Best of · ZODIAC AND RIB WHALE WATCHING IN ICELAND
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 zodiac and rib whale watching in Iceland worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
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..”
From Reykjavik’s Old Harbor, you board a 12-seat RIB with a captain and English-speaking guide such as Claudia, Julian, or Bianca. The fast boat crosses Faxaflói Bay, passes Engey and Puffin Island, and searches for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds. Warm suits, gloves, and goggles are supplied.
“Very good Whale-Watching tour. Did see Dolphins, Puffins and various Humpback Whales up close. Would definitiely recommend. We were only 4/12 people on the tour but they still went out and didn't cancel. Cudos to that for sure!”
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 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!”
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.”
You’ll spend two hours searching Faxaflói Bay from a fast RIB boat with shock-absorbing seats, warm flotation gear, and an English-speaking guide. The route can include minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and summer puffins near Akurey. Guides such as Rebekka, Rebecca, Patrick, Joel, and Daniel have made this trip especially engaging.
“The experience was amazing!We knew that the chances to see a whale are small, but we also knew that we going to enjoy the speed boat itself and we will going to see some wildlife. After about an hour we spotted some whales and that was something mind blowing. We saw them swimming along our boat, tale slapping, flipper slapping and blowing. Our amazing guide Eva convinced captain Jens to stay little bit longer and we were able to see the whale breaching!Captain Jens kindness and Eva's energy and knowledge about the whales made this trip so enjoyable. Thank you so much.”
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!”
Join Whale Safari at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a two-hour RIB trip capped at 12 people. Your marine biologist guide takes you past puffin islands, across Faxaflói Bay in search of humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises, then back along the waterfront past Sun Voyager and Harpa. Warm coveralls and safety gear are provided.
“Despite the weather was not the best, the experience itself left me wordless, we saw minke whale and humpback whales, the guide was very professional, explained a lot about them. She knew not only about whales but also how to handle people with a sea sick on the board.”
Join Katla Whale Watching for a two-hour RIB trip from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. A guide such as Rebekah, Anika, Joel, or Joe explains the wildlife while the captain chases sightings across Faxaflói Bay. Warm waterproof gear, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket are provided, but dress warmly and expect a brisk, bouncy ride.
“Excellent experience- well saw three types of whales very close to the boat, excellent captain and guide, saw puffins and enjoyed every minute. Fun boat ride too!”
Meet Elding at Akureyri’s central pier for a two-hour RIB boat trip into Eyjafjörður. With room for only 12 people, the boat gives you clear views of humpback and minke whales, dolphins, seabirds, and the fjord. Guides such as Jacob, David, Agnes, and Lindsey have been praised for their wildlife knowledge and friendly care. Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and a whale guarantee are included.
“I’m sure this would have been a 5 star tour on a better weather day, but we still had a great time. It was around 40 degrees and windy on the day of our tour. We came dressed warm but then they gave us a full suit and gear for the trip. The water was extremely choppy which made for a painful ride out to where we started to see some whales. Our teenage girls thought that part was fun and were laughing so your mileage may vary. Once we started seeing whales then it became more tolerable and we had a great time. Our tour guide and driver did…”
From Hafnarbraut 22 in Dalvík, you board a RIB speedboat with up to 12 people and head into Eyjafjörður for two hours of whale and dolphin watching. Expect suspension seats, warm flotation coveralls, an English-speaking guide, and possible sightings of humpbacks, minke whales, porpoises, seals, and summer puffins.
“Kurze Wartezeiten, nur 15 vorher. Wir waren nur 6 Teilnehmende und konnten uns auf dem Boot bewegen. Haben mehrere Buckelwale gesehen. Die beiden Bootsführer konnten all unsere Fragen zu den Walen und zur Landschaft beantworten.”
Set out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor on a 12-seat RIB with suspension seats, warm waterproof overalls, gloves, goggles, and a scarf. Your English- or Icelandic-speaking guide searches Faxaflói Bay for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, seals, and puffins, while sharing facts about the wildlife and city. The ride can be thrilling and bumpy.
“We had a great time during this trip, the guides were very friendly and helpful finding whales and dolphins but also respectful with them. We had the great luck to spot a huge pod of pilote whales (grind whales) which was a unique experience, we also saw some harbour porpoises and dolphins. Even if we wouldn't have seen any whales, the rib boat ride would have been a highlight on its own! Especially the high speed phases and the heavy curves at the end of the tour were very entertaining! I would definitely recommend this tour with the Katla team and would do this again the next time I visit…”
Race across Faxaflói Bay in a 12-meter RIB with suspension seats, warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and an English-speaking guide. Search for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises, then stop at Akurey puffin island in summer. The trip suits active adults who enjoy speed, spray, and a little bounce.
“This was such a great experience for me and my partner! The lead guide Jonathan was super knowledgeable about the animals that we saw on the way, including the puffins "running" across the water and the other sea birds! We managed to see three humpbacks during our tour out and it was AMAZING! We were literally meters away from a humpback and her calf, spraying water and displaying the flukes! The boat experience was one of a kind, such a smooth ride considering! The shock resistant seats really made all the difference. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for something fun to do outside in Iceland in their free…”
Join a captain and English-speaking wildlife guide at Reykjavik Old Harbour for a fast, two-hour RIB tour. The small boat reaches whale and dolphin areas quickly, with puffin stops from May through August. Warm overalls and suspension seats help, but the ride is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 10, or anyone with back problems.
“Everything was very very good! Perfect tour and we saw a lot”
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