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Húsavík: Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
1839 reviews
Activity provider:
Gentle Giants Whale Watching
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Certified by GetYourGuide
Húsavík: Traditional Whale Watching by Local Family Company
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
1839 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

5 out of 5 stars
G
Gary – United Kingdom

Fantastic boat - Sylvia Fantastic guide - Fabio Fantastic weather and sea state Best of all we saw whales - wonderful day!

5 out of 5 stars
I
Indigo – Sweden

Fantastic experience for the whole family to see humpback whales in their element. Nice to see how the whales are treated with respect.

Select participants and date

Itinerary

  • Starting location:

    Gentle Giants – Húsavík Whale Watching

  • Husavik

    Safety briefing

  • 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).

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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
Likely to sell out

From $93 per person

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5
4.5 out of 5 stars

based on 1839 reviews

Review summary

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

Customer photos

+71
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5 out of 5 stars
G
Gary – United KingdomJuly 9, 2025 – Verified booking
Fantastic boat - Sylvia Fantastic guide - Fabio Fantastic weather and sea state Best of all we saw whales - wonderful day!

Response from provider

July 18, 2025

We are pleased that you thought both the boat and your guide, Fabio were fantastic! It sounds like you had a great tour, with many whales! Thank you for your review. Regards, Fiona

5 out of 5 stars
I
Indigo – SwedenJune 28, 2025 – Verified booking
Fantastic experience for the whole family to see humpback whales in their element. Nice to see how the whales are treated with respect.

Response from provider

July 1, 2025

Thank you for reviewing your fantastic experience whale watching with Gentle Giants in Húsavík! We are pleased that you noticed the respect we give to these beautiful mammals. Thank you for joining us. Regards, Fiona

5 out of 5 stars
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

Product ID: 87599

Activity provider:
Gentle Giants Whale Watching

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