Discover Tromso on a cruise through the fjords!

For as long as I’ve been coming to Tromso, I sometimes forget to play the tourist and to see something other than the northern lights. And yet, there’s a whole heap of activities to do here, especially in winter. But here’s the thing: having done them a very, very long time ago, I needed to bring myself up to date and share them with Madame. Like discovering the Tromso region by boat. I’d done it ages ago and had fond memories of it. And I’ve just done it again. Spoiler: it’s still just as good!

And you know me — in Norway, whenever I can, I go on little day cruises, I take the ferries, I love being out on the water in this country! Because the scenery is always insane.

And here in Tromso, there are several options, agencies and types of boat. Let’s go through it together, and also work out whether this activity is right for you. Let’s dive in!

Why take a boat tour of the Tromso fjords

First of all because the region is stunning, obviously! People usually discover Kvaloya by car, following the roads to Tromvik and Sommaroy in particular. But when you don’t have a car, exploring the region gets very complicated. Well, you’ve always got the agencies that take you around the area, and that’s a very good thing. But you’re missing a magnificent part of it.

A little half-day cruise through the Tromso fjords is, for me, an excellent idea. It gives you a really good overview of the region without wearing yourself out, you get away from the cars, you take your time. It’s peaceful, it’s beautiful!

Then, because you get to see different things. First, the views from the boat are lovely and quite different from what you can see from dry land. But also in terms of wildlife: you can spot eagles and sometimes dolphins.

Finally, for a bit of entertainment, you’ll be able to fish. Some of you will have more luck than me (I hope so, for your sake), but it’s a fun activity, especially with kids!

Find the best boat trip around Tromso!

What route do the different boats take through the fjords

At first, I thought you could visit the north of Kvaloya, but in fact it’s not possible at all because it’s really far by boat (some operators offer to do the first stretch by bus and head to Ersfjord). So the different boats all follow more or less the same route:

• hug the east and south coast of Kvaloya
• watch for eagles and possibly seals
• head down along Malangen
• go into Ramfjord
• a leisurely return to Tromso with a spot of fishing

Honestly it’s great, nicely varied. The route will also depend a lot on the conditions and on how frozen the fjords are.

Other boats such as Brim Explorer, on this cruise, may take a slightly different route. You’ll go and see the remains of a warship, a fishing museum, and the Ersfjord fjord.

But watch out! The routes are liable to change from time to time because there’s a bridge under construction south of Tromso. So the boats may head further north, over towards Ringvassoya. And honestly, if that happens, you’re not losing out because it’s also very beautiful!

The routes can also change depending on the ice. The fjords freeze, especially Ramfjord, so it can always shift depending on how cold it gets 🙂

What are the different agencies and options

So here I’m not talking about the whale watching trips, which are different outings and specific to one period of the year: late October to late January. On these boats, we’re only talking about trips into the fjords.

Bear in mind, though, that it’s often the same companies doing the fjords and the whales when it’s the season (Brim or Polar Adventures, for instance).

• Polar Adventures: a fairly large boat, with plenty of space outside, a classic boat without too much charm. The last one we did. Very friendly crew. €120
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• Brim Explorer: a bigger boat, hybrid, more recent. I haven’t tried it yet but it has an excellent reputation. They go to a fishermen’s spot that apparently isn’t always all that interesting. And they have an underwater drone that they bring out depending on the weather conditions. €135
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• Northern Yachting: a lovely sailing catamaran, and therefore smaller groups, which is really rather nice. Fishing session included too. €130
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• Hermes II: ideal for a trip out to sea dedicated to the fjords and to fishing on a traditional boat! €170
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How to choose your boat tour in Tromso

So you’ll find several companies, several boats, and you’ll have to make a choice based on a few criteria:

• the size and type of boat: inevitably, the cheaper it is, the more people there are. The two main companies, Polar Adventures and Brim Explorer, take up to 50 people. It’s rarely full, mind you, but it can feel a bit crowded, especially at the start when everyone is outside (don’t worry — the less hardy ones head inside quickly and that frees up space). Whereas the sailing boat and the catamaran take small groups, maybe 8/12, but are a touch more expensive.
• the type of engine: at Polar Adventures, there’s a classic motorboat. At Brim, it’s a hybrid, while you’ve also got a sailing boat (which does still have an engine) and a catamaran. It’s a varied choice, but for certain reasons you may want to favour one over the other.
• the price: as you can see, there isn’t a huge price difference. From €110 for the classic boat to €150 for the sailing boat in a small group, we stay within a certain price bracket
• the content: some offer fishing, others the chance to see the northern lights, and some nothing more than exploring (which in itself is already great!), so it’s up to you to decide whether you want to add a little something extra, but fishing is generally included almost everywhere

Seeing the northern lights from a boat!

