explorer warns of wavy conditions and tells guests to ask the crew for tips.

On the RIBs the warnings come from guests: several in the newest 350 reviews of Arctic Adventure Tours’ RIB tell you not to forget the tablets. If you know you get seasick, bring your own medicine and take it before you board, and on a catamaran tell the crew early: one guest worried about seasickness wrote that the crew kept an eye on them and advised where on the boat to go when it got choppy.

Check dates for the catamaran safari →

Cameras in the dark season

From 27 November to 15 January the sun does not rise in Tromsø (Visit Tromsø), so most whale photos are taken in a few hours of blue twilight. A lens with some zoom helps more than anything; one guest on the catamaran called zoom and binoculars indispensable. Keep spare batteries inside your jacket, where they stay warm. Drones are not allowed on Arctic Resorts’ catamaran or Arctic Adventure Tours’ RIB, and RIB guests should keep their kit in a waterproof bag against the spray.

The weather

Nobody can tell you the sea in advance. Tours run in snow and wind, and the operator cancels or changes a trip when it is unsafe, under the terms of the listing. Every tour on this site can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. The best time for whale watching covers daylight by week, and the FAQ the rest of the practical questions.

Clothing lent and excluded, seasickness notes and drone rules from the GetYourGuide listings, read on 29 October 2026; guests’ accounts from the newest 350 reviews of Arctic Resorts’ catamaran and Arctic Adventure Tours’ RIB, read the same day. Packing advice and polar night dates from Visit Tromsø.