Whale Watching by Hybrid Electric Boat from Tromsø

Organized by Brim Explorer
This offer is very popular 165 people chose this activity this year

Activity Snapshot

Fitness level: Everybody welcome
Duration: 9 hrs
Spoken languages: English, Norwegian
Minimum age: From 2 years-old and up
Cancellation policy: flexible More info
Opening seasons:
  • J
  • F
  • M
  • A
  • M
  • J
  • J
  • A
  • S
  • O
  • N
  • D

Activity description

Join this tour from Tromsø and get a unique perspective on the magnificent Humpback Whales and Orcas as they feed in the Norwegian Arctic. All ages are welcome on this day-long, family-friendly excursion!

Tromsø is the third largest city in Norway and one of the northernmost cities in the world. It is located right beside the Arctic Circle, creating typical Arctic conditions and features. Situated along the coast of the Norwegian Sea, Tromsø is home to beautiful fjords and magnificent wildlife.

The tour departs from Tromsø in the crisp Arctic morning air. The crew will welcome you on board the hydroelectric ship, which holds a maximum capacity of 140 passengers. Get yourself comfortable inside the warm lounges or outside on the open deck. A café is on board which serves an array of lunch items, snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages for you to purchase throughout the day.

Once everyone is settled, the cruise will begin! The destination is a whale watcher's dream, the feeding grounds of both Orcas and Humpback whales. You will arrive in time to enjoy the few hours of polar daylight of the Tromsø winter season. On the way to the whale watching area, you can take in the breathtaking views of the Tromsø fjords and frozen landscapes from the hybrid-electric boat.

The captain will keep an eye out for the whales. Sometimes, it takes a little longer to spot an Orca or Humpback, but the guides have some nifty tricks to spot them. While they search for the whales, the passionate guides will share their personal stories from the Tromsø area and interesting sights that you can see from the fjords. Of course, a whale watching tour would not be complete without an abundance of information about the Orca and Humpback whales.

On the journey to and from the whales' feeding area, you will pass through beautiful landscapes, filled with mountains and fjords. Much of the whale watching season corresponds with 'polar night', a unique period of the year above the Arctic Circle when the sun does not rise above the horizon. This sometimes brings unique skies with colours of blue, pink and purple. While the sun will not rise, it won't be completely dark, as the light still makes its way around the curve of the earth.

Once the whales have been spotted, the captain will switch to the electric and silent engine to minimise disturbance. The vibrations and noise from the engines have been cited by researchers as a large disturbance to marine life and whales. After observing the whales in their natural habitat, the captain will sail back to the pier in Tromsø where the tour ends.

This whale watching safari is an exciting opportunity to experience the natural Arctic beauty on the Norwegian Sea while witnessing the majestic whale and other wildlife from Tromsø.

Course of events

- Please meet at the departure point at the pier in Tromsø 15 minutes prior to the start time

- Board the ship and meet the crew

- The adventure begins!

- Cruise to the whale feeding ground

- Observe the whales

- Travel back to the starting point in Tromsø

Activity requirements

A minimum number of 8 participants is required for this activity to take place. If the anticipated number is not reached, you will be offered a full refund or the chance to reschedule.

Special terms

Please note that wildlife is unpredictable and their presence can never be guaranteed.

Dogs and cats are welcome on board.

Included
  • Guide
  • WiFi
  • Water
Excluded
  • Food and drink (café onboard)
Do not forget to bring
  • Warm layers of clothing
  • Camera
100% secure payments
by credit card or Paypal
Meeting point
The pier to the side of Skarven Kro Restaurant in Tromsø (Kaigata 6) Get directions

Cancellation policy

Cancellation 4 days or more prior to the agreed activity date
You will be automatically refunded for the full amount for the activity
4 days
Cancellation between 48 and 96 hours prior to the agreed activity date
You are entitled to a 50% refund
48 hrs
Cancellation 48 hours or later prior to the agreed activity date
No refund will be possible
Weather Guarantee
Regardless of the date, if the activity is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, you will be offered a refund or the chance to reschedule

Reviews

Average rating
4.9 / 5
  • (19)
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  • 5 / 5

Il faudra compter 3 heures en mer pour arriver à la zone des baleines, je vous conseille d’arriver tôt pour avoir des bonnes places face aux vitres et pouvoir observer les paysages grandioses de la région. En fin de saison, nous avons quand même pu observer quelques pecs et cachalots, c’était fantastique !

