Responsible Tourism

Just a short distance from Reykjavík’s coast are three small islands: Akurey, Lundey, and Engey. They play a crucial role in the survival of the Atlantic Puffin and many other seabird species in the region. Each island provides a natural sanctuary, making them ideal nesting grounds.

Iceland is one of the best places in the world to witness whales in their natural habitat. But despite the success of whale watching and the global support for conservation, commercial whaling still takes place in Icelandic waters. While most Icelanders don’t eat whale meat, some tourists try it out of curiosity, unintentionally fuelling demand. We believe education and responsible tourism are key to ending this practice.

Elding helped establish Iceland’s first Code of Conduct for Responsible Whale Watching as a founding member of IceWhale. In the absence of formal regulations, we created voluntary guidelines to ensure respectful wildlife encounters and reduce disturbance to whales and dolphins. We continue to collaborate with local operators and advocate for stronger protections for Iceland’s marine life.

As whale watching in Iceland continues to grow, so does the need for ethical practices that protect marine life. At Elding, we follow a strict code of conduct and have developed our own enhanced guidelines to ensure safe, respectful encounters with whales. In a country with few formal regulations, we lead by example to promote sustainable, science based whale watching for the future.

Elding started paying special attention to environmental issues in 2006 by integrating Green Globe (now EarthCheck) into our daily operations to get a clear insight of the matter within the company. When we were awarded Kuðungurinn, an environmental award of the Environmental and Natural Resources Agency, it was a significant recognition of our commitment to preserving Iceland's pristine natural environment for future generations.

The program Responsible Tourism involves setting goals in four key elements, which are that we recycle all waste that comes from our boats and offices and encourage our guests to do the same and have ecofriendly purchasing. Elding is a member of Vakinn, an Icelandic quality and environmental system as well as being certified by Blueflag and Earth Check

At Elding, we actively campaign against whaling and encourage visitors to choose ethical experiences, avoid whale meat, and help raise awareness. Whale watching offers a sustainable alternative to whaling and plays a vital role in protecting Iceland’s marine life and global reputation. By supporting responsible tourism, you’re helping secure a better future for whales in Icelandic waters.