REVIEW · BLEIK
Bleik: Whale Watching by Speedboat with Puffins and Muffins
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Green Gold of Norway AS · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Midnight sun plus whales is hard to top. I love how this tour sends you straight into Bleik Canyon in a small group for close wildlife viewing. I also like the human touch: an English guide points out what you’re seeing and helps capture memories with included photos.
The main thing to consider is that this is a fast, open-water RIB ride. If you’re prone to motion sickness—or you fall into the tour’s health limits (like vertigo, heart or respiratory issues, or mobility/back problems)—this might not be the right fit.
Top highlights at a glance
- Small-group RIB (max 12) means more eyes on the water and birds
- Bleik Canyon wildlife search for sperm whales, orcas, and other marine mammals
- Puffins and birds on the same outing, often with eagles and gannets in the mix
- Warm flotation suits + life jackets keep you comfortable in cool coastal conditions
- English guide onboard + photos included so you’re not stuck filming the whole time
In This Review
- Why Bleik whale watching feels special in Vesterålen
- Getting to Bleik Marina: the fast meetup that keeps things smooth
- RIB ride basics: warm suits, life jackets, and what the 210 minutes means
- Midnight sun timing: your two departure choices
- Bleik Canyon wildlife search: sperm whales, orcas, and the feeding pattern logic
- The birdwatching shift: puffins and eagles in the same outing
- How the crew handles safety and respectful viewing
- Photos, tea, and muffins: the small extras that make it feel complete
- Price and value: why $199 can make sense here
- Who should book this Bleik RIB whale safari
- Should you book this Bleik whale watching experience?
- FAQ
- What animals might I see on this tour?
- How long is the experience, and what does that include?
- What time does the tour run?
- Is the tour guided, and in what language?
- What gear is included?
- Are photos included?
- What’s the price?
- What’s the meeting point?
Why Bleik whale watching feels special in Vesterålen
Bleik is in Nordland County, in the Vesterålen region, and it has that rare summer setup where daylight stretches late into the evening. That matters, because wildlife viewing is easier when the light is good and the sea is calm enough for boats to move efficiently. The tour you’re looking at leans hard into that “summer lasts forever” feeling in Andøy and the Bleik area near Andenes.
I also like the focus. This isn’t a generic sightseeing cruise. The goal is specific: scan the surface around the canyon, look for feeding activity, and then shift to birds (like puffins) when the timing lines up. That’s why your chance of seeing whales and puffins together feels real, not forced.
The other big value point is the way the guides work the timing. You’re not just tossed onto open water and left to hope. An onboard guide shares what you’re likely to find, watches for wildlife signals, and helps keep everyone informed while the skipper drives.
Getting to Bleik Marina: the fast meetup that keeps things smooth
The tour starts from Bleik Marina, and you’ll meet your skipper and guide there. If you’re driving from Andenes, it’s about a 10-minute drive to Bleik—close enough that you’re not spending your best daylight stuck in transit.
Your directions, simplified:
- Drive down the beach road from the Midnattsol camping area
- Continue to Smia Pub
- Turn right toward Bleik Marina and follow the Puffin Safari signs
Once you arrive, look for the Green Gold of Norway sign (the Green Dragon). That’s where you connect with the team.
Why this matters: whale and puffin windows are short, and tours like this run on timing. A clear meetup point means fewer delays, and you get more actual time out scanning the canyon.
RIB ride basics: warm suits, life jackets, and what the 210 minutes means
The total duration is 210 minutes, which includes time for getting ready and then changing after. Plan for a half-day chunk that feels active but not exhausting in the wrong way.
A key detail: you’re not expected to show up dressed for a polar expedition. The tour provides warm flotation suits and life jackets. You’ll still want your own warm layers, outdoor clothing, and a change of clothes for after the ride.
