Winter-whales, a pod of orcas in winterlight. ©Marten Bril.

Skjervøy

A whale eldorado in wintertime

Our activities in Skjervøy winter

In the period November - January we offer trips from Skjervøy due to the change of the herring migration. You will then be able to experience orcas and humpbacks up close as they are following the overwintering herring, one of the world’s largest fish stocks. We offer trips with RIB and our large traditional boat. From RIB, we also offer snorkeling.

Humpback dive at Whale watching in Skjervøy. ©Marten Bril.

From 1550

Winter whale watching with RIB in Skjervøy

Experience the spectacular whales close up as they are following the herring

8+
2.5h
Winter

Practical information

SHORTEST DISTANCE TO THE WHALES
The whale watching starts from Skjervøy harbor, next to “Hotel Maritime” a short way out to the whales. If you are booked on a RIB (small boat), please be at Hotel Maritim Skjervøy, 45 minutes before departure. After check-in you will receive an informative introduction about the whales and their habitat as well as a safety briefing. When necessary, information is given in different languages. Guests booked on our bigger traditional boat, please go directly to the boat!

MOST DAYLIGHT AND MORE WATCHING
The winter in the Arctic means shorter light during the day. Our trips start early and we use all the daylight there is. This means that you get the most out of our whale-watching tour! We approach the whales respectfully in their proximity.

OUR GUIDES ARE EXPERTS ON WHALES
Our companies Whalesafari Andenes and Whale2Sea combine whale watching with research on the whales. Our guides are highly trained and will tell you about the different species we see. Captains and guides are also trained in safety and will take good care of our guests!

WE OFFER A BUS FROM TROMSØ
We strive to be as sustainable as possible and give the best offer to our guests. That is why we offer transport by bus Tromsø-Skjervøy and back. Both so that we have the shortest boat transfer to the whales, but also so that our guests don’t have to drive themselves on the arctic roads. The comfort of our bus and safe transport is important for us. You can choose the bus as an add-on when you book your whale-watching tour!

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DURATION OF A TOUR
- Weather and sea conditions: If it is too windy, the waves makes it difficult to spot whale blows, listen for sperm whale clicks on the hydrophones and keep normal speed during transit. Dense fog will also make it difficult to spot the whales.
- Distance to shore: The further from the shore the whales are found, the longer the trip might take.
- Fewer whales in the area: If we have fewer whales in the area, it might take longer time to find then and the trip might be longer.

For information about safety and our guidelines, klick here

Dos and don'ts to make the best out of your adventure and stay warm:

Dos: ✅

Wear warm clothes in several layers (best: wool)
Warm socks and waterproof shoes
Warm, waterproof gloves/mittens
Optional: A small waterproof bag for a camera or cellphone

Don'ts: ❌

Sneakers or other thin shoes
No gloves or thin gloves
Unprotected camera/gear

SKJERVØY IN TROMS COUNTY

Skjervøy at 70° is further north than Andenes at 69°. Coming from abroad, the easiest is to get to Tromsø fly plane and take the bus from Tromsø to Skjervøy. To our guests we offer bus-transfer from Tromsø. You can add this option when you book the whale watching or snorkeling tour.

NB! It is winter and cold. It is not possible to snorkel in a bikini! Yes, we have had that request... The water temperature is very low, and you need WARM clothing both above and below water, even under the dry suit!