Adventures
Join Helge at sea, and you are guaranteed to see whales
Skipper Helge Hellesund (68) fell in love with Andøya and the whales in the sea off its coast. If you join him on his boat, you are almost guaranteed to experience the giants of the sea up close.
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For more than ten years, this cheerful Western Norwegian native with a resounding laugh has taken tourists on whale safaris in the waters off Andøya. He has since expanded his operation to include bird watching and fishing trips, as head of tour operator Wild Ocean. He has spent most of his life at sea. Ever since he finished his navigator training, he has always been at the helm, whether onboard tankers, fjord cruises, fishing boats, or express boats.
In short: whale watching on Andøya
Andenes, at the northern tip of Andøya in Vesterålen, is one of the best places in Norway for whale watching. The edge of the continental shelf is only half an hour out by boat, and sperm whales hunt here all year round. A trip takes around three and a half to four hours and cost from NOK 1,690 in 2026.
Our first choice: Andenes Suite Hotel, in the centre of Andenes and close to the harbour. See rooms at Andenes Suite Hotel
Life changed by chance
The whale adventure on Andøya started by chance in 2008. That's when the company Helge worked for in Vestland County sold a catamaran to Hvalsafari AS in Andenes. The catamaran needed to be transported north, and it was Helge who was assigned to sail the vessel up the Norwegian coast.
"That's how I arrived in Andenes for the first time. To test the vessel, the company took me out on whale safaris and around the coast. It was extremely beautiful. When the job was finished, I went home to Bergen and didn't think much more about it," says Helge.
A close up to the killer whales
Just a few meters from Helges boat, a killer whale is swimming by.
At that point, the captain was not aware that this particular job would come to change his life. The following year, the phone rang one day out of the blue. The company that had bought the vessel was struggling to find a qualified crew for the catamaran. They wondered if Helge might be interested in working a season as their captain.
He was.
"It was a lot of fun and gave me a craving for more. So when the phone rang in 2010 with the same request, it wasn't hard to accept," says the captain.
Besides fantastic scenery and a new, exciting captain's job, the Western Norwegian had another reason to travel to the north.
"I met a woman with whom I now have two young children. It made the choice even easier. So I just moved north and bought a house. It cost the same as a double garage in the south of Norway, so it didn't require too much thought," he says with a chuckle.
Whale guarantee
If you join Helge on a whale safari, you are garantueed to see whale.
Many different whales
Humpback whales, fin whales and long-finned pilot whales are just some of the species that swim around in the sea off Andøya
Close to the boat
For more than ten years Helge has taken tourists on whale safaris in the waters off Andøya
Started a fishing adventure
While Helge was working with taking tourists on whale safaris in the sea around Andenes and Andøya, he founded the company Wild Ocean and started taking visitors out to Bleiksøya to look at the approximately 80,000 puffins that breed on the island each year.
The trips quickly became popular, but on every trip, Helge was asked the same question: Is there anyone who wants to take people on a real fishing trip up here?
"Yes," the captain thought, "I can."
"It quickly became a success. I would have liked to have done even more of it," Helge told Picolo.
At the same time as he runs whale watching, bird watching and fishing trips, Helge still works as an express boat captain in Bergen and commutes south every two weeks for work. The plan was therefore to offer fishing trips exclusively in the summer on a hobby basis during retirement, but it can be challenging.
Eagle in flight
After many request from visitors, Helge started his own ocean safari company, Wild Ocean. Other than whales, you get to see other wildlife.
Fishing tourists from all over Europe
"I see that people are already booking trips for late autumn and winter already now, in the summer. What was originally planned as a small hobby project as a sideline has expanded throughout the year, which is a lot of fun."
"I usually say to guests: We're done fishing when you get bored. They rarely understand what I mean until we have the boat full of fish," says Helge, before bursting into laughter.
Helge provides all the fishing equipment, and visitors keep as much fish as they can take home. The fishermen come from all over Europe, young and old, with the majority being Norwegians and Swedes. The experienced captain has noted a special trend.
"There are many people who have taken a trip themselves who had so much fun that they want to give away a fishing trip as a gift to mom or dad. That's really great. Some guests have even given their father a fishing trip as a Christmas gift after having been on a trip themselves. I was worried that the weather would be bad when they arrived, but it was amazing. They ended up with 12-15 kilograms of skrei (Arctic cod). They were in heaven and have promised to come again," says Helge eagerly.
Perfect Northern light
According to Helge Andøya and Andenes is one of the best and most beautiful places to observere the northern lights in Norway.
