Our pick
Altafjord Whale Watching in a Heated Boat, finnmark moods
finnmark moods is a small local company, and this trip is built around comfort on a cold fjord. You board Sea Runner at Havneveien 24, a modern boat with heated indoor seating and a toilet. There is Wi-Fi too. A local captain steers toward wherever the whales were last seen, while a guide tells you about them and about the Altafjord in English or German.
When the boat runs fast you stay inside. When it slows near the whales you step out on deck, with sturdy railings to hold. Hot drinks and biscuits keep coming, and you are back at the same pier about three and a half to four hours after you left.
- Price
- from ~$268 per person, often shown lower
- Duration
- About 3.5 hours, up to 4
- On the water
- The whole trip
- Group
- Up to 30 guests
- Departure
- Havneveien 24, Alta harbour
- Food
- Hot drinks and biscuits
- Ages
- All ages, small children too
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 hours; reserve now, pay later
How the trip runs, step by step
Where the boat goes depends on where the herring sits that week, and on the wind. The listing gives this outline:
From Alta harbour
- Meet at Havneveien 24, about 500 m from the cruise terminal
- Board Sea Runner and settle into the heated cabin
- Out onto the Altafjord, inside while the boat runs fast
On the fjord
- Searching for and watching orcas and humpbacks, out on deck in the calm moments
- Coffee and biscuits in the cabin between sightings
- Back at the same pier about 3.5–4 hours after leaving
What the price covers
The fare pays for the boat and the guide, with a warm cabin. Lunch and a hotel pickup are not part of it.
Included
- Guide and local captain
- A heated cabin with a toilet
- Hot drinks and biscuits
- Life jackets for anyone who wants one
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Other food and drinks
- A thermal suit, so bring your own layers
- A guarantee of whales
Between us, before you go
A word from one cold-weather amateur to another. The cabin is warm, but the deck is where the whales are, and the listing asks you to dress in layers and bring water and a small snack. It is not suited to wheelchair users, and people prone to seasickness are asked to think twice.
Wool under a windproof jacket makes the difference. Our guide to dressing for the deck covers the rest.
Why it beats the alternatives
The RIB is closer to the water but gives you about an hour out there before the cold sends you back. On this boat the whole trip is on the fjord, and you can warm up inside without the tour ending. The price is the lowest of the three small-group trips, and the reviews are the most numerous by a wide margin. The boats compared sets it against the others.
Who we would not send on it
Wheelchair users, who are not catered for on this boat. Travelers who want a hotel pickup, who are better off with Alta Adventure's tour. And anyone set on meeting an orca at eye level, who should look at Æventyr's RIB.
Book it if
You want a warm, unhurried trip with the whales and no early alarm. Walk to the pier from town or from your ship, step out on deck when the fins appear and duck inside when your fingers go numb. It suits couples and friends, and families with small children too.
Skip it if
- Want the sea spray? Go with the RIB for twelve
- Need a pickup? Try Alta Adventure, from ~$279
- Short of time? Compare all three side by side
- Coming off a ship? Read whale watching on a port day first
Ready for the Altafjord?
The trip is on GetYourGuide and on Viator. GetYourGuide carries most of the reviews and lets you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can watch the wind forecast before you commit.