Bleik: Whale Watching by Speedboat with Puffins and Muffins

The star of this Bleik trip is the chance to search the deep-water Bleik Canyon in a small RIB boat, where you can get a more direct view of whales and seabirds than you would from a large vessel. Orcas, sperm whales, pilot whales, minke whales, puffins, eagles, and seals may all appear, but wildlife never follows a script.

I like the maximum of 12 people, which keeps the boat personal and makes it easier to turn your head toward a sighting. I also like the two departure times, especially the 9 PM run under the midnight sun. The main caution is simple: the sea can be rough, and some of the whale watching involves sitting still offshore, so motion sickness is a real possibility.

Key points before you book

• Bleik Canyon is the main hunting ground: Deep water close to shore brings sperm whales and other marine life into the area.
• The RIB keeps the group small: No more than 12 people share the boat, with a skipper and English-speaking guide.
• Orcas are possible in summer: Recent trips have also seen pilot whales, minke whales, dolphins, and sperm whales.
• Puffin watching is part of the plan: You may see large numbers of puffins near the cliffs, along with sea eagles and other birds.
• The 9 PM departure uses the midnight sun: Late-evening light can add a special Arctic glow without ending the day.
• Warm gear is supplied: Flotation suits, life jackets, boots, gloves, and goggles have been provided on recent trips, though you should still bring warm layers and spare clothes.

Why the Bleik Canyon makes this trip special

Bleik sits on Andøya in Vesterålen, about a 10-minute drive from Andenes. The attraction here is not simply open sea. A deep underwater canyon runs close to the coast, creating a productive feeding area for whales and the fish they follow.

That geography gives the excursion a useful advantage. You are not spending the whole trip making a long crossing to reach deep water. Instead, the boat heads out from Bleik Marina toward an area where sperm whales are regularly sought in summer. The same food supply also draws smaller whales, dolphins, seabirds, and seals.

I like this kind of wildlife trip because the setting does much of the work. You are looking for animals, but you are also watching the coast recede, feeling the Arctic air, and seeing how quickly the quiet waters around a fishing village turn into open ocean.

The experience lasts 210 minutes, or about three and a half hours. That total includes getting dressed before departure and warm drinks with muffins while you change afterward, so your time on the water will be somewhat shorter than the headline figure. Still, this is a substantial outing rather than a quick harbor ride.

From Bleik Marina to open water

The meeting point is Bleik Marina, reached by following the beach road beside Midnattsol Camping. Continue to Smia Pub, turn down toward the marina, and follow the Puffin Safari sign. Look for the Green Gold of Norway sign, sometimes marked by the Green Dragon, where the skipper and guide meet you.

Plan a little extra time for finding the turn. The directions are clear once you are on the beach road, but Bleik is a small place and the marina approach is not a major transport terminal. This is a self-arrival activity, and the operator does not list a transfer from Andenes.

Before boarding, you put on warm flotation suits and safety equipment. The supplied protection has included life jackets, boots, gloves, and goggles. This is useful equipment, not just a light windbreaker. Even in summer, the speed of the RIB and the open water can make the air feel cold.

You should wear warm clothing beneath the suit and bring outdoor clothing plus a change of clothes. The spare outfit is sensible if spray reaches you or the weather turns wet. After the ride, tea, coffee, and muffins are available while you change back into your own clothes.

What the 12-seat RIB adds

A small RIB is the defining feature of this experience. With up to 12 passengers, the boat can feel more like a wildlife outing with a small group than a standard sightseeing cruise. The skipper can adjust position as wildlife appears, while the guide explains what you are seeing.

The boat is fast and steady, according to the experience provided by recent departures, but those qualities do not remove the physical demands. You will be seated in an open boat, exposed to wind, spray, and movement. The trip requires you to be in reasonably good physical shape.

