Whale watching in Norway - 5 reasons to come to Stø, Vesterålen

Five reasons why Stø is the place to come to see whales in the summer!

1.    Diversity of wildlife – whale, birds, seals

While the main whale species we see in the summer is the sperm whale, the waters of Vesterålen are home to eight other cetacean (whale) species. While encounters are sporadic and cannot really be predicted, we often see orcas, humpback whales, pilot whales, minke whales, harbour porpoises, fin whales, white-beaked dolphins and white-sided dolphins. Summers 2019, 2020 and 2021 treated us with countless orca encounters! We hope the trend continues in 2022!

We also include birdwatching in our full day whale safari. We stop off Anda island, which is home to thousands and thousands of puffins every summer. There is a plethora of bird species to see during the day, including white-tailed eagles, razorbills, fulmars, gannets, guillemots, and sometimes even sooty shearwaters, visitors from the southern hemisphere. Quite often we also see harbour seals resting on the rocks on Anda.

2.    Responsible whale watching with whale guarantee

We pride ourselves in responsible whale watching, always putting the whales first and giving them the space and respect they deserve and require. Close encounters happen when the animals do not feel threatened. In case it happens that we don’t see any cetacean (whale) species at all, you get another whale safari free of charge.

3.    A working, living fishing village

Stø is one of the last remaining traditional, small fishing villages in Norway that still supports a strong and lively fishing community. Stø is literally at the end of a road.There’s no way through, no crowds, no traffic jams. You might see a glimpse of a shy otter crossing the road late at night, and fall asleep to the chatter of kittiwakes. Greenland halibut is still fished with traditional longline methods, with baiting done manually. During the Greenland halibut seasons in June and August, we often go to the fishing boats where guests can see both the traditional fishing, and sperm whales as some individuals have learnt to take fish straight off of the longlines. This is a great opportunity to see how the human and natural world meet out at sea!

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4.    Small business, big heart

We are a privately owned, small business with a huge passion for what we do. We only have one trip per day; guests are not just numbers for us. We want to get to know you and share an unforgettable day out at sea with you. Every trip is just as special for us, and every trip is different, which only adds to the excitement!

We collaborate with organisations such as the Norwegian Orca Survey, collect data for them and share information.

5.    Great hiking, and street art

Claimed as one of the most beautiful hiking routes in Norway by the Queen Sonja herself, Dronningruta (Queen’s Route) starts and finishes in Stø. This 15km hike offers magnificent views over the ocean and mountains. You can also walk from Nyksund to Stø, or vice versa, and get a boat shuttle back. As you start or end your hike in Stø, you can have a look at some whale murals scattered around Stø, including our office building. The identity of the artist has remained a bit of a mystery, but the art works bring an interesting splash of colour and liven up the walls of old buildings.

We warmly welcome you to experience this unique place with us, and the whales!