Guide · Experiences

Whale Watching experiences in Tromsø

What do guests really experience on a whale safari from Tromsø? We have evaluated the Whale Watching experiences in Tromsø: the highlights, the challenges, and what nobody can guarantee.

Check availabilityfrom $209 · free cancellation

Editor's note: tromsowalbeobachtung.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read5 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

01The rating: The tour on this page has 6,644 reviews and a rating of 4.48.
02Frequently praised: The crew, the landscape, and the warm, comfortable boat.
03Often criticized: Sea swell on windy days and trips without whales at the end of the season.
04The species: Guests report seeing orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales.
05Our verdict: Book in the middle of the season and be ready for the waves.

What the overall reviews show

The whale watching tour with the hybrid boat on this page is one of the most popular trips from Tromsø. It has 6,644 reviews and an overall rating of 4.48. A broad base of experiences gives a reliable picture: many points that guests mention repeat themselves, and exactly from those you can learn for your own trip.

Other tours are also well rated. The whale watching tour on the high-speed catamaran has 3,768 reviews and a rating of 4.61. The MS Gabriele has 1,952 reviews and a rating of 4.28. The RIB tour from Skjervøy reaches a rating of 4.78 based on 1,281 reviews.

Behind these numbers are very different days. On a calm day in the middle of the season, guests experience orcas and humpback whales in peace; on a stormy day, they battle the swell, and at the end of the season the whales sometimes stay away entirely. The reviews reflect all of this, and it is worth reading them by the month in which you plan to travel yourself. Pay less attention to individual enthusiastic or disappointed voices and more to the patterns that repeat.

What moves guests

Guests most often praise the crew. Many reviews mention friendly, knowledgeable guides who explain a great deal about the animals, the landscape, and respectful interaction with the sea. It is mentioned repeatedly that the crew looks after guests who do not feel well on the water and that they guide the long day with humor.

Just as often, it is about the landscape. The journey through the fjords, past snow-covered mountains, is impressive even when the whales do not appear. The Lyngen Alps with their high peaks and glaciers lie along the route.¹ In the reviews, the view through the large windows is repeatedly described as a highlight in itself.

And of course the whales. Guests report orcas, sea eagles, fin whales, and in individual cases sperm whales, whose tail fluke briefly appeared. The boat operator names exactly these species: orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales.² Those who have experienced such a moment often describe it as something that makes the long journey fade from memory instantly.

Reviews

Overall ratings for whale safaris from Tromsø

Points

Overall rating of tours on GetYourGuide.

In Comparison

Reviews of whale safaris from Tromsø

Duration	Reviews	Rating	Duration
Tour on this page	6.644	4,48	9 hrs
Catamaran safari	3.768	4,61	8 hrs.
MS Gabriele	1.952	4,28	6 hrs
All-inclusive, max. 50 guests	1.718	4,58	8 hrs.
RIB boat from Skjervøy	1.281	4,78	12 hrs
Magical Skjervøy	1.211	4,71	12 hrs
Fast catamaran	661	4,71	7.5 hrs

Number and rating of reviews on GetYourGuide; they change constantly.

Three tours

Most reviewed tours

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

6,644 reviews

Hybrid boat

The tour on this page

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

Read reviews

From Tromsø: Whale Watching Safari on High-Speed Catamaran

3,768 reviews

Catamaran safari

Fast and spacious

Rating: 4,61
Duration: 8 hrs.
Price: from $220

Read reviews

1,952 reviews

MS Gabriele

The shorter day

Rating: 4,28
Duration: 6 hrs
Price: from $212

Read reviews

Decision helper

What do you learn from the experiences?

The key points for your booking.

You want to see whales for sure You will easily get seasick You are looking for many reviews You want to stay flexible

In the middle of the season

The season mostly runs from early November to late January.³

Choose a seat in the middle

There the motion is least.⁴

Tour on this page

6,644 reviews with a rating of 4.48.

Book with free cancellation

Cancel for free up to 24 hours before.

