CHOOSE BETWEEN LARGE BOAT & RIB
Whale Watching with large boat
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 for decades. We offer trips year-round, with a main season ranging from late May to middle of September.
WHALE WATCHING WITH RIB
With our small RIB boat with max. 12 guests onboard, our RIB boats allow flexibility onboard and you remain close to the water. The trip-duration is about 1,5-2,5 hours. We aim to spend as much time as possible with the whales on each trip. Book your trip below:
SPECTACULAR WINTER EXPERIENCE!
Whale Watching WINTER IN SKJERVØY WITH MS REINE
The winter herring season in Skjervøy, Troms, is an unique period attracting orcas, humpbacks, fin whales & sperm whales feeding side by side. Experience the whales close up as the are following the herring. We offer whale watching in winter from 10th of November to end of January in Skjervøy. Warm oversuits are provided and soup is served after your trip. We also offer transportation from Tromsø.
“If possible, we recommend not to bet everything on one day since weather conditions may lead to changes of the tours”
JOIN US ON
WHALE WATCHING!
a unique experience ALL YEAR
Did you know that there is ten different species of whales seen off Andøy in Vesterålen? Due to the high productive area just off Andøya, there is a high degree of certainty to see whales on relatively short trips. Combining leisure with learning experiences and research is an innovative and unique concept that has attracted national and international attention. Included in the ticket is a self-guided tour in our new Whale Exhibition, where you can learn even more about our whales.
on board
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 large traditional boat Reine, has everything you need to enjoy a pleasant trip. There is restrooms, and we offer free hot beverages and a snack on board. 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.
DURATION
The duration of the drip is between 3-5 hours depending on the weather conditions and where we find the whales. If possible, we recommend that you plan your whole day for the whale watching to account for any delays.
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.
before or after the trip, VISIT OUR
WHALE EXHIBITION
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.
GET TO KNOW OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
WHALE WATCHING GUIDELINES
In our commitment to offer a responsible and sustainable whale watching activity, we voluntarily follow the guidelines developed by WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation), IWC (International Whaling Commission), and the Norwegian guidelines, developed in accordance to national legislation to protect wildlife. As one of the most experienced whale watching company in the area and one of the few targeting adult male sperm whales in the world, we have also developed our own code of conduct for our captains to behave when close to the whales.
LEARN AbOUT OUR
RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING
EXPERIENCED CREW
Our captains have years of experience in evaluating the whales’ behaviour and maneuvering the boats in order to minimize animal disturbance.
REDUCING SOUND POLLUTION
We reduce noise pollution and whale disturbance by using hydrophones (underwater microphones) to locate the whales before they surface. In addition, we have equipped our vessels with better, quieter propellers to further reduce noise pollution.
RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR
It is important to us to behave responsibly towards the whales and the marine environment. This is an on-going process in which we regularly evaluate measures to make our operations even more environmentally friendly.
ReducING AIR AND SEA pollution
By using hydrophones, we reduce pollution to air and sea since we can follow the whale and position the boat before it surfaces. This reduces the need for using engine power and the result is reduced exhaust pollution. We also have a policy to not run our boats at full speed. This reduces fuel consumption and exhaust gases.
FOLLOWING WHALE WATCHING GUIDLINES
Animal welfare is important for us and we follow national and international regulations and guidlines regarding whale watching behaviour. In addition, we have internal company rules and training for even more rules on how to behave around whales.