Kirkenes King Crab Safari, by boat or on the ice

Red king crabs crawl along the bottom of the fjord outside Kirkenes, a small Arctic port a few kilometers from the Russian border. One company here takes visitors out to pull the traps, by RIB boat in summer and by snowmobile sled across the frozen fjord in winter. Both trips end with the catch cooked and served. We compared the two on price and on the catch of each.

  • Summer boat: May to mid-September from the town pierOutside those months the trip starts at the Snow Resort, a short drive out of town
  • Winter sled: when the fjord ice holdsUsually the coldest months, with no fixed dates, so check the booking calendar for yours

In a hurry? Our top pick is the summer king crab safari by RIB boat, ~$284 a person for about three hours. You pass the fishing boats and the old battle stations, then haul the pots before eating the crab in a boathouse across the fjord. Book it here.

Book on Viator Book on GetYourGuide

Compare both safaris

If you only have a minute

Which Kirkenes king crab safari should you book?

Picture a friend flying up to Kirkenes who asks us which crab trip to take. Over a coffee by the harbor, this is the advice we would give.

If you are in Kirkenes between May and mid-September, book the summer safari by RIB boat, from ~$284. It costs less than the winter trip and carries by far the most reviews. You also see more of the fjord on the way to the pots.

Here when the fjord is frozen? Then the winter safari on the ice at ~$376 is the one. A snowmobile pulls you on a sled to a hole in the ice, and you help lift the traps through it.

Neither trip is a wildlife cruise, since the crabs are caught to be eaten. Read what the price covers and what it leaves out and how the two seasons differ. Then see how the three hours are spent and the small print we pulled out before you pay.

Our pick

The crab trip we would book: the summer RIB safari

It shows you the working side of the fjord before the crab ever reaches the plate, and it has fifty reviews on Viator, every one of them four or five stars. The open boat is the price you pay for that.

A red RIB boat full of guests in yellow floating suits speeding across the fjord near Kirkenes Our pick

King Crab Safari by RIB boat, Snow Resort Kirkenes

★★★★★ 5.0 from 50 reviews on Viator · 4.8 from 34 reviews on GetYourGuide · free cancellation up to 24 hours before

The trip starts with a pickup from your hotel in Kirkenes. Or you can walk to the King Crab pier on Johan Knudtzens gate for 1:15 pm. There the crew hands out floating overalls and life vests before a safety briefing.

The RIB first pulls up beside local fishing boats while the guide explains how king crab is caught here. It then runs out to the old WW2 battle stations in the fjord, with stories from the war years that left most of Kirkenes in ruins.

Then comes the part people book it for. Everyone helps haul the crab pots up from deep water, and the catch goes across the fjord to a rustic boathouse restaurant. You drink coffee or tea while the legs cook, then eat them with bread and mayonnaise.

Duration
About 3 hours (Viator says about 4)
On the fjord
Fishing boats, WW2 battle stations, the pots
Group
Up to 12 on GetYourGuide
Start
Hotel pickup, or 1:15 pm at the King Crab pier
From the pier
May to mid-September
The meal
Crab legs in a boathouse across the fjord
Limits
Ages 7 and up; not for wheelchair users or people with back or heart problems
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours; reserve now, pay later
Price per person from ~$284 RIB boat · summer
Viator GetYourGuide

Live availability and prices on GetYourGuide

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How the afternoon runs, step by step

This is the order the listing gives. Wind on the fjord and the weight of the pots can stretch any leg of it.

Out of Kirkenes

  • Hotel pickup, or meet at 1:15 pm on the King Crab pier, Johan Knudtzens gate
  • Floating overalls and a life vest go on with mittens and a balaclava, then a safety briefing
  • Alongside the local fishing boats, with king crab fishing explained

On the fjord

  • The WW2 battle stations in the fjord and the stories behind them
  • All hands on deck to pull the crab pots up from the bottom
  • Across the fjord to a rustic boathouse for coffee or tea while the crab cooks
  • Crab legs Northern Norwegian style, then back to your hotel

What the price covers

The fare pays for the boat and the gear as well as the meal. What you drink with it is on you.

Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kirkenes
  • Floating overalls and life vest, mittens, balaclava
  • Crab legs on buttered bread with mayonnaise and lemon
  • An English-speaking guide
  • Entry to the Snow Park at the Snow Resort
Not included
  • Drinks at the restaurant, water included
  • Airport transfer
  • Tips
  • A promise of calm water

Between us, before you go

A word from one cold-handed traveler to another. A RIB is an open boat, so even on a mild day the wind at speed cuts through jeans and a cotton hoodie. The overalls help. Wear wool or fleece under them as well.

Viator's listing rules the trip out for travelers with back or heart problems, and asks for moderate fitness. The boat bounces in any chop. Our guide to dressing for the fjord covers the layers.

Why it beats the winter trip

It costs ~$284 against ~$376 for the ice, and you see more on the way to the pots. Its Viator listing also holds 50 reviews against 13 on the winter one. Summer boat or winter ice sets the two side by side.

What you give up is the snow and the hole in the ice. And spray, which the sled never throws at you.

Who we would not send on it

Anyone with a bad back or a heart condition, whom the listing itself turns away. Children under 7, who are not allowed on either trip. And travelers who arrive when the fjord is frozen, who should go straight to the winter safari on the ice.

Book it if

You want an afternoon on the water that ends with crab legs on your plate. You get the fishing boats and a bit of war history before the pots come up. It suits couples and friends, and families whose kids are at least seven.

Skip it if

Ready to pull the pots?

The trip is on Viator (5.0 from 50 reviews) and on GetYourGuide (4.8 from 34). Both let you cancel for free up to 24 hours before, so you can watch the wind forecast before you commit.

Viator GetYourGuide

The day itself

How a Kirkenes king crab safari works

Both trips follow the same plan. You go out, lift the traps, then eat what came up. What changes is whether you sit in a boat or on a sled, and how cold your fingers get on the way.

Summer · by RIB boat

Out on the open fjord

Summer RIB safari, step by step

About 3 hpier, fishing boats, battle stations, pots, boathouse meal

A fast inflatable boat with a rigid hull carries you around the fjord, and the guide stops wherever there is a story. Porpoises are sometimes seen. The wind and the spray come with it, and in any chop the ride is bumpy.

Winter · by snowmobile sled

Across the frozen fjord

Winter safari on the ice, step by step

About 3 hthermal suit, sled ride, traps through the ice, meal at Teina

You sit on a wooden sled that a snowmobile pulls over the ice, then step out where the traps hang below a hole. It is calmer than the boat and far colder. You ride as a passenger and do not drive the snowmobile yourself.

Kirkenes daylight and temperatures across the year

  • Hours of daylight, roughly
  1. Jan−8°C high18 °F

    The polar night ends around mid-month

  2. Feb−8°C high18 °F

    Deep cold; sled trips if the ice holds

  3. Mar−4°C high25 °F

    Longer days on the snow, ice permitting

  4. Apr1°C high34 °F

    The ice can start to break up

  5. May6°C high43 °F

    Boats leave the town pier again

  6. Jun12°C high54 °F

    Midnight sun, light around the clock

  7. Jul16°C high61 °F

    The warmest weeks on the water

  8. Aug14°C high57 °F

    Dark evenings return, still mild

  9. Sep9°C high48 °F

    Pier trips end around mid-month

  10. Oct3°C high37 °F

    Boat trips from the Snow Resort, check dates

  11. Nov−2°C high28 °F

    The polar night begins late in the month

  12. Dec−6°C high21 °F

    No sunrise, twilight around midday

Temperatures are rough daytime highs in Kirkenes; out on a fast boat or open ice it feels colder. The bars show roughly how much daylight there is. The boat runs from the town pier from May to mid-September, and the sled only when the fjord ice holds, which no listing dates. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick for the boat. The year in detail.

How the three hours are spent

  • Transfers and gear, plus the meal
  • Out on the fjord with the traps
  • May run longer

GetYourGuide gives 3 hours for both trips and Viator about 4, so the striped end shows the extra time some days take. Our split of the time is a rough estimate, not the operator's timetable.

