Whale Watching RIB Experience (With Transfer Tromso-Skjervoy)

Tromso, Norway

12 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Troms County is one of the world's best places to see whales so maximize your chances by joining a guided tour. In a small group, journey to Skjervøy head out onto the water in a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), which can maneuver quickly through the water. Enjoy stunning views of the fjords and spot orcas, humpbacks, and perhaps the elusive fin whale as they swim, hunt, and play.

Maximize your chances of seeing whales by joining a specialized tour
Travel in a RIB: Allows for quicker movements and better chances to find whales
A small-group tour ensures a personal experience and great visibility
Stay warm with provided thermal floatation suits and Arctic boots

What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Lunch
Driver/guide
Port pickup and drop-off

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Samuel Arnesens gate 5, 9008 Tromsø, Norway
Bus Terminal, Samuel Arnesens gate 5, 9008 Tromsø (Under the large grey harbour terminal building next to Clarion Edge)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.5:15 am

Itinerary

Skjervoy

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 36 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Jessica_L

Such an amazing tour! The drive to Skjervoy was long, but the coach was comfy enough to sleep on. The guides were so helpful and had all the equipment you need to stay warm and mostly dry. We were lucky enough to see Orcas and Humpbacks at feeding time. It was magical! We had whales come right up to our boats and we spent a lot of time being up close with them! We also had a sandwich and hot drink to finish. Would 100% recommend!

Reviews

4.6

based on 129 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Amazing Trip / Food & Facilities POOR!

MICHAEL_D, Dec 2025

The Trip it’s self was amazing we saw many whale’s and the scenery was stunning. However we found the experience leading up to getting on the boat chaotic due to there being 3x coaches all arriving at once. Then rushed off the coaches in to tiny changing rooms, too crowded making it hard to move around to get the equipment on. And felt really rushed!! Not many toilets for the amount of people who booked the trip also no lighting. the facility's were poor. Our trip stated Snacks, Tea,Coffee, box lunch, Instead we had 1x Hot Blackcurrant and 1x Dry bread roll with filling = Poor standard for any trip - If stated on the booking what is included i recommend meeting that requirement!! Overall good trip but food and drink / snack’s total let down!

Underwhelming and rushed experience

g_g, Nov 2025

It is a good activity to do if you’ve not experienced it before. however it was very rushed, from the moment we got off the bus we had to quickly queue for portatoilets, put on the suits, and get on the RIB. Upon return it was the same very rushed to get out of the suits and all your things, sandwich provided to take with you on the bus but we almost missed the bus back since they don’t count headcount and there were 3 big buses. On the whale watching I understand our guide’s intention to respect the animals by not going too close, but there were other RIBs that always were closer and ahead thus blocking our views since we could only see the fins. Interesting and very cold and wet experience but do not expect to see much like in the photos unless you’re so lucky that the orca jumps out though we didn’t see that

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you. Yes, Skjervøy might feel rushed since there are a lot of companies there. But you option is not better, which is not to do whale rib tour a all. You know what this rush means? It means you get more time at sea with the whales. To me that is a good thing. Maybe not to you. If that is not something you want, more whale time, then you must join someone else next time, since all rib operators do it the same way. Yes many see it like the photos, but as you know, nature does not show its best side every day. We can only go 50 m away, if the whales want to be closer to us, then they need to choose it themselves. See you next time. Warm regards, Øystein

Best Tour!!

Jessica_L, Nov 2025

Great trip - would recommend

Jacen_Y, Jan 2025

We had a great day. The staff(Katie) was very accommodating with any issues we had and all kit was provided. Got to see Humpbacks and a pod of Orcas towards the end! The staff done a great job finding the whales to show us! Scenery around was also great

Amazing

Holly_B, Dec 2024

We had the best time on this trip! It is so well organised and everyone was helpful and lovely. We loved being out on the water with only a handful of people. It is definately worth the money. We saw Orcas and Humpback whales even though I was sceptical at first but the crew are great and I doubt there are many days they don't find something for you to see. Just book the tour you wont regret it!!

RIB whale watching experience Skjervoy

Louise_M, Dec 2024

Felt surreal.. RIB so much fun, Guide awesome, Spectacular scenery but best of all seeing pods of Orcas at water level close enough to hear the water spouting out of their blow holes. Was like being in a documentary.. Amazing

Whale of a time!

Aaron_M, Dec 2024

Wow! What an absolutely incredible day! Our guide Honza was so knowledgeable and very nice and welcoming. We saw a huge amount of Orca and Humpback Whales and it really was a dream come true! The weather was changeable but it made it all the more of an adventure and we got a real taste of arctic life! We would definitely return! Thankyou for such a memorable experience.

A magical trip

Dawn_C, Nov 2024

A scenic 4 hour drive to Skjervoy where we were given the floatation suits and kit. Onto the rib boat, in excellent conditions I must say. Katie was our skipper who was nice and knowledgable. We were quickly greeted with both Fin whale and Orca soon after leaving the dock. We must have seen more than 70 orca and 15 fin whale. Do take all the layers possible as it’s very cold at sea. We then headed back towards Skjervoy in the hope to see humpback, and indeed we then saw two. The lighting was beautiful which just created the most atmospheric photos of the whales in the fjords. An amazing trip and could t have wished for more. I just used my iPhone for pics, I would recommend smartphone gloves and/or hand warmer.

I can't actually rate the...

