15 Standout Tromso Whale Watching Tours

1.Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

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

Spend up to nine hours sailing from Tromsø toward Skjervøy, where herring attract orcas, humpback, fin, and sperm whales. Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric catamaran has heated lounges, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and several viewing decks. Guides such as Connor, Bee, Adrian, and Ivan share whale facts and local stories while you search.

“Great trip in comfort in the warmth and with freedom of movement, we saw killer whales and whales top”

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2.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Gabriele

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

Sail from Tromsø toward Skjervøy on the warm, fast MS Gabriele, searching for orcas and humpback whales that follow the herring. Guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, and Bjørnar explain the wildlife in English. Watch from heated windows or three outdoor decks, with a bar serving drinks, snacks, and light meals.

“the staff were very efficient and the day was seamless. Great informative information given throughout, highly recommend the experience”

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3.All-Inclusive Whale & Orca Safari

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

Join Polar Adventures at 8 AM for an eight-hour cruise from Tromsø to Skjervøy. Guides such as Juan, Raul, Pedro, and Holly share whale facts while you search for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, seabirds, and white-tailed eagles. The heated boat includes thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, lunch, toilets, USB charging, and outdoor viewing decks.

“We saw orcas. The guide answered all our questions. It was a great experience for us. We had a hard time seeing whales. We only saw 1 or 2. The food they gave was also filling, everything was great.”

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4.Whale Watching in Magic Skjervoy

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,207 reviews · 12 hours · from $356

Leave Tromsø at 5:20 a.m. for a scenic bus ride to Skjervøy, then spend 2.5 to 3 hours in a small RIB looking for orcas, humpback whales, and fin whales. Guides such as Kristina, Christina, Norbert, and Brigit have led recent trips. Warm suits, boots, food, drinks, photos, and return transport are included.

“We had a fantastic day out! We were ecstatic to see the orca after only 20 mins of travelling on the boat from the harbour. We were also surprised just how many orca we saw it was amazing. Several of the other boats got very close to a fishing boat in order to get a closer view of a humpback whale which is against the rules. We liked that Green Gold of Norway respected the rules and health of the mammals as shows are a sustainable and responsible tour operator. We were rewarded though as a pod of orca came right up to our boat of their own accord to…”

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

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

Cruise from Tromsø to the feeding waters near Skjervøy on Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric boat. You’ll pass Lyngstuva lighthouse, learn about Arctic wildlife from the crew, and spend up to two hours searching for humpbacks and orcas. The boat is warm and comfortable, but the full trip can last nine hours and sightings are never guaranteed.

“It’s great but it’s a very long day and we didn’t see any whales. Not the tour operators fault of course but best to be mindful of this. But we enjoyed the Artic scenery.”

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6.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Keiser Wilhelm

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

Sail from Tromsø’s Nerstranda Quay aboard the white catamaran MS Keiser Wilhelm for a 6 to 8 hour whale safari. English-speaking guides, including guides such as Mario on some departures, explain whale behavior as you search for orcas and humpbacks. Watch from large cabin windows or the open deck, with drinks and snacks sold onboard.

“The trip was amazing, saw whale and orcas.the crew was really good and informative. There was just some noise in the cabin which could be improved.”

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7.Whale Watching RIB Safari at Skjervøy

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

Join a small group of up to 12 for a 2.5 to 3-hour RIB safari off Skjervøy. You may see orcas, humpbacks, or fin whales against snowy fjords. Guides such as Ina and Iver provide warm suits, boots, gloves, goggles, and careful wildlife viewing. Choose transport from Tromsø or meet the team in Skjervøy.

“Honestly the boat trip was amazing. They took such good care of us and made sure we were comfortable and warm. They were really good at getting us where we needed to be to see the orcas, and predicting where they were going to be. Amazing guides. The coach trip from Tromsø was also fairly painless. The coach was comfortable and the driver was very helpful”

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8.24hr Northern Lights & Whale Watching Cruise

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

Join Norwegian Travel for a 24-hour cruise from Tromsø toward Skjervøya. You’ll enjoy a three-course dinner, warm cabin, onboard talks, breakfast and lunch, then spend about 3.5 hours watching humpback whales, fin whales, and orcas. Northern Lights sightings depend on clear skies.

“Knowledgable guides gave informative talks on Northern Lights and whales, food good, cabins comfortable. Unfortunately overcast so no northern lights, but whale watching for 3.5hrs was exceptional. So so many orcas, as well as humpback and fin whales. We went for the whales so we were thrilled.”

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9.Orca and Whale Watching comfort heated boat Trip

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

Travel from Tromsø to Skjervøy by Arctic Route bus, then board a covered, heated boat with Captain Jacob and guide Philip. Search for orcas, humpback, minke, and fin whales for about three hours, with outdoor viewing, underwater cameras, hot drinks, and photography advice. The small group is limited to 12 people.

