Skjervøy: Whale and Orca Watching Tour by RIB Boat

The main draw here is the chance to watch orcas and humpback whales in Arctic waters from a small, fast RIB boat. You leave Skjervøy and search the coastline for several whale species, with the crew explaining animal behaviour as you go.

I like the tiny group size, limited to two people, and the practical cold-weather gear, which includes a thermal suit, life vest, mittens, and goggles. The three-hour trip gives you a fair amount of time on the water, but sightings are wild-animal sightings, not a scheduled show. One outing has produced a dream encounter with many whales, while another has seen no animals at all.

Key points to know before booking

• Orcas are the headline sighting: You may also search for humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales.
• The boat is a fast RIB: High speed helps the crew cover more water, but the ride can feel rough for anyone with back problems.
• Only two people join the group: This is a very personal setup, with room for both passengers to see and photograph the water.
• Cold-weather clothing is supplied: Thermal suits, life vests, mittens, and goggles are included, but you still need warm clothing.
• The trip lasts three hours: You spend that time searching, learning about whales, and watching for surface activity.
• Sightings are not guaranteed: The sea and the animals set the schedule, not the tour operator.

Leaving Skjervøy from Strandveien 70

Your meeting point is the Explore 70 Degrees office in central Skjervøy. Look for the red door next to Elon, with the company logo and name on the building. This simple detail matters in a small Arctic town, especially if you are arriving early in cold weather and do not want to waste time searching for the boat.

From the office, you are prepared for the RIB trip and fitted with the supplied safety gear. The thermal suit helps protect you from the cold air and spray, while the life vest is standard safety equipment. Mittens and goggles are included too, though you should still wear warm layers underneath.

Bring warm clothing, even with the suit. Arctic weather can change quickly, and you will appreciate extra insulation while sitting on the boat and watching the water. Food and drinks are not included, so eat beforehand and bring anything you need if the operator allows it. Alcohol and drugs are not permitted.

The activity is offered in English or Norwegian. No guide names are provided, but the crew leads the boat, explains whale behaviour and ecology, and helps you keep watch for animals at the surface.

What a three-hour RIB trip feels like

The RIB is not a slow sightseeing boat. You travel at high speed along the coast, covering water as the crew searches for signs of whales. That speed is useful because cetaceans can be spread over a wide area, and the crew needs to move toward reports or promising activity.

You should expect an active search rather than a fixed route with guaranteed stops. The boat may travel for a while before anything appears. Keep watching the sea, since whales can surface only briefly and may show a back, fin, blow, or full breach before disappearing again.

The small group limit of two people is a real advantage. You do not need to compete with a crowd for the best view, and the guide can give direct instructions about where to look. It also makes the trip feel more private than a large whale-watching vessel.

The tradeoff is comfort. A RIB gives you speed and a close-to-the-water position, but it also exposes you to movement, wind, and spray. The tour is not suitable for people with back problems, and children under six are not allowed. The minimum height is 3 feet 9 inches, or 120 centimetres.

Searching for four types of whales

The crew searches for sperm whales, orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales. Each species offers a different kind of sighting, though the tour cannot promise that you will see any particular animal.

Orcas are often the animal people most hope to see. Their black-and-white markings make them easy to identify, and watching a pod move through the water can be thrilling. The supplied information also describes a possible feeding session if orcas are found. That means you may be able to watch their coordinated behaviour as they feed, rather than simply seeing a distant dorsal fin.

Humpback whales can make a trip especially memorable because of their size and surface displays. You might see a broad back, a blow, a tail, or a breach. The experience description specifically highlights watching whales frolic and break through the surface, but you should treat those moments as lucky encounters rather than expected events.

Fin whales are also on the search list. They are large, fast-moving whales, and seeing one surface near a small boat gives you a strong sense of scale. Sperm whales are included as well, adding another possible species to the outing even though sightings of all four are not assured.

This variety gives the trip more range than an excursion aimed at one animal only. Still, do not book it as if you are buying a guaranteed orca sighting. One January outing produced no animals, while another produced orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales in large numbers. That contrast is the central fact you need to accept before paying for a wildlife tour.

The value of expert guidance on open water

A good whale trip is not just a boat ride. The crew has to read the water, watch for blows and fins, move the boat safely, and explain what you are seeing without disturbing the animals. Here, the guide provides information about whale behaviour and ecology during the search.

That explanation adds value when sightings are brief. If you learn what to look for, a small disturbance on the surface becomes easier to interpret. You may notice the direction of a pod, the spacing between animals, or the difference between a whale’s blow and ordinary spray.

The crew also handles the practical side of the trip. You receive the safety gear, travel in the RIB, and return to Strandveien 70 after about three hours. The high-speed boat gives the crew a useful way to search a broad section of the Arctic coast.

Still, no guide can control the whales. The company can make a poor day more useful by explaining the ecology and giving you time on the water, but it cannot turn an empty sea into a sighting. Keep that distinction in mind when judging the $240 price.

