Polar Adventures · Tromsø front pier
A family-run boat from Tromsø's front pier that sails at 08:00, aims to be first in the whale area off Skjervøy, and feeds you all day. Pick it if you want a big-boat day with a smaller crowd, a thermal suit for the deck and lunch already paid for.
Polar Adventures is a small Tromsø family company. Its boat carries up to 72 people, but the safari is capped at 50 guests, which shows at the rail. You leave at 08:00 for about 2.5 hours of sailing towards Skjervøy, hoping to be the first boat in the whale area, and the guides (several reviewers mention marine biologists) talk about the whales, eagles and seabirds on the way.
The "all-inclusive" part is what you pay for: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water, cookies and savoury snacks all day, a thermal suit for the open deck, and a hot meal on the way back. Guests describe it as soup (tomato, or vegetable and salmon) with warm focaccia, which is simple but welcome after hours in the cold. Guests report around two hours with the whales on a good day. Visit Tromsø lists the direct price at NOK 2,500 for adults; on GetYourGuide it's from $261.
The sea can be rough on the open stretch, and January reviews mention many seasick guests. GetYourGuide lists the trip as unsuitable for people prone to seasickness, anyone with recent surgery and people over 70, and it doesn't take children under 4 (Visit Tromsø says 5). The tour needs at least 12 guests to run. Late in January, reviewers met sperm whales rather than orcas, and some were moved to a fjord trip with fishing.
Outside the Polar Adventures office on the front pier (Killengreens gate 7-11), 20 minutes before departure. The boat won't wait.
Coffee and snacks in the heated cabin while the crew explains the coast, the herring and the whales.
Suit up and go out on deck. The crew follows the pods and points out eagles and seabirds.
Soup and bread served on the way home, then hot drinks until you dock in Tromsø.
★★★★★At the end of January, the whales and orcas had already left with the herring. But we were able to admire adult male sperm whales up close. It was fantastic! The very welcoming crew was very informative, and we were able to admire numerous sperm whales for almost two hours in the cold. The soup offered on the return trip was very welcome.
★★★★★I found it interesting that the guides were marine biologists and I think that really gives this tour an edge on how to and where to go to spot the whales
★★★★★Even though we took the tour at the end of January, we saw quite a few whales. I highly recommend this experience! The guides were very attentive and friendly, as was the captain. Plus, after the soup (which was delicious), we saw the Northern Lights.
★★★★★This entire trip was well organized. We even saw several orcas and a whale. Amazing!
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Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water, cookies and snacks all day, and a hot lunch on the way back. Recent guests describe soup with focaccia.
No more than 50, on a boat licensed for 72. The minimum to run is 12.
In front of the Polar Adventures office on the front pier in central Tromsø (Killengreens gate 7-11), 20 minutes before the 08:00 departure.
Not really. GetYourGuide lists it as unsuitable for people prone to seasickness, and several January reviews describe rough seas. A tablet taken early helps.
Ready to book
Thermal suits, lunch, snacks and hot drinks included, on a boat that takes no more than 50 guests.
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