Excited and full of anticipation you look out across the deep blue sea. Suddenly, someone shouts “Whaaaaale!” You make your way to the gunwale and see your very first spout, a fountain of air and water a mere 100 metres away. Your heart beats faster. You can make out the size of the animal in the water nearby, He glides slowly forward for a while. Then he arches his back, lifts his great tail out of the water behind him and disappears again into the deep. It is quiet on board. You can feel it, too. The reverent, atmosphere. Humility. You know that you will carry this memory with you – for a long, long time.
Nowhere else along the coast of Norway does the continental shelf lie so close to land as it does in Vesterålen. This is an area rich in nutrition and is the only place you have a 95% chance of seeing whales on trips of a relatively short duration. Today, whale safaris are organised by two different operators, one in Andenes and the other in Stø.
Read more about in our article Safaries in the Realm of the Whales.
Ever since 1988, Whale Safari AS (Ltd) in Andenes has been organising whale safaris with research, learning and adventure all linked together in one trip. The idea has attracted attention both at home and abroad. The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society, that has specialised in evaluating whale safaris, has given Whale Safari AS (Ltd) the following recommendation: “Whale Safari AS (Ltd) in Andenes – the world’s biggest and best operator of arctic whale safaris.”
From Andenes it is only a one-hour boat ride out to the whales, giving you more time to observe these enormous animals. The promulgation of knowledge is an important part of the package and trips begin with a guided tour of the Whale Centre. The guides on board and at the Whale Centre are students and scientists from many different countries, and most of them have marine mammals as their speciality. Each trip may therefore seem like a research expedition. The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research asked whale safari participants in Andenes what they thought about their expedition and 96% of them recommended it to others. Perhaps it will be your turn this year?
For further information, please contact
Hvalsafari AS
Telephone (+47) 76 11 56 00
Email: post@whalesafari.no
Booking: booking@whalesafari.no
Read more on the web: www.whalesafari.com
From the charming little fishing hamlet of Stø on the northernmost point of Langøya island in Vesterålen, Arctic Whaletours operates whale safaris every day from June to August. This is the perfect starting point for seeing some of the world’s biggest animals.
We are out on the open sea for a whole day and have a good chance of seeing several different species of whales. The one we see most often is the sperm whale, but if we are lucky we may also see pilot whales, minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins and killer whales. From mid June until late July, we also arrange night safari tours, offering a unique opportunity of seeing whales in the light of the midnight sun. On the way out to the continental shelf, we also pay a visit to the seabird and seal colonies at Anda Lighthouse, where you can see seabirds like white-tailed eagles, guillemots, cormorants and an army of puffins. You will also enjoy the magnificent and spectacular scenery, lots of fresh sea air, and natural surroundings guaranteed to make a lasting impression.
For further information, please contact:
Arctic Whale Tours AS
Telephone (+47) 76 13 43 00
Email: info@arcticwhaletours.com
Read more on the web: www.arcticwhaletours.com
Vesterålen Reiseliv (Vesterålen Tourism): www.visitvesteralen.com
69.350076,15.837005,7
Throughout the summer whale safaris are operated from Andenes and Stø. Large boats with experienced skippers and guides make the trips an adventure you will remember for a long time.
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