Water activity

Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

3.9 / 5

229 reviews

Activity provider: Elding Adventure at Sea
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    Water activity

    Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

    Activity provider: Elding Adventure at Sea
    Likely to sell out
    Likely to sell out

    From US$ 87.58 per person

    Encounter whales, dolphins, porpoises and birds on a 3-hour cruise from Reykjavik and see the wildlife in their natural habitat off the capital’s coast. Experience the drama and poetry of whales, seen on more than 95% of summer tours and 80% in winter.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
    Duration 3 hours
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Live tour guide
    English
    Wheelchair accessible

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Encounter whales, dolphins and harbor porpoises off the coast of Reykjavik
    • Travel with the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland
    • Cruise from Faxafloi Bay to look for humpback, orca and minke whales on summer and winter tours
    • Keep up-to-date with the online Whale Diary and monitor sightings and conditions in the area
    • Help protect and preserve the wildlife and scenery of Iceland's magnificent landscape
    Full description

    Climb aboard a whale-watching boat operated by the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland. Get up close to humpback, minke, and orca whales, as well as abundant sea birds, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

    After setting sail, explore the southern part of Faxafloi Bay off Reykjavik’s old harbor and have an excellent chance of encountering mysterious and fascinating whales off the coast of Iceland, where the ocean currents create some of the best whale-watching conditions in the world.

    Enjoy a tour with a high success rate: Whales are seen on more than 95% of summer tours and 80% of winter tours, often surfacing within a few meters of the boat. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed, boats sail at a constant speed toward the whales' habitat, a sustainable policy that also minimizes oil use and pollution. Learn about the wildlife and scenery from guides that have gone through an extensive training program, based on exclusively developed guiding principles. And as a successful whale watching tour is a team effort, the crew works closely with passengers to spot whales, helping you feel an important part of the experience.

    Includes
    • Whale watching tour
    • Guide
    • Use of warm overalls
    • Access to the local partner's whale-watching center
    • WiFi on board
    • Transfers
    • Food and drink (available to purchase on board)
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
    • Masks are optional but are strongly recommended while indoors

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meet at Elding Whale Watching on the Reykjavik old harbor.

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    Important information

    Know before you go

    • Once in the harbor you can look around the Whale Watching Centre and watch videos, or just look at the various skeletons, information boards and gifts for sale
    • By buying a ticket for this tour you are contributing to the summer research projects, environmentally friendly and responsible tourism and non-governmental organizations for the protection of wildlife
    • Please be aware that the pick-up is only arranged from hotels and accommodations in Reykjavik Greater Area.
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    3.9 /5

    based on 229 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.5/5
    • Transportation
      4.1/5
    • Value for money
      3.6/5
    • Safety
      4.3/5

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    Went on the tour mid February. Unfortunately did not have any luck and didn’t see anything but I still really enjoyed de boat trip (even though it was the coldest day of the season). Watching the sunset from the boat, the beautiful scenery, … didn’t feel too dissapointed about the whales :)

    February 12, 2022

    C
    Chloé – Belgium Verified booking

    Helpful?

    There are several election observation providers in Reykjavik. However, we were very satisfied with our choice, as we were able to postpone the appointment several times without any problems due to bad weather (storm). When we were finally able to start, we both had the feeling that the participants actually wanted to be able to see them and that the welfare of the animals was being taken care of. Up close, we saw that other tour operators came dangerously close to the choice. This was not the case with us and we were still able to take great photos. But be careful, the ship sways heavily due to turning maneuvers. If you are seasick, you should take one of the free anti-nausea pills before leaving.

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    October 26, 2021

    T
    Torsten – Germany Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Minimal sightings and those we had I didn't personally spot them.

    Disappointed to have not seen anything myself, but I have no complaints with the company or staff. There were several spots by the guide of one or maybe two minke whales, sadly apart from one very brief glimpse I didn't manage to spot myself. Some you win, some you lose. But the boat trip itself was still a great experience and the staff and guide were excellent and very informative.

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    June 28, 2019

    S
    Stuart – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 34789