Certified by GetYourGuide

Húsavík: Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company

4.536943 out of 5 stars
4.5
4.536943 out of 5 stars
1773 reviews
Activity provider:Gentle Giants Whale Watching
Certified by GetYourGuide
Húsavík: Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company
4.536943 out of 5 stars
4.5
4.536943 out of 5 stars
1773 reviews
Likely to sell out

Look for whales in their natural environment on a whale-watching tour from Húsavík. Climb aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat for a guided adventure in search of the giants of the ocean.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

P
Patrick Dave – Canada

Superb... It was nice to be in a vintage whaling boat. Pretty sure Nicolina (our guide said she was from Greece) was our guide, not only very knowledgeable but very friendly too. She made sure everyone was comfortable, safe and informed in a very pleasant way. We saw 4 Humpback whales on the tour and a glimpse of a Minke whale as we returned to harbour. The second guide was also excellent, but I did not catch her name... she was able to fill us in on the names tagged by researchers to our whales and little bit about their history. We have already recommended Gentle Giants to other tourists we have met since our 1:15 tour on May 21st.

D
Diane – United Kingdom

This was my second trip with Gentle Giants in one day, the morning was on the speedboat and the afternoon on the traditional boat. I loved both of them and I saw humpbacks both times. It is so amazing to see these creatures in their natural environment. I have booked another boat trip with Gentle Giants and would recommend the company as helpful, caring, great staff and who make the experience the best you can have. Fingers crossed for more whale sightings!

Select participants and date

Itinerary

  • Timeline stop icon

    Starting location:

    Gentle Giants – Húsavík Whale Watching

  • Husavik

    Safety briefing

  • Timeline stop icon

    Skjálfandi

    Guided tour, Boat cruise, Sightseeing, Dolphin watching, Marine life viewing, Scenic views on the way, Whale watching, Wildlife viewing (3 hours)

  • Arrive back at:

    Gentle Giants – Húsavík Whale Watching

Main sites passed
Other sites passed

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

Highlights

  • Step aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat in Húsavík
  • Cruise around Skjálfandi Bay searching for whales on a 3-hour tour
  • Learn about Iceland's nature and wildlife from the experienced guides
  • Stay warm in safety overalls provided by the crew
  • Choose a truly locally owned family company in Húsavík

Full description

Climb aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat and experience a traditional whale watching tour from Europe's whale watching capital at Húsavík. Keep warm and dry with the use of high-quality safety overalls and rain jackets.
Sail out into the bay and prepare to be captivated by the work of Mother Nature. Your specialized guide will give a safety demonstration on board the boat and then feed you live commentary on all the sights you will encounter. Skjálfandi Bay is known for its rich wildlife, including numerous types, shapes and sizes of whale.

Keep a look out for the acrobatic humpback whales and giant blue whales. This is wild nature and therefore unpredictable, but your chances of seeing whales in their natural environment is very high. Sail back to Húsavík harbour and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Includes

  • Whale watching cruise
  • Specialized guide
  • Live commentary on board the boat
  • Warm safety overalls, and rain jackets if needed
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting point

Meet at the Gentle Giants ticket center in central Húsavík (look for the big blue flags).

Open in Google Maps

Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Warm clothing
  • Outdoor clothing

Know before you go

  • Please bring warm and waterproof clothing
  • The tour is subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to bad weather, you will be given the option of another date or full refund
  • If no whales (dolphins included) are seen on the tour, you will be offered a voucher for a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, however, no refund is given
  • The tour is wheelchair accessible. Please contact the tour operator prior to arrival

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 1773 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.7/5
  • Transportation
    4.6/5
  • Value for money
    4.3/5

Customer photos

+48
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P
Patrick Dave – CanadaMay 23, 2025 – Verified booking
Superb... It was nice to be in a vintage whaling boat. Pretty sure Nicolina (our guide said she was from Greece) was our guide, not only very knowledgeable but very friendly too. She made sure everyone was comfortable, safe and informed in a very pleasant way. We saw 4 Humpback whales on the tour and a glimpse of a Minke whale as we returned to harbour. The second guide was also excellent, but I did not catch her name... she was able to fill us in on the names tagged by researchers to our whales and little bit about their history. We have already recommended Gentle Giants to other tourists we have met since our 1:15 tour on May 21st.

Response from provider

May 27, 2025

Thank you for taking time to write review for us, Patrick. Your guide, Dimitra, was in fact from Greece! We will pass on your positive feedback to her. We are so pleased that you managed to see two species of whale on your whale watching tour in Húsavík! Thank you for recommending us to other tourists, too! Regards, Fiona

D
Diane – United KingdomMay 13, 2025 – Verified booking
This was my second trip with Gentle Giants in one day, the morning was on the speedboat and the afternoon on the traditional boat. I loved both of them and I saw humpbacks both times. It is so amazing to see these creatures in their natural environment. I have booked another boat trip with Gentle Giants and would recommend the company as helpful, caring, great staff and who make the experience the best you can have. Fingers crossed for more whale sightings!

Response from provider

May 14, 2025

Hello, thank you so much for the great rating and for taking the time to review us! I am happy to read you got the chance to try both type of tours we offer, and even better: that you loved them both! Thank you also for recommending our company and for your kind words towards our staff, they are much appreciated! Best wishes, Sarah

G
Giorgos – GreeceApril 21, 2025 – Verified booking
The best. I have no words to describe this. Just do it.

Response from provider

April 21, 2025

Dear Giorgos, thank you so much for this wonderful review! "The best" says it all! Thanks for choosing Gentle Giants. Best regards, Daniel

Product ID: 87599

Activity provider:Gentle Giants Whale Watching

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