Guide · Route

Whale watching near Skjervøy: the route from Tromsø

The whales near Skjervøy feed far north of Tromsø today. Here you can see the route on the map, the stops along the way, and how long it takes to reach the whales.

Check availabilityfrom $209 · free cancellation

Editor's note: tromsowalbeobachtung.deUpdated on October 3, 20266 min read6 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

01Where the whales are: Since 2017 mainly in the Kvænangen area and in the fjords around Skjervøy.¹
02By car: The shorter route from Tromsø is around 160 kilometres and takes about four hours.²
03By boat: The tour on this page goes directly from Tromsø to Skjervøy and back, around nine hours.
04On the Way: The Lyngen Alps, Lyngstuva lighthouse, and the Kågsundet strait.
05Map: All route locations with a link to Google Maps.

Why the whales are near Skjervøy

Skjervøy is a small fishing village on an island in the north of Troms county. It became known among travellers mainly because of the whales. Since 2017, orcas and humpback whales have gathered in the Kvænangen area, including the fjords around Skjervøy, to feed on herring there.¹ Anyone wanting to see whales from Tromsø today almost always heads to this area.

The reason is the food alone. The whales come to the region in winter because they find herring there.³ Where the herring overwinter, orcas and humpback whales feed as well. The fjords around Skjervøy offer the fish shelter and depth, and that is exactly what makes them one of the most important feeding grounds of the season.

For you, this means a long but rewarding trip. Instead of a short harbour cruise, you experience a day through some of the most beautiful fjord landscapes of northern Norway. The journey itself is already part of the experience, even before the first blow appears on the horizon. Bring patience, because the distance is long and the weather changes often. It is precisely this vastness that makes the appeal: you drive through a landscape that reveals itself a little differently with every fjord.

The day

The route stop by stop

Start

Tromsø

Check-in before departure, instructions arrive by SMS.
On the Way

Lyngen Alps

High peaks and glaciers by the fjord.⁴
North Point

Lyngstuva lighthouse

Here the fjord opens out to the sea.
Sound

Kågsundet

Through the narrow sound into the whale area.
Destination

Skjervøy

The search for orcas and humpback whales begins.¹
Return journey

Ice Sea Cathedral

Entering the port of Tromsø.

The route of the boat on this page

The hybrid boat on this page departs from Tromsø and covers the entire distance on the water. The route passes the Lyngen Alps, goes to Lyngstuva lighthouse, through the Kågsundet strait, and on to Skjervøy. On the return trip you pass the Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø, which you can see clearly when entering the harbour.

How long the boat stays with the whales depends on the day. Depending on where the animals are feeding, the trip lasts between seven and nine hours. According to the offering, it is around nine hours. The guides decide on the search route along the way, and sometimes the whales are already near Skjervøy, sometimes further out at sea.

The advantage of this route: you do not need to change transport and do not have to catch an early morning bus. You board in Tromsø, warm up inside between times, and arrive back in the city centre in the evening. Before departure you check in, and you receive the instructions by SMS beforehand.

Getting there

Three ways to the whales near Skjervøy

Route	Duration	Advantage	Price from
Hybrid boat from Tromsø	9 hrs	No transfers, warm on board	from $209
Bus and RIB	12 hrs	Fast on the fjord	from $338
RIB Safari, max. 12 guests	3 to 12 hours	Small Group	from $252
Own car	Approximately 4 hours by car²	Flexible	Rental car

Starting prices per person as offered; the driving time by car is for one way.

Three ways

Boat, bus, or small group?

Tromsø: Whale Watching Tour by Hybrid-Electric Boat

This tour

Hybrid boat from Tromsø

A full day on the water

Duration: 9 hrs
Start: Tromsø
Price: from $209

Check dates

Tromsø: Skjervøy RIB Whale Watching Tour

Adventure

Bus and RIB

Fast on the fjord

Duration: 12 hrs
Getting there: Bus
Price: from $338

Check dates

Small Group

RIB Safari

Maximum 12 guests

Duration: 3 to 12 hours
Group: up to 12
Price: from $252

Check dates

Decision helper

How do you want to get to Skjervøy?

Choose the path that fits your trip.

Without bus and transfers As much time in the fjord as possible In a small group Fully independent

Hybrid boat from Tromsø

The route takes you on the water to Skjervøy.

Bus and RIB

By bus to the coast, then into the RIB.

RIB Safari at Skjervøy

Maximum 12 guests.

With a rental car

Approximately 160 kilometers, about a four-hour drive.²

Since 2017, orcas and humpback whales have gathered in the Kvænangen area, including the fjords around Skjervøy, to feed on herring.

Visit TromsøTranslated from English · Source 1

The Lyngen Alps and Lyngstuva lighthouse

The first major highlight of the trip is the mountain chain of the Lyngen Alps. It stands out prominently from the landscape and is known for its high peaks and striking glaciers.⁴ In the winter light, the snow-covered peaks above the dark water look almost unreal. Keep your camera ready, because this view is one of the most beautiful of the entire tour.

