Arctic Adventure Tours · Skjervøy
A bus leaves Tromsø at 05:00 for the four-hour drive to Skjervøy, where you pull on a flotation suit and spend about three hours in an open RIB among the orcas and humpbacks. Pick it for the time on the water and the view from sea level: no big boat gets you as long with the whales.
Arctic Adventure Tours, the same Tromsø company that runs husky trips on Kvaløya, puts you on a warm bus with Wi-Fi and a toilet at 05:00 and drives you to Skjervøy, the town closest to where the whales feed. There the skipper hands out a thermal flotation suit, boots, goggles and mittens and gives a short briefing. Then it's about three hours at sea on an open RIB, searching for orcas, humpbacks, fin whales and sea eagles.
The RIB is the whole point. You sit a metre above the water, the skipper can follow a pod quickly, and the good guides hold back when other boats crowd the animals; reviewers name skipper Hans Christian for exactly that. Afterwards there's a hot drink and a sandwich on shore before the bus home, back around 17:30. On GetYourGuide it's from $334; the company's own site lists it at NOK 3,200.
It's a hard day. You're up at 04:00, on a bus for about 8 hours in total, and out in the open at sea in the Arctic winter. It's cold even in the suit, and spray reaches you. The listing excludes children under 14, anyone under 140 cm, pregnant travellers and people with back problems. And if you get seasick, a small boat on a swell is worse than a catamaran, though some guests say the RIB felt steadier than they feared.
Onboarding starts at 04:45 outside the hotel at Fredrik Langes gate 2. The bus leaves at 05:00 sharp and doesn't wait.
Sleep, or watch the dawn over the Lyngen Alps. Bring snacks: there's a long morning ahead.
Flotation suit, boots, goggles and mittens in a heated room, a safety briefing and a last toilet stop.
Out to the feeding grounds at speed, then slow among the orcas and humpbacks while the skipper explains what they're doing.
Warm up on shore, then the drive back to Tromsø, arriving about 17:30.
★★★★★We saw humpbacks as well as a large pod of orcas feeding , it was amazing! Our guide Hans Christian was brillant! [...] Me and my partner really appreciated that Hans put the welfare of the whales first as he would not approach the whales if he felt there was too many boats around them and said he didn't want to create stress on the whales.
★★★★★The expedition is well-organized. A 3-hour bus ride. Upon arrival, we get kitted out in a heated room (wetsuit/boots/gloves) and use the restroom beforehand. Then, 3 hours on the water. We saw whales and orcas. On the return trip, we were given a hot drink and a sandwich.
★★★★★Fantastic excursion!! We saw two families of orcas with their calves and two humpback whales, and the animals were treated with respect. The guides were great!
★★★★★Great experience, professional company, and top-notch organization. Our skipper Gabi is super prepared and attentive to everyone's needs. Despite the slightly rough sea, sailing was pleasant and we managed to see orcas and whales. Highly recommended
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About three hours at sea, per the listing, and guests report the same. Add about 4 hours on the bus each way and you're out for roughly 12.5 hours.
Very cold. The thermal flotation suit, boots, mittens and goggles help, but you sit still in wind and spray for hours. Wear your warmest layers underneath.
Not under 14, and not under 140 cm. The rule is for safety on a fast open boat. Families with younger children should look at a catamaran from Tromsø.
05:00 sharp from outside the Scandic Ishavshotel, Fredrik Langes gate 2. Onboarding starts at 04:45 and the bus will not wait.
Ready to book
A 05:00 bus to Skjervøy, then close to three hours in a RIB at water level, flotation suit and hot drink included.
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