Here’s how the experience typically builds:
- You arrive at Bleik Marina
- You get fitted and geared up
- You head out by RIB into the Bleik Canyon area
- You return, warm up with tea/coffee, and finish with muffins
- You also take away the guide’s photos as memories
This is a “wear it and go” setup. It keeps you focused on the animals instead of juggling gear on a windy dock.
One practical note for comfort: the tour is described as fast and boat-based. That’s part of the thrill, but it also means you should expect a bit of spray and movement—especially on days when the sea is less cooperative. If you’re worried about bouncing around, it’s worth thinking about it before you book.
Midnight sun timing: your two departure choices
You get two departures: 10:00 and 21:00 from Bleik Marina. The evening option lines up beautifully with the midnight sun season. Several experiences from this tour mention the surreal golden light when the sun stays up late, which turns the coastline and birds into something extra crisp and dramatic.
If you choose the 21:00 departure, you’re likely buying yourself:
- calmer-feeling light for photos
- a different mood on the water (often more dreamlike in calm weather)
- the chance to watch whales and then catch puffin activity near the end of the trip
If you choose 10:00, you’re still in the summer wildlife flow, but your day starts earlier. It can be a good choice if you want to keep your evening open for exploring Andenes town, local viewpoints, or dinner after.
Either way, the core structure stays the same: scan the canyon for whales and marine mammals, then look for birds like puffins and eagles when they’re active.
Bleik Canyon wildlife search: sperm whales, orcas, and the feeding pattern logic
The heart of this tour is the RIB excursion into Bleik Canyon and its surroundings. This area is known for marine life that shows up because food gathers there. That detail isn’t just “nature facts.” It’s what drives your viewing chances.
As the boat works the canyon and search zones, you might encounter:
- sperm whales (mentioned as a prime target)
- orcas and pilot whales
- minke whales
- and, occasionally, Risso’s dolphins and fin whales
And birds show up for the same reason: the fish feeding can pull in predators from above too. The tour keeps your eyes on both worlds—marine mammals on the water and seabirds along the cliffs and coastline.
What I like about this approach is the guide’s role. You’re not just staring into waves. The onboard guide shares what you’re likely seeing and why it’s happening, then steers the group’s attention based on real-time sightings.
Close encounters are a big part of the appeal on this kind of RIB trip. Multiple experiences highlight being quite close to animals during sightings, including orca pods that spent long stretches near the boat. That’s the payoff of a smaller, nimble boat and a crew that knows where to look.
The birdwatching shift: puffins and eagles in the same outing
This tour doesn’t treat birds as a consolation prize. It treats them as a core part of the plan. As the boat searches for whales, you’ll likely spot seabirds including puffins, eagles, gannets, and other birds depending on the day’s conditions.
A common rhythm shows up in real outcomes: whale time first, then a turn toward birds. Some experiences describe a final segment focused on puffins and even puffin-colony areas, with eagles circling overhead or visible from a distance.
If you love puffins, you’re in a good spot. The Bleik area is known for dense puffin activity in summer, and an outing that combines open-water scanning with cliff-side bird viewing increases your odds that at least one major target hits.
Even when whales don’t show up for a specific group, the bird side can still deliver. That balance matters because whale watching is always partly weather and timing.
How the crew handles safety and respectful viewing
This is an animal-focused excursion, so the vibe is about safe, responsible watching—not thrill-chasing.
You’ll be in a warm flotation suit, and the crew includes an onboard guide to talk during the ride and help with photo memories. Several experiences emphasize that the guides were careful and made a professional impression, including being respectful with how they approached wildlife sightings.
Group size also helps safety and experience. With a max of 12 guests, you’re not fighting for space or trying to get your head above other people to see what matters.
That said, the boat is still a boat. The tour notes it’s not suitable for people with:
- pregnancy
- back problems
- mobility impairments
- claustrophobia
- heart problems
- wheelchair use
- vertigo
- respiratory issues
- people under 135 cm (4 ft 4 in)
- people with pre-existing medical conditions
- recent surgeries
If any of that applies to you, it’s worth taking seriously. This tour is built for moving out onto open water in changing conditions.