At the northern tip of the Lyngen peninsula stands Lyngstuva lighthouse. Here the fjord opens out to the open sea, and the boat sails around the tip of the peninsula. At this point it can get a bit windier and rougher, so it is wise to find a secure spot beforehand.

Even away from the whales, it is worth keeping your eyes open. Guided tours in the region look out for sea eagles, seals, and seabirds in addition to whales.⁵ Sea eagles in particular can often be seen circling above the rocks, and the guides are happy to point them out.

Map

From Tromsø to the whales at Skjervøy

The tour route: from Tromsø past the Lyngen Alps to the waters near Skjervøy.

Map of the route from Tromsø via Lyngen to Skjervøy — Whale watching route

Map of the strait Kågsundet and the island Skjervøy — All around Skjervøy

1
Tromsø
Here the journey begins; the tour lists Tromsø as the first stop.
In Google Maps ↗
2
Lyngenfjord
Along the way, the Lyngen Alps rise, a striking mountain range with peaks and glaciers.⁴
In Google Maps ↗
3
Lyngstuva
The Lyngstuva lighthouse is a stop on the tour route.
In Google Maps ↗
4
Kågsundet
The Kågsundet strait is also part of the tour route, as stated in the offer.
In Google Maps ↗
5
Skjervøy
Since 2017, orcas and humpback whales have fed on herring in the Kvænangen area, including the fjords around Skjervøy.¹
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Before the trip to Skjervøy

Organization

Check-in before departure, instructions arrive by SMS
Plan for a long day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

On Board

Warm layers for the outdoor deck
Money for food and drinks on board
Your own bottle for free tap water

Video

Orcas and whales near Skjervøy

The video only loads when you tap Play.

Kågsundet and the area around Skjervøy

Behind Lyngstuva the route passes through Kågsundet, a narrow strait between the islands. Beyond it lies the area around Skjervøy, where the whales have been feeding most frequently in recent years.¹ From here the actual search begins, and the guides watch for the blows of the animals.

As soon as whales are spotted, the boat on this page switches to electric motor. This reduces noise and vibration, keeping the observation quiet and respectful.⁶ From that moment on it is quiet on deck, and everyone looks at the water.

How many whales you see and which species depends on the day. On good days, orcas and humpback whales swim through the fjord together; on calmer days the search takes longer. There is no guarantee, but the chances in the area around Skjervøy during the season are good. Stay on deck or as close to a window as possible during this phase, because the animals often surface only briefly before diving again.

Reading the map: how to find your way

The map on this page marks the locations of the route, from Tromsø in the south to Skjervøy in the north. When you move your mouse over a point or tap it, the corresponding entry in the list is highlighted, and vice versa. A click on the button next to a location opens it in Google Maps, which opens in a new tab.

On the map you can also see why the trip takes so long. The route does not follow the shortest line but the water: through the fjord, around the tip of the Lyngen peninsula, and between the islands. Each of these stages offers a different view of mountains, coast, and sea.

Use the map before your trip to familiarise yourself with the locations the guides will talk about on board. If you know where Lyngstuva and Kågsundet are, you can much better understand the explanations along the way. And when you sort your photos after the tour, the map helps you assign each picture to the right location.

By bus to Skjervøy instead of by boat

Some tours take you by bus to Skjervøy first and then set out onto the water from there. The shorter route from Tromsø to Skjervøy is around 160 kilometres and takes about four hours, depending on the ferry, traffic, and road conditions.² The bus ride is an experience in itself in winter, with ferries and snow-covered fjord roads.

On the RIB tour departing from Skjervøy, you travel by bus there and back and transfer to a RIB on site. The tour lasts 12 hours and costs from $338. A second RIB safari near Skjervøy is limited to 12 guests and costs from $252.

The advantage of this option is the time on the water right near the whales, because the fast RIB reaches the fjord in just a few minutes. The disadvantage is the many hours on the bus. If you get carsick easily or prefer to spend the whole day on the water, the boat from Tromsø is the better choice.

Driving to Skjervøy yourself?

It is possible to drive to Skjervøy with a rental car and book a tour there. However, plan enough time, because the journey takes about four hours without breaks.² In winter the roads are often snowy and slippery, and it gets dark early. If you have no experience driving in winter conditions, it is better to skip it.

For a self-drive trip you need accommodation on site, because doing the round trip in one day combined with the whale safari is very long. Check the ferry schedules too, as they determine when you arrive. A buffer of a few hours never hurts.

For most travelers an organized tour from Tromsø is the more relaxed solution. You do not need to worry about anything, sit warmly on board, and leave the search for the whales to the guides. The map on this page still helps you get to know the stops on the route in advance.

Book the tour