Swim with Killer Whales
Everything You Need to Know
Have you ever had the crazy idea to swim with killer whales in Norway?
Fun fact: In most parts of the world, swimming with killer whales is prohibited. However, Norway is one of the few places where this incredible experience is both legal and safe. Many tour operators offer regular excursions, often with a focus on ethics and sustainability to ensure the well-being of the animals.
Who would actually be crazy enough to jump into the Norwegian Sea at arctic temperatures, and then swim with one of the biggest predators in the world? Me, that’s who. And yes, I was a little (a lot) scared. But my FOMO brain told me that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. How many more times would I get the chance to swim with killer whales?
So, if you’re planning a crazy trip like this—or if you’d never do it in a million years but are still curious what it’s like—here’s my guide on how to swim with killer whales in Norway. Enjoy!
QUICK INFO
Where: Skjervøy, Norway (as of 2025)
When: November – January
How long: 2-4 hours
Price: ~2600 to 3200 NOK (for a day tour)
Orcas in Norway
While the exact global population of orcas is still unclear, there are an estimated 100,000 killer whales worldwide. Most of them are found around the Antarctic convergence, and the Norwegian and Barents Seas are home to roughly 3,000 orcas.
In mid-winter, migrating herring draw humpbacks, orcas, and fin whales to the waters off Northern Norway. For these whales, the abundance of herring provides a plentiful feast. Norwegian killer whales, though resident in the region, move extensively within the fjord system in search of herring, spending roughly 40 percent of their time traveling
The best places to see orcas in Norway are around Tromsø and the Lofoten Islands. During the winter period, they come close to shore, offering fantastic opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers to see them up close. Many local tour operators offer boat trips and safaris for orca sightings, where you can spot killer whales in their natural habitat.
The Best Time to Swim with Orcas
The time is somewhat limited to swim with orcas in Norway. You can only do it from November until January, when the herring (the orcas’ food) migrate to the Norwegian fjords. There is a time period (usually mid to late December until early January) when it’s too dark to go out on a tour.
How to Swim with Killer Whales
There are several tour operators offering whale watching/snorkelling tours in the Troms region. When choosing, make sure they are an ethical company that prioritises the animals’ well-being! After much research, my boyfriend and I decided to go with Whale2Sea. They had great reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, and after my own tour, I can definitely attest to that.
My boyfriend and I caught an afternoon ferry from Tromsø to Skjervøy the day before our trip. The experience starts in the morning and we didn’t want to risk not making it in time. We stayed at the Hotell Maritim Skjervøy, which was also right next door to the meeting point of our tour.
Note: The starting point of the tours may differ from year to year, depending on the location of the herring. Currently, as of 2025, the tours depart from Skjervøy.
Preparation
The tour starts at 10:00am right next to the entrance of the Maritim hotel. First thing happening is an informational presentation on the animals, the snorkelling, as well as safety. Then it’s time to gear up! The outfit consisted of an extremely hard to get into drysuit that we had to pull over our clothes. I wore woollen layers and even kept my jeans on, just in case it got too cold on the boat – spoiler alert, it didn’t help. In the end, I was still freezing. Initially, I wanted to bring my phone in a waterproof case to get some cool shots underwater. Then, I saw the gloves and knew it was impossible. They were three-fingered gloves that I could barely put my goggles on in, let alone use a phone underwater.
Once everyone was dressed we were (very) quickly led to the pier and the group was split into two boats. It was November in northern Norway, so we had to be conscious of the few hours of daylight we had. The was a maximum of 12 people on the RIB boats. I’d never traveled on one before, but it’s a fun experience. They prevent sea sickness and you’re super close to the water. Sometimes even too close, when the icy water from the splashing waves hits your face. Right in the front of the seat, there was a handlebar to hold onto. Quite necessary, too, since we slightly unlucky with how large the swells got.
On the Boat
The scenery was simply stunning. Snowy Arctic mountains surrounded us in a soft, glowing light. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to find our pod of orcas. There were about 15 to 20 of these magnificent animals swimming close to us. It was an unbelievable feeling already being so close to the water and them swimming next, and sometimes even under, us. Unfortunately, due to the large waves (up to three meters, the captain said), we were not yet allowed in the water. So, for the next half hour, we followed the pod around and did some classic “whale watching”.
The waves and the wind were so strong, our captain was hesitant to let us in the water. Only after the captain of the second boat decided it was okay, did he concede. Then, everything happened really quickly. Our captain got us into position, and we put our snorkelling gear on. With one leg over the side of the boat, we waiting for our go. When it came, we jumped into the icy waters of the arctic. The coldness was quickly forgotten, when I turned and saw the whole pod of orcas swimming about 10 to 15 meters beneath me. The animals were even bigger and more impressive so up close. It really put everything back into perspective.
The whole encounter only lasted about half a minute, if I’m generous. As quickly as the orcas came, as quickly they were gone again. After climbing back onto the boat, I realised that the water actually wasn’t so bad temperature-wise. Being wet, even with a drysuit, at sub-zero temperatures on a boat with headwind, however… Let’s just say I never want to experience this kind of cold again.
After the Experience
Due to the strong winds and waves, we were only allowed to jump into the water once. If you’re lucky, though, you can swim with orcas three to four times! After our dip, we slowly started driving back to the shore. Back in the fjord, we were fortunate enough to also spot a fin whale. As the second largest cetacean in the world, after the blue whale, this was the cherry on top of our trip.
Once we made it back to shore, my boyfriend and I quickly took a few pictures in our drysuits. Also, at Whale2Sea, you get the opportunity to buy the pictures the guide took. Obviously, we did that too!
All that’s left to do is warm up after the memorable couple hours. We went back to the hotel and had a few hot chocolates while waiting for the ferry to take us back to Tromsø.
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