Booking choice: The fast small-boat trip, 7 to 8 hours. Book this Tour details
February looks tempting for Tromsø. The polar night is over, the days stretch fast and the northern lights season still has two months to run. It is natural to want a whale safari on the list as well.
Here is the honest picture: what happened last February, what earlier years looked like, which boats still run and what we would do with a February week instead.
The quick answer
Possibly, but do not count on it. In 2026 the whales had left the Skjervøy and Kvænangen area by early February. In some earlier years sightings lasted to mid February. Most Tromsø operators end the season on 31 January. If whales matter, travel in late January at the latest. In February, plan around the northern lights and the longer days, and look at sperm whales off Andenes.
Can you still see whales in Tromsø in February?
Sometimes in the first half of the month, but it is a gamble. The orcas and humpbacks leave when the herring and the fishing fleet move out.
The winter whales are here for one reason: the Norwegian spring-spawning herring that winters in the fjords around Skjervøy and Kvænangen, about 160 km north of Tromsø. When the herring moves out to sea towards its spawning grounds, the orcas and humpbacks follow. Research on Barents Sea humpbacks describes them feeding in the fjords of northern Norway from late October to February (Kettemer et al. 2023).
The end date is the herring's choice. Visit Tromsø gives the usual season as the beginning of November to the end of January. February sits outside that window.
What happened to the whales in February 2026?
They left early. A whale guide's post dated 8 February 2026 said all the whales had gone from the Skjervøy and Kvænangen area, where earlier seasons had sightings until mid February.
The post on whale-tales.org says that "all the whales have left the area around Skjervøy and Kveanangen", and that earlier seasons had "amazing sightings of orcas and humpback whales around Skjervøy until the middle of February." The author links the early exit to the fishing: "when the commercial fishing moved further out, so did the animals." Sperm whales were the last visitors, seen in the final week of the season.
Late January 2026 was still good. A guest on the all-inclusive boat wrote "Even though we took the tour at the end of January, we saw quite a few whales." On the heated boat from Skjervøy another guest wrote "Even at the end of whale saison we saw orcas, humpback and finn whales." The drop came in the days after.
Do whale safaris from Tromsø run in February?
Mostly not. Most operators end on 31 January, and the tours on this site that publish a season all finish in January.
Arctic Resorts runs its high-speed catamaran until 31 January 2027. Brim Explorer's 2025/26 season also closed on 31 January. The listings for Njord Adventures and the 12-seat RIB from Skjervøy give their seasons as running to January. The Best Arctic Whale Route bus to Skjervøy has also run until 31 January.
If you see a February whale safari for sale, read the small print: what happens if there are no whales, and is there a free second trip? On a February date, that clause is doing a lot of work.
Smaller, faster and capped at 36 guests, with soup on board. Book it for January, not February.
Book thisWhat are the whale odds in Tromsø month by month?
Best from November to January, possible in late October and early February, and very low from mid February.
This is our reading of the sources above and recent seasons. It is a guide to planning, not a forecast. Whale sightings are never guaranteed in any month.
| Month | Orcas and humpbacks | What else to know |
|---|---|---|
| October | Possible from early or mid month | First sightings 15 Oct 2024, 2 Oct 2025 |
| November | Good | Core season, some daylight |
| December | Good | Polar night from about 27 November |
| January | Good to fair | Strong until the last week; most boats end 31 January |
| Early February | Low | Gone by about 8 February in 2026, mid February in some earlier years |
| Mid February to March | Very low | Few or no whale tours from Tromsø |
| Summer | Not here | Head to Andenes for sperm whales |
A fast boat from Tromsø harbour with at most 36 guests, a light warm soup lunch and about 2.5 hours to the whales.
Book this Tour detailsWhat can you do in Tromsø in February instead?
Chase the northern lights, enjoy the returning daylight, or take a trip to Andenes, where sperm whales feed off the coast in winter too.
The northern lights. February is deep in the aurora season, which runs from late August to early April, and activity is often strongest between about 20:00 and 02:00 (Visit Tromsø). A guided chase like the northern lights safari with photos drives to wherever the sky is clear. Plan two or three evenings, not one.
The light. On 15 February the sun rises at about 08:17 and sets at 15:42, more than seven hours of daylight, when a month earlier the sun had barely cleared the horizon. The Fjellheisen cable car runs to Storsteinen at 421 m, and you can watch for the aurora from the top between September and April.
A different whale. Visit Norway gives Vesterålen a winter whale season from mid January to April. Sperm whales feed in the Bleik canyon off Andenes and are seen year round, though winter departures are fewer. Our guide to where to see whales in Norway covers the trip.
If February is your only window, what should you do?
Move the trip to the last week of January if you can. If not, book a flexible early February date with a free retry, and treat any whales as a bonus.
The last days of January give you whales in most recent years plus the sun coming back after 15 January. On 31 January the sun is up from about 09:31 to 14:26. Put whale day first in your stay, then fill the evenings with the aurora. Our Tromsø itinerary for whales and northern lights shows how to fit both into a few days.
Frequently asked questions
Are there whales in Tromsø in February?
Sometimes in early February, but not reliably. In 2026 the whales had left the Skjervøy area by early February. In some earlier years they stayed until mid February.
When does whale season end in Tromsø?
Most operators end on 31 January. Visit Tromsø gives the usual season as the beginning of November to the end of January.
Is February a good month to visit Tromsø?
Yes, for the northern lights, snow and returning daylight. On 15 February the sun is up from about 08:17 to 15:42. It is a poor month to plan around whales.
Where can you see whales in Norway in February?
Off Andenes in Vesterålen, where sperm whales are seen year round and Visit Norway lists a winter season from mid January to April.
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Personal Whale Watching by Fast Boat
A smaller, faster boat with soup on board
Whale Safari on High-Speed Catamaran
A big, stable boat and a free second trip if you see no whales
Northern Lights Safari with Guides & Photos
Chasing clear sky for the aurora, photos included