  • 4.3 / 5

Incroyable les baleines et les paysages mais c’est trop cher pour ce que c’est.

  • 5 / 5

The boat ride is long(over 3 hours) but the boat is super comfortable and nice. The views are outstanding. When we arrived to the area we were so lucky to immediately start viewing many Orca whales and even a hump back! Then on the way back we saw an outstanding show of the Northern Lights that we weren’t expecting. Grab a good seat when you first arrive. We say by a window on the second deck. You can arrive to the line early and they let you on.

  • 5 / 5

This a great activity to do in Tromso, and set the expectation properly to have a wonderful time.

  • 4.8 / 5

Happy

  • 5 / 5

Loved the frozen scenery, rugged and beautiful. Throw in many pods of orcas, several humpbacks and 2 fin whales making it about as good as it gets.

  • 5 / 5

Amazing views throughout the trip and we were lucky enough to see a big pod of orcas for a good 30 mins!

  • 5 / 5

Malgré une traversée longue et tumultueuse (dont les organisateurs nous avaient préalablement prévenus), c’était un moment magique que je conseille à toutes les personnes qui visite Tromsø. Si vous aimez la nature, les paysages à couper le souffle et les animaux marins allez y sans hésiter !

  • 4.8 / 5

It was a great experience. A little confusing when getting on the boat. There were two boats and both headlines. As we got closer to the front of the line that we were on, the crew told us that the other boat was bigger and more comfortable, and we saw the boat that we were in line for only had chairs on tables, not like benches and tables that were secured to the floor, so then we had to go to the other boat and now we are at the end of the line so we did not get a window seat. The boat very full for a weekday cruise, and we shared our table with strangers because there were no seats for some people. It was fine. They ended up being very nice, but it was a little tight considering we were going to be sitting on the on the boat four hours each way. Once we got to the area where the whales were. We were very lucky to see humpback and orcas. I know the rules are the larger boats cannot get close to the whales, but I felt like we were pretty far away from them compared to the smaller boats and the ribs. I also know that it’s nature. And there are no guarantees so I wasn’t disappointed. It just would’ve been extra special if they came up a little bit closer to our boat.

  • 4 / 5

Le temps de trajet est long.. c est magnifique en plein jour de faire la traversée belle expérience

  • 5 / 5

Lovely experience! Long and a bit intense, but so wortj it to see the whales. The places we've navigated throught were so incredibly. Unique spot in the world.

  • 5 / 5

Un moment agréable avec une équipe formidable ! Un mimement hors du temps. Au top !

  • 5 / 5

Le trajet en bateau pour se rendre sur les sites d'observation étant assez long, 3 intervenants se sont relayés pour nous expliquer la faune locale, la flore, les coutumes, les paysages de Scandinavie, tous les animaux que nous pourrions observer. Ils étaient très intéressants et passionnés par leur sujet. Bravo à eux. Ensuite nous avons observé orques et baleines, avec toujours les informations pertinentes des intervenants. Retour avec une bonne soupe de tomates et toujours les commentaires des biologistes. Journée top, à tout point de vue.

  • 5 / 5

I’ve done whale watching in the past but after this it will be hard to beat.

  • 5 / 5

Great experience!

  • 4.8 / 5

Great experience. Amazing whales, amazing scenery. Good to see that Brim Explorer do not chase the whales and give them space.

  • 5 / 5

Thank you very much for a great experience! The crew (Fred, Axel, Iona and their colleagues) are clearly very well prepared to provide any support and information regarding the tour and the activities, with a lot of kindness and patience. Although the tour is long (we spent approx 9 hours on the boat), time passes by fast and getting to see whales in their own environment makes it worthwhile.

  • 5 / 5

Nice cruise, seen many whales and orcas, and with respect for them. Amazing crew, a lot of scientific explanation. Thanks to Sam, Karl and their teammates!

  • 5 / 5

This trip was very fun and informative. I really appreciate that the aim is to see whales without chasing or disturbing them. It's important to bring warm clothes to enjoy being outside!