Swim with Killer Whales in Norway
Make your dream a reality. Take the plunge into the icy waters of Norway and come eye-to-eye with the most powerful predator on the planet. One of the best places to swim with killer whales in the world, Norway offers the trip of a lifetime.
Plus, you can see the northern lights, too!
Xplore Our Planet Recommended: Killer Whale Swimming with Lofoten Opplevelser
In November 2022, the Xplore Our Planet team visited Norway to swim with killer whales. Our chosen tour provider was Lofoten Opplevelser. Over two days we swam with numerous orca pods, humpback whales and saw fin whales from our boat.
Discover more on the Lofoten Opplevelser website. Please note this not an advertisement or paid promotion. We chose Lofoten Opplevelser for our killer whale swim based on their reputation and reviews alone. We paid for our trip and received no additional benefits. For other providers of orca swimming experiences, please keep reading.
Is It Really Possible to Swim with Killer Whales?
Yes! There are a handful of tour operators that offer boat excursions allowing you to swim with killer whales off the coast of Norway. You'll also be in with a chance of seeing other whales, like humpbacks, too.
It should be noted that these excursions only run during peak orca season, which is November to January, with swimming only taking place during limited hours due to short polar days. However, even with these restrictions, it is possible to swim with killer whales in Norway. You'll be able to get in the water with family groups of orcas as they swim around each other collecting food. An adventure you'll not soon forget, on a trip to somewhere like nowhere else in the world.
Who Can Swim With Killer Whales in Norway?
Swimming with killer whales is available to all those with the stamina, endurance and swimming skills available. You’ll be swimming in coastal waters and fjords, jumping into the deep from the side of a boat. The weather is often calm but can get choppy. You don’t need diving qualifications as this is a snorkelling excursion, but strong swimming is essential. You'll also want to be comfortable being on a boat for long periods of time. The seas aren't the roughest in the world, but they can still ruin your adventure if you're not suited to the open water.
Is It Safe to Swim with Orca in Norway?
Any and all animal encounters have an element of risk. You are in wild worlds, with wild animals, swimming with pods on the orca's terms. However, there are no recorded incidence of a killer whale purposefully harming a human in the wild, with zero fatalities. Killer whales do not hunt or kill people, we are not prey on their food chain. Orcas are highly intelligent members of the dolphin family. They are not here for you, they are here in the fjords Northern Norway for the herring migration. They are large animals and if you get in their way, they might knock you, but be respectful and calm and there is no reason to anticipate that you will be the first. The danger here comes from the cold waters and ocean. Make sure you have experienced swimmers around you, are on safari with experts in handling weather conditions, all the right equipment, and don’t stay in the water too long.
How Much Does it Cost to Swim With Orcas in Norway?
Below, we have a complete breakdown of our recommended trips from tour companies operating in the north of Norway and offering trips to swim with orcas. But how much do this experience cost, on average? The fees companies charge will vary, if you don't fancy long trips on a boat at sea then a quick trip out for the day will cost you around £200 and promise the chance of an encounter with orcas. Most people though, want a longer and more intimate experience, and go for live-aboard boat options, which can cost anywhere from £1700 to £3700.
Where to Swim with Killer Whales in Norway
While orca live and hunt along most of coast of northern Norway, there is only one commercially viable location for swimming with killer whales, one of the places where you get most whale sightings, Skjervøy, near the city of Tromsø.
Located in the heart of the stunning fjords of Norway, Tromsø is well within the arctic circle and famed for its views of the Northern Lights. The waters here are teeming with life, including massive balls of herring. These ‘bait balls’ attract all sorts of hunters including humpback whales, fin whales, and killer whales, making for excellent whale watching opportunities.
Skjervøy is close to the city, accessible by public bus or ferry taking around 3 hours one-way. The good connections from Tromsø to Skjervøy mean great opportunities for cost-effective tourism activities, far more so than if excursions were taking place elsewhere in the country that were more remote and harder to reach. This combination of location, commerce, northern lights and available wildlife means Skjervøy is currently the only place you can swim with killer whales in Norway.
How to Swim with Killer Whales in Norway
Not everyone has an appetite for swimming with massive ocean-going predators that are known for killing great white sharks, and even have ‘killer’ in their name. While this is no bad thing - it ensures that killer whales aren’t overwhelmed by swimmers and excursions can remain passive and undisruptive - it does mean this is a niche experience. You won’t find armies of tour operators all trying to sell you opportunities to swim with killer whales; here in Norway, you have to know what to look for and often book well in advance. That said, there are few great opportunities available which make swimming with killer whales an easy goal to achieve for those with a mind to do it, & the money to fund it.
Basking Shark Scotland:
Basking Shark Scotland offers 6 days on the waters off the Norwegian fjords for a price of £3700 per person. The boat is limited to 8 guests, which makes for an intimate experience. The length of the trip ensures great results but that does all come at a cost.
Sea Safari Andenes:
Sea Safari Andenes provides would-be killer whale swimmers with something different. Instead of liveaboard vessels, you can take a single trip lasting 2-3 hours. The downside is obviously that you have a smaller chance of encountering killer whales. The upside is that it costs just £180(ish).
Orca Norway:
Orca Norway is another favourable option if you’re looking for long-term excursions when visiting Norway. Between 3 and 6 days, they offer ample time for swimming with killer whales at prices starting at £2200.
Valhalla Expedition
The Valhalla Expedition vessel will carry you our to see these wild animals in the element. Orca expeditions around available for 4 days at £1700. Valhalla excursions last from 9am until 3pm, so plenty of time to hunt for the aurora borealis when the sun has set and the waters are too dark to explore.
Getting to Skjervøy
The best way to reach Tromsø is to fly with the national carriers Norwegian or SAS. Direct flights are available from numerous hubs around Europe to Tromsø airport or via Oslo. When travelling from outside the continent to this destination, your best bet is to fly to cities like London or Paris and jump on a connecting flight to the northern town. On arrival in Tromsø, you’ll have easy access to the ferry terminal which will transport you to Skjervøy.
Be aware you’ll need accommodation in Skjervøy and the ferry departs once daily, and does not run on Saturdays. Tickets are available in the ferry terminal. Don’t buy them too far in advance of your trip as they expire quickly. It’s best to purchase them an hour or so before you get on the ferry.
Important Equipment for Swimming With Orca
You won't be scuba diving on your orca safari, as swimming is done close to the surface. You'll still need some good quality equipment though, if you want to have the best experience while in the water. The most important piece of equipment, maybe even more so than the snorkel itself, is a good dry suit. In the biting colds of north Norway, guests on an tour to swim with orcas will be plunging into near freezing water, so you'll need to make sure you keep the water away from your skin as best you can. A dry suit is like a wet suit, except it is better insulated so the water is kept away from your body, helping you to stay warm in very cold water.
No trip to see orcas would be complete without some excellent photos or video footage as well. While on your orca swimming tour, we recommend you take an underwater camera like a GoPro to capture your moments. Be sure to take a buoyancy attachment for the camera as well, so it doesn't sink if you drop it!