Duration: 12 hours
Location: Skjervøy
Price: From 2800 NOK
Age: 14+ (140 cm tall)
Difficulty: Easy
About our Whale Watching Tours
- Meet your bus driver at 05:20 at the pick up point at Samuel Arnesens gate 5, 9008, Tromsø (Bus terminal at Tromsø Havn Prostneset) and settle in for a comfortable and scenic drive out to Skjervøy.
- You will be picked up by a big red bus from Best Arctic.
- When you arrive, your skipper will greet you and walk you to the dressing room. Here you will receive a thermal flotation suit, life vest, goggles, a hat and mittens.
- Once you are kitted up, then it is time for the search to begin! Spend 3 hours marvelling at these incredible animals, and watching them feed on the herring shoals that surround Skjervøy. After your RIB tour is over, your guide will assist you in the dressing room and give you a baguette snack to enjoy before the bus ride home.
- The bus will arrive back into Tromsø at approximately 17:30.
Additional information
Good to know
- Please note, that it can be windy on the tour and you may get splashed by waves. You are welcome to bring your camera on the boat, however please take care to protect any equipment from exposure to salt water. Personal possessions are stowed onboard at your own risk.
- Although snacks and drinks are provided after the tour, it is a long day, so you may wish to bring extra food and water with you.
- Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements.
- Note: For safety, guests must be over 140cm tall to join this tour.
What months are best to see whales in Skjervøy?
The best months to go and see whales around Tromso and Skjervøy are from beginning of November until the end of January where hundreds of Orcas and other giants gather to feed on herring.
We drive you from Tromsø and all the way up to Skjervøy from where the whale watching takes place.
Is whale watching worth it in Skjervøy?
YES! You can be lucky to see a lot of orcas hunting the herring, jumping humpbacks and even fin whales. We cannot guarantee what or how many you will encounter, but we will do our very best to give you a good whale watching experience.
Is it too dark to see whales in Tromso in December and January?
December and January are dark months. But not too dark for whale watching in Skjervøy, as there will be a few hours around mid-day with day light. On clear days you will even get to experience a golden or pink light making whale watching in Skjervøy an even greater experience.
What clothes should I wear for whale watching in Skjervøy?
Warm clothes! You will be approximately 3 hours at sea. We therefore recommend that you wear several layers of wool, fleece and a sweater underneath. It is also good to bring a warm hat, a buff and good wind-proof gloves.
Recommended Activities
Encounter the giants on a whale watching tour by RIB
Are you dreaming of encountering humpback whales, orcas and maybe even the fin whales? You have the chance to do so in Skjervøy from where our whale watching tours takes place. At Arctic Adventure Tours we do all of our whale watching tours by RIB. That means we only do small groups with a capacity of maximum 12 guests per boat.
Doing whale watching by RIB gives you an opportunity to get quite close to the whales. However, we avoid getting too close not to disturb them when they are feeding and resting.
Here is what to expect:
05:30: You will leave with the bus from the bus terminal at Tromsø Havn Prostneset.
09:00-09:30: Arrival at the harbor in Skjervøy where our skipper meets you.
09:30-10:00: You will get dressed with a floating suit, life west, boots and goggles.
10:00-13:00: It is time to find and encounter the giants at sea!
13:00-13:20: Back on shore and you will be served a light lunch and hot drinks.
13:20-13:30: On the bus back to Tromsø.
17:30: Back in Tromsø.
We recommend you to bring snacks for the bus ride, as it is a long day. Being out in the cold and at sea also makes you quite hungry. Treat yourself and bring something to eat and drink.
A unique winter experience in Skjervøy
During the winter months, whale watching in Skjervøy offers a remarkable experience due to the seasonal migration of herring. This natural phenomenon attracts orcas and humpback whales, drawn by one of the world’s largest fish stocks. You as a guest have the rare opportunity to witness orcas engaging in «carousel-feeding,» a dynamic and cooperative hunting technique where they herd herring into tight balls before striking. This spectacle is not only a display of the orcas’ intelligence and teamwork but also a breathtaking sight for any nature enthusiast.
As always with nature this is not something we can guarantee. But we will do our best to give you a good and exciting experience at sea.
Alongside orcas and humpbacks, fin whales, the second-largest whale species, can occasionally be spotted in these waters. The convergence of these majestic marine giants in Skjervøy creates a unique, globally significant event, making it a prime location for winter whale watching.
Are you ready to go?
… And if you can’t get enough then have a look at our dog sledding tours as well!