  1. Pick your seasonThe boat runs in the light half of the year, the sled once the fjord has frozen. The two compared.
  2. Check the calendarPier trips run from May to mid-September; ice trips depend on the winter. When to go.
  3. Plan the mealThe crab comes with bread and mayonnaise, so go easy on breakfast and bring money for drinks. The meal.
  4. Dress under the suitThe operator lends the outer layer; wool or fleece underneath is your job. What to wear.

Most visitors make a day of it. A full day in Kirkenes pairs the safari with the Snowhotel, the wartime shelter in town and a look toward the Russian border.

How to choose

How to pick the right crab safari

The company is the same on both, and so are the crab and the length. The season decides most of it, and your tolerance for spray or deep cold decides the rest.

Season

From May to mid-September the boat leaves from the pier in town. The sled needs solid ice, usually in the coldest months. The best time to go.

Budget

~$284 for the summer boat and ~$376 for the winter sled. Each includes the meal and the transfer. Both prices and the extras.

Spray or cold

The RIB throws wind and water at you in any chop. The sled is smoother, but you stand on the ice in deep frost while the traps come up. Layers for each.

Who can come

Both trips take children from 7. The boat is ruled out for back or heart problems and for wheelchair users. The boat in detail.

Group size

GetYourGuide caps the boat at 12 and the winter trip at 50; Viator lists up to 36 for each. The ice trip in detail.

Off a ship?

Kirkenes is where the coastal ships turn around, and a three-hour safari can fit a port call with care. Timing it from the quay.

Everything else to do in Kirkenes

The 2 tours

Two ways to the crab, side by side

We read every king crab listing for Kirkenes on both booking sites. One company runs them in town, in two shapes, so each card gives the price and the length plus the catch, with a button for each site.

A steel tray piled with cooked red king crab legs and claws ready to be cracked Our pick

King Crab Safari by RIB boat, Snow Resort Kirkenes

The one we would book between May and mid-September.

About three hours from your hotel or the King Crab pier in town. The RIB stops at the fishing boats and the WW2 battle stations before you pull the pots. The crab is then cooked in a boathouse across the fjord and served on buttered bread with mayonnaise and lemon.

  • Rating5.0 from 50 reviews on Viator, 4.8 from 34 on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 3 hours (Viator says about 4)
  • Tour companySnow Resort Kirkenes
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, pay later
  • StrengthsLower price; more to see on the way; the most reviews
  • Ideal forSummer visitors who do not mind wind and spray

Good to know: The open boat is cold even in summer, and it is not for back or heart problems. The meal is simple and drinks cost extra. The trip step by step.

~$284per person
Viator GetYourGuide
A snowmobile pulling a wooden passenger sled across the frozen fjord outside Kirkenes On the ice

King Crab Safari Winter, Snow Resort Kirkenes

The winter version, for when the fjord has frozen.

Pickup in Kirkenes, or meet at the Snow Resort about 15 minutes out of town. In a thermal suit and helmet you ride a snowmobile-pulled sled onto the ice and help the fisherman lift the traps through a hole. The crabs are then cooked at Teina, the resort's king crab restaurant.

  • Rating5.0 from 13 reviews on Viator, 4.6 from 5 on GetYourGuide
  • DurationAbout 3 hours (Viator says about 4)
  • Tour companySnow Resort Kirkenes
  • Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, pay later
  • StrengthsFishing through the ice; full thermal kit; Snow Park entry
  • Ideal forWinter visitors who want to stand on a frozen fjord

Good to know: It costs more than the boat and the cold is serious. You sit on the sled rather than drive, the dates depend on the ice, and reviews are still few. The trip step by step.

~$376per person
Viator GetYourGuide

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Before you go

Eight things about crab safaris that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page. Each one can decide whether you come back warm and fed or cold and annoyed.

