The essentials
- Orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the Tromsø and Skjervøy fjords roughly every November through January.[1]
- The high-speed catamaran safari is 8 hours, wheelchair accessible and rated 4.61 from 3,768 reviews.[2]
- The MS Alba whale cruise takes children from age 1, and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.[3]
- Tromsø winter averages around -4°C; warm, windproof layers are the answer for children.[4]
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and free rebooking offered on the catamaran safari.[2]
- Top choice Catamaran Whale Safari from US$220 Duration8 hours[2]Rating4.61 from 3,768 reviews[2]GuideLive tour guide: English[2]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[2] Check availability
- MS Alba Whale Cruise from US$215 Duration8 hours[5]Rating4.67 from 53 reviews[5]GuideLive tour guide: English[5]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[5] See this tour
- Skjervøy RIB Safari from US$251 Duration3 - 12 hours[6]Rating4.78 from 136 reviews[6]GuideLive tour guide: English[6]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours in advance[6] See this tour
Minimum age to participate: 1 year. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Is a Tromsø whale safari good for children?
Know before you go
Why Tromsø suits a family whale watching trip
Whale watching in Tromsø begins with geography. The city sits on an island in a wide fjord system, and the boats leave from the harbour in the middle of town, so there is no long transfer before the trip starts. Orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the Tromsø and Skjervøy fjords roughly every November through January.[1] Since around 2017 the whales have usually gathered in the Kvænangen fjords near Skjervøy rather than the waters closer to Tromsø, and the 2025-2026 season followed the same pattern.[1]
That run north to the whale grounds shapes the day, and it is the part families should plan around. The whales are usually not waiting just outside the harbour, so the boat spends a good stretch of the trip travelling, and children need something to keep them busy. The reward is the scenery: steep mountains, dark water, seabirds and the sense of heading somewhere wild. On Brim Explorer's silent whale watching tour, the crew watch for birds flying overhead where humpback whales push herring to the surface, and use radar and sonar to find obstacles in open water.[9]
When to go: the Tromsø whale season with children
The season runs roughly from November through January, when orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the Tromsø and Skjervøy fjords.[1] Those weeks overlap with the Polar Night Season, which in Tromsø begins on November 27th and lasts until January 15th.[8] The light is low and the days are short, but the middle of the day usually brings a long blue twilight rather than full darkness, and the whales feed through it. Book early if you want a date in the school holidays.
Expect cold. The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around -4°C, and it feels sharper on the water.[4] Warm layers, hats and mittens are not optional extras for children. If you travel outside the winter season, minke whales and porpoises are occasionally spotted during the Tromsø summer, although sightings are fewer than in the winter season.[10] The winter run of Norwegian spring-spawning herring is what draws killer whales into northern Norwegian waters each winter.[11]
A whale watching catamaran heads out through the fjord towards Skjervøy.
Catamaran, RIB or hybrid boat: which suits your family
For most families, a catamaran is the simplest choice. The high-speed catamaran whale watching safari from Tromsø lasts 8 hours, is wheelchair accessible, has a live tour guide in English and is rated 4.61 from 3,768 reviews, from US$220.[2] Free rebooking is offered on that tour.[2] A second fast catamaran option runs 7.5 hours and starts from US$210.[12] The responsible whale watching cruise aboard MS Alba lasts 8 hours and starts from US$215.[5] All of these are from-prices per person.
RIB safaris are a different kind of day: fast, open and bouncy. Operators near Tromsø provide full-length flotation suits, often called drysuits or immersion suits, to wear over your own clothing.[13] One Skjervøy RIB safari is limited to 12 participants and starts from US$251.[6] If a quiet engine matters to you, Brim Explorer runs a Silent Whale Watching tour on a hybrid-electric ship that operates silently in electric mode.[9] For a whale watching Tromsø family trip, the catamaran is the easier boat to manage with younger children, while older children often love the speed of a RIB.
What the day on the catamaran safari looks like
The safari is an 8-hour round trip from Tromsø, with the catamaran heading out to Skjervøy and back.[2] Starting times change with the date, so check availability to see the times on offer.[2] You can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation lets you cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[2]
On board, the rhythm is simple: travel, look, travel again. Catamarans used on these trips normally have indoor seating and a warm cabin, so children can move between the deck and shelter. Bring snacks, a water bottle, cards and a downloaded film for the outward leg, and save a little surprise for the journey home. Guides speak English and usually explain what the crew is watching for, which keeps children interested in the water rather than only in screens.
from US$220
The high-speed catamaran safari from Tromsø is the tour booked from this site, rated 4.61 from 3,768 reviews.[2]
Keeping children warm, dry and comfortable
Layers do more than one thick jumper. A thin wool base layer, a fleece or down mid layer and a windproof, waterproof shell is a good combination, and it can be adjusted as the day goes on. Hats, mittens and a buff protect faces and hands, and spare gloves are worth packing because children lose them on deck. The average winter temperature in Tromsø is around -4°C, and wind on the water makes it feel colder.[4]
On a catamaran you wear your own clothes, so waterproof trousers and boots with grip matter. On RIB trips, full-length flotation suits are provided over your own clothing.[13] Whichever boat you choose, a thermos of hot chocolate, biscuits and a dry bag for wet gloves make the trip gentler. Pack a full change of clothes for young children and leave it at your accommodation for the evening.
Seasickness, safety and whale watching rules
The crossing to the whale grounds is the part most likely to unsettle a child. Sitting low and towards the middle of the boat, looking at the horizon and getting fresh air all help, and it is worth asking a pharmacist about child-appropriate travel tablets before you travel. A catamaran generally handles swell better than a small open boat, and a window seat indoors can be more comfortable than the deck for anyone feeling queasy.
Whale watching in Tromsø follows voluntary guidelines that ask boats to approach whales slowly, at less than 5 knots when within 300m, at constant speed, and from the side and slightly to the rear.[7] The engine note often drops and the boat sits still while whales are close, which is a good moment to talk to children about giving animals space. Keep voices low, hands inside the railings, and let children watch the surface for blows and dorsal fins rather than chasing a photograph.
Booking a family whale trip: prices and timing
Prices are from-prices per person and they vary with the boat and the date. The high-speed catamaran safari from Tromsø starts from US$220.[2] The hybrid-electric boat tour starts from US$209.[14] The Skjervøy RIB safari starts from US$251.[6] The MS Alba cruise starts from US$215.[5] Check the booking page for the ages and prices that apply to your family.
Book as early as you can for the whale season, especially for school holiday dates, and check the starting time before you plan the rest of the day. Reserve now and pay later, plus free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, make it easier to commit when children are in the group.[2] If a child wakes up unwell, that flexibility is worth having. Build in extra time before departure so that dressing children in loaned suits or finding the meeting point is not a rush.
How long Tromsø whale tours last
From-prices per adult, in US dollars
US dollar from-prices per person from these GetYourGuide listings, no separate child price shown:[2][5][6][14]
When to book your family whale trip
Plan a family whale day
Check the season
Whale season runs roughly November to January, when orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the fjords.[1]
Pick the boat
The high-speed catamaran is 8 hours and wheelchair accessible, and it is rated 4.61 from 3,768 reviews.[2]
Dress the children
Tromsø winter averages around -4°C, so pack warm layers and a windproof outer layer for everyone.[4]
Ask about ages
The MS Alba cruise takes children from age 1, and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.[3]
Plan the travel day
The safari lasts 8 hours; keep the rest of the day light and let children rest.[2]
Book the high-speed catamaran whale safari from Tromsø
from US$220Reserve now & pay later
