Bleik: Whale Watching by Speedboat with Puffins and Muffins

Orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales, and puffins all use the waters around Bleik Canyon, making this one of northern Norway’s more varied wildlife trips. You ride a fast, small RIB boat into open water, often under the soft glow of the midnight sun.

I like the small group limit of 12, which gives you a better view than a large vessel and lets the skipper respond to wildlife sightings. I also like the mix of animals: you might watch whales for an hour, then visit a puffin colony and spot sea eagles. The tradeoff is real: open water can be rough, whale sightings are never guaranteed, and long periods sitting still may cause seasickness.

Key points to know before you go

• Bleik Canyon is the main wildlife zone, with sperm whales, orcas, pilot whales, minke whales, seals, and seabirds.
• The RIB carries no more than 12 people, so you get a close-up view and a more personal trip.
• The 9 PM departure is special in summer, with daylight lasting through the whole outing.
• Puffins are part of the plan, not just a lucky extra, and the bird stop can be excellent even when whales stay away.
• Warm flotation suits, boots, gloves, and life jackets are supplied, though you should still wear outdoor clothing.
• The $199 price includes photos, hot drinks, and muffins, as well as the 3.5-hour boat excursion.

Why Bleik is such a good place for whale watching

Bleik sits on Andøya in Vesterålen, about a 10-minute drive from Andenes. The village is small, but its position beside the Bleik Canyon gives it a major advantage for wildlife trips.

The canyon reaches into deep water close to shore. That matters because whales do not need to travel far into the ocean before finding the fish that bring them here. Sperm whales are the signature sight, but the area can also attract orcas, pilot whales, minke whales, and, less often, Risso’s dolphins and fin whales.

You are not simply heading out to look for one species. This is a broad wildlife search in a productive marine area. That makes the trip especially appealing if you care as much about puffins, eagles, seals, and gannets as you do about whales.

The setting helps, too. Bleik’s coast is dramatic without feeling built up for tourism. You leave from a local marina, pass the beach area, and head toward open water with the mountains and coast behind you. The sense of space is part of the experience.

What the 3.5-hour outing feels like

The advertised duration is 210 minutes, but that includes getting ready on shore and having tea, coffee, and muffins afterward. Plan on roughly three hours on the water, with some variation depending on conditions and wildlife activity.

You meet the skipper and guide at Bleik Marina. Look for the Green Gold of Norway sign, sometimes described as the Green Dragon, and follow the Puffin Safari signs down from the beach road near Midnattsol Camping and Smia Pub.

Before departure, you put on the supplied warm flotation suit and life jacket. Several people have also noted receiving gloves, boots, and goggles. The equipment is important, not decorative. Even during summer, a fast boat ride across northern waters can feel cold, especially when you stop and sit still.

Once everyone is ready, the RIB heads toward Bleik Canyon. The ride itself is part of the fun. A RIB is quicker and more open than a traditional whale-watching boat, so you feel the speed and the movement of the sea more directly.

That also means you should arrive ready for an active outing. The trip is not suitable for people with back, heart, respiratory, or mobility problems, recent surgery, vertigo, claustrophobia, or other medical conditions that make a fast open-water ride difficult. Pregnant people and wheelchair users should not book this experience. The minimum height is 135 centimeters.

Searching the canyon for whales

The whale search is not a staged performance. The crew reads the sea, watches for blows and movement, and adjusts the route as conditions change. You may see one species, several species, or no whales at all.

Sperm whales are the main target in the canyon. They are impressive, but they may remain some distance from the boat and can spend long periods at the surface before disappearing. A typical sighting may involve patience, quiet observation, and repeated glimpses rather than constant action.

That is worth understanding before you pay $199. If you want a guaranteed close encounter, no responsible wildlife operator can offer one. The value comes from spending time in a strong whale area with a small crew that makes a serious effort to find animals while respecting their space.

The luckiest trips have included large groups of orcas, pilot whales with young animals, minke whales, and sperm whales. Some groups have spent close to an hour with orcas. Others have watched pilot whales come near the RIB and appear curious about the boat.

Conditions can change quickly. One trip had calm water and excellent visibility. Another faced large waves and no whale sightings, but still produced plenty of puffins. You should think of the whale portion as a search, not a promise.

Puffins, eagles, seals, and a welcome change of pace

The birdlife gives the tour a second act. Puffins gather around the coastal cliffs and nearby bird areas, sometimes in striking numbers. You may see them fluttering over the water, resting near the rocks, or flying in quick, low arcs around the boat.

The puffin stop is valuable because it gives you something strong to look forward to even if whales remain elusive. Several trips have also included thousands of puffins, along with sea eagles and other seabirds such as gannets.

Harbor seals may appear near the coast. The area can also produce dolphins, including occasional Risso’s dolphins, though those sightings are less predictable. The guide explains the different species and helps you tell one whale from another.

The order of the stops can vary. Some outings spend most of the time with whales and finish at a puffin colony. Others reach the birds after the whale search or adjust the route based on conditions. You should not expect a fixed parade of stops with exact timing.

I like this mix because it keeps the excursion from resting on a single sighting. If the sea is quiet, the birds still provide movement, color, and plenty to watch.

The midnight sun changes the evening trip

The 9 PM departure is one of the best reasons to consider this tour in summer. In Bleik, the sun does not set during the midnight-sun season, so the evening outing can run in bright or golden light rather than darkness.

