Guide · Packing

What to bring whale watching at Bleik, and what to wear

Even in July the open sea off Andøya is cold, and a fast boat makes it colder. Here is what to bring whale watching from Bleik or Andenes, how to deal with seasickness, and which trips suit children.

Check availabilityfrom $201 · free cancellation possible

Editorial team, bleikwhalewatching.comUpdated October 20, 2026Read time: 6 min5 sources

Bookable here: the tour Bleik speedboat whale watching with puffins 4.7 (400 reviews) 3.5 hoursMax. 12 guests on the RIBFlotation suit, tea, coffee and muffins from$201per person Check availabilityFree to cancel until 24 hrs ahead

Quick answer

01Provided: On the Bleik RIB: a warm flotation suit and a life jacket.
02Bring: Warm clothing, outdoor clothing and a change of clothes.
03July: Average high 14 °C on land at the Andøya station.¹
04Seasickness: The Andenes catamaran advises medication before departure.
05Children: Bleik RIB from age 10 and 140 cm.

Why you need more layers than you think

Summer on Andøya is mild rather than warm. At the Andøya weather station July, the warmest month, averages a high of 14 °C and a low of 9.3 °C.¹ In June the high is 11.1 °C, and in September it is back to the same figure.¹ Those are land temperatures, and the sea breeze out on the water feels colder.

Speed adds to it. On a RIB the wind of the ride hits you head on for the whole crossing out to deep water, and spray is part of the fun. That is why the Bleik trip lends every guest a warm flotation suit and a life jacket, and still asks you to bring warm clothing and outdoor clothing of your own.

Think of the suit as the outer shell and dress underneath as for a cold, windy walk in autumn. A thin wool or synthetic base layer, a fleece or light down jacket and warm trousers will keep you comfortable for a few hours sitting still, which is most of what whale watching involves.

Trip day

Getting ready, step by step

Night before

Check the forecast

Wind and swell decide how far a small boat can go.
Before you leave

Light meal, medication

Take any seasickness remedy in advance, as advised.
At the marina

Into the suit

Flotation suits and life jackets are handed out on shore.
On the water

Watch the horizon

Look for the forward-leaning blow of a sperm whale.²
Back on land

Dry clothes

Change over tea and coffee within the 3.5 hours.

Hands, head and feet

The parts that get cold first are the ones the suit leaves exposed. Bring a warm hat that covers your ears, and gloves you can still work a camera with; a thin pair under a thicker pair is a good compromise. The Andenes catamaran puts a hat, gloves and thermal clothing on its own packing list.

Sunglasses are worth packing for the bright summer light reflecting off the sea, and a buff or scarf protects your neck from the wind. On the Tromsø to Skjervøy RIB day, the listing even includes boots, mittens and goggles with its thermal suit, a sign of how cold an open boat can feel.

Feet matter too. Wear warm socks and sturdy shoes that can get wet; the catamaran's list asks for waterproof shoes. Cold feet can turn a short wait for a whale to surface into a very long one.

Minimum age

Youngest age allowed, by trip

years

The age below which each listing calls its trip unsuitable.

Who can come

Age and health limits by trip

Trip	Children	Other limits
Bleik speedboat	not under 10 years	under 140 cm, pregnancy, back or heart problems
Andenes catamaran	not under 1 year	pregnancy, mobility impairments, prone to seasickness
Andenes M/S Reine	life vest for children	no pets on board
Coach day from Svolvær	not under 8 years	under 120 cm, wheelchair users
Skjervøy RIB from Tromsø	not under 14 years	under 140 cm, pregnancy, back problems

As each GetYourGuide listing states its own limits; check the listing again before booking.

For families

Three boats, three age limits

Bleik: Whale Watching by Speedboat with Puffins and Muffins

From age 10

Bleik speedboat

RIB with flotation suits

Height: from 140 cm
Duration: 3.5 hrs
After: tea and muffins

See the trip

Andenes: Responsible Whale Watching with Classic Catamaran

Small children

Andenes catamaran

Heated indoor seating

Babies: from 1 year
Duration: 4 hrs
On board: soup and warm drinks

See the trip

Andenes: Whale Watching with Whale Exhibition Entry

Life vests for kids

M/S Reine

With whale exhibition

Duration: 4 hrs
Check-in: 45 min before
Extra: whale exhibition

See the trip

Decision helper

Which boat suits your group?

Find your situation below

An Andenes boat

The Bleik RIB is not suitable for them.