Emma_H, Nov 2024

I can't actually rate the experience, because i never got to go. We had booked the trip thru viator for friday morning, and we got up early to get to the bus, but after waiting for 30 minutes with no bus showing we called Arctic explorer directly, who told us that the trip was cancelled yesterday at noon. So we were 4 people standing and waiting, that hadn't been told. We ended up wasting our morning figuring out what to do then, and because we were the last ones to know about the cancelation, there was no availibility for any boats the next day. We still weren't told who was at fault. If it was viator who didn't tell us or if it was arctic explorer who hadn't informed them.

Once in a lifetime experience

sarah_b, Dec 2023

This experience is once in a lifetime! We went in with low expectations, because we knew you couldn't guarantee wildlife, but we were blown away. We saw so many orcas, a handful of humpback and a couple of fin whales. The skipper was so enthusiastic and made such an effort to get us as close as possible to all of the whales. Don't hesitate to book, a once in a lifetime experience!

Highlight of my trip in Tromsø , RECOMMENDED

Tracy_L, Jan 2023

I was indeed a bit hesitated to join the whale watching tour when I have been told by social media that such tour is usually harsh - taking a long boat ride on bumpy sea , cold , seasick , and eventually not able to see any whales or only watch them from far distance. HOWEVER I found this tour and read the comments and I decided to go for it. I am so glad I made such a good decision , it’s definitely one of the highlights of my trip in Norway ! I’ve never imagine I could see wild whales swimming in the open sea , just few meters from me! It’s truly amazing. The ride on the rib including whale watching was like around 2 - 3 hours and we spent for another around 7 hours on the bus from Tromsø to the port where we got on the rib . The guides were very helpful and have good knowledge about the whales. The day I went was pretty warm and the organiser provided us with waterproof warm suit , gloves , eye cover, wool socks and the boots, I didn’t feel cold at all. I do recommend this tour to everyone who visit Tromso and interested in wildlife— only go on the rib to get closer to the whales while not disturbing too much ( the engine was off when we were nearby them) , forget the big boat unless you travel with someone who cannot take The rib :)

A once in a lifetime exeprience: must-do - I 100% recommend!!

Raphael_J, Dec 2022

Absolute must-do! The transport from the hotel to the whale spot was super nice and allowed us to sleep a little. We saw a pod of around 10-20 humpback whales, without a doubt the most breathtaking experience in our lives. The guide was super nice. The zodiac is also a better option if you usually get sick on a boat.

Once in a life time experience

Albert_C, Nov 2022

Amazing experience. It starts with a for hour luxury bus ride out to Skjervøy. You then put on the flotation suit and get on the inflatable boat for a once in a lifetime adventure. Our guide Thord, was excellent - very attentive, extremely knowledgeable (fisherman during season), always careful not disturb the feeding. We saw hundreds of whales. Many pods of orcas and humpbacks. They are so close at times you can hear them breathe, they answer back when you whistle, you can even smell their breath in the air. We were on the water for about three hours. You then get a large sandwich and get back on the bus for the four hour ride home. If you only book one excursion in Tromso this should be it! Please note that there is no beverage provided, and only the food provided is the sandwich. The bus stops at a circle K on the way out and the first ferry on return journey provide opportunity to get beverages and a snack. There is a toilet on bus.

Intensive but beautiful day

Tineke_D, Dec 2025

It was a very special, but also very spicy day!! The bus trip there and back (2x 4 hours) is really long. Especially without a sanitary stop in between. Low point of the day was undoubtedly the arrival in Skjervoy. Total chaos to assign the groups to the right organizer and terrible toilets (extremely dirty dixies) But..... the RIB boat whale safari made up for (almost) everything. Our guide Anton was caring and guided us to many whales. After 3 hours of sailing we were more than satisfied and went back on the bus with a nice baguette. Travel really far too long without a sanitary stop in between Unlikely dirtier "toilets" But a perfect three-hour (!!!) Whale-Safari with a top-guide Anton. Also the material we got was perfect (suits, mittens, socks, boots, life jacket and ski goggles)

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Absolut empfehlenswert!!!!!

Caroline_R, Dec 2023

Unglaubliche Tour und absolut empfehlenswert!!! Allein das Speed Boot fahren war ein grandioses Erlebnis! Wir waren ziemlich nah dran an den Walen und haben sehr vielen Orcas und Buckelwalen beim Fressen zugeschaut. Es war sehr besonders! Wir können diese Tour absolut empfehlen. Die Kulisse drum herum war einmalig und traumhaft schön! Top Tour!!

Una pasada!!

Antonia_M, Dec 2022

En definitiva Vaya si vale la pena hacer un trayecto tan largo!! Estaba lleno de orcas y ballenas alimentándose Una gran experiencia verlas en su hábitat El marinero del barco se merece un gran aplauso, simpático y con muchas ganas de que quedáramos satisfechos 😀

Hautnah

Gnter_K, Nov 2019

Anfahrt je 4 Stunden zu lang. Keine Infos durch Busfahrer. Schade. Speetboot super, immer am richtign Ort.

Excellent

annie n, Nov 2019

Animateurs et chauffeur dans la bienveillance. Très bon équipement mit à la disposition dès l'arrivée (bottes, moufles, bonnet, masque...). Nous avons vu beaucoup d'orques et 2 baleines. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié le fait que la compagnie soit dans le respect de l'animal.