At a glance
- Guided sea kayaking tours run in winter and in the bright summer weeks, with trips listed from US$162[1] and from US$248[2].
- Small groups are the norm: a winter sea kayaking tour is limited to 10 participants[2] and an easy winter paddling tour to 6[3].
- Sea water around Tromsø averages 5.2 C in winter and 10.5 C in summer[4], while February air averages -3.2 °C[5].
- Orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the fjords roughly every November through January[6], and Norway holds 2,500 breeding pairs of white-tailed sea eagles[7].
- The winter sea kayaking tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, plus reserve now and pay later[2].
| Winter sea kayaking | Midnight sun kayaking | Fjord cruise and fishing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | from US$248[2] | from US$173[8] | from US$136[9] |
| Duration | 5 hours[2] | 5 hours[8] | 4 - 5 hours[9] |
| Rating | 4.88 from 665 reviews[2] | 4.68 from 47 reviews[8] | 4.72 from 5,096 reviews[9] |
| Guide | Live guide in English[2] | Live guide in English[8] | Live guide in English[9] |
| Trip type | Winter paddling trip | Midnight sun paddle | Boat cruise and fishing |
The average water temperature in Tromso in winter reaches 5.2 C, in spring 4.4 C, in summer the average temperature rises to 10.5 C, and in autumn it is 9 C.
Is Tromsø fjord kayaking worth it?
Planning and booking
Why the Tromsø fjords suit a kayak
Tromsø lies 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle and has a population of 75,638[12]. Seen from the water, that city thins to a few rows of lamps and low buildings under the mountains, and the fjord takes over the view. A kayak sits almost at eye level with the sea, so you get the shoreline close up: wet rock, kelp, small waterfalls after rain, and snow lying in the gullies long after the streets have cleared. Tromsdalstinden, the big mountain across the bridge from downtown, has a summit elevation of 1,238 m and is easy to pick out from the water.[13]
Paddling here is slow, and that is the point. There is no engine noise, no queue for a window, and no fixed route holding you at a distance from everything interesting. You travel at the speed of your own arms, which means a seal surfacing a short way off is an event in itself and a patch of choppy water tells you something about the tide. Most guided trips cover a modest distance and build in time to drift, look and photograph.
Guided sea kayaking runs in the cold, dark half of the year and in the bright weeks around midsummer. A winter sea kayaking tour with wildlife sightings is listed from US$248[2], and a sea kayaking tour at Sommarøy from Tromsø is listed from US$162[1]. Both are day trips rather than expeditions, which keeps kayaking within reach of an ordinary holiday.
Winter kayaking: dark water and cold air
Winter paddling in Tromsø happens in air that averages -3.2 °C in February, the coldest month[5], over sea that averages 5.2 C[4]. Daylight is short and soft. The sun stays low, often behind the mountains, and the water holds a grey, metallic light that photographs beautifully and warms nobody. What you gain is an empty fjord: no other paddlers, no tenders, no queue at the harbour.
Tromsø claims 61 days of polar night[11], the stretch when the sun does not clear the horizon. Paddling happens in the blue hours around the middle of the day, and clear evenings can bring a second show overhead. January offers the highest statistical chance of seeing the aurora in Tromsø, with 75-80% success[14]. Sea fog, sudden squalls and ice along the shore are part of the winter picture, and going with a guide takes the route planning off your hands.
Winter trips come in different sizes and lengths. The winter sea kayaking tour with wildlife sightings is limited to 10 participants and runs 5 hours[2]. The easy winter kayaking tour with seal watching is limited to 6 participants[3]. An easy-going guided winter sea kayaking tour runs 4 hours[10]. Smaller groups mean more room to paddle and a quieter approach to wildlife.
Flat water, snow on both shores: a typical winter paddling day on the fjord.
What you can see from water level
Orcas and humpbacks follow herring into the Tromsø and Skjervøy fjords roughly every November through January[6]. Norway also holds 2,500 breeding pairs of white-tailed sea eagles, the largest breeding population in Europe[7]. From a kayak you look up at them rather than across at them, and a boat without an engine lets you keep paddling while they work the water.
Fish found in Norwegian fjords include coastal cod, saithe, pollack, haddock, herring, mackerel, and sprat[15]. Herring ties the whole coast together: in the 1950s and 1960s, the fishable component of the Norwegian spring-spawning herring stock is believed to have measured about 10 million metric tonnes[16]. Red king crabs are another local presence, though they rarely exceed 8 kg or 23 cm carapace length in Norwegian waters[17].
Two of the local kayaking listings lean straight into this. One winter tour is sold as kayaking with seal watching[3], another as sea kayaking with wildlife sightings[2]. Seals are curious animals, and a still, quiet kayak is much less alarming to them than a hull with an outboard. Keep binoculars in a dry bag and your hands free for the paddle.
Sommarøy, the outer islands and the midnight sun
Sommarøy lies out on the coast west of Tromsø, where sheltered fjord water gives way to the open Norwegian Sea. The colour changes on the way out: green and grey inshore, then a hard blue where the swell moves. The sea kayaking tour at Sommarøy from Tromsø runs 3 - 9 hours depending on the option you choose[1], which makes it the most flexible paddle in the area.