Is $240 good value?

At $240 per person, this is a costly three-hour activity. The price makes more sense if you value a very small group, high-speed transport, specialist equipment, and the chance to see several major whale species in their natural setting.

The group limit is especially important. With only two participants, you get a quieter and more direct experience than you would on a packed boat. That can improve your view and your access to the guide. The supplied thermal suit and safety equipment also save you from buying or renting specialist cold-weather gear for one outing.

The price feels harder to justify if your main goal is a guaranteed orca photograph. There is no guarantee of any species, and one reported outing ended without a single animal sighting. Another produced many killer whales, humpback whales, and fin whales, showing how sharply the result can vary from day to day.

I would think of the cost as payment for a serious wildlife search, not a ticket to a performance. If seeing whales in the wild is a major reason for visiting Skjervøy, the possibility may be worth it. If your budget is tight or your schedule allows only one must-see activity, the uncertainty deserves careful thought.

What the strongest outings can deliver

The best reported experiences combine several things: good organization, striking Arctic scenery, and multiple whale species. One outing produced many orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales, with the passenger praising the organization and planning to return the following year.

Another passenger described seeing orcas in the wild as a long-held dream fulfilled. That captures the emotional side of this tour. A pod moving through open water is very different from viewing a captive animal or watching a whale from a distant shore.

The RIB format adds to that sense of closeness. You are low on the water and moving quickly, with no large cabin separating you from the cold air and sea. The thermal suit makes this possible, but the experience remains outdoors and weather-dependent.

You may also get dramatic surface behaviour. Breaching is listed as a possible highlight, along with whales frolicking and feeding. These events are not scheduled, so your best approach is to keep your expectations high but specific hopes modest.

The risk of a disappointing day

The biggest weakness is simple: wildlife can be absent. One passenger reported seeing no animals and felt that the crew should have cancelled because conditions were apparently poor. Another short rating offered no detail but still gave the activity a negative score.

You should understand this risk before booking, especially at $240. The operators can search, travel efficiently, and give you information, but they cannot guarantee the animals are nearby or active at the surface.

The contrast between empty and exceptional outings may also reflect changing conditions, animal movement, and timing. The available information does not provide a sighting guarantee, refund promise for no whales, or alternate activity if the search fails. Ask the operator directly if that point matters to your budget.

This is not a reason to avoid the trip altogether. It is a reason to book with the right mindset. You are paying for access to the search area and the crew’s effort, not for a guaranteed result.

Who should book this Skjervøy tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to adults and older children who are comfortable outdoors, enjoy wildlife watching, and accept uncertainty. It suits someone who would be happy learning about whales and scanning the sea even if the final sighting is brief.

It is also a good match for photographers who value natural behaviour more than a perfect, guaranteed image. The tiny group gives you room to watch and react, though the moving RIB and cold conditions can make photography difficult.

The trip is less suitable for anyone with back problems, anyone below the minimum height of 120 centimetres, or children under six. You should also reconsider it if you dislike fast boat rides or cannot tolerate cold weather.

The three-hour duration is useful for a short stay in Skjervøy. It gives you a substantial wildlife outing without taking a full day, and the start and finish at the same central office keep the plan simple.

Practical booking advice

Book only if you can spare three hours and keep your expectations flexible. Check the available starting time, since the exact departure schedule is not fixed in the supplied information.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your Arctic plans are still shifting. Confirm the meeting point carefully: it is the red door next to Elon in central Skjervøy, marked Explore 70 Degrees.

Wear warm clothing under the provided thermal suit. The tour includes transportation by RIB, a guide, life vest, thermal suit, mittens, and goggles. Food and drinks are not included.

The operator’s current rating is 4.1 from 87 ratings, which fits the overall picture: several exceptional whale encounters, strong praise for organization and scenery, and some very poor outcomes when animals were not found.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if seeing wild orcas or other Arctic whales would be a highlight of your Norway trip and you can accept the chance of an empty search. The tiny two-person group, fast RIB, safety gear, and three-hour format make it a focused experience rather than a mass-market cruise.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed sighting, have back problems, dislike rough boat travel, or would find $240 too much to spend on an uncertain result. On a lucky day, this can deliver the kind of encounter you remember for years. On an unlucky day, you may spend three hours searching cold water without seeing a single whale.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour start?

It starts at the Explore 70 Degrees office at Strandveien 70 in central Skjervøy. Look for the red door next to Elon and the Explore 70 Degrees logo.

How long does the tour last?

The guided RIB boat trip lasts three hours and returns to Strandveien 70.

Which whales might I see?

The search includes orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. Sightings of all species cannot be guaranteed, and some outings may not produce any animal sightings.

How many people are in the group?

The activity is listed as a small group limited to two participants.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes a thermal suit, life vest, mittens, goggles, transportation by RIB boat, and a guide.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. Food and drinks are not included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide operates in English and Norwegian.

Who cannot join the tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under six, people with back problems, or people under 120 centimetres tall.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.