Polar Adventures · Tromsø
Polar Adventures, a local family company, sails about 2.5 hours from Tromsø to the Skjervøy area with no more than 50 guests on board. Pick it for the middle ground: no coach, thermal suits included, and about 2 hours 20 minutes in the whale area.
This sits between the big catamarans and the coach days. You sail from the front pier in Tromsø at 08:00, about 2.5 hours to the Skjervøy area, spend about 2 hours 20 minutes watching whales and sail back. That is more whale time than the biggest boats give, without the 05:00 coach. The operator says it aims to be the first boat in the whale area.
The boat itself is not named in the listing. It has a heated indoor lounge, outdoor decking, toilets and USB charging, and it carries 50 guests at most. Polar Adventures claims that means 40 to 80 percent fewer guests than other boats. Thermal suits, safety gear, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water and snacks are included.
Two things to check. The listing is inconsistent on lunch: one part includes it, another says lunch is for purchase on board, so ask the operator. And the rules are strict. No refunds if you arrive late, no strollers, large bags, pets, alcohol or party groups, and the listing excludes children under 4, wheelchair users, anyone over 70 and anyone prone to seasickness. If high waves cancel the trip, you get a full refund, and one guest wrote that they were moved to a fjord tour instead.
In front of the Polar Adventures office, 20 minutes before the 08:00 start. Late arrivals get no refund.
North through the fjords with the thermal suits handed out on board.
Around the Skjervøy area, wherever the orcas and humpbacks are feeding that day.
Warm up in the heated lounge with a hot drink on the way back to Tromsø, about eight hours after you left.
★★★★★Highly recommended! Great guides, a delicious hot meal, and a comfortable boat :)
★★★★★Fantastic! Seeing whales in the Arctic environment was a unique experience.
★★★★★Everything was great! Even though we took the tour at the end of January, we saw quite a few whales.
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The listing is inconsistent. It includes food, snacks and lunch in one place and says lunch can be bought on board in another. Hot drinks and snacks are included either way. Ask the operator before you go.
About 2 hours 20 minutes in the Skjervøy area, according to the listing, with about 2.5 hours of sailing each way.
The listing excludes children under 4, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, anyone prone to seasickness, anyone recovering from surgery and anyone over 70.
You get a full refund if weather or too few participants cancel the trip. Sightings are not guaranteed, so no whales on a sailing day is not a refund case.
Ready to book
A smaller boat from Tromsø, 50 guests at most, with thermal suits, food and hot drinks in the package.
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