Norway · WHALE WATCHING
From November the herring pull orcas and humpbacks deep into the northern fjords. These 15 trips are compared on boat type, how long you stay out, whether thermal suits are included and how far north they run for the shoal.
See orcas and humpbacks on a warm Tromsø catamaran. MS Gabriele has indoor comfort, big viewing decks, and whale-first crew work.
“The staff were so helpful and informative, they were as excited as we were to see the different whales”
Small-group RIB whale watching from Tromsø to Skjervøy. Warm gear, fjord views, and big orca and humpback sightings in winter.
“The day trip was filled with excitement, our well experienced guide was super friendly and knowledgeable about arctic animals”
Silent hybrid-electric whale watching from Tromsø on a 7 to 9 hour cruise, with a warm cabin, expert guides, and humpback odds.
“The boat and crew were nice. The trip starts with a long 3 hour ride to the whale spotting zone where you stay for 30 mins (the boat never stops though) and then you head back again 3 hours to the place where the boat was originally docked. We unfortunately only saw some orcas far away but we don’t blame it on the crew. For further improvements we strongly recommend that the crew either starts paying a bus to transport people to a dock where the trip on the boat is less hours to the whale spotting zone as the bus is faster than a boat and yes the views…”
RIB whale watching in Bleik Canyon, Vesterålen, Norway. Puffins, possible orcas, warm suits, onboard guide, photos, tea, and muffins.
“RIB was a fun ride, Orcas were with us nearly the entire time.”
Alta Fjord whale and seabird cruise with warm suits, hot drinks, and chances to spot orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, and white-tailed eagles.
“The whole experience was fantastic and one of the best trips we have been on in our lives. The crew were also fantastic and as enthusiastic about the sightings as the guests. We loved every minute. The only problem is, any future trips will pale in comparison. A huge thank you to all the crew. Dave and Jan”
RIB whale safari off Skjervøy with warm gear and small-group guides, with chances to spot orcas, fin whales, and humpbacks.
“Excellent! Efficiently run snd great guides, had amazing sightings and beautiful scenery”
A 24-hour Tromsø cruise with cabin overnight, 3-course dinner, whale watching, and a Northern Lights chase from the ship.
“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…”
Full-day RIB whale watching from Tromso to Skjervoy with warm suits, boxed lunch, and a small group up to 24. Orcas and humpbacks.
“Amazing experience! We saw 2 male Orcas and then got to witness the main pod of females and babies feeding on herring. It was so special. 4 hour bus ride to the island and about 4 hours spent there. Suits and boots were provided but I'd heavily reccomend wearing mamy layers of warm clothes. It's windy and you will get splashed. Bring backup cloths for the bus ride home.”
Skjervøy RIB whale watching for 3 hours, chasing orcas, humpbacks, fin and sperm whales with thermal suits and expert guidance.
“Die Whalewatching Tour allgemein war einfach toll. Ich habe mir meinen Traum erfüllt Orcas in freier Wildbahn zu sehen. Unglaubliches erlebnis. Danke dafür”
Hunt Arctic whales from Andenes on a wildlife-friendly catamaran, led by marine experts, with warm soup onboard and a Whale Pass rebooking option.
“Le seul bémol est la barrière de la langue le guide parle tres vite et notre niveau d'anglais est trop faible pour suivre.”
Heated boat whale safari in Altafjord, Norway. Chasing orcas and humpbacks in winter with warm cabin, toilet, WiFi, and guide stories.
“Fabulous experience, very good boat, nice and warm - brilliant guide. Saw Orcas and Hump backs - experience of a lifetime. Highly recommend”
Heated cabin whale watching from Skjervøy, Norway. Warm suits, hydrophones, hot waffles, and a respectful search for orcas.
“Mi amiga y yo estamos encantadas con haber realizado la actividad con ellos. Teníamos contratada una excursión en lancha rápida pero nos cancelaron con la actividad por mal tiempo cuando ya estábamos en Skjervoy. Decidimos reservar con ellos. El barco no es muy grande lo que permite que sea similar a la experiencia en lancha rápida pero a su vez tienes la cabina con calefacción para resguardarte de las olas que pegaban fuerte y por si no aguantas el frío. Estuvimos todas las horas de luz en el lugar de las ballenas y vimos orcas y jorobadas. El personal muy amable y nos dieron gofres y café al llegar.”
Whale watching from Tromsø fjords on a comfortable catamaran, with English guides, Wi-Fi, and restroom access. Spot orcas and humpbacks.
“Not a great experience - the trip barely made it to 6 hours, if that, so feels like a rip off. We were one of the last boats to leave, but a first one to return but a long shot.. I get that the weather and lack of proper daylight this time of year is a factor, but there seemed no genuine interest from any crew on the boat to look for whales. Instead they seemed to be more interested in their phones, and getting the trip over with. Saw one pod of orcas, and even those were spotted by a fellow passenger and not the crew. There was an…”
Responsible whale watching from Tromsø in winter fjords aboard MS Alba, with warm lounges, expert guides, and a Whale Pass if you miss sightings.
“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! 🐋✨”
Silent hybrid-electric whale watching from Tromsø, cruising past the Lyngen Alps and Skjervøy with a scenic bus return.
“Lovely people, beautiful new boat, fabulous scenery. A good way to spend a few hours along the Fjord. We were lucky to see Porpoise whales and a seal. Under water drone used too which was interesting.”
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