Known as Paris of the North and Gateway to the Arctic, Tromsø is gaining popularity as a tourist destination. Attracting nature and wildlife enthusiasts, Tromsø is the perfect travel destination to embark on sustainable activities and tours.
However, while Norway is at the forefront of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, many suggested industry guidelines are not legally-enforced. Therefore, tourists must still make an effort to select tour companies that prioritise sustainability, especially when it comes to nature and wildlife tourism.
This guide will help you decide on which nature and wildlife activities to try, and sustainable companies to book with in Tromsø!
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What to wear for outdoor activities in Tromsø? Check out my Northern Norway winter packing list to enjoy Tromsø while keeping warm!
1. Whale Watching Tours
Every winter for the past few years, orcas (killer whales) and humpback whales have gathered in the fjords around Skjervøy, north of Tromsø, to feast on herring migrating through this area. Other impressive mammals that can be spotted here are fin whales, minke whales, sperm whales, and harbour porpoises.
However, even though tour companies utilise technology and know-how to create the best conditions possible, you must always remember that wildlife sightings are up to Mother Nature and never guaranteed.
When to see whales in Tromsø? The ideal time to go whale watching in Tromsø is between November and January. Sometimes, migration patterns shift and it may be possible to spot whales from late October.
Is it too dark to see whales in Tromsø in December? Whale-watching season coincides with the Polar Night season in Tromsø, however, it is not completely dark all the time.
Although the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, it’s light enough to do activities outside without the need for artificial light for a few hours a day. Tour companies time their activities with the lightest times of the day for optimal sighting conditions.
Is whale watching in Tromsø ethical?
Tromsø is a popular departure point for whale watching tours, with whale concentration spots farther north around Skjervøy. The tours take up a full day and can be done fully by boat or partially by land transport plus inflatable boat.
Considering that whale sightings are never guaranteed, you should never pick a tour company that states otherwise. Better yet, you should book with a company that prioritises the animals’ wellbeing and makes an effort to avoid any possible interference with the wildlife’s natural course.
Unfortunately, whale watching is not regulated in Norway. Therefore, some tour providers operate in less-ethical ways (and sometimes even without registration or proper training!).
Even though guidelines suggest that boats observe a minimum distance of 50-100m (165-330ft) from wildlife, I personally witnessed multiple rigid inflatable boats chasing, overcrowding, and approaching whale pods with no regard towards the minimum distance guidelines whatsoever.
Can you swim with orcas in Tromsø?
Despite not being illegal, I personally think swimming with orcas in Norway should be strongly discouraged. In most other countries like New Zealand, Canada, and Iceland, direct interactions with orcas in the wild are either illegal or strongly discouraged due to safety concerns (both for humans and the wildlife).
One of the main concerns is the potential lack of preparedness and safety training from the providers, paired with the rough conditions at sea and low visibility in Northern Norway during Polar Night. Plus, direct human interaction with orcas can cause them stress and interfere with their feeding patterns.
For an in-depth look into orca tourism in Norway, I highly recommend reading this article: Norway’s Orca Tourism – Chaos In The Fjords.
Sustainable and ethical whale watching tours in Tromsø
I went on a Silent Whale Watching Tour in late November with Brim Explorer – a sustainable tour company in Tromsø which operates activities aboard hybrid-electric boats that minimise disturbance with nature. They also abide by a strict whale watching philosophy, which respects minimum distance guidelines and avoids crossing paths with the wildlife.
The boat ride to Skjervøy passes through incredibly beautiful scenery with snowy Norwegian fjords lit by polar pink skies, so you basically get a fjord cruise included for free! On the way, the guides display various educational presentations about whales and the history of whaling in Norway.
If you’d like a glimpse of what the tour looks like, watch this video about my experience:
2. Northern Lights Tours
Tromsø is quickly gaining popularity as a tourist destination due to its location 350km above the Arctic Circle and directly in the Aurora Oval – the optimal location to spot the Northern Lights!
However, while Tromsø is a prime location for spotting the Aurora Borealis, cloudy weather and city lights can affect visibility. For this reason, it is recommended to move away from the city centre and chase the lights.
Many visitors choose to book tours to do this, relying on the expertise of local guides to maximise the chances of spotting the Northern Lights by being at the right place at the right time.
What is the best period to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø? The period for optimal chances to spot the Northern Lights in Tromsø is between mid-September and early April, when the Arctic nights are longer and darker.
Can you see the northern lights in Tromsø without a tour? Yes, it is possible to see the Northern Lights from the city of Tromsø itself, although it is dependent on the right conditions, such as clear skies and strong solar activity.
Seeking a more remote location without light pollution is preferred. You may rent a car and drive away from the city centre to a dark location with clear skies. Within Tromsø itself, I recommend taking the Fjellheisen cable car up to Storsteinen – this is where I took the above photo!
