Tromsø Whale Watching: Killer & Humpback Whales RIB Boat

Hunting Killer Whales in the Arctic: 12 Hours on a RIB Boat from Tromsø

You board a RIB boat at Skjervøy with an experienced skipper and search for killer and humpback whales in their winter feeding grounds. The 12-hour day includes a thermal suit, safety gear, hot chocolate, and a light sandwich. You dress in warm layers from home and stay on the boat throughout. The bus picks you up at Tromsø's terminal at 5:20 AM and returns you by early evening, so plan the rest of your day around the full commitment.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching tour from Tromsø

• Meet at Tromsø bus terminal 05:20 AM
• Take scenic bus drive to Skjervøy
• Meet skipper and get thermal suits
• Walk to RIB boat
• Search for killer and humpback whales
• Enjoy light sandwich and drink
• Bus ride back to Tromsø

The experience

The bus terminal at Tromsø Havn fills up early, and you'll spot the big red bus from Best Arctic before the sun thinks about rising. A local skipper boards with you, and within minutes you're talking about what you might see: killer whales, humpbacks, sometimes both in the same feeding ground. The drive north takes you through dark winter landscape, and by the time you reach Skjervøy, the Arctic feels less like a place you're visiting and more like somewhere you've landed. The skipper hands you a thermal flotation suit, hats, mittens, goggles, and gloves in the dressing room, and you realize this isn't a casual boat ride. It's a 12-hour commitment to being cold and alert.

The RIB boat cuts through the water fast, and the search starts immediately. Your skipper reads the water the way someone else reads a map, pointing out where the whales feed in winter and what to watch for: the blow, the dorsal fin, the sudden break in the surface. You're not sitting in a heated cabin. You're on the boat, exposed, which is why the thermal suit matters and why you need to dress in several warm layers underneath. The day moves between moments of intense scanning and stretches of just being out there, engine running, Arctic silence pressing in. When whales appear, it happens suddenly: a shape, a sound, then the whole boat shifts to watch. The skipper knows these waters and the animals in them. He's the one who decides where to go next based on what he's seeing and what other boats are reporting.

By midday you're tired in a way that's hard to explain until you've done it: the cold, the focus, the motion of the boat. A light sandwich and hot chocolate come out, and you eat standing up or sitting on the edge of the boat, depending on the swell. The skipper recommends bringing extra snacks because the day is long and the cold burns calories fast. If you have dietary needs, bring your own food to be sure. The afternoon continues the same rhythm: scanning, waiting, moving to new ground when the skipper decides. The return to Tromsø happens around 5:30 PM, and you're back at the bus terminal by early evening, salt-stiff and exhausted in the way that only a full day on Arctic water can leave you.

What’s included

• Hotel or bus terminal pickup in Tromsø.
• air-conditioned bus transport to Skjervøy.
• thermal flotation suit and safety equipment.
• hats, mittens, gloves, and goggles.
• experienced skipper and guide.
• hot chocolate.
• light sandwich.
• return transport to Tromsø by early evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00Last departure this season: 31 Jan 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Pick up point at Scandic Ishavshotell. Boarding at 04:45. The bus leaves at 05:00 sharp - so be on time!”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Arctic Adventure Tours AS

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to search for Arctic whales with a skipper who knows the feeding grounds and can read the water: the 12-hour day and small-group format are what make a real encounter possible in winter.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What time does the tour start and end?

The bus departs from Tromsø Havn bus terminal at 5:20 AM and returns around 5:30 PM. The full day is 12 hours.

What's included in the tour?

Thermal flotation suit, hats, mittens, gloves, goggles, hot chocolate, a light sandwich, experienced skipper, and air-conditioned bus transport to and from Skjervøy.

Do I need to bring my own warm clothes?

Yes. Dress in several warm layers at home: being on the Arctic sea in winter is cold. The thermal suit goes over your layers, not instead of them.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Bring your own food and snacks for the day. A light sandwich is provided, but if you have specific dietary needs, it's safer to pack what you know you'll eat.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children younger than 14 years are not allowed on this tour. There is also a minimum height requirement of 140 cm.

What happens if we don't see whales?

The tour operates in the whales' natural feeding grounds during winter, but sightings are not guaranteed. The skipper uses his knowledge of the waters and reports from other boats to find them.

How rough is the RIB boat ride?

A RIB boat is fast and open to the elements. The ride can be bumpy depending on sea conditions. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries.

Where do I meet the tour?

Meet at the bus terminal at Tromsø Havn Prostneset. Look for the big red bus from Best Arctic and be ready at 5:20 AM.