10 Standout Alta Whale Watching Tours

1.Whale and Seabird Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 136 reviews · 3 hours · from $220Our pick

Join an English- or Norwegian-speaking crew at Havneveien 24 for a three-hour Alta Fjord safari. Warm suits, indoor viewing, outdoor decks, coffee, tea, and biscuits are included. The autumn herring run attracts orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales, while sea eagles and seabirds add a second wildlife show. A Sami joik may finish the ride.

“We saw orcas & humpback whales! Lucky day! The boat was nice, with large windows for indoor observation (well heated & hot drinks were provided), and there are viewing decks as well. The orcas came right up to our boat 😄”

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2.Altafjord Whale Watching in a Heated Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $262Top rated

Join Valerie and the local crew for a four-hour whale safari from Alta Harbor. Sea Runner has heated indoor seating, a toilet, WiFi, and outdoor viewing space. From November to January, orcas and humpback whales follow herring into Altafjord. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the fjord scenery and calm onboard setup make this a comfortable Arctic outing.

“Fabulous day, saw Orcas and Humpbacks. Valerie is a little dynamo, full of energy and a true asset to the company. Highly recommended”

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3.Small Group Whale Watching by RIB

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 28 reviews · 3h 30m · from $278

Meet Æventyr at the Canyon Hotell in Alta, then travel to the harbor where whales were most recently seen. On this 210-minute English-language trip, you will search for humpback whales and orcas from a RIB boat, with thermal suits, gloves, goggles, shoes, hot drinks, and snacks supplied. Whale sightings are not guaranteed.

“Nous avons vus pleins d’espèce : orques, rorqual commun, baleines à bosses. C’était génial ! À cause de la météo nous avons du décaler notre sortie au lendemain du jour prévu nous avons été prévenus et avons échangés facilement par la messagerie. Seul bémol : à cause de la météo ils ont du changer de bateau : un petit bateau avec cabine mais accès extérieur et cela pour le prix du petit bateau à moteur initialement prévu… dommage”

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4.Alta Fjord Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 26 reviews · 4 hours · from $262

Set out from Fiskerihavna with a captain and up to seven other participants for a four-hour search across Alta Fjord. You may see sperm whales, orcas, hourglass dolphins, porpoises, and seals. Warm coveralls, boots, wool socks, mittens, headwear, coffee, tea, and biscuits are provided. Whale sightings are never guaranteed.

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5.Small Group Whale Watching by RIB

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $301

Set out from Markedsgata 6 in Alta for about two hours on the Altafjord, shifting the route toward recent whale sightings. Æventyr supplies protective gear, hot drinks, and chocolate. Guides including Manon, Raul, Anneken, and Tura have led departures, with room for up to 46 people overall and a 120-centimeter minimum height.

“Super organized, our guide was outstanding, everything perfect! We were lucky enough to see a lot of whales. Thank you so much!Auto-translated”

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6.3.5 Hour Fjord & Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · 3h 30m · from $231

Meet at Æventyr’s booking point inside Canyon Hotell, then ride to the harbor for a 210-minute MS Åhav cruise. Guide Manon and the boat crew help you scan for humpbacks and orcas, while large windows, open decks, warm drinks, and snacks keep you comfortable. Whale sightings are not guaranteed.

“The whale watching was fantastic but the icy conditions in windy and snowy seas and quite low side barriers on boat was somewhat dangerous.On reflection we probably would have hesitated to carry on but we did and enjoyed the experience despite our and other passengers nervous movements on the small icy deck.”

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7.Small group Whale watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $285

You’ll spend about three hours by boat searching Altafjord for orcas, humpback whales, and other wildlife, with an English-speaking guide explaining local history and marine life. Alta Adventure provides minibus transfers, warm outdoor clothing, snacks, and drinks. Groups are limited to 15 people, and the boat launch can change to follow the whales.

“Wow! What an absolute amazing experience. I can't even put into words how amazing this day was. We saw so many orcas feeding, whole pods, baby orcas, and hump back whales. It was a full day of incredible photos and videos. I will remember this days for years to come.”

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8.Alta Fjord Whale Watching on a Heated Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $252

Set out from Alta Harbor aboard the heated Sea Runner between October and February, when herring draw orcas and humpback whales into Alta Fjord. Guide Valerie shares local stories, supplies binoculars and hot drinks, and helps you watch for whales from indoor and outdoor decks. Sightings are common but never guaranteed.

“Valerie kept us informed about recent sightings of whales beforehand.We found her very friendly,professional and knowledgeable about the whales and the area.She provided us with hot drinks and snacks too.All in all we would highly recommend this tour.”

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9.3.5-Hour Arctic Magic with Fjord and Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $296

Meet your guide at Markedsgata 6 in Alta, ride to the harbor, and board a boat for a 3.5-hour trip across Altafjord. You’ll look for whales and other wildlife while taking in Arctic scenery. The boat holds up to 48 people, and the tour runs in English.

“The staff were so friendly, they really made us feel welcome and safe on the bus and on the boat”

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10.Alta Fjord: Whale Safari Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $264

Meet at Fiskerihavna at 9:00 am for a four-hour whale safari in Altafjord. A group of up to eight searches for killer whales and other whales following herring, capelin, or mackerel. Warm coveralls, life jackets, tea, coffee, and snacks are included, with boots and wool layers available to borrow.

“Experience recommended! With a fishing boat that could accommodate a small group of people we could admire a beautiful group of killer whales (perhaps even too closely) after less than an hour of searching the fjord. The captain was very kind and helpful, they are also provided with suits and gloves to counteract the cold even if with the wind on the fjord you have to be patient, but it is absolutely worth it!Auto-translated”

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