Spend a day at sea in the beautiful arctic landscape and experience the giants of the North from a completely new perspective: orcas, humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales.

Brim ExplorerTranslated from English · Source 2

The boat and comfort on board

The boat itself comes across well in the reviews. Guests describe it as comfortable and warm inside, with cozy seating and toilets on board. The boat on this page has panoramic windows and three spacious outer decks, so you can stay inside or outside depending on the weather. On a long trip, this comfort is well worth it.

Food is also mentioned often. On board you can buy food and drinks, and guests praise warm soups and hot drinks that feel especially good after an hour on deck. Tap water is free of charge. If you prefer to bring your own supplies, pack a lunch and a thermos. That way you stay energized on a long day too, without being dependent on the prices on board.

One point of criticism concerns the outer decks. They can become slippery with frost and spray, and some guests wished for more grip. Wear shoes with good traction and hold on to the railing when the boat rocks. With this precaution, the deck is the most beautiful place on board.

Checklist

Tips from the reviews

Before

Read the latest reviews by sightings
Book in the middle of the season
Try seasickness remedies

On Board

Dress warmly for the deck
Wear shoes with good grip for slippery decks
Watch the northern lights on the way back

Video

Whale watching in Norway: is it worth it?

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Seasickness: the most common criticism

When guests do criticize, it is most often about the seasickness. On windy days, the journey to the whales and especially the open water can get rough. In several reviews, guests report that some fellow travelers got seasick on such days. The operator itself points out that there can be waves and that the crew offers tips against seasickness.

It is a positive detail how the crew handles difficult conditions. Guests report that they were warned about rough seas and had the choice to cancel the trip and get their money back. Others say the crew adjusted the route to make the trip more comfortable for everyone.

What you can take from this: take seasickness seriously if you are prone to it. A light breakfast, a seat in the middle of the boat, and a remedy you have tested beforehand help.⁴ And if the forecast looks stormy, be ready to reschedule the trip rather than pushing through at all costs.

Trip without whales: the end of the season

A second theme runs through the reviews: trips without whales, especially toward the end of the season. The season usually runs from early November to late January, and the exact period varies from year to year.³ Guests who traveled in late January or February more often report beautiful fjord days, but without whales.

The operator is praised for being honest. Guests say they were informed in advance if the whales had already moved on, and they could choose between a fjord trip with partial refund and a full refund. Some chose the fjord trip and were nevertheless very satisfied with the landscape.

For your booking, this means: travel in the middle of the season if the whales matter to you. Read the most recent reviews before booking, because they show you best whether the whales are still around this year. And make use of the free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand, in case the situation changes.

What guests say about the duration

A whale watching trip from Tromsø is a long day, and that is reflected in the experiences. The tour on this page is listed as approximately 9 hours on the water. The largest part of it is the travel to and from the whales, while the time spent directly with the whales is shorter. Guests describe the day as long and sometimes tiring, but rewarding.

Knowing the duration lets you prepare. Do not plan anything else for this day, get enough sleep the night before, and schedule a quiet period after you return. With a book, music, or a conversation with fellow travelers, the journey through the fjords passes more quickly.

A nice bonus is mentioned repeatedly: on the return trip in the dark, guests sometimes see the northern lights over the fjord. The polar night runs from late November to late January.⁵ This is not guaranteed, but it is worth stepping outside now and then on the way home and looking up.

What we take from the experience

From the guest experiences, a clear picture emerges. The whale watching trip from Tromsø is an impressive day with a dedicated crew, a comfortable boat, and a landscape that is worth the journey on its own. The whales are the goal, but they are not guaranteed, and the sea can be rough.

Who is well prepared experiences the day best. Travel in the middle of the season, dress warmly, take seasickness seriously, and plan a backup day. Then the chances are good that your experience will be among those described enthusiastically in the reviews.

And if the whales do not appear, take it in your stride. Nature cannot be planned, and that is precisely what makes an encounter so special when it does happen. Some guests who returned without whales write that they want to come back, then in the middle of the season.

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