The 8 Whale Watching Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Ísafjörður: Westfjords Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 173 reviews · 3 hours · from $115Our pick

From Ísafjörður, join guide Tom and an experienced captain for a three-hour search for humpback whales in the Westfjords. You may also see minke whales, dolphins, orcas, and puffins while learning about marine life and ethical whale watching from a sturdy boat with toilets and indoor seating.

“Saw lots and lots of whales, even jumping out of the water. Customer service gets 5 stars for fully refunding an earlier booking that got messed up by our cruise ship schedule. They are good people. This is definitely the whale tour you want!”

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2.Kenai Fjords Orca Quest Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $165Top rated

From Seward, cruise Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park for about four hours while your captain tracks recent orca sightings. You can hear whale calls through a hydrophone, borrow binoculars, and watch for humpbacks, otters, puffins, sea lions, eagles, and more. The trip runs in all weather, so dress warmly.

“We seen many or orcas . A mom and her baby. Some even showed off for us. The orcas followed the boat that studies them and jumped out of the water swirling and then jumping up and down. Very active. The kids on the boat were so excited.”

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3.Alta: Alta Fjord Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 26 reviews · 4 hours · from $262

Set out from Fiskerihavna for four hours on Alta Fjord with a captain and up to seven other people. Look for sperm whales, orcas, hourglass dolphins, and porpoises. Warm coveralls, boots, wool socks, mittens, headwear, coffee, tea, and biscuits are available.

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4.Alta: 3.5 Hour Fjord & Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · 3h 30m · from $231

Set out from Alta for 210 minutes aboard MS Åhav, guided in English or Norwegian by a certified skipper and guide. Watch for humpbacks and orcas near herring grounds, warm up with coffee, tea, and snacks, and use the enclosed windows or decks for photos. Guide Manon has earned special praise for her enthusiasm.

“It was an insane experience. We got to see some humpbacks, a pod of orcas, eagles and many other birds. Especially seeing the whales was undescribable. There ist just something majestic about them. We also felt like we kept a good amount of distance to the animals to not disturb them. Our guide was able to spot them from a pretty far distance and told us where to look. All in all, it couldn't have been better and we would definitely do this again.”

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5.Alta Fjord Whale Watching on a Heated Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $252

Meet guide Valerie at Alta Harbor for a 3 to 4-hour whale watch aboard Sea Runner. From October to February, follow migrating herring and look for orcas and humpbacks. The boat has indoor heating, outdoor decks, toilets, WiFi, binoculars, and hot drinks.

“Valerie kept us informed about recent sightings of whales beforehand.We found her very friendly,professional and knowledgeable about the whales and the area.She provided us with hot drinks and snacks too.All in all we would highly recommend this tour.”

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6.3.5-Hour Arctic Magic with Fjord and Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $296

Meet Æventyr in central Alta, ride by bus to the harbor, then cruise Altafjord for Arctic scenery and whale watching. The English tour lasts about 3.5 hours, carries up to 48 people, and returns to the original meeting point.

“The staff were so friendly, they really made us feel welcome and safe on the bus and on the boat”

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7.Alta Fjord: Whale Safari Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $264

Set out from Fiskerihavna in Alta at 9:00 a.m. for about four hours on the Alta Fjord. A captain and small group of up to eight search for whales following herring, capelin, and mackerel. Warm coveralls, life jackets, hot drinks, and loaner winter gear are provided.

“Our whale safari did not take place by boat due to weather reasons ...shore excursion to beautiful places for whale watching💗Auto-translated”

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8.8hr Kenai Fjords Whale Watching Tour w/ 1hr Fishing 16 Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $459

Join Saltwater Safari Company in Seward for an eight-hour whale watching trip with one hour of fishing aboard a 16-passenger boat. The 7:00 am departure includes coffee or tea, but you need to bring lunch and bottled water. The crew may extend fishing when conditions allow.

“A very wonderful time. We highly recommend it. Take advantage of it if you can possibly squeeze it in.”

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