The small size has a second benefit: you are close to the water. That can make a whale surfacing nearby feel immediate and powerful. It also means you need to pay attention to instructions and keep your expectations realistic. Wildlife is approached with care, and a close sighting cannot be guaranteed.

One practical issue is sound. A passenger sitting at the back has found it harder to hear the guide while the boat is moving or the sea is noisy. If the explanation matters to you, try to position yourself where you can see and hear the guide clearly, while following the crew’s seating directions.

Searching for sperm whales in the canyon

The first major part of the trip focuses on the Bleik Canyon and its marine life. Sperm whales are the signature species here, and a typical sighting may involve watching the whale surface, breathe, and then disappear for a period before returning.

This is not an aquarium-style encounter. You may spend time scanning the water, then wait quietly when a whale is located. One recent departure spent about an hour watching a group of sperm whales, while another account described roughly an hour and a half of stillness in open sea. That patience can pay off, but it can also test your stomach if the water is moving.

Sperm whales may not always come as close as smaller whale species. A sighting can still be memorable, especially when you see the animal’s back and tail against a broad stretch of sea, but you should not book this expecting a guaranteed close-up.

The area can also produce a surprising mix of species. Sightings have included pilot whales, minke whales, orcas, dolphins, and, on some trips, fin whales and Risso’s dolphins. Harbor seals may appear near the coast or around the bird-watching areas.

The strongest reports describe long encounters with orcas. Groups have been seen traveling beside the boat for much of the trip, and one outing encountered a large number of them close to the RIB. These moments are possible, not promised. The operator’s own description correctly frames the area as a place with high chances for wildlife, not a guarantee of a particular animal.

Orcas, pilot whales, and the luck factor

If orcas are your main goal, the summer reports from Bleik are encouraging. Several trips have encountered orcas, sometimes for an extended period, along with puffins and the midnight sun. That combination can create a remarkable evening, especially on the 9 PM departure when the horizon remains bright.

Pilot whales are another strong possibility. One outing found a pod with young animals, and another spent time among a group of pilot whales. These encounters may offer a different kind of viewing from sperm whales, with more visible group movement and repeated surfacing.

Still, no whale safari can promise results. One trip saw dolphins and many puffins but no whales. Another faced rough water and returned without a whale sighting, though the bird watching made the trip worthwhile. That is the right way to think about this experience: you are booking access to a productive wildlife area, not a scheduled performance.

I would choose this trip if you can enjoy the whole outing, including seabirds, coastal views, and the ride itself. If you would feel disappointed without a close orca sighting, you should think carefully before paying $199.

Puffin cliffs and the bird-watching stop

Puffins are not a small bonus here. The boat visits areas where large numbers of these birds gather, and some outings have found thousands around the cliffs. You may see puffins flying, sitting on the water, and moving around the rocky colony.

Their presence adds variety after a long period of whale watching. You are no longer scanning a wide, empty sea for a small dorsal fin. Instead, the cliffs and water can be busy with birds, giving you many moving subjects to watch.

Puffins share the area with sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, gannets, and other birdlife. Eagles have been spotted close to the boat as well as farther away in the sky. Harbor seals may also be included in the coastal search.

The bird stop is particularly useful if whales stay distant or do not appear. On some departures, puffins have been the clear highlight. I would bring a camera with a secure strap, but do not let photography keep you from watching. The boat can move, the birds are quick, and the best moment may last only a few seconds.

The midnight sun and the 9 PM departure

Bleik’s summer light changes the mood of the trip. The sun does not set during the midnight sun season, so the 9 PM departure can take place in bright evening conditions rather than darkness. The light may soften toward the horizon, but you are not heading out into a conventional night.

This late departure works well for people who want to fit the excursion around a daytime drive or other activity. It also gives you a chance to see the coast and wildlife in a different light. Orcas moving through calm water beneath a glowing sky have made this timing memorable on successful trips.

