This year’s Easter Egg Hunt in Viðey was a fantastic success! Guests of all ages - especially the little ones - were overjoyed with the experience, and the atmosphere was full of laughter, smiles, and springtime cheer. Thank you all for a truly lovely day!
We’re pleased to share that there will be no fin whale hunting in Iceland this year, as it is not considered economically viable. While this is a welcome development, it reflects financial challenges rather than a shift in mindset. We will continue to advocate for the protection of Iceland’s marine life, which we believe holds far greater value when left undisturbed.
Elding wishes to reassure its guests that our tours remain unaffected by the recent volcanic activities on Reykjanes peninsula. As of now, the eruption does not pose a threat to flight traffic, infrastructure or the nearby areas in which our operations are conducted.
Red and orange weather warnings are in effect, with no travel conditions: February 5-6, 2025 - from Wednesday until Thursday evening. All our whale watching tours from Reykjavík have been cancelled for safety reasons.
The year 2024 was nothing short of incredible for whale watching enthusiasts visiting Reykjavík. With an overall 91% success rate, our tours continued to deliver unforgettable encounters with the majestic marine life of Faxaflói Bay. Even better, our success was remarkably consistent across the seasons, with 94% in winter and 90% in summer!
Over the past couple of days, our tours from Reykjavík have brought a mix of emotions as we witnessed an entangled humpback whale in the bay. We notified local authorities and returned the following day to see the Coastguard already on the case. Less than 24 hrs. since our first encounter with the whale, it was reported that it had been freed from the ropes!
Viðey island will reopen this weekend (9-10 Nov 2024) as construction work aimed at enhancing the island's accessibility is now complete. Departures from Skarfabakki pier will be at 13:15, 14:15 og 15:15 as usual. Viðey House Café will be open for business.
September 2024: Viðey Island is currently closed for construction as the gangway is being upgraded to enhance visitor access. Service will resume upon completion and visitors are advised to check the booking calendar for updates on the reopening.
Due to Reykjavík's annual event, Culture Night, taking place on Saturday 24th August 2024, road closures and driving restrictions will be implemented in the city centre. As a result of these closures and the increased activity in the city, we anticipate some service delays and pickup disruptions. Please plan ahead and arrive in good time before departure.
We are devastated by the decision of the Icelandic government to extend the whaling license for an additional year, allowing Hvalur hf. to hunt 128 fin whales for another season. The global community is increasingly aware of and opposed to the hunting of whales, and it is our sincere hope that Iceland will soon join the growing number of nations that have permanently ceased whaling.
Update 3 June 2024: The issue has been fixed!
2 June 2024: We are experiencing issues with our booking system. Payments are being processed, but no booking confirmation emails are being sent. If you have made a booking and have not received a confirmation, please contact us at elding@elding.is for further assistance.
The Whale Watching Association of Iceland held a vital meeting focusing on responsible whale watching practices in Reykjavík. Key topics included sailing guidelines, upcoming research, and ecosystem changes. We're thankful for all attendees' dedication to preserving these incredible creatures, emphasising the importance of collective efforts in their protection.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! We would like to take the opportunity to thank our partners and guests for a great whale watching year that is soon behind us! Wishing you all the best this holiday season and hope you have a prosperous and joyful New Year!
We're expecting rough weather for the next several days (12th-18th December 2023). Please make sure to take necessary precautions, stay informed about weather updates, and prioritise safety during your activities. Keep in mind that our tours may get cancelled due to unfavourable conditions and check our website regularly for updates.
The Elding team would like to reassure its guests that travel to Iceland remains open and safe for visitors, despite seismic activity described in news reports, which are highly localised to the town of Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The rest of Iceland remains unaffected.
October is known worldwide as 'breast cancer awareness month', and on Friday the 20th it was 'pink ribbon day' here in Iceland. In support of women everywhere and especially those on our team that have been affected by cancer personally, we wore pink at the office and offered our colleagues some baked goods!
The Imagine Peace Tower Ceremony on Viðey island, scheduled for 9th October 2023 at 20:00, has been cancelled due to weather! Unfortunately, the wind direction is very unfavourable for sailing across the strait tonight..
Elding expresses its profound disappointment upon learning the decision announced yesterday by the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, to allow Hvalur hf. to continue whaling in 2023! Our deepest concerns lie with the hundreds of whales that may now be subjected to this practice, as it stands in stark contrast to the principles of environmental stewardship and conservation that we hold so dearly.
