Where and when to see whales and orcas in Norway — 2026 guide

Seeing whales is a dream for many (many!) of us, and it’s not that hard to make it happen. If, like me, you come from mainland France, you have to leave the country to see them. And Norway is one of the closest and most accessible destinations.

So yes, you can see them in Norway. Yes, you can see them all year round. But no, you can’t see them everywhere in the country. It takes a bit of planning, because to have the best chances of seeing them, it’s on the northern coast.

Let’s dive into it!

SEE WHALES ALL YEAR ROUND IN THE VESTERÅLEN ISLANDS

Andenes is the main town of the Vesterålen Islands. The Vesterålen? What’s that? It’s an archipelago located between the Lofoten Islands and Senja, far less known than its two neighbours but still really lovely!

It’s an archipelago a bit at the edge of the world, with remote villages, not many people, a little wild because there are few tourists, and it has one huuuge advantage: it’s the ONLY place in Norway where you can see whales all year round. That’s right!

That’s because of the Bleik trench, an underwater canyon that drops more than 2,000–3,000 m deep. These great depths are perfect for sperm whales, which dive to hunt squid and fish far down in the water column. By the way, you can also see them from Bleik!

In winter, the orcas arrive following the herring, so there’s also a chance to see them, while in summer it’s mostly the whales.

The one small downside of Andenes, though, is its wind. Even though you don’t have to go very far to see the whales, the trips are occasionally cancelled because of the weather and the waves. It happens — a wind strong enough to unfrizz a sheep — I told you about that edge-of-the-world feeling, well there you go! So driving all the way out for a single day and betting everything on one trip is a bit ambitious. It can be done, but you’re never safe from a cancellation.

Especially since the Vesterålen are really great to visit, and in summer you can also see puffins!

Who to go with

There are a few operators offering tours, some only in summer (because in winter there aren’t many tourists):

• Green Gold of Norway, offers tours by inflatable boat to see whales, orcas and puffins. The advantage of this type of boat is that you get closer!
• Arctic Whales Tour, by classic catamaran from Andenes, also in summer
• Whale2sea, (which merged with Whalesafari) offers different types of trips (catamaran, traditional boat) all year round, and I believe they’re the only ones doing it in winter
• Arctic Ocean Lodge, oh and they too, this is new, offer tours all year round! From Bleik, by inflatable boat. Interesting!

SEE WHALES AND ORCAS IN TROMSØ AND SKJERVØY

Tromsø is the most popular place to see whales, but also orcas, in Norway! Some say it’s one of the best places in the world. That might be a tad exaggerated for whales (but not wrong for orcas!), even though there are quite a few.

On top of that, it coincides with the arrival of winter, snow and the northern lights! Not bad, right? That’s why whale watching is a flagship activity of the Tromsø region. Well, Tromsø — it’s actually more about Skjervøy, 3 hrs away by road, because the cetaceans have migrated in recent years.

The season to see whales and orcas runs from late October to late January. Is it fixed? Not really. It can happen earlier, they can leave earlier or later. One year they left on 8 February, the next on 25 January. So it depends!

There are many companies and several types of boats to see the whales:

• the big catamaran, stable and comfortable, but with quite a lot of people
• the inflatable boat, bracing but getting you closest to the critters
• the small boat, somewhere in between, super handy but pricier

As I was saying, although you might be lucky enough to see them around Tromsø, the whales and orcas settle in Skjervøy, to the east. You get there either by bus or by boat. So on top of the whales, you can enjoy a lovely cruise! (and seasickness)

Who to go with

So I won’t give you the full listing, because you’ll find in the following article all the cruises to see whales in Tromsø, but I’ll give you one or two examples per type of boat, with prices.

• Brim Explorer, the recent and comfortable electric catamaran, €160, it’s THE safe bet
• Helgøy Skyssbåt, a slightly faster, slightly smaller catamaran, very good reputation, €160
• Arctic Adventure, , by inflatable boat to get as close as possible to the cetaceans, €260
• Skua Nature Group, a very small boat but not an inflatable, it’s a really good compromise! €320

SEE WHALES AND ORCAS IN ALTA

Tromsø gets a lot of attention, but Alta is also an excellent place to see orcas and whales. Basically, it’s “the next fjord along” and it’s a huge playground for cetaceans. From Alta, unlike Tromsø, there’s no need to do a 3-hour journey (by boat or bus) before getting there. The critters are right in the Altafjord, it’s super convenient!

Another advantage: there are far fewer people, as the region is less touristy. But you see just as many animals.

So if you’re on the northern coast of Norway, no need to dash all the way to Skjervøy! Alta is plenty 🙂

We’re in the same season, namely from late October to late January.

Oh, and if you’re in Kvaenangen, between Alta and Skjervøy, that’s also a spot with lots of whales and orcas!

Who to go with

Alta is developing quietly. Even though the region isn’t very touristy, the infrastructure and operators are quite present and really let you make the most of it:

• Icecube of Aurora, a funny little boat for a 4-hour trip, €220
• Finnmark Moods, a small heated and comfortable boat, €210
• Sami Experience, a slightly bigger boat, more space, €160
• Æventyr, to see the whales by inflatable boat,

Can you see orcas or whales in the Lofoten Islands?

