whale
Safari
a unique experience
A journey with us is more than just a whale watching trip! We combine leisure with learning experiences and research. This is an innovative and unique concept that has attracted national and international attention.
We offer trips year-round. Our whale watching trip includes a guided tour in our Whale Exhibition.
a unique PLACE
The great sperm whales live in a high productive area just northwest of Andenes. Therefore, Andenes is the only place in Northern Europe where there is a high degree of certainty (between 95 – 99 percent) to see whales on relatively short trips.
LEARN ABOUT THE TOUR
Duration
The duration of our tours will depend on several factors such as weather and sea conditions, which boat you are traveling with, and not least, how far out at sea we need to travel in order to find whales. If weather conditions are fair and the whales are to be found at a normal distance from land, we can say that a trip normally has a duration between 2-5 hours.
During a normal season, 90% of trips lie within these estimates. However, some trips can be shorter or longer due to different reasons. We can therefore under no circumstance be held liable for any inconvenience these deviations may cause. We therefore recommend that you plan your whole day for the whale watching. This also to account for any delays due to weather etc.
“If possible, we recommend not to bet everything on one day since weather conditions may lead to changes of the tours”
FACTORS AFFECTING THE DURATION OF THE
Whale watching Tour
SEA CONDITIONS
The most important weather factor is the wind and thus also the sea conditions. If it is too windy, the waves makes it difficult to spot whale blows, listen for sperm whale clicks on the hydrophones and keep normal speed during transit. All these factors can make a trip longer.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Other weather conditions are not so critical for finding whales, unless we get very dense fog. Fog makes it difficult to spot the whales on the surface and can make trips longer. However, in combination with hydrophones, we only need fair visibility in order to find whales.
DISTANCE FROM SHORE
The further from shore the whales are found, the longer the trip might take simply because of longer transit times. In addition, when we get further from shore, the water depths increases and the sperm whales have longer diving times. These factors contributes to longer trips.
FEWER WHALES IN THE AREA
If we have fewer whales in the area, it might take longer time to find them and the trip might be longer.
TIME TO GET
On Board
we are ready to go
You will have some time before heading to our vessels, which are moored by our own pier, alongside the Whale Centre.
It is usually a little bit more windy and colder out at sea, so make sure you bring warm clothes for the trip, even in the summer. Soon after boarding, you will receive practical information about the vessel, the whale watching trip, and, especially, the safety measures. The information will be given in several languages, depending on the nationalities of the tourists on board.
Our vessels have everything you need to enjoy a pleasant trip. There is restrooms, and we offer free hot beverages and a snack on board.
new opening 20th of june 2024
WHALE EXHIBITION
We have a new exhibition in our basement in the Whale center and in one of the buildings close by the center. You can visit by yourself or have a guided tour. Many of our guides are whale researchers or are studying to become one. They all master several languages and will introduce you to the whale universe if you choose a Guided Tour in our Whale Exhibition. We have four themes devided in four rooms.
The Skeleton Room: Our room highlighting marine mammal anatomy includes complete skeletons of three different species.
Overview & Briefing room: We position ourselves on the map and have a look at the unique geographical surroundings that make the island such a hot spot for marine life.
The Deep Sea: this room is dedicated to life in the deep sea and the adaptations that flourish among life in the dark.
The Enlightenment Room: We explore the different whales through artifacts, facts and photos. What can we learn from these animals? You receive an insight into the ongoing local research on the whales outside of Andøya.
Where are we?
We are located at the tip of Andøya island, near its most important landmark in town: the Andenes Lighthouse.
We are located at the tip of Andøya island, near its most important landmark in town: the Andenes Lighthouse.
Our Whale Shop is on the lower floor before the Reception area, where you can find a large and exclusive collection of postcards, stuffed animals, clothes, books, jewelry and much more.
There is also a café on the lower floor, after the Reception area, where you can enjoy a refreshment or a meal before or after the trip.