What you should know

  1. The crabs are caught to be eaten. Think of it as fishing followed by lunch, not as a nature cruise. The red king crab is an introduced species here, which is why it is fished. How it reached Kirkenes.
  2. Drinks are extra. The meal is in the price, but every drink is sold at the restaurant, water included. Bring a way to pay.
  3. The boat leaves from town only in summer. From May to mid-September the RIB starts at the King Crab pier. At other times of year the trip starts at the Snow Resort outside town.
  4. The winter trip waits for the ice. No listing gives dates, because the fjord has to freeze hard enough first. Check the booking calendar for your week. When it usually runs.
  5. You ride, you do not drive. On the winter trip a guide drives the snowmobile and you sit on the sled behind it. If you want to steer one yourself, this is not that trip.
  6. The listings disagree on the length. GetYourGuide says 3 hours and Viator about 4. Plan for the longer figure if you have a flight or a ship to catch. Fitting it into a port call.
  7. Pickup is from town, not the airport. Both trips collect you from a hotel in Kirkenes. The airport transfer is not included, so do not book the safari for the hour you land.
  8. Go easy on breakfast. Reviewers call the meal filling, with a heap of legs plus bread. A light breakfast leaves room for it. How much you eat.

Everything in one table

Two crab safaris, catch included

The two trips side by side. Each row sets the strength of a safari against its catch.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour Ideal for Price Length Starts from Tour company and rating Strength and catch Book
Summer RIB safari (our pick) Summer visitors ~$284per person About 3 h Hotel pickup, or the King Crab pier at 1:15 pm Snow Resort Kirkenes
5.0 on Viator		 Fishing boats and battle stations on the way, the most reviews. Open boat with wind and spray; drinks extra.
ViatorGetYourGuide
Winter safari on the ice A frozen fjord ~$376per person About 3 h Hotel pickup, or the Snow Resort Snow Resort Kirkenes
5.0 on Viator		 Traps through a hole in the ice, full thermal kit. Higher price, deep cold, dates set by the ice.
ViatorGetYourGuide

Prices are GetYourGuide's regular "from" rates per person in US dollars and can change; Viator's may differ a little. The booking page always has the final word.

Who went

Reviews from travelers who pulled the pots

Fourteen travelers say what they liked and what they would change. Some went out on a flat calm fjord, others on the ice in a snow squall.

★★★★★Summer RIB safari

We walked down to the King Crab pier for 1:15 pm and the crew zipped us into floating overalls before the safety talk. The RIB stopped first by the fishing boats in the harbor, then at the old wartime gun positions along the fjord, where the guide told us how the town was bombed. Pulling the pots was hard work, all of us leaning on the rope until the first cage came up full of legs. Then a boathouse across the water, coffee while the crab cooked, and more crab than I could finish.

HKHannah K. · Leeds, UKCalm fjord
★★★★★Summer RIB safari

Hauling the pot ourselves, then eating the crab an hour later in a wooden boathouse. Simple and very good.

TOTomoko O. · Osaka, JapanCalm fjord
★★★★☆Summer RIB safari

We went in early October and the wind on the fjord was sharp, with sleet blowing sideways at speed. The overalls and balaclava kept most of it out, but my hands froze while we pulled the pots. Warm coffee in the boathouse saved me, and the crab was excellent.

MBMarco B. · Turin, ItalyWind and snow
★★★★★Summer RIB safari

Bright sun on the water, a guide full of war stories, and crab legs piled on the table. Our best afternoon in Norway.

DRDaniel R. · Denver, USACalm fjord
★★★★★Summer RIB safari

A porpoise surfaced near the boat on the way to the pots, which the guide said happens only sometimes. The legs came out steamed with bread, butter and mayonnaise, and he showed us how to crack them without spraying the table.

LFLucas F. · Lyon, FranceCalm fjord
★★★★★Summer RIB safari

Our kids are nine and twelve and were nervous about the fast boat, but the crew fitted them with small overalls and life vests and sat them near the middle. They loved standing beside the fishermen while the guide explained how the cages work. My son held up the biggest crab for the photo and could barely keep it level. In the boathouse they ate more crab than we did. Bring a hat that fits under the hood, because the wind at speed is cold even on a sunny day.

