13 Whale Watching Trips in Tromsø to Build a Day Around

1.Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,217 reviews · from $195Our pick

Cruise from Tromsø toward Skjervøy on Brim Explorer’s quiet hybrid-electric catamaran, watching for orcas, humpback, fin, and sperm whales. Guides such as Bee, Adrian, Ivan, and Connor have led lively onboard talks, while heated lounges, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and a café make the long Arctic crossing comfortable.

“Honestly everything was wonderful. I was on the bus up part of the journey, don't worry about which side you sit on - its all incredible. Look out for porpoises in the fjords as you go up. The bus is comfy and has USB/USBC chargers & WiFi and some water and a cereal bar for you. once you get to the boat they get you on quickly and within 15 minutes we were watching Orcas and Fin whales..I honestly couldn't believe it. They were incredible. The boat are really respectful of their habitat and slowdown/stop within certain distances to allow the Whales to make their own minds on how close…”

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2.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Gabriele

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,937 reviews · 6 hours · from $207

Cruise from Tromsø toward Skjervøy aboard the warm, fast MS Gabriele, searching for orcas and humpback whales that follow the herring. Guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, and Bjørnar explain whale behavior and Arctic wildlife in English. You can watch from heated indoor seats or three outdoor decks, with snacks and drinks sold onboard.

“Great trip, received communication in advance that whales had left area so would be a different trip visiting an island. The boat was comfortable, our guide was informative and interesting and great scenery to view.”

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3.All-Inclusive Whale & Orca Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,221 reviews · from $186

Set out from Tromsø at 8 AM for an eight-hour boat trip to Skjervøy, where you search for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, and Arctic seabirds. Guides such as Juan, Raul, Pedro, and Holly share whale facts while you use heated cabins, outdoor decks, thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, and lunch.

“We saw orcas, fin whales and humpback whales, we got told information about them. The sfaff was really nice. Be mindful of bad weather conditions and sea sickness.”

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4.Silent Whale Watching by Hybrid-Electric Boat from Tromsø

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,017 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $214

Cruise from Tromsø toward Skjervøy aboard Brim Explorer’s quiet hybrid-electric boat. The 7 to 9 hour trip follows the Lyngen Alps and Lyngstuva lighthouse to feeding grounds where humpback whales and orcas may gather. Expect a warm cabin, outdoor decks, wildlife talks, paid snacks and drinks, and no guarantee of sightings.

“We did get to see some whales from roughly 400 yards. Was not really close enough to get the ideal pic. The boat ride was cool to see the views from a different perspective so I’m not gonna put all negative. But here’s where my positive ends. We were told that it was not a full menu on Sundays. And even if it was a full menu, there really is no choice of a protein for food and if you leave before breakfast, don’t plan on having an actual meal until dinner time. Also, the soup was just OK and 185 NOK. You do the math. I’m sure this company…”

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5.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Keiser Wilhelm

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 161 reviews · from $194

Sail from Tromsø’s Nerstranda Quay aboard the warm catamaran Keiser Wilhelm, guided in English by a whale-focused crew that may include Mario. Expect six to eight hours at sea, with orcas and humpbacks the main targets, large viewing windows, an open deck, onboard snacks and drinks, and a free return trip if no whales are found.

“Absolutely brilliant trip, one of the best days of my life. Thank you so much to Mario and team for looking after us, all of your knowledge and passion for the whales shone through. We were lucky enough to see lots of orcas and humpback whales! Boat ride left on time, was easy to find and was as smooth as possible. Facilities on the boat were great too.”

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6.Whale Watching RIB Safari at Skjervøy

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 136 reviews · 3 - 12 hours · from $251

Travel from Tromsø to Skjervøy by bus, or meet the team there, then spend 2.5 to 3 hours on a small RIB searching for orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales. Guides including Ina and Iver provide flotation suits, boots, mittens, goggles, and local wildlife knowledge. The long bus ride is the main trade-off.

“We had a whale of a time. Be prepared for a long bus transfer (approx. 4 hours) to the activity plus the same transfer time back. Our guides, Ini and Iver were very informative and provided a memorable experience. We were very lucky to spot Orca and Humpback Whales.”