The 10 AM departure is the more practical choice if you prefer a conventional morning start or want to avoid staying out late. The wildlife search itself is the main event, so I would choose based on your wider schedule, tolerance for late hours, and the forecast rather than assuming one departure is always better.

Weather remains more important than the clock. Calm conditions can make the ride comfortable and the viewing easier. Rougher seas may bring larger waves and more motion, even with an experienced skipper.

Is $199 a fair price?

At $199 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. The value comes from the amount of time, the small boat, the specialist setting, the supplied warm gear, and the guide’s role throughout the trip.

You are also paying for a full wildlife search rather than a short coastal cruise. The guide explains the species you encounter, the skipper handles the boat, photos are taken for you, and tea, coffee, and muffins wait at the end. Those details reduce the amount of equipment and planning you need to arrange yourself.

The price feels easier to justify if you already plan to visit Andøya or Vesterålen for nature. Bleik is close to Andenes, and the trip gives you a focused way to see the marine side of the region. It is less convincing if you are making a long detour solely for a guaranteed whale encounter, because no operator can control the animals.

The included photos add practical value. You can keep watching instead of trying to hold a camera steady every time something surfaces. The quality and number of photos are not specified, so treat them as a useful extra rather than the main reason to book.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option make the financial decision less rigid. You still need to check the available starting time when booking.

Who should skip this RIB trip

This outing suits people who are comfortable with an active boat ride and open-water conditions. You need to be in okay physical shape, and you should be ready for wind, spray, cold, and possible rough waves.

It is not suitable for pregnant people, wheelchair users, or people with mobility limitations. It is also not recommended for people with back, heart, respiratory, or vertigo problems, claustrophobia, recent surgery, or other pre-existing medical conditions. Anyone under 135 centimeters tall cannot take part.

Motion sickness deserves special attention. The boat may remain still for long periods while the crew watches whales, and that gentle waiting can feel worse than the faster ride for some people. Bring only what you need, dress warmly, and consider your own response to open water before booking.

The activity is conducted in English. The guide provides information about the wildlife and the crew takes photos during the trip. If you need detailed commentary, sit where you can hear clearly and ask the guide to repeat anything lost to engine noise.

Should you book the Bleik whale safari?

Book it if you want a small-group Arctic wildlife outing where sperm whales, orcas, pilot whales, puffins, eagles, and seals are all possible. The strongest reason to choose it is the mix: even when one species fails to appear, the canyon and bird colonies give the trip more than one chance to deliver.

The experience is especially appealing to wildlife photographers, bird lovers, and anyone visiting during the midnight sun. The 9 PM departure can be extraordinary in calm weather, while the 10 AM trip is easier to fit into a normal day.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed whale sighting, dislike cold and motion, or have one of the listed medical restrictions. At $199, the decision deserves some thought, but the small boat, three-and-a-half-hour format, warm equipment, and access to Bleik Canyon make it a strong choice for an active day in Vesterålen.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching trip depart?

The trip departs from Bleik Marina in Bleik, Nordland County. From the beach road near Midnattsol Camping, continue to Smia Pub, turn toward Bleik Marina, and follow the Puffin Safari sign. Bleik is about a 10-minute drive from Andenes.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is 210 minutes, or three and a half hours. This includes time on shore to put on warm flotation suits and time afterward for changing and complimentary tea, coffee, and muffins.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include sperm whales, pilot whales, orcas, minke whales, fin whales, Risso’s dolphins, other dolphins, puffins, sea eagles, gannets, and Harbor seals. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Are warm clothes and safety equipment provided?

Warm flotation suits and life jackets are included. Recent trips have also provided boots, gloves, and goggles. You should still bring warm clothing, outdoor clothing, and a change of clothes.

Who cannot take part?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant people, people with back, heart, respiratory, mobility, or vertigo problems, wheelchair users, people with claustrophobia, people under 135 centimeters tall, people with recent surgery, or people with other pre-existing medical conditions.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, subject to the booking conditions.