SLSarah L. · Melbourne, AustraliaCalm fjord
★★★★☆Summer RIB safari

The boat trip and the pots were great fun. The meal is very basic, though, just crab, white bread and mayonnaise, and a beer or even water costs extra on top of an expensive ticket.

PNPiotr N. · Kraków, PolandCalm fjord
★★★★★Summer RIB safari

Picked up at the hotel, back three hours later full of crab. Our guide made the history of the fjord come alive.

CMCarlos M. · Mexico City, MexicoCalm fjord
★★★★★Winter safari on the ice

It was snowing hard when we reached the Snow Resort, and I wondered whether they would go at all. They handed out thermal suits, boots, mittens and a helmet, and in that kit the cold on the sled never got through. The snowmobile pulled us out across the frozen fjord to a hole cut in the ice, where the fisherman and a few of us hauled the trap up with crabs clinging to it. After photos with the catch we rode back to Teina, where the legs arrived with bread and lemon.

JHJonas H. · Hamburg, GermanyWind and snow
★★★★★Winter safari on the ice

Standing on a frozen fjord holding a king crab. I still look at the photo every week.

MWMei W. · Taipei, TaiwanCalm fjord
★★★★☆Winter safari on the ice

I had pictured driving a snowmobile, but on this trip you sit on a sled behind one the whole way. Once I let that go it was a great afternoon on the ice, and the crab meal at Teina was generous.

RGRachel G. · Toronto, CanadaCalm fjord
★★★★★Winter safari on the ice

I had never been anywhere this cold, and the full kit made it possible. The light was pale blue and pink, and the sled ride across the ice felt endless in the best way. Out at the hole the guide explained how the crab came here from Russia and why Norway fishes it. Back at the resort we had time to visit the reindeer and the dog yard in the Snow Park before the meal. No northern lights for us that evening, but the guide never promised any.

APArjun P. · Bangalore, IndiaCalm fjord
★★★★★Winter safari on the ice

Wind and snow on the ice, warm in the suit. Crab at Teina afterwards was the best I have had.

LSLena S. · Zurich, SwitzerlandWind and snow
★★★★★Winter safari on the ice

We met the group at the Snow Resort instead of taking the pickup, which worked well. Pulling a crab trap up through the ice was strange and wonderful, and the guide cracked the first leg for each of us at the table.

JKJi-ho K. · Seoul, South KoreaCalm fjord

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Mittens on

Book the summer RIB safari for your crab day

If you are in Kirkenes between May and mid-September, we would book the RIB. You see the working fjord on the way out and haul the pots yourself. The crab ends up on your plate in a boathouse across the water.

You can hold a place now and pay nearer the day. Cancelling is free until 24 hours before, which leaves time to check the wind. Wear wool under the overalls.

~$284

per person · about 3 hours · hotel pickup in Kirkenes

Viator GetYourGuide
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • ✓ Reserve now, pay later
  • ✓ King crab meal and hotel transfer included
  • ✓ Floating overalls and life vest provided

Good to know

Why there is king crab in Kirkenes, and what you are eating

Five minutes of reading turns the spiky red thing in the trap into a story that runs from the Pacific to the Russian border.

The red king crab is not from here. It belongs to the North Pacific, but today it lives in the Varangerfjord, the wide fjord that opens from Kirkenes to the Barents Sea. That is why a small Arctic town became the place to eat it.

01A crab from the far side of the world

Its scientific name is Paralithodes camtschaticus, after Kamchatka. Its home waters stretch from there to Alaska, where it has been fished for a long time. How it reached Kirkenes.

02Released near Murmansk

In the 1960s Soviet scientists released king crabs in the Murmansk area, hoping to build a new fishery. The crabs spread west along the coast and, over the following decades, reached Norwegian waters.

03One crab, two sets of rules

Norway handles it roughly in two ways. In the east, around the Varangerfjord, it is fished under a regulated quota. Further west, fishing is largely free, to slow the crab's spread along the coast.

The moment most people remember is the trap breaking the surface, with a crab clinging to the mesh, its legs spread wider than your shoulders.

