In short
- Season: late October to the end of January; most reliable November to January.
- Easiest and cheapest: a big heated catamaran from Tromsø harbour, about $200–260, 6–8 hours.
- Closest to the whales: a small boat from Skjervøy (max 12 people), about $360–380, a 12-hour day including the bus.
- Once-in-a-lifetime: a 24-hour expedition cruise with a cabin, all meals and a northern lights wake-up call, from about $440.
- Pick a tour with a free second trip in case you see no whales.
Prices are the "from" prices shown on GetYourGuide in US dollars, checked October 2026. They change with date and currency.
The comparison table
| Tour | Boat | Group | Duration | From | If no whales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale Safari on High-Speed Catamaran Arctic Resorts |
Catamaran from Tromsø, heated lounge | Not stated | 8 h | $197 | Free second tour (2026–27 season) | Check dates |
| Whale Watching by Fast Catamaran Helgøy Skyssbåt |
Catamaran from Tromsø, panoramic lounge | Max 90 | 7.5 h | $219 | Free tour on another date | Check dates |
| Whale Safari with MS Gabriele Cruise Service |
Catamaran from Tromsø | Not stated | 6–8 h | $212 | Free ticket for a later date | Check dates |
| Whale & Orca Safari, All-Inclusive Polar Adventures |
Heated boat from Tromsø, thermal suits | Max 50 | 8 h | $261 | Not offered | Check dates |
| Whale Watching in Magic Skjervøy Green Gold of Norway |
Open RIB from Skjervøy, bus from Tromsø | 4–12 | 12 h | $359 | Not offered | Check dates |
| Orca & Whale Watching Heated Boat Skua Nature Group |
Covered, heated boat from Skjervøy, bus from Tromsø | Max 12 | 12 h | $382 | Not offered | Check dates |
| 24-hour Whale Expedition Arctic Resorts / Destination Tromsø |
MV Quest expedition ship, private cabins | About 50 | 24 h | $442 | Free day tour (and free aurora tour if no lights) | Check dates |
Want more options? See all Tromsø whale watching tours on GetYourGuide.
Which kind of tour should you book?
Big catamaran from Tromsø: best for most people
You walk to the harbour in the morning and the boat does the rest. Catamarans are fast and stable, with a warm indoor lounge and an outdoor deck for when the whales appear. Three of them (Arctic Resorts, Helgøy Skyssbåt and MS Gabriele) give you another trip free if you see no whales, which takes most of the risk out of it. Bring your own lunch on these: food is usually only sold at the kiosk.
Small boat from Skjervøy: best for photographers
Skjervøy, a fishing town north of Tromsø, has been the centre of the winter whale action in recent seasons. These tours bus you up early (Green Gold's leaves at 05:30) and put you in a boat of no more than 12 people for 2.5–3.5 hours. You get lower, closer views and more time near the animals. Choose Green Gold's open RIB if you want speed and spray (flotation suits, goggles and boots provided), or Skua's covered, heated boat if you want to stay warm.
24-hour expedition: best for a special occasion
The MV Quest trip combines whales by day with a night at sea in your own cabin, all meals and a wake-up call if the northern lights appear. It costs about double a day tour, but you get two of Tromsø's big experiences in one trip, with a free retry for each.
Why the whales come
Every winter, huge schools of herring spend the cold months in the fjords of northern Norway. Orcas and humpback whales follow them, and so do fin whales, minke whales and sea eagles. Because the whales go where the herring go, the best area can shift between seasons and even from day to day. That's why tours leave from different places, and why many tours from Tromsø now head north towards Skjervøy.
What to bring
- Warm layers: wool base layer, fleece and a windproof jacket. It's colder on deck than anywhere on land. Our northern lights clothing guide works for whale tours too.
- Hat, mittens and warm boots.
- Seasickness tablets if you're prone to it.
- Lunch and snacks for the catamaran tours.
- A camera with a zoom lens, and spare batteries in an inside pocket.
Combine it with the northern lights
Whale tours run in the short daylight, so you can do an aurora tour the same evening. Have a rest in between: an early whale trip plus a late aurora chase makes a 20-hour day. See our Tromsø northern lights tour comparison, and for another day, our husky sledding tour comparison.