Whales, pilot whales and especially orcas pass through the Lofoten Islands and may even pause for a bit on their way towards Skjervøy and Alta. It’s not that rare to be able to see them, and sometimes even close to the coast!

Except that in recent years there was so much uncertainty that the tours had stopped going out.

But good news! Since this year, an agency has decided to resume sea trips. So between March and September, you can head out by inflatable boat to see orcas, birds too, and all the small and large cetaceans in the area. It departs from Henningsvær and honestly, it’s a great opportunity! You can check the reviews, they’re excellent.

• See the orcas with Arctic Adventure Tours

Can you see them in other places? (Lofoten, Bergen…)

Further south, though, you don’t normally see them. No whales in Bergen or along the coast, except by sheer luck or by accident. It can happen, but let’s say you really shouldn’t count on it. On the other hand, what you can see fairly easily and all year round are dolphins and especially porpoises (mini whales that look like dolphins but without a nose, super cute).

So no, if you go to other places, don’t assume you’re going to see whales or orcas, it’s far too random. And there’s no tour scheduled. But if you go on one of Norway’s lovely day cruises, then maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see something!

Seeing whales and orcas in Norway: frequently asked questions

When can you see whales and orcas in Norway?

It depends on the place. In the Vesterålen Islands (Andenes), you can see whales all year round. On the northern coast — Tromsø/Skjervøy and Alta — the orca and whale season runs from late October to late January, when they follow the herring. The dates are never fixed: some years they leave as early as 25 January, other years they stay until February.

Where can you see orcas in Norway (and in Europe)?

Northern Norway is quite simply the best place in Europe to see orcas. The three safe bets are Skjervøy (departing from Tromsø), Alta and its fjord, and the Vesterålen Islands in winter. Elsewhere in Europe, it’s much rarer and more random. If seeing orcas is your number-one goal, aim for the northern coast between late October and late January.

Can you see whales in Norway in summer?

Yes, but only in one reliable place: the Vesterålen Islands, thanks to the Bleik trench, an underwater canyon where sperm whales come to hunt all year round. As a summer bonus, you can also spot puffins. The northern-coast orcas, however, are only there in winter.

Tromsø or Alta: which to choose?

Both are excellent and in the same season. Tromsø is the most popular, but the cetaceans have migrated: you now have to reach Skjervøy, 3 hrs away by road. Alta is more convenient (the animals are right in the Altafjord, no long drive) and far less touristy, for just as many animals. If you want to avoid the crowds, Alta is a great choice.

Which species can you see?

Depending on the season and the place: orcas and humpback whales on the northern coast in winter, sperm whales all year round in the Vesterålen, and further south mostly dolphins and porpoises. Seeing whales is possible in many places around the world — but orcas are far rarer, and that’s where Norway makes the difference.

How much does a whale or orca safari cost?

Count on from €110-160 for a large catamaran, and up to around €320 for a small boat or an inflatable that gets you as close as possible. The price mainly depends on the type of boat and the group size.

Are you guaranteed to see whales?

No, these are wild animals, no trip can guarantee it. But in the right places and at the right time, the chances are very high. Conversely, in the south of the country or in places without an organised tour, don’t count on it: it would be a stroke of luck.

In conclusion

There you go! Now you know everything! If you want to see whales and orcas in Norway, you have to give yourself the means and head to the north of the country, either in the Vesterålen Islands all year round, or on the northern coast between Tromsø and Alta, from late October to late January. Otherwise it’ll mostly be a stroke of luck, but it’s important for planning your trip to Norway.

If you’ve seen whales in sanctuaries like Baja California, the St. Lawrence, Vancouver Island… I’d say that in terms of whales you won’t get better in Norway. But there are the orcas! And those are rarer to see!

For my part, I’d say it’s a really lovely experience, especially since it’s different every time. Will we get orcas or whales, or both? With or without snow? I’ve done it several times, at different times of year, with different cruises, and it’s always been great and I’ve never had the same experience twice. So go for it! It’s one of the must-do activities!

If you’d like to learn more about Norway and its different regions and activities, I recommend the following articles:

• How to plan your trip to Norway – all the essential info to help you go to this superb country
• Where to go in Norway in summer – what the best options are, helping you choose between the fjords and the Lofoten (a classic!) and other itineraries
• What to do in Bergen – the superb Hanseatic town will surprise you!
• 10 places to see in Oslo – Oslo is a really nice and pleasant city
• The most beautiful spots in the fjords of Norway – a pretty incredible region with superb fjords!
• Discover the Lofoten Islands – this large archipelago has the country’s most beautiful fishing villages, but also grandiose landscapes!
• What to do in Tromsø – the capital of the northern lights but not only! A really pretty city with loads of activities and landscapes to see

⭐️ You can find ALL the articles about Norway here

If you need more information, don't hesitate to ask me by clicking here 🙂How can I help you ?