Swimming with killer whales
In addition to fishing trips with a guaranteed catch, it is not surprising that whale watching is one of the most popular activities in the area. Humpback whales, fin whales and long-finned pilot whales are just some of the species that swim around in the sea off Andøya.
According to Helge, you are almost guaranteed to see whales on a trip. In fact, the company Helge is a skipper for, Hvalsafari AS, actually gives you your money back if you do not see whales on the trip.
"If you are on a whale safari, I would say that you have a 98 to 99 percent chance of seeing whales. In other words, it's a pretty safe bet. On nature safaris with RIBs, it's only a bonus if you catch whales," says Helge.
On whale watching, there are also great opportunities to experience killer whales up close. In recent years, a trend has emerged where tourists choose to jump into the cold water with the animals. It's a trend Helge isn't a big fan of.
"It is said that killer whales are so intelligent that they don't make any mistakes, but one must not forget that they are wild predators. Swimming with them is not recommended, and something I don't like because you can see that the animals don't like it. My advice would be to not take any chances and simply enjoy the sight of these amazing animals in their natural habitat."
Killer whales in Norway
According to numbers from 2020, there are around 15.000 killer whales in the Norwegian waters.
Atlantic puffins
At Bleiksøya you will find around 80.000 Atlantic puffins.
Bird life in Andøya
Andøya is the home to many different bird species.
I've experienced wild moose eating apples out of my hand.
Fell in love with Andøya
The captain fell in love with Andøya at first sight.
A normal day at work
In other words, fantastic nature experiences on Andøya are hard to miss.
Besides love, what is so alluring about Andøya?
"Nature itself!"
"And, of course, the rich fishing here. As an avid hobby photographer, it's an absolutely fantastic place to be: summer and winter. Lots of nice walks and mountain hikes. I've experienced wild moose eating apples out of my hand. I don't think you'll find that in many other places."
"If you ask me, Andenes is one of the finest places in Norway to experience the northern lights. It's absolutely fantastic in our clear skies," insists Helge.
Beautiful Andøya
It´s easy to understand why Helge loves the nature in Andøya.
With seawater in his blood and over 40 years of experience from the sea, it is therefore perhaps not surprising what the captain responds when we ask what his best tips for experiencing Andenes and Andøya are:
"It must be to get out onto the sea: preferably on both whale watching and fishing trips. I would start with a RIB trip to Bleiksøya in the morning to look at the bird life. Then a whale safari around 12.00, before finishing with a fishing trip in the evening: preferably under the midnight sun. That is a perfect day," concludes the cheerful captain.
How to go whale watching from Andenes
The largest operators in Andenes are Whale2Sea & Hvalsafari Andenes, which runs the traditional boat M/S Reine, and Arctic Whale Tours. Both offer a free new trip if you do not see whales.
Trips depend on the weather and can be cancelled in strong wind, high waves or thick fog. Allow a couple of days on Andøya so you have a spare day.
Where to stay on Andøya
The hotels are in Andenes, a short walk from the harbour where the whale safaris leave.
Andenes Suite Hotel: in the centre
A small hotel with spacious suites in the middle of Andenes, close to the harbour. A good choice for families or if you are staying several nights. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Book your stay: See rooms at Andenes Suite Hotel
Thon Hotel Andrikken: a classic hotel in the centre
The hotel is in the centre of Andenes, a short walk from the boats and the whale centre. A reliable choice with a restaurant and breakfast, rated 8.8 out of 10 by guests.
Book your stay: See rooms at Thon Hotel Andrikken
Grønnbuene: fishermen’s cabins by the sea
Traditional rorbu cabins by the sea on Andøya, for anyone who wants to stay close to the water. It scores 8.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Book your stay: See rooms at Grønnbuene
Enjoy your trip to Andøya
Adrian Møller Haugan
Hotels
Where to stay on Andøya
Thon Hotel Andrikken is in Andenes, close to the whale safaris and Andøya Space.
Frequently asked questions about whale safaris and wild nature on Andøya
Who is Helge of Wild Ocean?
Helge is from western Norway and has taken tourists on whale safaris off Andøya for more than ten years. Today he runs the tour operator Wild Ocean, which also offers birdwatching and fishing trips. He has spent most of his life at sea.
How did Helge end up on Andøya?
In 2008 he was asked to sail a catamaran from western Norway to Hvalsafari AS in Andenes. The following year he was invited to captain the boat for a season, and when the offer came again in 2010 he moved north for good.
What can you do with Wild Ocean on Andøya?
Wild Ocean offers whale safaris, birdwatching and fishing trips in the waters off Andøya. The trips are led by an experienced captain who knows the sea and coast well. Sperm whales can be seen all year, and the trips leave from Andenes. Dress warmly and bring seasickness tablets.