The light adds something you cannot get from a standard daytime trip. One evening outing had calm water, a glowing horizon, and orcas moving beside the boat. The combination of whales, sea cliffs, and late-night daylight can feel almost unreal.

The morning departure at 10 AM is the more practical choice if you have a tight schedule or prefer to be back before evening. The 9 PM trip is better if you want the most distinctive atmosphere and can handle a late finish.

Do not assume the evening departure will always have calmer water or better sightings. Wildlife remains unpredictable, and weather still controls the experience. Pick the departure time for the kind of day you want, not as a guarantee of animal activity.

The crew and the value of a small boat

The guides include Christina and Norbert, with Bekka and Katie also leading trips. The crew explains the birds, fish, and marine mammals you encounter and takes photos for you to keep after the outing.

The strongest part of the guiding is the natural-history commentary. You are not left guessing whether you are looking at a pilot whale, minke whale, or something else. The guides also make safety and animal respect clear, approaching wildlife with care rather than chasing it for a dramatic photograph.

The small RIB is a practical advantage. With a maximum of 12 people, you have fewer heads blocking your view and a better chance of hearing the guide. One useful criticism is that people seated at the back may struggle to hear the commentary, especially with wind and engine noise. If the guide gives you a choice of seats, think about sound as well as the view.

The boat can get close to wildlife, but close does not mean touching or crowding. The best encounters happen when the animals choose to remain near the boat. You should expect the skipper to slow down, wait, and reposition rather than rush directly at an animal.

What to wear and what to bring

Warm flotation suits are supplied, along with life jackets. Some outings have also included boots, gloves, and goggles, but you should still dress for cold outdoor conditions.

Wear warm layers and outdoor clothing. Bring a change of clothes in case spray or rough water gets through. Avoid treating the suit as a substitute for proper clothing, particularly if you tend to feel cold.

The sea can be smooth one day and rough the next. If you are prone to motion sickness, consider your usual precautions before boarding. One outing required passengers to sit still in open sea for around 90 minutes while watching sperm whales, and several people became seasick. That is an honest picture of whale watching: sometimes the most exciting sighting requires quiet patience.

You should be in reasonably good physical shape. Getting into the boat, handling the equipment, and sitting securely while the RIB moves across open water all require some mobility and balance.

Is $199 a fair price?

At $199 per person, this is not a budget activity. It becomes easier to justify when you count what is included: a 3.5-hour experience, a small RIB group, warm protective gear, a guide, photos, and tea, coffee, and muffins afterward.

The small group is the biggest value point. A larger boat may offer more space and a smoother ride, but the RIB gives you a closer connection to the water and more flexibility when wildlife appears. You also avoid paying separately for basic protective equipment.

The price is easiest to defend if you are already visiting Andenes or Vesterålen and want a major wildlife outing rather than a quick harbor ride. It is less attractive if you have a strict budget, dislike open-water motion, or mainly want a guaranteed puffin viewing stop.

The included photos are useful because handling a camera on a moving RIB is not easy. Still, keep your own phone or camera protected, since spray and sudden movement are part of the setting.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this trip if you want a small, active wildlife outing and accept that nature controls the result. It suits couples, families with older children who meet the height requirement, photographers, bird lovers, and anyone planning a summer visit around the midnight sun.

It is also a strong choice if you want more than whales. The combination of orcas, pilot whales, sperm whales, puffins, seals, and eagles gives you several kinds of wildlife to watch.

I would think twice if you have back trouble, heart or breathing concerns, balance problems, recent surgery, or a medical condition affected by cold and rough movement. This is not a gentle sightseeing cruise.

You should also be comfortable with uncertainty. Some outings produce a remarkable hour with orcas. Others bring sperm whales at a distance, rough seas, or no whales but excellent puffins. The crew can search well, but it cannot control the ocean.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make planning easier. The tour runs in English, with departures at 10 AM and 9 PM.

Should you book the Bleik whale safari?

Book it if the idea of racing into open water with a maximum of 12 people, then waiting quietly for wild whales and seabirds, sounds exciting to you. The strongest reasons are the varied wildlife, the small boat, the thoughtful guides, and the remarkable summer light.

Skip it if you need a calm, guaranteed whale sighting or if rough water would spoil your day. For everyone else, this is a costly but well-rounded Arctic outing, and the puffin stop gives it real value even when the whales keep their distance.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from Bleik Marina in Bleik, about a 10-minute drive from Andenes. Follow the beach road near Midnattsol Camping toward Smia Pub, then follow the Puffin Safari signs to the marina.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts 210 minutes, or 3.5 hours. This includes getting ready in warm flotation suits before departure and tea, coffee, and muffins after the boat trip.

What animals might I see?

You might see sperm whales, pilot whales, orcas, minke whales, Risso’s dolphins, fin whales, puffins, sea eagles, gannets, and harbor seals. Sightings depend on marine and weather conditions.

Are whales guaranteed?

No. The tour searches an area known for marine wildlife, but sightings are not guaranteed. You may see puffins, eagles, seals, or other birds even when whales are not found.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the RIB boat excursion, warm flotation suits, life jackets, a guide, photos, and tea, coffee, and muffins. Some trips also provide boots, gloves, and goggles as part of the protective equipment.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, outdoor clothing, and a change of clothes. You should be prepared for cold conditions and possible spray or rough water.

Who should not take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant people, wheelchair users, people under 135 centimeters, or people with back, heart, respiratory, mobility, balance, or claustrophobia concerns. It is also unsuitable after recent surgery or with other medical conditions that make an active open-water trip unsafe.