Whales and northern lights on one trip

Can I see whales and the northern lights on the same day?

Yes, if you pick a big boat from Tromsø harbour. No, if you pick a bus-and-RIB trip to Skjervøy.

The big boats leave between 07:30 and 09:00 and come back between about 16:30 and 17:30. That leaves the evening free for a small-group northern lights chase, which runs about eight hours after dark. It is a long day. One aurora guest, Frayda_R, wrote in March 2026: "We did not finish until 1:30 am."

The Skjervøy trips are another matter. The Skjervøy RIB tour asks you to board at 04:45 for a 05:00 bus that "will not wait", and brings you back at about 17:30. Add an aurora chase and you are up from 04:00 to past 01:00. Do it the other way round, aurora first and the bus next morning, and you get two or three hours of sleep before a RIB ride on open water. We would not book either.

What is the best order for whales and northern lights?

Whales first, aurora on a later night, with a free day in between if you can.

The whale trip has the tighter calendar and the free second trip if you see nothing, so book it early in your stay. The aurora is more flexible: it needs a clear sky, not a date. Most aurora tours are booked for one night, and the guides drive to wherever the forecast is best. The Wandering Owl chase sometimes crosses into Finland and asks you to bring your passport.

A sensible four-night plan: day one, whale boat from Tromsø; day two, aurora chase if the forecast is good; day three, spare for a second whale trip or a second aurora night. If you go the Skjervøy way, never put the aurora the night before the 05:00 bus.

Is the overnight whale and northern lights cruise worth it?

Yes for couples who want both without the rush; less so if you are on a tight budget. The cabin does not replace a hotel night in most itineraries.

The cruise on MV Quest, sold by Destination Tromsø and on GetYourGuide as the overnight whale expedition, meets at 18:30 at the Destination Tromsø Booking Point in the Prostneset terminal (Visit Tromsø listing). You get a private en-suite cabin, a three-course dinner, a talk on the aurora and a wake-up call if the lights appear. Next morning the boat is already in a fjord in whale waters, and it returns to Tromsø after lunch. Visit Tromsø lists it from NOK 12,998 per cabin; on GetYourGuide it starts at $441.

Recent guests liked it. Judith, January 2026: "For a long time, we were the only ship with the whales. The excursion is expensive, but it's worth it, even if you have to pay for two nights of accommodation". That last point matters: most people still keep their Tromsø hotel. The aurora is not guaranteed either. Magali, also January 2026: "You can ask to be woken up if the Northern Lights appear during the night. That wasn't the case that night."

Dinner, a cabin, an aurora wake-up call and a morning with the whales before the day boats arrive.

★ 4.9 · About 24 hours · from $441

Check dates → Tour details

Can I see the northern lights from a whale watching boat?

Sometimes, on the way back. Boats return after dark in December and January, and several guests report the aurora on the trip home.

This is a bonus, not a plan. Lydia, on the Polar Adventures boat in January 2026: "after the soup (which was delicious), we saw the Northern Lights." Audrey, on the Skjervøy RIB trip: "On the way back, the bus driver stopped because of the spectacular Northern Lights." A boat's deck lights and the city glow get in the way of photos, so book a proper chase if the aurora is a priority.

What does a whale and aurora combination cost in 2026-27?

From about $422 per person for a big boat plus an aurora chase on separate tours, or from $441 for the overnight cruise.

The prices below are the from-prices on GetYourGuide and Viator in October 2026, per person. Christmas dates cost more on several boats. Our price guide covers direct NOK prices too.

Frequently asked questions