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7.24hr Northern Lights & Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 22 hours to 1 day (approx.) · from $1,214Top rated

Set sail from Tromsø for an overnight Arctic cruise toward Skjervøya. You’ll enjoy a three-course dinner, northern-lights viewing from the boat, lectures, a cabin, breakfast, lunch, and several hours of whale watching. The small group is limited to 52 people, with English service throughout.

“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…”

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8.Skjervøy: Whale Watching with RIB Boat and Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 109 reviews

Join local guide Viktor and Reisafjord Xperience for a three-hour RIB safari from Skjervøy. Watch for orcas, humpback whales, and sometimes fin whales while learning about their behavior. Warm suits, boots, hats, goggles, and life jackets are supplied, but bring good gloves and neck protection for the cold ride.

“What an incredible experience! We might have been the only RIB to spot orcas today. Seeing these magnificent creatures up close in their natural environment was absolutely unforgettable. The captain was fantastic. His expertise made the experience even more special. I couldn’t recommend this tour enough. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure I’ll never forget! If you’re considering a whale-watching tour, this is the one to book!”

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9.Orca and Whale Watching comfort heated boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 107 reviews · from $373

Travel by comfortable bus from Tromsø to Skjervøy, then board a covered, heated boat with Captain Jacob and guide Philip. You will search for orcas, humpback, minke, and fin whales, with photo advice, underwater cameras, hot drinks, and room to step outside on the terrace.

“The trip was fantastic! The guide and captain were both excellent—very professional and knowledgeable, sharing lots of interesting information throughout. We were lucky to see orcas and humpback whales, which was truly amazing. The boat was also warm and comfortable, making the experience even better. Highly recommend!”

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10.Skjervøy: Whale and Orca Watching Tour by RIB Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 87 reviews · 3 hours · from $240

From Skjervøy, you ride a high-speed RIB along Norway’s Arctic coast for three hours, searching for orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales. A small group of up to two people gets thermal suits, life vests, mittens, goggles, and an English or Norwegian guide. Sightings are never guaranteed.

“Incredible! Stunning northern landscapes! Excellent organization! We saw lots of killer whales, humpback whales, and fin whales. We were thrilled. I'm showing the photos and videos to my friends. Everyone is delighted. I'm thinking of going on this tour again next year.”

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11.Whale Safari in Tromso

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $182Best value

Set out from Nerstranda in Tromsø at 9:00 a.m. for a six to eight-hour catamaran cruise through the fjords toward whale country. English-speaking guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, Eide, and Mario share facts about the wildlife. Expect orcas, humpbacks, cold decks, a warm cabin, and possible rough water.

“The humpback whale viewing was difficult because guests at the front wouldn’t kneel to allow more people to see. Otherwise, the guide was great and seeing the orcas was delightful! The cabin was comfortable and overall we really enjoyed our experience”

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12.Skjervøy: Orca and Whale-Watching comfort heated Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · from $301

Join Captain Jacob and guide Filippo aboard a covered, heated boat from Skjervøy for an orca and whale safari. You get a steady ride, outdoor photo deck, cabin, toilet, hot drinks, night vision camera, and hydrophone. Orcas, humpbacks, minkes, and fin whales are possible, but sightings are never guaranteed.

“This was a last minute booking as we had a free day and didn’t want to miss another opportunity to see the Orcas. Not only are we glad we booked due to the vast amount of Orcas and Humpbacks we saw, but we’re also extremely glad we booked with Filippo and Jacob. Both were extremely friendly, really enthusiastic and also very knowledgable. The boat was really comfortable and a nice touch is the addition of a nice hot drink. We saw around 4 pods of whales, each with around 10-15 Orcas in as well as numerous Humpbacks. They came pretty close as well. Incredible experience and Jacob and Filippo were…”

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13.Snorkeling with Orcas In Norway, 4 days All-Inclusive expedition

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $3,542

Join guides Nick and Håkon for a four-day Arctic catamaran expedition from Tromsø toward Skjervøy, where orcas and humpback whales gather to feed on herring. You sleep aboard the boat, eat all meals, and use warm thermal suits and snorkeling gear while the crew searches for safe, respectful wildlife encounters.

“This trip was a bucketlist trip for me and it couldn’t have been any better! Nick and Harrkon were the best! Food was unreal worth every penny!”

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