Photos, tea, and muffins: the small extras that make it feel complete
One of the easiest ways to judge value on wildlife tours is what happens after the sighting. Here, the guides take photos during the trip, and you take those memories home. That’s useful because when whales or orcas show up, it’s hard to keep your camera steady while also watching the guide’s pointers.
Then you land back onshore and warm up with tea and coffee, plus muffins. It’s a small thing, but it changes the mood. Instead of feeling cold and done, you get a quick reset that makes the experience feel finished—not just physically survived.
If you’re the type who likes to look back at photos and learn from them later, the included photo angle is a practical advantage.
Price and value: why $199 can make sense here
At $199 per person, you’re paying for more than time on a boat. You’re paying for:
- a RIB format (fast, nimble, better access for close viewing)
- warm flotation suits and life jackets
- an onboard English guide for spotting and explaining wildlife
- photos taken during the trip
- refreshments after (tea/coffee and muffins)
For many wildlife tours, the boat is the expensive part and everything else is extra. Here, the comfort kit and guiding are folded in. That pushes the value closer to what you actually want: seeing wildlife without needing to improvise cold-weather gear.
Could you find cheaper whale watching elsewhere? Sure. But if you care about comfort, close viewing potential, and learning what you’re seeing in real time, this one prices like a focused wildlife outing rather than a generic cruise.
Also, the two departure times help value. Midnight sun season is short-lived in the calendar year, and the 21:00 slot is where the magic light tends to happen.
Who should book this Bleik RIB whale safari
This tour is a strong match if you:
- want a close-to-nature wildlife experience, not just a scenic boat ride
- love both whales and puffins and want them on the same outing
- prefer a smaller group feel (max 12)
- enjoy learning in real time from an onboard guide
It may be less ideal if you:
- get very seasick or have conditions triggered by motion
- can’t handle the boat’s active open-water environment
- need accessibility accommodations not listed as available
If you’re visiting Andenes for the Vesterålen wildlife season, this adds a “real encounter” day that feels tied to the local ecosystem—canyon hunting for mammals, then cliff-side bird focus.
Should you book this Bleik whale watching experience?
Book it if you want the best odds of seeing multiple kinds of wildlife in a single outing, and you’re excited by the idea of RIB boat viewing in the Bleik Canyon with a guide guiding your eyes. The included warm suits, photos, and post-ride tea/coffee and muffins make it feel like you’re looked after, not just ticketed.
Don’t book it if you’re in any of the tour’s “not suitable” categories, or if you know you struggle with motion and bumpy water. This isn’t a slow, relaxing cruise.
If you’re flexible and you pick the 21:00 option for the midnight sun vibe, you’re leaning into what makes Bleik memorable in summer: wildlife under long daylight, with birds and whales showing up as food pulls them into the same stretch of sea.
FAQ
What animals might I see on this tour?
The tour focuses on spotting whales and other marine mammals in and around Bleik Canyon, with mentions of sperm whales, pilot whales, orcas, minke whales, and sometimes Risso’s dolphins and fin whales. You may also see birds such as puffins, eagles, and gannets, plus harbor seals.
How long is the experience, and what does that include?
The duration is 210 minutes, which includes time for getting ready (including suiting up in warm flotation suits) and changing after the trip.
What time does the tour run?
There are departures at 10:00 and 21:00 from Bleik Marina.
Is the tour guided, and in what language?
Yes. A guide is onboard, and the tour is described as English.
What gear is included?
The tour includes flotation/warm suits and life jackets. You should also bring warm clothing and a change of clothes for after.
Are photos included?
Yes. The guide takes photos during the tour, and you can take those memories home.
What’s the price?
The price is listed as $199 per person.
What’s the meeting point?
Meet at Bleik Marina, where you should look for the Green Gold of Norway sign (the Green Dragon). Directions mention driving down to the beach road at Midnattsol camping, continuing to Smia Pub, then turning right toward Bleik Marina and following the Puffin Safari sign.
