15 Tromso Whale Watching Tours to Build a Morning Around

1.Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

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

Leave Tromsø for the herring-rich fjords near Skjervøy on Brim Explorer’s hybrid-electric catamaran. English-speaking guides, heated lounges, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi, and onboard food make the long Arctic crossing comfortable. Expect 7 to 9 hours, cold decks, possible waves, and a whale success rate above 95 percent, though sightings are never guaranteed.

“Fantastic day out in the fjords looking for whales! We were really lucky with some great humpback sightings that were really close to our boat. The boat itself was super quiet, which was the main reason I chose Brim. The sailing out to where the whales were was very smooth with just one small rough patch for about 30 mins. The staff/guides on board were fantastic, I loved hearing all the information about the different whales we might see and it was great to hear their enthusiasm. I would definitely tour with them again if I make it back to Tromsø, this time hopefully to see some orcas!Read more”

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2.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Gabriele

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

Sail from Tromsø to Skjervøy aboard the warm, comfortable MS Gabriele in search of orcas and humpback whales. Guides including Lorenzo, Raul, and Bjørnar explain whale behavior in English. Watch from large windows or open decks, with snacks and drinks available onboard.

“It was really cold but we managed to see the orcas”

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3.Tromsø: All-Inclusive Whale & Orca Safari

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

Set out from Tromsø at 8 AM on a heated boat bound for Skjervøy. Guides such as Juan, Raul, Pedro, or Holly may share whale facts while you watch for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, eagles, and seabirds. Thermal suits, lunch, hot drinks, and outdoor viewing decks are included.

“Very excited to see the whales and listen to the crew share the knowledge of whales in a very engaging way. I got seasick so really recommend people to have medicine in advance, which I didn’t. Despite the fact that I didn’t feel well half way of the journey, the crew were super nice and caring. And I was so lucky to see orcas right in front of my eyes, very close. Definitely worth it!”

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4.Tromso: Whale Watching in Magic Skjervoy

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

Travel by bus from Tromsø to Skjervøy, suit up in thermal gear, then spend 2.5 to 3 hours on a small RIB watching orcas and humpback whales feed on herring. Guides including Kristina, Brigit, and Norbert share Arctic wildlife knowledge. Expect a long, cold, thrilling day.

“Amazing day! Saw 200 + orca’s and loads of humpbacks. Guides were knowledgeable and very respectful of the animals and their space.”

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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

Sail from Tromsø toward Skjervøy aboard Brim Explorer, a quiet hybrid-electric boat built for whale watching. The crew searches for humpbacks and orcas near Kvænangen, with talks on whales and Arctic geography. Expect 7 to 9 hours, cold weather, possible rough seas, and no guaranteed sightings.

“A wonderful experience on a lovely boat. The boat was beautiful, clean, warm and the staff absolutely amazing. They travel around as much as possible to maximise your chances of seeing whales and educate you on what types you may see. Highly recommend this tour.”

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6.Tromsø Whale Safari with MS Keiser Wilhelm

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

Cruise from Tromsø on the white catamaran Keiser Wilhelm for a 6 to 8 hour search for orcas and humpback whales. Guides such as Mario explain whale behavior in English while you watch from large windows or the open deck. A free return ticket is offered if no whales are found.

“Our guides were both super friendly and knowledgeable and nice. They were students from Italy. They had great passion for whales. We ended up spotting orcas who swam with our boat for a good amount of time, despite poor visibility throughout the way. We are super thankful for their useful tips and tricks to avoid seasickness during the voyage. Highly recommended when on a trip to Tromsø.”

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7.Whale Watching RIB Safari at Skjervøy

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

Travel from Tromsø or meet in Skjervøy for a small-group RIB safari with guides such as Ina and Ivar. After gearing up in flotation suits, boots, gloves, and goggles, spend about three hours searching for orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales among Arctic fjords.

“We had such a great trip with Ivar and his entire crew in Skjervøy. They were very helpful, provided great information about the location, nature and the whales. We got to see so many whales, including humpbacks and entire orca families. The provided clothes kept us warm throughout the entire trip. We would highly recommend this tour since it’s entirely managed and fulfilled by locals. The boat was nice and fast, not too crowded and the captain always kept a safe distance to the whales to not disturb them.”

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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 in Tromsø for an overnight cruise toward Skjervøya. You will chase the northern lights by boat, sleep in a private cabin, eat three meals, hear talks in the Panorama lounge, and watch for orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales.

“It’s may see expensive, but to my senses it is worth, 24 hours, all meals and unlimited coffee and cookies, northern lights and whale watching and one night stay with nice room and excellent crew on board.”

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9.Tromsø: Orca and Whale Watching comfort heated boat Trip

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

Travel by heated bus from Tromsø to Skjervøy, then join Philippe, Captain Jacob, and a small group aboard a covered boat built for wildlife photography. Search for orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales while staying warm, hearing guide commentary, and viewing the sea through onboard underwater cameras.

“Perfect day. One of my best whale watching experiences. Thank you Philipe, thank you Jacob.”

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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 journey to Skjervøy, where you suit up for a fast RIB boat search for orcas, humpbacks, and fin whales. Guides such as Andy, Brigitta, Bridget, and Øystein have led trips, with warm flotation suits, boots, mittens, sandwiches, tea, coffee, and snacks included.

“An amazing day! Well organised, great staff and just stunning sights. I saw orcas and humpback whales. I couldn’t recommend this tour enough 😊”

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11.Whale Safari in Tromso

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

Sail from Tromsø through the fjords toward the whale areas near Skjervøy on a fast catamaran. Guides such as Lorenzo, Mario, Raul, and Eide explain the wildlife while you watch for orcas and humpbacks. The boat has indoor seating, decks, WiFi, restrooms, and a café.

“Amazing day out, in addition to finding spots where we saw both humpback whales and orcas, the tour guide spent a lot of time answering the million questions from my children.”

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12.Tromsø: Responsible Whale Watching Cruise Aboard MS Alba

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

Sail from Tromsø Harbour toward Skjervøy aboard MS Alba, a heated Norwegian catamaran with wide windows and outdoor decks. An English-speaking wildlife guide explains whale behavior and Arctic seas while you search for orcas and humpbacks. Bring lunch, warm layers, and patience.

“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

Cruise from Tromsø toward the Lyngen Alps and Kvænangen on a quiet hybrid-electric boat, searching for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales, sperm whales, porpoises, and seals. At Skjervøy, switch to a scenic bus for the return trip. Sam and Freida have led engaging outings, with warm indoor viewing and fjord scenery throughout.

“Very nice experience onboard of modern catamaran. We saw fjords with different wildlife. Crew was nice, giving us the best possible service and telling us a lot of interesting info about the locality, animals, history and traditions.”

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14.Tromsø: 24hr Northern Lights & Whale Watching Cruise

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

Sail from Tromsø at 19:00 aboard MV Quest for an overnight Arctic cruise with a private ocean-facing cabin, three meals, whale watching near Skjervøy, Northern Lights talks, and wake-up alerts when the sky turns active.

“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.Tromsø: Whale Watching on hybrid boat with scenic bustrip

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

Travel from Tromsø to Skjervøy by comfortable coach, hybrid boat, or both, then search for humpback, fin, sperm whales, and orcas. English-speaking guides share facts about Norway and marine life. The day lasts nine hours, with food and drinks sold onboard.

“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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