11 Unmissable Akureyri Whale Watching Tours

1.3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,000 reviews · 3 hours · from $108Our pick

Sail from Akureyri with an English-speaking naturalist guide aboard a fast, specially modified whale-watching ship. Look for humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, and minke whales in Eyjafjörður, using thermal overalls when needed. The heated cabin, viewing windows, Wi-Fi, onboard café, and crew photographs make this a practical choice in Iceland’s changeable weather.

“It was an amazing experience. I got some good footage. Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable. We got to see quite a few whales. Can’t wait to see the footage they send out after the tour.”

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2.Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 971 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $104

Sail from downtown Akureyri into Eyjafjord on a spacious Elding whale-watching ship. Your guide explains the fjord and its humpback whales while the captain searches likely feeding areas. Use indoor or outdoor viewing spaces, warm overalls, blankets, Wi-Fi, and onboard drinks. Sightings are not guaranteed, but a free return trip is offered if no whales appear.

“The staff and crew were great! We saw lots of humpbacks and we were even given access to their photos as well. My only concern was that it was crowded”

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3.Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $203Top rated

From Húsavík, you’ll search Skjálfandi Bay aboard a fast RIB boat limited to 12 people. Expect humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal puffins near Lundey. Guides such as Alessandra, Danny, Austin, and Austen have been praised for their wildlife knowledge. The two-hour ride can be cold, wet, and bumpy.

“Overall fun experience even though we took the 9am tour which was the first tour of the day hoping to see Whales, but only saw a few fins, not that exciting. Very cold, wet and rough waters getting out there so expect to get wet! They provide great gear for all. Austin our guide was great, very informative. I will say the negative was that it was also suppose to be whales & puffins, but the puffins aspect of the tour was never addressed, so not sure if what happened with that (?) overall no regrets.”

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4.2-Hour Whale Watching Express by RIB Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 489 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Join Whale Watching Akureyri for a fast, close-range search for whales in Eyjafjord. Your English-speaking guide and captain take up to 12 people across the fjord in a small RIB, with warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety gear provided. Expect mountain views, possible humpback and minke sightings, and an exciting, sometimes wet ride.

“The whole experience was awesome. it was fairly cold and rainy, but the suits provided were great and kept us warm. there were 2 whales in the area about a 20 minute ride from the port. They were very active and we got so see plenty of action. Our guide Gisella was amazing. in between sitings she would give us info about the whales and the area we were observing. definitely a added value on the trip. Excellent experience. a "must do" while you're in Akureyri!”

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5.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 417 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180

From Húsavík, you’ll spend about two hours on a small RIB speedboat searching Skjálfandi Bay for whales and porpoises. During puffin season, the trip also visits Puffin Island. Guides such as Nicoletta, Clara, Mario, Victoria, and Milo have led past departures. Warm safety overalls are supplied, but bring extra layers.

“Wonderful experience. The staff were very nice helping us dress for the trip. We were lucky to see a Humpback whale. The crew tried hard to make sure we all able to witness the whales appearance. We felt safe and had fun with this RIB boat tour. Highly recommended.”

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6.Traditional Whale Watching from Húsavík by Local Family Company

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 389 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $102

Join Gentle Giants in Húsavík for a three-hour whale watch aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat. Your guide watches Skjálfandi Bay for humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and puffins, while sharing live commentary. Warm safety overalls and rain gear are supplied. The boat holds up to 70 people, so expect a social, sometimes crowded ride.

“We saw a lot of dolphins and 2 humpbacks!! Very good tour and nice crew. I would recommend it to everybody!”

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7.Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 366 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $118

Sail from Húsavík with North Sailing for about three hours aboard a traditional Icelandic oak ship. Your guide explains whale behavior, breeding, and identification as you search Skjálfandi Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, puffins, and sea birds. Warm overalls, light refreshments, and live commentary are included.

“Honest review: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We went on July 6 2025 at 9am. I went whale watching in Canada and Australia but this tour was far beyond better than anywhere else. The on board marine scientist was so sweet and knowleadgable. The captain was really good at managing the boat and we were always at the right spot a the good Time to see whales compared to other boats. We saw at least 10 whales and Even dolphins! I would recommend this tour early in the morning and in the summer months! We also saw many puffins on the water so I wouldn’t recommend the tour whale + puffin since we…”

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8.100% Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 273 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90Best value

From Hauganes, sail into Eyjafjordur aboard a traditional fishing boat for about two and a half hours. Your captain and guide point out humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds. Warm waterproof suits, hot drinks, cookies, and live commentary are included. Several departure times make this easy to fit into an Iceland itinerary.

“Nous ne pensions pas voir autant de baleines si facilement C’était super ! Les voir manger et replonger puis revenir, un moment magique”

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9.Whale Watching Shore Excursions

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 250 reviews · from $100

Set out from Akureyri on a 2.5-hour catamaran cruise through Eyjafjörður. Guides such as Massimiliano and Dominique explain whale behavior and local marine life while you watch for humpbacks, minkes, porpoises, dolphins, and seabirds. Warm overalls, heated seating, Wi-Fi, toilets, and an onboard café make this a comfortable choice in Iceland’s changeable weather.

“Our tour was amazing!! They have coveralls you can wear if it’s too cold. We saw 2 different types of whales and some porpoises. The boat was huge. I’m not sure if we just got lucky, but there were only about 15 people total on this huge boat for our tour, so it was extra special. Our guide (massimiliano) was amazing. They took amazing photos of the whales throughout the tour and sent them to us at the end. Could not recommend this tour more. Was definitely one of our favorite excursions during our trip.”

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10.Whale Watching in the Midnight Sun

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 75 reviews · 3 hours · from $101

Sail from Akureyri into Eyjafjörður on a fast, comfortable whale-watching boat during Iceland’s bright summer night. Your English-speaking naturalist guide explains the whales and fjord, while outdoor decks, heated seating, thermal overalls, Wi-Fi, and a café make the three-hour search easier. Humpback sightings are possible, never guaranteed.

“Cool experience to see the whales. Guide was informative. Really long ride to spot where the whales were, they were much further out than anticipated. The sound system on the boat worked well inside but difficult to hear when boat was moving at higher speeds outside. It was a very late night.”

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11.Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 19 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $141

Meet Saga Travel at Akureyri cruise port, ride 30 minutes to Hauganes, then cruise Eyjafjörður for about 2.5 hours. Expect humpback and minke whales, porpoises, dolphins, and grand Arctic views. The tour includes a return transfer, WiFi, coffee, hot chocolate, and Icelandic cinnamon buns.

“zu viele Leute an Bord, zu wenig Platz zum Beobachten und Fotografieren, sonst ok”

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