04Bigger than you expect

Measured from one leg tip to the other, a big one can pass a meter, and the heaviest reach roughly 10 kg (22 lb). Holding one up for the photo takes two hands. What that means on the plate.

05Why biologists worry

The crab eats almost anything it finds on the seabed, and that makes it an invasive species in these waters. Norway is in no hurry to protect it, which makes the safari easier to square for many visitors.

06Ten legs, counted

Count them on the plate. There are six walking legs plus two claws, one bigger than the other, and a small pair tucked under the shell. Most of the meat you eat comes from the long legs. Where you eat it, by season.

1960sReleased near Murmansk by Soviet scientists

~10 kgRoughly what a big one can weigh

10 legsIncluding the two claws

~400 kmKirkenes north of the Arctic Circle

Planning the rest of your time in town? Our guide A full day in Kirkenes around the crab shows how the safari fits.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about king crab safaris in Kirkenes

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

What does a crab safari in Kirkenes cost per person?

Expect ~$284 per person for the summer boat and ~$376 for the winter trip on the ice. Both prices include the hotel transfer in Kirkenes and the crab meal. Drinks and tips are extra. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which safari should I pick?

Whichever runs while you are there. In summer that means the RIB boat. It also costs less and has the most reviews. When the fjord is frozen, the sled trip onto the ice. If you could do either, the boat shows you more of the fjord on the way. The two seasons compared.

When does the summer RIB safari run?

From May to mid-September it starts at the King Crab pier in town. Outside those months the boat trip starts at the Snow Resort instead, so check the calendar for your date. The best time to go.

When can you fish for king crab through the ice?

Only when the fjord ice is thick enough to hold the snowmobile and the group, usually in the coldest months. The listings give no fixed dates, since every winter is different. The booking calendar shows the days that are open.

How long does a king crab safari take?

The GetYourGuide listings say 3 hours, the Viator ones about 4. That covers the pickup, getting into the gear, the time out with the traps and the meal. Plan for the longer figure if something else is booked afterwards.

Will we catch a crab for sure?

The operator sets the traps ahead of time, so crab on the plate is the normal outcome. Still, no fishing trip can promise a catch, and the number in each trap varies from day to day.

What is in the king crab meal?

A pile of cooked legs served the Northern Norwegian way on buttered bread with mayonnaise and lemon. The guide shows you how to crack them. On the summer trip you get coffee or tea while the crab cooks. Drinks with the meal cost extra. The meal in detail.

Are the crabs killed?

Yes. They are caught to be eaten, and this is a fishing trip, not wildlife watching. The red king crab is an introduced species in these waters, which Norway fishes partly to keep it in check. The crab's story.

Can children and people with health problems come?

Both trips are for ages 7 and up. The RIB safari is not for wheelchair users, and Viator's listing rules it out for travelers with back or heart problems. If you have a shellfish allergy, ask the operator before booking, since the meal is the crab.

What should I wear?

The operator lends the outer layer. In summer that is floating overalls and a life vest, in winter a thermal suit with boots and a helmet. Bring wool or fleece to wear underneath, along with a warm hat and sunglasses. What to wear on the fjord.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, from hotels in Kirkenes on both trips. You can also meet the group yourself, at 1:15 pm at the King Crab pier on the summer trip or at the Snow Resort in winter. The airport transfer is not included.

Can I do a crab safari on a cruise or coastal ship stop?

Often, if your time ashore is long enough. Compare your hours in port with the start times in the booking calendar and leave a buffer. It is also worth asking about a pickup at the quay. Doing it from the ship.

Will I see northern lights or wildlife?

Porpoises are sometimes seen from the summer boat. On the winter trip the northern lights are possible in the dark months on a clear evening, but neither is promised. The Snow Park entry included with both trips adds reindeer and a dog yard.

Can I cancel a crab safari for free?

Yes. Both trips can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before, and on GetYourGuide you can reserve now and pay later. A cancellation on the day itself does not get your money back.

Read before you travel

Guides to king crab at the top of Norway

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.