Guide · Prices

Overview of prices for whale safaris from Tromsø

From the large catamaran to the small group in a heated boat: Here you see the prices for whale safaris from Tromsø, what you get for your money, and what you pay extra for.

Check availabilityfrom $209 · free cancellation

Editor's note: tromsowalbeobachtung.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read4 sources

This tour belongs in the guide Tromsø: Whale watching in a hybrid-electric boat 4.5 (6,644 reviews) 9 hoursHybrid-electric boatWheelchair accessible from$209per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

In short

01Boarding: The most affordable trips start at $209, including the tour on this page.
02RIB: The RIB tour from Skjervøy starts at $338.
03Small Group: A maximum of 12 guests in the heated boat, from $392.
04Premium: A full day of northern lights and whales from $681.
05Flexible: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before for all trips.

What a whale watching trip from Tromsø costs

A whale watching trip is one of the more expensive excursions in Tromsø, and for a simple reason: the whales feed far to the north today, in the Kvænangen area and around Skjervøy.¹ A trip there typically takes a full day.² Crew, fuel, and a boat for many hours add up in the price, and that is why there are no short and affordable whale trips from the city.

The most affordable options start at $209 per person. At that starting price, you will for example travel on the hybrid boat featured on this page, which is out on the water for around 9 hours. Similar are the fast catamaran at 7.5 hours from $211 and the MS Gabriele at 6 hours from $212.

You pay considerably more for special formats: the inflatable boat, the small group, or a combination with northern lights. The starting prices rise significantly here. Whether it is worth it depends on what matters to you: comfort, closeness to the animals, few fellow travelers, or a truly special experience.

The affordable trips compared

In the lower price range, several trips are close in price. The tour on this page with the quiet hybrid boat starts at $209 and has 6,644 reviews with a rating of 4.48. The catamaran whale watching at 6 hours starts at $210 and is rated 4.23.

The whale watching trip in the high-speed catamaran from $220 and the responsible trip on the MS Alba from $215 cost a bit more. Both last 8 hours and include free rebooking. With such small price differences, it is worth choosing based on duration, boat, and reviews rather than price alone. A look at the latest reviews also shows you how satisfied guests have been in recent weeks.

For those who also want to see the landscape from the bus, there is a trip with the hybrid boat and a bus tour through the landscape, from $209. It has so far only 31 reviews with a rating of 4.16, and in the sub-rating it scores 4.1 points for value for money.

Reviews

How guests rate the trips

Points

Overall rating of tours on GetYourGuide.

Prices compared

Whale watching from Tromsø from price

Duration	Type	Duration	Price from
Tour on this page	Hybrid boat	9 hrs	from $209
Hybrid boat with bus transfer	Hybrid boat, bus	9 hrs	from $209
Catamaran whale watching	Catamaran	6 hrs	from $210
Fast catamaran	Catamaran	7.5 hrs	from $211
MS Gabriele	Ship	6 hrs	from $212
MS Alba	Catamaran	8 hrs.	from $215
Catamaran safari	Catamaran	8 hrs.	from $220
RIB Safari at Skjervøy	max. 12 guests	3 to 12 hours	from $252
RIB boat from Skjervøy	RIB, bus	12 hrs	from $338
Heated boat	max. 12 guests	12 hrs	from $392

Every amount is a per-person starting price; the actual price depends on the date and availability.

Price classes

Three price classes compared

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

Budget

Hybrid boat

Quiet and comfortable

Price: from $209
Duration: 9 hrs
Rating: 4,48

Check price

Tromsø: Skjervøy RIB Whale Watching Tour

Mid-range

RIB

Close to the water

Price: from $338
Duration: 12 hrs
Rating: 4,78

Check price

Premium

Heated boat

Maximum 12 guests

Price: from $392
Duration: 12 hrs
Rating: 4,73

Check price

Decision helper

Cheap, mid-range, or expensive: What fits?

Tip us what matters to you

The smallest price counts Short day, small price Close to the whales Few fellow travelers Whales and northern lights

Tour on this page

From $209, around 9 hours.

MS Gabriele

From $212, 6 hours.

RIB boat from Skjervøy

From $338, 12 hours.

Heated boat

From $392, maximum 12 guests.

Premium trip

From $681, a full day.

Duration: whale watching from Tromsø is generally an experience that lasts a full day.

Visit TromsøTranslated from English · Source 2

What you pay more for

The inflatable boat is more expensive because you get closer to the animals and the trip is more demanding. On the RIB tour from Skjervøy, you take the bus to the coast and from there the fast boat out. It lasts 12 hours and costs from $338. A second RIB safari from Skjervøy with a maximum of 12 guests is available from $252.

For fewer fellow travelers you also pay more. The trip in the heated boat is limited to 12 guests, lasts 12 hours, and costs from $392. The traditional sailing boat takes a maximum of 8 guests and costs from $365. Here you pay for calm, more space on the railing, and more time with the guide.

