Luxury Arctic experiences in Tromsø and Northern Norway, including private whale watching from tromsø, orca snorkeling in Tromsø, yacht charters, exclusive stays and bespoke DMC services in Norway.

How is this different from your full-day whale watching?

It covers the same waters and the same whales, but aboard the high-speed Marell M12 and condensed into around five hours. It suits guests who want the experience without a full day at sea.

Marell M12 is a high-speed patrol vessel that cruises at over 35 knots. That speed lets us reach the whale grounds quickly and cover more ground when the whales are spread out.

Can you guarantee we will see whales?

No. Orcas and humpback whales are wild animals and their presence varies day to day. We are honest about this before you book.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. The shorter duration suits families, and Marell M12 has fully suspended seating. Please discuss your children's ages with us before booking.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If sea conditions do not allow a safe departure, we will reschedule your day or refund your booking.

How many guests can join?

Up to four guests, in your own private group. No other guests will share the vessel.

High-Speed Private Whale Watching

Fast & Private Whale Watching

Reach the whales fast aboard Marell M12, a complete whale watching journey in around five hours.

Duration

Around 5 hours

Group size

Max 4 guests

From

Tromsø

A different kind of whale watching

Built for guests who want the whales, not a full day at sea

Not every group wants to spend a full day on the water. Fast & Private Whale Watching is built around the high-speed patrol vessel Marell M12, which cruises at over 35 knots and reaches the whale grounds in a fraction of the time a conventional vessel needs.

This is a private charter for your group alone, with no fixed timetable shared with other guests and no other passengers aboard. We travel fast, locate the whales, spend our time with them, and return to harbour within around five hours.

It suits photographers with limited time, families with younger children, and anyone who prefers a shorter, intense encounter with the whales of Northern Norway.

Whale watching aboard the high-speed Marell M12 from Tromsø

Experienced captain and wildlife guide aboard Marell M12 in Northern Norway

Skipper & Guide

Experienced skippers who read the water

Every Fast & Private Whale Watching day is led by one of our experienced captains, mariners who have spent their working lives on the waters of Northern Norway. They read the fjords, the weather and the movement of the whales with an instinct built over years at sea, and they know where the herring and the whales are likely to be on any given day.

Before departure, your skipper briefs your group on the plan, the conditions and what to expect on the water. Throughout the day he or she is in contact with other vessels, tracking the latest whale reports so the time you spend out there counts. Your guide is there alongside you — pointing out behaviour, answering questions and helping with camera settings and positioning when the moment is right.

With a private group of up to four guests, the crew can adapt the pace and route to your comfort and experience. There is no schedule to keep to but your own, and no one else aboard to consider, just you, the whales and the people who know these waters best.

Marell M12 high-speed patrol vessel in the Arctic fjords

About the Vessel

Marell M12, unlike any whale watching boat in this category

Marell M12 is not a conventional whale watching vessel. She is a high-speed patrol vessel, a fully welded aluminium deep V-hull built for extreme conditions and high-speed operations, of a kind normally used for professional offshore and security work. Few boats in this category can match what she offers on a whale watching day.

Her twin Volvo Penta D6-440 engines drive her to a cruising speed of over 35 knots and a top speed of 45 knots, with a range of roughly 400 nautical miles. That speed is the point: it lets us reach the whale grounds quickly and cover ground when the whales are spread out, turning a full-day expedition into a focused five-hour journey.

Five fully suspended Ullman seats protect guests at speed, a diesel heater keeps the cabin warm, and a FLIR infrared camera allows seamless operations at dusk and night. For guests who want a fast, capable and genuinely different whale watching experience, Marell M12 is in a class of her own.

Cruising speed 35+ knots (top 45)

Fully welded aluminium deep V-hull

5 × fully suspended Ullman seats

Range ≈ 400 nautical miles

Humpback whale fluke diving against the mountains of Northern Norway

How We Find Whales

Speed, local knowledge and a network on the water

Each winter, orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into the fjords of Northern Norway. Their movements change day to day with the bait, the weather and the ocean conditions — so finding them is a matter of real-time knowledge, not luck.

Marell M12's speed is what makes this work. When the whales are reported far out, or spread across a wide area, we can cover the distance quickly and still spend meaningful time with them before returning within the day. Conventional vessels simply cannot reach the same ground in the same time.

Your captain is in contact with other vessels throughout the day, gathering reports and reading the water alongside them. When we locate the whales, we approach calmly and observe from a respectful distance. Some encounters are close and lasting; others are brief. The whales are wild, and we cannot guarantee what they will do. We are honest about that from the start.

Responsible whale watching in the fjords of Northern Norway

Sustainability

The whales come first, always

We follow strict wildlife guidelines on every trip. We do not chase, surround or pursue the whales. We observe from a respectful distance and let the animals move on their own terms, so the encounter never comes at the whales' expense.

Because this is a private charter for your group alone, there is no pressure to perform for a full boat of passengers. That means we can leave an area when the whales move on, avoid crowded encounters, and keep our time on the water quiet and considered.

We are also honest about what nature offers. We never guarantee sightings, and we will tell you plainly when the whales are scarce. A smaller, faster, private day lets us respect both the animals and your time, and to be truthful about what the day brought.

Fast & Private Whale Watching

Request this journey

A pure whale watching charter aboard the high-speed Marell M12 — around five hours on the water, private to your group of up to four guests. Share your preferred date and we will respond with availability.

Contact

Full name *

Email address *

Phone number

Country of residence

Your tour

Preferred date

Alternative date

Number of guests (maximum 4)

This is a private charter — no other guests will share the vessel.

Budget (NOK) *

An indicative budget helps us tailor the proposal to what you have in mind.

Anything else?

I understand this is a private, pure whale watching tour of around five hours, that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and that Northern Yachting AS may use the information provided to respond to my enquiry.I understand this is a private, fully tailored journey — one of the most exclusive experiences offered in Tromsø, and not a budget tour.

Submitting this enquiry does not confirm a reservation. We will check conditions and whale reports and respond with availability.

From the water