Whale Watching by RIB in Alta: Humpback Whales & Orcas

Glide through quiet fjords under winter skies as curious giants circle your boat

A small-group whale watching tour in Alta's northern Norwegian fjords by RIB boat, where you spend roughly 90 minutes on the water in winter looking for humpback whales and orcas as they feed on herring. The boat operator cuts engines when whales are near to let them swim around you undisturbed. Groups stay under 12 people. Children from age 12 are welcome. While sightings are not guaranteed, the whales are often as curious about the boat as you are about them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching boat trip in fjords

• Adjust boat start location
• Boat trip to find whales
• Observe whales from boat

The experience

The fjords of northern Norway fill with humpback whales and orcas each winter to hunt herring, and this tour positions you on a RIB boat to watch them do it. You'll start from Alta, and the exact departure point shifts depending on where whales were spotted most recently. Once underway, the boat cuts its engines when whales surface nearby, letting them approach without the noise and disturbance of a running motor. The whales often respond by swimming close to investigate the boat and its passengers.

The tour runs about three hours total, with roughly 90 minutes spent on the water itself. You'll wear a warm thermal suit, life jacket, shoes, goggles and gloves: gear the operator provides. Snacks, coffee and tea come along. The boat holds a maximum of 12 people, a constraint that keeps the experience personal rather than crowded. No whale sighting is guaranteed. The season adjusts each year as migration patterns shift, and some departures simply don't encounter them. Children must be at least 120 centimeters tall to join.

The guide speaks English or Norwegian and will explain what you're seeing as the day unfolds. Public transportation options exist near the departure point if you're arriving without a car.

What’s included

• Warm thermal suit with life jacket, shoes, goggles and gloves.
• snacks.
• coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 10:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (12 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 46

Live guideEnglish and Norwegian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Æventyr

Is this one for you?Choose this if you prefer a small, nimble RIB that can cut engines and drift close to whales, rather than a larger group vessel: sightings depend on where the whales are that day, not guarantees.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Norwegian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

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 24 h before the start.

What are the chances of actually seeing whales on this tour?

Whale sightings are not guaranteed, though humpbacks and orcas do hunt in the fjords throughout the winter season. The operator adjusts the season start and end dates based on migration patterns each year, and the departure point shifts depending on where whales were spotted most recently. Some trips encounter them. Others do not.

How much time do I actually spend on the boat looking for whales?

About 90 minutes of the three-hour tour takes place on the water. The rest covers getting to the boat, gearing up, and returning afterward.

What happens if whales come close to the boat?

The boat operator turns off the engines to minimize disturbance and lets the whales approach at their own pace. Whales are often curious about visitors, so they frequently swim around the boat to investigate.

What should I wear and bring?

The operator provides a warm thermal suit, life jacket, shoes, goggles and gloves for the boat trip. Snacks, coffee and tea are included. Dress warmly underneath the thermal suit since you'll be on the water in a northern Norwegian winter.