Due to unforeseeable circumstances, the service at Viðeyjarstofa café may be disrupted from August until September 2023. This may result in irregular opening hours that cannot be advertised in advance. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Road closures are expected on Friday and Saturday 18-19 August from 06:00-15:00 due to the Reykjavík Marathon / Culture Night in the city centre. This will inevitably affect several of our pickup locations and all guests affected by this will be notified. Apologies for any inconvenience!
Road closures are expected on Saturday 12 August from 09:00-18:00 due to the Pride Parade in the city centre. This will inevitably affect several of our pickup locations and all guests affected by this will been notified. Apologies for any inconvenience!
Elding has a long standing commitment to inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community, while placing a strong emphasis on creating a safe and welcoming environment on our premises! This year's Reykjavik Pride is already underway, with various events taking place from 8-13 August. If you find yourself in the city, be sure to check out the programme and show your support!
Elding has partnered up with the Alda, a software that simplifies the management of safety issues at sea and coordinates priorities in safety matters on board boats, digitally. Through this collaboration we will be working towards developing the system further to cater to the needs of whale watching boats and cruise ships.
All Elding tours and ferries are CANCELLED 23rd-24th May due to a yellow weather alert for the majority of the country. Strong winds and showers of hail are expected and people are advised to show caution as travelling can be hazardous!
The Elding team participated in an extensive rescue drill held by the Icelandic Coast Guard, along with numerous volunteers and first responders! What a great privilege to be a part of such a large training scheme and a fantastic opportunity for our crew to gain further knowledge of rescue at sea!
Road closures are expected in the city centre area due to the summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe taking place in Harpa 16-17th May 2023. As a result, we will be unable to offer our pickup services during that time and ask that all passengers make their own way to the harbour in good time before departure.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! We would like to take the opportunity to thank our partners and guests for a great whale watching year that is soon behind us! Wishing you all the best this holiday season and hope you have a prosperous and joyful New Year!
Due to severe weather warning on Sunday 9th October 2022, we regret to inform you that the Imagine Peace Tower Ceremony has been CANCELLED. Very strong wind is expected, which is not ideal for outdoor activities.
The Viðey ferry is now operating according to winter schedule. Departures are only on the weekends from Skarfabakki pier at 13:15, 14:15 and 15:15. More information here.
Unfortunately the Viðey ferry has been suspended until further notice. Plans are in motion to hopefully start sailing by mid-May 2022. Please email our team at elding@elding.is for more information and updates.
The latest recommendations from the Icelandic authorities in regards to social distancing and safety measures due to COVID-19 call for a limit in gatherings of no more than 50 people in the same place at once.
Unfortunately all trips to Viðey island have been suspended tomorrow, 4th September 2021, due to unfavourable weather conditions. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information you can call +354 519 5000 or send an email to elding@elding.is
Tonight marks the first Northern Lights Cruise we will be operating in close to 1,5 years! We are definitely excited for this one and are eager to go out and look for the amazing phenomenon that is the aurora borealis.
On 24th March, the Icelandic government announced new guidelines regarding restrictions on gatherings. Although the border control and quarantine regulations will stay more or less the same, it has been decided to only allow a maximum of 10 people to come together in one place (with a few exceptions). The Viðey ferry will operate as usual for now, as the recommendations don't apply to passenger ferries, however this may change depending on how things develops in our society.
A very rare sighting of what appears to be a BELUGA WHALE inside the Reykjavík harbour today! This species is one of two members of the monodontidae family, along with the world famous narwhal, that mainly live in the oceans around North America, Russia and Greenland where they are perfectly adapted to life in the Arctic.
Elding participates in the project clean & safe set up by the Icelandic Tourist Board in efforts to help tour operators to welcome their customers in a responsible way so that they feel safe while creating good memories.
The project has been approved by the Health inspection authorities in Iceland and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Read more about the project here.
It's the annual 'Name a Whale Day' here at Elding, where we ask you to help us come up with nick names for new whales in our catalogue.
Head on over to our research page where we have uploaded pictures of one minke whale and two humpback whales that still need names. Then, come back to our Facebook post to write your suggestions.
As a thank you for contributing to our research, the winning submissions will receive a little thank you gift from the research team!
