Whale guarantee
The absolutely best way to see whales in Northern Norway. These animals, which are among the largest in the world, live and feed in the open sea north of Vesterålen archipelago. Watching these majestic animals in their natural habitat is a spectacular sight.
This boat trip starts at Andenes, Andøya. If you need transport, we have our own rentalcars for hire. The whale safari comes with a whale guarantee! Read more further below.
A beautiful trip out
On the way to the whale grounds you can appreciate the scenery with views of the beautiful islands of Andøya, Senja and Bleiksøya. We will most likely encounter bird species such as puffins, fulmars, shags and different types of gulls. The trip out will take 40-60 minutes, but it is not unusual to take longer or shorter time.
Meeting the whales
The sperm whale is the type of whale seen most both summer and winter. Males are usually 15 to 20 meters long and have a weight of 45-47 tonnes, while females are 11-13 meters and weigh up to 20 tonnes. In temperatures under 15 degrees celsius in the water surface, we rarely find females and calves. Therefore, you will most likely only see adult males.
The sperm whale is a master of deep dives, with an average dive time of 30 minutes. Luckily, there are often several whales in the area, so you can watch another whale instead of waiting for the same whale to come up again. The boat will carefully and respectfully approach the whale when it is in the surface, getting ready to dive again. Have your camera ready to capture the spectacular whale’s tale as the whale disappears into the deep.
You might also encounter other species such as killer whales (orca), fin whales, pilot whales, white-sided dolphins and humpback whales. We can not guarantee what species you will observe on your trip, but we are confident you will see some kind of whale during the trip.
Guided museum tour
Your trip will start off with a guided tour of the museum in the whale center. Here you can find one of the very few sperm whale skeletons in the world, and you can really get a sense of the size of these large mammals. You will also learn why the area outside Andenes is so perfect for whale watching. Depending on the weather, the museum tour may be moved to after the boat trip.
About the provider
The whale safari is carried out by the largest and most experienced provider in Norway: Whalesafari Andenes. With 29 years of experience, the provider is confident they will find some kind of whale during the trip. Should this not be the case, you will get a new, free trip! If you do not have the opportunity to take another trip, you will get your money back (minus administrative costs and museum ticket).
On the boat you will be informed about safety and the boat. This information will be given in several languages, depending on which nationalities we have on board. If you get cold during the trip, the boat has an indoor lounge with free coffee, tea and biscuits.
Back at the whale center you can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or a coffee and cake in the café.