Summer here never really goes dark. A Sommarøy midnight sun sea kayaking tour runs 5 hours and is rated 4.68 from 47 reviews[8]. Paddling at midnight in full daylight, with the islands quiet and the water glassy, is a version of sea kayaking that only exists this far north. Pack sunglasses for the low sun and one more layer than you think you need for the ride back.
The drive out is part of the day: the coast road crosses bridges and causeways, and the outer islands have white sand beaches that look entirely out of place above the Arctic Circle. Weather out here decides everything. The fjord can be flat calm while the coast is choppy, and guides adjust the route to match the day.
from US$162
A sea kayaking tour from Tromsø to Sommarøy starts from this price and runs 3 - 9 hours[1].
Comparing the Tromsø kayaking tours
Listed prices for guided kayaking around Tromsø start at US$162 for the sea kayaking tour at Sommarøy[1] and US$173 for the Sommarøy midnight sun tour[8], rising to US$200 for the easy winter kayaking tour with seal watching[3], US$222 for the easy-going guided winter sea kayaking tour[10] and US$248 for the winter sea kayaking tour with wildlife sightings[2]. These are from-prices, so the total depends on the date you pick.
The review scores are worth reading side by side. The winter sea kayaking tour with wildlife sightings is rated 4.88 from 665 reviews[2], the easy winter kayaking tour with seal watching 4.96 from 76 reviews[3], the easy-going guided winter tour 4.96 from 27 reviews[10], the Sommarøy sea kayaking tour 4.73 from 140 reviews[1] and the Sommarøy midnight sun tour 4.68 from 47 reviews[8].
Guiding on the winter sea kayaking tour is in English[2], while the easy winter kayaking tour has an instructor who speaks English, Finnish and Norwegian[3]. The winter sea kayaking tour also offers reserve now and pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund[2], which helps when Arctic weather rearranges your plans.
What to wear and how to prepare
Dress for the water, not the car park. A warm base layer, a fleece or wool mid layer and a windproof shell work well on shore, and wool socks, a hat and a buff matter more than you might think on a boat where you sit still for long stretches. Ask the operator what paddling kit they supply so you know what to bring. Neoprene gloves keep your grip working, and a spare pair of wool liners is worth the space.
Cold water is the thing to respect, and the numbers here are sobering. Sea water around Tromsø averages 5.2 C in winter and 10.5 C in summer[4], and February air averages -3.2 °C[5]. Hands and feet lose heat first, so gloves, a hat and a dry bag with a spare layer are sensible packing. In summer, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm earn their place, because the sun stays up and reflects off the water for hours.
Think about how long you actually want to be on the water. The easy-going guided winter sea kayaking tour runs 4 hours[10], the winter sea kayaking tour with wildlife sightings runs 5 hours[2], the Sommarøy midnight sun tour runs 5 hours[8], and the Sommarøy sea kayaking tour runs 3 - 9 hours[1]. If you are new to sea kayaking, a shorter winter trip in a small group is the gentlest introduction.
Booking your paddle and planning the day
The kayaking options here split into two shapes. There are winter trips sold from Tromsø, and there is a sea kayaking tour that heads out to Sommarøy[1][2]. Pick the season first, then the length of the day, then the group size.
If the northern lights are on your list, timing matters. January offers the highest statistical chance of seeing the aurora in Tromsø, with 75-80% success[14]. Summer is the opposite: light around the clock, with a Sommarøy midnight sun sea kayaking tour as the obvious fit for a late paddle[8]. The winter sea kayaking tour offers reserve now and pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund[2], which makes it easier to hold a date and move it if the weather turns.
Whatever you book, the numbers set the tone for the day. Sea water around Tromsø averages 5.2 C in winter and 10.5 C in summer[4], February air averages -3.2 °C[5], and the city claims 61 days of polar night[11]. Good gloves, a hat, a dry bag and a warm drink in a flask cover most of what a day on the fjord can throw at you.
Guided sea kayaking, from-prices
Listed from-prices: Sommarøy sea kayaking[1], Sommarøy midnight sun[8], easy winter kayaking[3], easy-going winter kayaking[10], winter sea kayaking[2].
Kayaking tour from-prices
From-prices from the listed tours: Sommarøy sea kayaking[1], Sommarøy midnight sun[8], easy winter kayaking[3], easy-going winter kayaking[10], winter sea kayaking[2].
When to go kayaking in Tromsø
How to plan a paddle
Choose your season
Winter means dark water, cold air and possible aurora; summer means midnight sun and long, calm evenings on the fjord.
Check the group size
Small groups matter on the water. One winter sea kayaking tour is limited to 10 participants[2] and another to 6[3].
Compare the durations
Trips run from 3 - 9 hours on the Sommarøy tour[1] to 5 hours on the winter wildlife tour[2].
Layer for cold water
Wool socks, a hat, neoprene gloves and a dry bag for your phone are the things paddlers most often forget.
Book flexible terms
The winter sea kayaking tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, plus reserve now and pay later[2].
Ready to paddle the Tromsø fjords?
from US$137Reserve now & pay later