At the top is a premium trip that combines northern lights and whale watching in a single full day. It costs from $681 and is very well rated at 4.90 from 47 reviews. For a special trip this can be worth it, for a first whale visit one of the more affordable trips is usually enough.

Checklist

Included or extra?

Included in this tour

English-speaking guide
Free tap water
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Book now, pay later

Plan extra

Food and drinks on board
Warm clothing or rental
Seasickness remedy
A backup day

Cost calculator

What the whale safari costs your group

Choose the number of people and the starting price for all is shown.

Hybrid boatthis tourfrom $209 MS Gabriele6 hrsfrom $212 RIBBus and RIBfrom $338 Heated boatmax. 12 guestsfrom $392

people 2

Total from$417

from per person $209

Check availabilityfree cancellation

The from prices come from GetYourGuide and are converted at the ECB rate. What you actually pay is shown at the booking step.

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What is included in the price and what costs extra

On the tour on this page, you pay for the trip with an English-speaking guide and the hybrid boat. You can buy food and drinks on board, and tap water is free. So plan a little extra money for snacks and warm drinks, or bring a thermos and a packed lunch.

Other trips include more in the price. One trip, for example, carries the label all-inclusive in its name and takes at most 50 guests, from $264; lunch, however, you also purchase on board there according to the offer. Check carefully before booking what is included so you can compare prices fairly.

You should also plan to bring warm clothing if you do not have your own winter gear, and possibly some seasickness medication. In Tromsø you can rent winter clothing. And if you want to be sure, set aside money for a second trip in case the first one is cancelled due to weather. Factor in these extra costs before comparing tours, so you will not be surprised once you are on board.

How to save on a whale safari

The most important money-saving tip is not to spend on a trip that may not deliver any whale sightings. Travel during the season, which mostly runs from early November to late January.³ At the edges of the season the chances of sightings are lower, and an expensive trip with few animals can quickly feel like wasted money.

Use free cancellation. For the tour on this page you book today and pay later, and if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure you pay nothing. This way you secure a spot early without paying upfront, and you can reschedule if the weather forecast looks bad.

Also look for trips with extra benefits. If the MS Gabriele trip is canceled due to bad weather, according to the offer you get your money back or a new date; with the catamaran safari and the MS Alba you can join again for free if no whales appear, according to the offer. Such conditions are sometimes worth more than a slightly lower from-price.

Budgeting for groups and families

On a whale safari you pay per person, and for a family or group of friends the total can quickly add up. With the calculator on this page you can see immediately what the trip will cost your group at minimum. Choose the tour, enter the number of people, and the starting price for the whole group is shown.

Children often have their own prices and a minimum age. One operator in Tromsø, for example, takes children from the age of 4.⁴ Check the tour conditions before booking, as they vary from operator to operator. On the booking page you will see the exact price for each age group.

For larger groups a private tour can sometimes be worth it. It is not necessarily cheaper per person, but you have the boat to yourselves and set the pace yourselves. Ask the operators if you are a group, and compare the price with the regular trips. For couples and small families a regular trip is usually the more affordable and equally enjoyable choice.

Is the price worth it?

A whale safari is an expense worth thinking carefully about. Yet it can become the highlight of your trip, because seeing orcas and humpback whales in the wild is something truly special. An encounter with a whale is an experience you cannot put a price on.

It is important to go on board with realistic expectations. Whales are wild animals, and no trip can guarantee a sighting. But if you travel in the middle of the season and are prepared for a long day on the water, you will usually be rewarded, with a landscape that is worth the trip on its own. Go on board with curiosity, not with a checklist of species you want to tick off.

If your budget is tight, choose one of the well-reviewed affordable trips and save money elsewhere on your trip. If you want to treat yourself, a small group or a zodiac boat is a lovely upgrade. In both cases the right time of year is the best way to turn your price into a genuine experience.

Book the tour

A humpback whale may already be waiting in the fjord near Skjervøy.

Reserve your spot, pay later, cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.

Check datesfrom $209 · free cancellation 4.5 · 6,644 verified reviews

You ask,we answer.

How much does a whale safari from Tromsø cost?

From $209 per person. This tour on the page costs at least that, around 9 hours on the hybrid boat.

What is the most expensive option?

The premium trip with northern lights. A full day of northern lights and whale watching costs from $681.

Is food included in the price?

Not on this site's tour. You can buy food and drinks on board; tap water is free.

What does a small group cost?

From $392. The heated boat takes no more than 12 guests.

Can I cancel my booking for free?

Yes, up to 24 hours before departure. On this site's tour, you can also book now and pay later.

Money back if no whales?

That depends on the tour. You mostly do not get your money back for that, but with the catamaran safari and the MS Alba you can, according to the offer, join again for free if no whales appear.

Sources