If you can’t drive, or you’d like to rely on the expertise of local guides to lead you to the best conditions possible to try and spot the Aurora Borealis, then hopping on a tour might be the best way to see the northern lights around Tromsø.
While you don’t necessarily need a tour guide to see the Northern Lights, tour guides from various tour companies keep in touch continuously regarding the conditions in different parts of Northern Norway. This way, they have insight on the locations with the best chances for you to catch the Lady Aurora. On Northern Lights chasing tours, guides often drive all the way across the Finnish border if needed.
Read my guide for glass cabins and igloos in Norway to hopefully watch the Northern Lights from your bed!
Sustainable Northern Lights Tours in Tromsø
My recommendation for a certified sustainable company to embark on your Northern Lights activities in Tromsø is Best Arctic. They offer both camp tours and small-group minivan chasing tours.
I went on their Aurora Safari Camp tour, where you’re driven by bus to a camp outside of Tromsø with the best weather conditions for the night. The tour includes hot beverages and dinner, and you can relax by a bonfire in comfort while the guides look out for signs of the Northern Lights.
I can confidently attest that the guides do everything they can to make sure guests have a good experience, and they also help with taking professional photos, which you get at the end of the tour.
I especially appreciate that Best Arctic divide the income from this tour between the bus drivers, guides and the owners of the camps, thereby supporting local jobs.
3. Reindeer Feeding Tours
Though you may spot wild reindeer around Tromsø (if you drive around Kvaløya), they tend to hide from human interaction. Therefore, visiting Sámi reindeer farms is one of the most popular activities in Tromsø for tourists wanting to see reindeer up-close.
Only ethnic Sámi people have the right to herd reindeer in Norway, and many still make a living from selling them. Another way that the Sámi make a living nowadays is from tourism, through hosting tours at their camps.
Are reindeer feeding tours ethical?
There is some debate as to whether reindeer-feeding tours are ethical. After all, tourists are brought to a camp in large numbers to feed and pet the reindeer, ride on a reindeer-pulled sled, and afterwards are served reindeer stew (or a vegetarian alternative). Some Sámi people may then sell the reindeer for meat production after the winter season is over.
Objectively, this was the tradition of the Sámi people – reindeer were considered sacred animals because the indigenous people relied on them for transport, milk, clothing, and meat production.
Nowadays, however, life is not as harsh anymore, and many ethnic Sámi live in modern towns working regular jobs. For those still living in traditional settlements, reindeer herding is an all-year-round activity, which justifies the high price for the reindeer-feeding tours.
In my view, it is a personal matter for each visitor to decide how they feel about reindeer farms, whether they’d like to contribute to the tradition, or if they’d rather skip this one.
These are the best-rated reindeer tours from Tromsø, at the two most trusted camps nearby:
4. Dog Sledding with Huskies
Another very popular activity in Tromsø is dogsledding with huskies. Huskies are primed for running and enduring cold weather conditions, so these friendly companions will be more than thrilled to pull your sled across the snow!
The main ethical consideration around dog sledding is ensuring that the kennel prioritises animal welfare and cares for the dogs throughout their entire lifespan. To understand if this is the case, it’s important to look for evidence of how the animals are kept, and how injured and old dogs are handled or rehomed.
Ethical dog sledding companies near Tromsø:
I highly recommend Arctic Adventure Tours, for their transparency regarding their ethics and conditions for caring for the huskies.
Their website has a full page dedicated to their detailed Animal Welfare and Rehoming Policies. They also publicly share rehoming notices on their Instagram page, whenever dogs retire from running and are ready to be adopted into their new forever homes.
Book a dog sledding tour with Arctic Adventure Tours here:
How to see wildlife in Tromsø
Can I see polar bears in Tromsø? Unfortunately (or fortunately!) no, you will not find polar bears in Tromsø. Polar bears prefer to live in even colder weather areas with permanent ice, so your best chance to spot them is by travelling to Svalbard. The Svalbard archipelago, north of mainland Norway, is home to nearly 300 polar bears roaming freely – that’s 1 polar bear per 10 inhabitants!
Can you see moose in Tromsø? Much like wild reindeer, a large population of wild moose (or elk) can be found around Tromsø in forests or close to roads. Should you be lucky to spot them in the wild, know that moose are very shy animals and generally avoid interactions with humans.
If you are not driving, or if you’d like to explore the fjords around Tromsø with a guide, you can try your luck at spotting wildlife aboard these top-rated Fjord Tours:
Final thoughts
I hope this guide was helpful in your search for sustainable and ethical activities in Tromsø for nature and wildlife lovers!
I’m thrilled that you have chosen to educate yourself better about each of the activities available, and I hope that my article has provided helpful insight in selecting your sustainable and memorable activities for your visit to Tromsø. I know I fell in love with Northern Norway when I visited, and I can’t wait to be back soon!
Drop any questions you may have in the comments, and I will do my best to help!
Visiting Norway soon? Pin this sustainable Tromsø guide to save it for later!
