My First Time Seeing an Orca Whale in Real Life
Seeing an orca with my own eyes was one of those things I had always imagined, but never really thought would happen.
This was part of my Norway trip in December 2025, and without question, it became one of the most unforgettable experiences of the whole trip. Orcas have always been one of my favorite animals, so the fact that I ended up going on a whale watching tour still feels a bit unreal. It wasn’t even part of my original plan until my partner booked it, and honestly, that one decision completely changed the energy of our Tromsø trip.
If you’re thinking about doing orca whale watching in Norway, this was exactly how it went for me.
Booking the tour
We booked the trip through GetYourGuide, where there were quite a few providers offering whale watching tours.There are generally two ways to go out and see orcas and other whales.
The first is by Hybrid-Electric Boat, which is obviously the more comfortable option. You usually get things like a restroom, indoor heating, and a bit of protection from the weather. The trade-off is that you stay farther from the whales, since bigger boats can’t get too close without disturbing them.
We chose the second option a rigid-Inflatable boat, similar to dinghy, because it gives you a chance to get closer to the wildlife. But comfort-wise, it’s a very different story. There’s basically none. And when you’re doing this in the middle of a Norwegian winter, that matters. It was around -20°C, snowing heavily, and the only real thing protecting you from the cold was the thermal suit they gave you.
The journey started early
The day started very early in the morning. We had to walk from our Airbnb to the bus terminal, which took about 30 minutes.Yes, we walked. Taxi in Tromsø is not cheap, and we actually don’t mind walking anyway.
From Tromsø to Skjervøy, the bus ride took around 4 to 5 hours. The bus itself was quite comfortable, and it was full of people heading to the same place, so it already felt like the whole town was on its way to chase the same moment. I just wish the weather had been a little nicer.
That day, it was raining and snowing heavily, with no sign of clearing up anytime soon. I kept hoping the sky would open up, even for a bit, but clearly that was not the plan.
Arriving in Skjervøy
Once we arrived in Skjervøy, everyone was split into groups based on the tour company they had booked with.
After that, we were taken inside to gear up. The staff prepared everything for us — thermal suits, goggles, boots, and gloves — basically everything you need to avoid freezing in the middle of the sea.
And I really mean that.
If you ever do this trip, wear warm layers underneath and don’t underestimate the cold. Once you’re out there, it hits differently. It’s not the kind of cold you casually deal with.
At that point, it was still snowing heavily, and honestly, the weather looked worse than before.
Out on the water
I can’t remember the exact group size, but I think there were around 12 people, plus two staff members — one driving the boat and one guide. From the shore, it took about 1.5 hours to get to the whale spotting area. If you’re lucky, you may also get to see humpback whales, not just orcas.
Getting there, though, was intense.
Because of the weather, those 1.5 hours felt much longer. The waves were rough, and more than once I felt like I could actually be thrown off the boat. Sea water kept crashing into my face the entire ride, and between the freezing wind and the heavy snow, it felt a little insane.
Beautiful, but insane.
The moment everything changed
Then suddenly, after all that chaos, the boat started to slow down. Our guide pointed ahead, around 45 degrees in front of us. And there it was. That black fin.
I honestly think I stopped breathing for a second. It was one of those moments where your brain needs time to catch up with your eyes. I just kept staring, trying to process the fact that I was actually looking at a real orca in the wild.
Not on a screen. Not in a documentary. Right there.
Seeing more and getting closer
Our guide slowly moved us closer, carefully and respectfully, without getting too near and disturbing them. Then we started seeing more.
That was when the excitement really hit.
Orcas come to this part of Norway from around November to February, following the herring, so if this is something you want to experience, that’s the best window to go. At some point, I forgot how bad the weather was because I genuinely couldn’t take my eyes off them. They were so calm, so sharp, and somehow even more striking than I had imagined.
And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we also saw humpback whales flipping their tails.
Watching them in their world
One thing I found really interesting was seeing the orcas staying near the herring fishing boats, because they were feeding on leftover fish from the boats.
Smart, efficient, and very on-brand for orcas.
At some points, we were close enough to see them properly — not just a quick fin in the distance, but real, full moments. There seemed to be around 10 to 20 of them, and watching them float, move, and surface so effortlessly was something else.
We had around 1.5 hours out there with them, but it honestly felt like 10 minutes. That’s how these moments go. You wait forever for them, and then suddenly they’re already becoming a memory.
I even tried to get a selfie with the orcas, which was ambitious considering the weather was doing everything possible to ruin that plan.
A dream I had since childhood
But jokes aside, the feeling stayed with me long after the photos.
I still don’t think I can fully explain what it felt like to see an orca for the first time with my own eyes. Free Willy was one of my favorite childhood movies, and I watched it so many times growing up. So standing there, freezing in the middle of the sea, looking at these animals in real life, felt surreal in the best way.
It was one of those rare moments that makes everything else go quiet for a second.
This was my last shot of them, and I still remember that feeling so clearly.
Heading back
After that, we started heading back to town, and somehow the snowy landscape looked even prettier on the return.
We still had another 4.5-hour bus ride back to Tromsø, and with that weather, it felt like a very long journey home. But at that point, I didn’t even care. The whole experience had already made it worth it.
Would I do it again?
Without a doubt, yes. If I ever get the chance, I would love to do it again — maybe just with slightly less aggressive weather next time.
But even with the snow, freezing wind, rough sea, and complete lack of comfort, this was easily one of the most special experiences of my life.
If you’ve done whale watching in Tromsø or Skjervøy, I’d genuinely love to know how your experience was too.
2026 – WITHPATZ
With Patz 
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