from $209 Altafjord whale watching in a heated boat
An early-winter cruise in search of orcas and humpbacks, with a warm cabin to retreat to between sightings. Top-rated; season limited.
Alta & Hammerfest: tours & tickets
Aurora, whales, reindeer and huskies around Alta, plus short guided walks in Hammerfest.
Our picks
Alta & Hammerfest: top tours & tickets
Alta has a solid GetYourGuide selection — fewer operators than Tromsø, but smaller groups and noticeably less traffic at the viewing spots. Whale watching runs only in early winter, when herring are in the fjords. Hammerfest is thinly covered: a few guided walks and aurora tours with only a handful of reviews, mostly aimed at coastal-ship and cruise passengers, so check dates and minimum numbers.
from $209 
from $251 Small-group guided northern lights tour
A minibus chase to the clearest valley of the evening with a local guide, warm drinks and help with camera settings.
from $73 Reindeer and Sami culture visit
A short, inexpensive visit to a Sami family’s reindeer in Alta: feed the animals and hear how herding works through the year.
from $340 Dog sledding in the Gargia valley
Drive your own husky team through quiet pine forest south of Alta, with a break by the fire.
from $278 Northern lights night adventure by snowmobile
Ride up on to the plateau after dark, far from any light, and wait for the aurora by a campfire. Driving licence required.
from $146 The Northern Lights Bus
A comfortable, lower-priced coach trip out of town to a viewing base with a guide — a good option for families.
from $104 Hammerfest sightseeing tales tour
A guided walk through Hammerfest’s harbour, wartime history and viewpoints, with local stories along the way.
from $647 Full-day North Cape tour from Alta
A long scenic drive across Finnmark to the North Cape plateau and back in a small group.
Prices are indicative “from” prices in US dollars and ratings are as shown on GetYourGuide when we last checked; both change often.
GetYourGuide
Live availability in Alta
Real-time tours and tickets from GetYourGuide for Alta & Hammerfest and its gateways.
Booking tips
- Alta’s inland valleys are often clear when the coast is cloudy, so aurora tours here usually involve less driving than from Tromsø.
- Whale trips depend on where the herring are in a given winter; confirm the departure harbour and the season before you book.
- The Finnmark plateau is far colder than the coast — minus 20°C or below is normal on snowmobile and dog-sled evenings. Use the thermal suits provided.
- Hammerfest tours are timed for ship calls and may not run every day.
- A North Cape day trip from Alta is a ten-hour day with around seven hours on the road; staying a night in Honningsvåg is more relaxed.
Destinations
Combine it with
Norway & Svalbard North Cape
A 307-metre cliff at 71° north where Europe’s road network ends and the Barents Sea begins — reached from the fishing port of Honningsvåg.
Norway & Svalbard Tromsø
The lively capital of Arctic Norway: northern lights and whales in winter, midnight sun and fjords in summer, and flights onward to Svalbard.
Norway & Svalbard Kirkenes
The end of the Norwegian coastal route, a few kilometres from Russia and Finland: king crab, a year-round snow hotel, border history and the bird cliffs of Varanger.
Plan your trip
Book tours in Alta and Hammerfest
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.