“It was a very satisfying activity. The guide explained the knowledge of whales very carefully throughout the whole process and suggested the direction of whales for us at the first time. He even went to the second place to look for whales that were closer to us. In addition, the heated boat is very warm and provides hot drinks. I highly recommend this activity”

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10.Whale Watching RIB Boat Tour in Skjervoy from Tromso

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 102 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $365

Leave Tromsø before dawn for the four-hour trip to Skjervøy, where an English-speaking skipper takes you by RIB boat to search for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, and more. Warm flotation suits, boots, mittens, sandwiches, snacks, tea, and coffee are included. Expect cold, spray, and a long but memorable day.

“Although an early start as it was January & a bit of a journey from Tromso to Skjervoy it was definitely worth it. You get all the gear to wear to keep you warm & dry on the RIB. We saw pods of Orca, they were feeding & came close to the boat. The crew give you chance to see them from both sides of the boat. We also saw 4 or 5 humpback whales that were resting. It was starting to get a bit choppy on the way back to the harbour so be prepared for a bumpy, wet but fun ride! An amazing experience that I will remember…”

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11.Whale Safari in Tromso

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

Sail from Tromsø at 9:00 a.m. on a 6 to 8-hour catamaran trip through the fjords and toward the whale grounds. English-speaking guides such as Lorenzo, Raul, Eide, and Mario share facts about orcas and humpbacks. The boat has restrooms, WiFi, indoor seating, decks, and a café, but bring warm layers and motion-sickness medicine.

“It was exciting and fun and we met some great people, but the boat was very crowded and some shorter people got stuck behind taller people in the front and were not able to see the whales very well. Couldn't they install some risers with railings on the deck so that people in the back can see over those in the front?”

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12.Responsible Whale Watching Cruise Aboard MS Alba

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 53 reviews · 8 hours · from $215

You’ll cruise from Tromsø Harbour aboard MS Alba, a heated Norwegian catamaran with panoramic windows and outdoor decks. Expert wildlife guides search the winter fjords for orcas and humpback whales, explain Arctic marine life, and follow recent sightings. Bring lunch and serious winter clothing. If no whales or dolphins appear, you receive a Whale Pass for free rebooking within two years.

“Niesamowita wycieczka i niezapomniane przeżycie! Udało się zobaczyć wieloryby i orki z bliska, a cała wyprawa była świetnie zorganizowana. Widoki zapierające dech w piersiach, a emocje zostaną z nami na zawsze. Zdecydowanie warto! 🐋✨”

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13.Silent Whale Watching on Hybrid-Electric Boat with Scenic Bustrip

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 48 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $192

Sail from Tromsø toward the Lyngen Alps and Kvænangen on Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric catamaran. Search for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, and sperm whales, then switch to a bus at Skjervøy for the return to Tromsø. Guides such as Sam and Freda add local stories, wildlife facts, and occasional fish tasting.

“Sam was a wonderful tour guide, very informative. Fish tasting was a bonus. Great that trip was flexible around what group wanted to see and that it was a small group.”

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14.24hr Northern Lights & Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 46 reviews · 1 day · from $1,179

Sail overnight from Tromsø aboard MV Quest for whale watching, Arctic scenery, and Northern Lights chances. You get a private cabin with an en-suite bathroom, three meals, thermal flotation gear, expert English guidance, lectures, and a wake-up call if the aurora appears. Orcas, humpbacks, sea eagles, and a glacier may all feature, but wildlife and aurora sightings depend on nature.

“L'accueil a été génial et l'accompagnement fantastique durant toute la croisière. La cabine était très confortable et les repas servis à bord de qualité. Tout l'équipage se met en quatre pour rendre votre expérience inoubliables et pour nous c'est réussi. La rencontre avec les orques et les baleines fût un moment magique. Vous pouvez demander à être réveillé si des aurores boréales apparaissent pendant la nuit. Ce ne fût pas le cas cette nuit là. Nous referions cette croisière sans hésiter. En plus nous avons eu la chance d'être seulement 10 passagers pour une capacité de 52. Cela ajoute à la qualité de l'expérience.”

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15.Whale Watching on hybrid boat with scenic bustrip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 30 reviews · 9 hours · from $208

Spend nine hours traveling from Tromsø to Skjervøy by hybrid-electric boat and comfortable coach. Search for humpback, fin, sperm whales, and orcas with an English-speaking guide, then return by the alternate route for changing Arctic views. The boat has heated panoramic lounges, outdoor viewing areas, and food and drinks for purchase.

“It was beautiful. We had some waves and I was sick as most of the people on board but the crew was so helpful. We didn't see that well the whales cause it's the end of the season. We were able to buy some drinks and food from the bar . We took some nice pictures and it was a beautiful experience.”

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