Best of · WHALE WATCHING AND WILDLIFE CRUISES IN ICELAND
Good whale watching and wildlife cruises in Iceland sell out weeks ahead in season and the great ones go first. Below: the 13 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
From central Húsavík, you’ll board a modern RIB with up to 12 passengers, visit Puffin Island in season, and search Skjálfandi Bay for humpbacks, blue whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Guides such as Matteo, Carla, Jo, and Beatriz provide live commentary, while warm overalls help against Iceland’s cold, wet weather.
“It was fantastic, one of the best experiences of my life !”
Join Husavik Adventures for a lively two-hour RIB trip across Skjálfandi Bay. You may see humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal puffins at Lundey Island. Guides such as Austin, Iñaki, Ignacio, and Sofie explain the wildlife while the small boat covers ground quickly. Bring warm layers, a hat, and gloves.
“My daughter (14YR) and I loved the whale watching trip…we saw puffins, humpbacks, and a minke. The guide was awesome and she taught us a lot in an entertaining way. Highly recommend..”
Pair a one-hour puffin cruise on the shallow-draft Old Skúli with a whale trip aboard the spacious Andrea or a faster express boat. Guides such as Patrick, Alex, Oscar, and Celine have brought the wildlife to life with clear facts and humor. Expect overalls, binoculars for the puffin trip, and a free return whale ticket if no whales appear.
“Essentially two separate tours as you come back to the harbour for a quick half hour change over. We did the Puffin tour first and it was fantastic, the guide had really good knowledge of the birds, the boat got nice and close to the colony and they were in good form flying around us and making a lot of noise. We then did the whale tour and whilst the whales were sadly being shy, we still got a few glimpses. The tour provider gave us a free return because the whales were not showing themselves as much as normal. Top set of tours, highly recommend.”
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.”
Join North Sailing in Húsavík for a 3 to 3.5-hour cruise across Skjálfandi Bay aboard a traditional oak boat. A guide explains whales and seabirds as you search for humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and puffins near Puffin Island. Warm overalls, hot chocolate, and a cinnamon bun help take the edge off Iceland’s cold sea air.
“Husavik Whale Watching Cruise was an amazing experience. On board the Dagfari we were wonderfully guided by Jess and Chris. Due to Chris' years of experience as a Whale watcher and Jess' background as a marine biologist, a Whale was spotted during the trip that approached the Dagfari very closely. This was a magical experience.”
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.”
From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, you’ll ride a small RIB with up to 12 people toward puffin islands and whale-feeding waters. A trained guide, sometimes a marine biologist such as Maya or Max, explains the wildlife while the captain covers distance quickly. Warm waterproof gear, gloves, and goggles are provided, and crew photos are shared afterward.
“We were so blessed to be able to see so many whales on this short tour! The weather was beautiful and the tour guide Alex was very informative and engaging!”
From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, combine a whale-watching cruise with a short trip around Akurey puffin island. Guides such as Jo, Lucas, Blanca, and Patrick have helped guests spot humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and seabirds. Expect warm overalls, Wi-Fi, onboard commentary, and wildlife that may stay at a distance.
“A wonderful experience ! We saw so many whales. Some of them very close. Absolutely fantastic !!! Very friendly and helpful guide and crew. Highly recommended !!!”
Set out from North Sailing in Húsavík for about 3.5 hours on Skjálfandi Bay. A marine biologist guide helps you watch for humpback, minke, and sometimes blue whales, dolphins, puffins, and seabirds. Warm overalls, hot chocolate, and cinnamon buns are included, but puffins may remain far offshore.
“Très bonne prise en charge par l’équipe de North Sailing. Malgré la mauvaise météo, les combinaisons font l’affaire et nous n’avons pas eu froid. Les baleines étaient au rendez-vous !”
From Húsavík, sail toward Puffin Island, home to about 100,000 puffins during breeding season, then continue into Skjálfandi Bay for whales, dolphins, and seabirds. The 3.5-hour trip includes warm overalls, light refreshments, and an English-speaking or multilingual guide. Puffin trips run from late April until August 15.
“We did not get close enough to "Bird Island" to see the puffins in any great detail. And while we did see a humpback whale close to the boat, there was only the one whale and it seemed as though we and several other boats were actively pursuing it, rather than letting the whale come to us, as do the other whale tours we have been on in other countries. After a point, my husband and I felt almost as if the whale was being harassed.”
Join Elding in Reykjavik for two separate boat trips: a one-hour puffin cruise near Lundey, followed by a three-hour whale watch in Faxaflói Bay. You get warm protective clothing, binoculars, indoor seating, live English commentary, and a free return trip if no cetaceans appear. Leave time between boats for lunch at the Old Harbour.
“Great experience the team for both the puffin and whale experience were sensitive to the animals needs. At the end of the tour they sent us the photos they took. I would book with them again”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour to look for humpback and minke whales, then take a smaller boat around nearby puffin islands. English-speaking guides explain animal behavior, with binoculars on the puffin trip, WiFi, and seasickness tablets available. Choose the 09:00 or 13:00 whale departure.
“Saw so many whales and puffins! I loved both tours. The guides were enthusiastic. Highly recommended to do the combo tour if you wanna see the puffins up closer after the whale tour”
Join a 12-person RIB boat from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour for a two-hour evening search through Faxaflói Bay. Your English-speaking captain and wildlife guide, such as Maria or Miquel on recent outings, take you past puffin islands and into open water for whales, dolphins, and coastal views.
“Amazing!! We were fortunate to see hundreds of puffins as well a humpback whale on 2 separate occasions as well as several dolphins! It does get cold out there so I was glad to have hat/gloves/layers so I could focus on enjoying the experience and not on how cold I was!”
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