Now that’s a fun option (weather permitting!). You can head off on a cruise around Tromso to see the scenery, of course, but above all to see the northern lights.

Right, as I said earlier, it’s going to depend on the weather. But even though boats aren’t as flexible as the agencies’ minibuses, they will move away from Tromso and from the light pollution. That said, they can’t cover enough distance to escape the clouds if it’s overcast in Tromso. You really need to be confident about the forecast.

But after all, why not! You’re killing two birds with one stone:

• a northern lights outing
• and a boat trip

For this there are several operators of much the same standard but with slightly different offerings, as you’ll see below. Some offer a second-chance guarantee, others don’t, and you can also head out on a very handsome sailing boat.

My recommendations

Not easy! All the options are good and the boats have a good reputation. I’d perhaps tend to favour the hybrid boat Brim Explorer, for its engine and the newer boat. Then again, I say that, but I recently booked with Polar Adventures. The route is the same, the price virtually identical, just a different type of boat. Newer but also bigger at Brim.

Otherwise, the slightly pricier option is the catamaran; it looks great, especially as you’re in a small group, so it’s ideal for making the most of it.

But if you fancy something different, do go ahead and take the boat out at night to see the northern lights — I really do think it’s a good option, provided the sky is reasonably clear 🙂

4 recommended places to stay in Tromso

Find your dream accommodationIn Tromso !

A few tips and useful information for exploring the Tromso area by boat

• Price: as we’ve seen, the main companies, the classic ones, are between €110 and €130. For a sailing boat or a catamaran, you’ll be more in the €130 to €150 range. It’s expensive, but less so than the other activities in Tromso.
• Which season: well, unlike dog sledding, whales and the rest, you can visit the Tromso fjords all year round! The experience is different in winter or in summer — not the same colours, not the same temperature, no snow — but every season is a lovely option 🙂
• Who is it for: everyone! Well, almost — unfortunately the boats I’ve seen aren’t equipped for wheelchairs. Except perhaps Brim Explorer: their boat is recent and on their site they ask you to contact them in advance. For children, no problem at all, there’s no age limit. You’ll just need to keep an eye on them outside near the railings.
• Seeing animals: depending on the season and your luck, you may see dolphins. Whales are likely to be trickier because they’re further away. But you will be able to see eagles!
• Seasickness: the boats don’t head out into the open sea. They stay in channels or fjords, where honestly it’s never really choppy. So no worries! Otherwise take a tablet, but in the whole group, nobody was ill.
• Strong winds and cancellation: sailing conditions are regulated. If the wind is too strong, then the trip is cancelled, which has already happened to me and does happen from time to time. They don’t mess about with that.

Find the best boat trip around Tromso!

Seeing whales and orcas in Tromso

I explain it at much greater length in the following article, but between early November and late January/early February, your trips out to sea in Tromso will mostly be dedicated to seeing whales and orcas. It’s an activity that takes more time and goes further afield, because the whales aren’t in Tromso itself but at Skjervoy (but don’t worry, you get there by boat!), and it’s a bit more expensive as it starts from €140. And it’s something truly wonderful. Majestic. And for this trip, I’d rather recommend Brim Explorer (which you can discover here) because you go on a hybrid boat, which is better for the animals.

Conclusion

There you go, now you know pretty much everything! As well as being a thoroughly enjoyable and refreshing trip out to sea (in case we ever needed that in Tromso!), exploring the fjords is something you can do all year round in Tromso. So you’ve seen the different options; I hope this has convinced you. It isn’t as expensive as the other activities, but it’s every bit as lovely, and more restful!

And don’t forget that you can also see reindeer as well as go dog sledding!

• Find all the winter activities in Tromso here!