Andenes catamaran, with medication

Its listing advises taking medication before departure.

A larger boat

The Bleik RIB lists both among its exclusions.

Andenes catamaran

It has an indoor heated seating area.

Bleik speedboat

A fast RIB for no more than 12 guests.

How to prepare for whale watching at sea

Seasickness is the thing most likely to spoil your day, so plan for it. The Andenes catamaran's listing strongly advises guests who are prone to it to take preventive medication before departure, and lists motion sickness prevention among the things to bring. Medication works best taken in advance, as the label of whatever you choose will tell you.

A few simple habits help too. Eat a light meal before you go rather than nothing at all, avoid alcohol the night before, sit where you can see the horizon and stay in fresh air if you start to feel queasy. On a big boat that means the outside deck; on a RIB you are already outside.

Be honest about your health when you choose a boat. The operator rules the Bleik RIB out for anyone with a heart condition or back trouble, respiratory issues, vertigo or claustrophobia, during pregnancy or after recent surgery, and it asks that all guests be in reasonable physical shape. If any of that applies, look at the larger boats from Andenes and read their own lists first.

Packing list

What to bring whale watching off Andøya

Wear

Wool or synthetic base layer
Fleece or light down mid layer
Warm hat, gloves and a scarf
Warm socks and waterproof shoes

Carry

Change of clothes for afterwards
Binoculars and a camera on a strap
Seasickness remedy, taken in advance
Sunglasses for the bright summer light

On the Bleik RIB

Flotation suit and life jacket lent
Tea, coffee and muffins after
Not for children under 10

Video

Preventing seasickness on a boat

Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.

Camera, binoculars and phones

Whales give you seconds, not minutes, so be ready. A sperm whale lifts its tail just before a deep dive, and that is the shot everyone wants.³ Set a fast shutter speed in advance, keep the camera on a strap around your neck and switch to burst mode when the guide says the whale is about to dive.

Binoculars are useful for spotting distant blows and for the seabirds around Bleiksøya; the Andenes catamaran lists them among things to bring. A small dry bag or a zip bag keeps a phone safe from spray. On the Bleik trip the guide also takes photos for you to take home, so you can spend part of the time simply watching.

Spare batteries drain quickly in cold wind, so keep them in an inside pocket. If you film, hold still and let the boat's motion settle before you press record: shaky clips of an empty sea are the usual result of starting too early.

Whale watching with children

Age limits decide which trip you can take as a family. The Bleik RIB is not suitable for children under 10 or anyone under 140 cm. The coach day from Svolvær to the Andenes RIB sets its limit at children under 8 and people under 120 cm. The Tromsø to Skjervøy RIB day excludes children under 14.

Bigger boats are more relaxed. The Andenes catamaran lists only babies under 1 year as not suitable, and has a heated indoor seating area. The M/S Reine trip from Andenes provides life vests for children and includes a visit to a whale exhibition.

Whatever the boat, children get cold and bored faster than adults. Pack snacks, a warm drink and something to do during the quiet stretches, and talk through what they might see before you go. A child who knows to look for a slanted blow or a raised tail tends to stay interested much longer.

On the water: what to look for

Knowing the signs makes the hours pass faster. A sperm whale's blow leans forward at about 45 degrees, because its blowhole sits at the front left of the head.² A minke whale usually blows 3 to 5 times in quick succession before a dive of up to about 5 minutes.⁴ Puffins sit in rafts on the water and take off in a flurry when the boat comes near.

Listen to the guide and the skipper. They watch the sea constantly and will point out a blow long before you notice it. On the Bleik trip the guide explains the wildlife you meet along the way.

Respect the animals' space as well. Norwegian rules forbid running a whale safari in a way that disturbs the whales in their natural habitat, so the crew decides how close the boat goes.⁵ A calm, quiet boat usually gets the best views anyway.

After the trip

Plan to be cold and possibly damp when you step ashore. The Bleik listing asks you to bring a change of clothes, and the trip ends with tea and coffee while you change out of the suit. A dry pair of socks and a warm jumper make the drive back far more pleasant.

If the sea was too rough to reach the canyon, ask the crew what they can offer, and think about another date: weather decides how far a small boat can go, and a second try on a calmer day can be a completely different trip. Booking with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead keeps that option open.

Finally, give your camera time to warm up before you open the bag indoors, so condensation does not form on the lens. Then go through the photos with a muffin in hand and decide which tail shot goes home with you.

Pick your date