Whale Watching Tours

Our most popular whale watching tours:

Whale Watching Tours

  • Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching

    This is the original whale watching tour from Reykjavík! Join our highly enthusiastic and experienced team in the search for whales, dolphins and birds of Faxaflói bay! Most common wildlife encountered are humpbacks, minkes, dolphins and porpoises.

    3:00 Hours
    Season:
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  • Reykjavík Premium Whale Watching

    An exhilarating premium tour starting from the Old Harbour in Reykjavík, with daily departures from 1 Apr - 31 Oct. A personal, small group tour with only 12 person per boat, a specially trained wildlife guide and a certified RIB boat captain.

    2:00 Hours
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  • Akureyri Classic Whale Watching

    Here is your chance to see the incredible whales and dolphins of Iceland in their natural habitat. The vast fjord's vibrant life and plenitude of food bring the larger-than-life Humpback whales that call Akureyri their home.

    3:00 Hours
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  • Akureyri Express Whales & Eyjafjord

    A 2 hour whale & bird watching tour from downtown of Akureyri. Experience and get close to the incredible humpback whales of the Eyjafjord, starting from the capital of North Iceland.

    2:00 Hours
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  • Reykjavík Classic Whales in the Midnight Sun

    A truly unique whale watching experience - the mystical midnight sun often casts a beautiful orange and pink glow to the mountains surrounding the bay and together with the wildlife it provides quite a unique perspective.

    3:00 Hours
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  • Reykjavík Premium Whales in the Midnight Sun

    Experience the wildlife and nature adventure of a lifetime on our most personal whale watching tour. Our custom made RIB boats allow you to get closer the whales and puffins than any boats can offer.

    2:00 Hours
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  • Akureyri Whales in the Midnight Sun

    The mystical midnight sun and the nature of the fjord provide a unique nature and wildlife experience. A truly wonderful whale watching experience in the magical summer sun and everlasting daylight.

    3:00 Hours
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  • Akureyri Express Whales in the Midnight Sun

    Experience and get close to the incredible humpback whales of Eyjafjörður, starting from the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri. With only 12 passengers on each boat we can guarantee an adventure of a lifetime on an intimate whale watching tour.

    2:00 Hours
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Other great whale watching tours and combos:

Whale Watching Tours

  • GIFT CARD - Akureyri Classic Whale Watching

    This gift card is valid on a Classic Whale Watching tour from Akureyri. Enjoy the magnificent Eyjafjörður fjord and all its inhabitants on this magical cruise.

    3 hrs.
    Season:
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  • laki tours orca olafsvik

    Ólafsvík Whale Watching

    This is a 3 hr. whale watching tour from Ólafsvík in West-Iceland where orcas, sperm whales and pilot whales are the main attraction!

    3 hrs.
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  • Reykjavík Whales & Puffins

    This exciting combo consists of two tours; a small boat puffin tour and a big boat whale watching tour!

    6:00 Hours
    Season:
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  • whales and northern lights cruise combo

    Whale Watching & Northern Lights Cruise

    This combo unites some of the most popular winter attractions in Iceland - classic whale watching and northern lights from down town Reykjavík!

    5:00 Hours
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  • Whale Watching & Snorkeling in Silfra

    This tour gives you the opportunity to try out two exciting water adventures in one day! One above the surface, the other beneath..

    10:00 Hours
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  • Whales & Buggy

    Combine two great adventurous excursions for a fun-filled-day with whale watching and buddy riding!

    8:00 Hours
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  • Whales & Diving

    Dive in the world famous Silfra and see the amazing wildlife in Faxaflói on this fantastic combo tour. Whales, dolphins, fissures and crystal clear waters are not to be missed on your Iceland trip!

    12:00 Hours
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  • whales and flyover iceland combo tour 2

    Whales & FlyOver Iceland

    Explore the sights of Iceland with state of the art technology that gives you a true feeling of flight, before or after joining a Classic Whale Watching tour in Faxaflói bay!

    4:00 Hours
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  • Whales & Horses

    This tour combines two fun activities that are perfect for nature and animal lovers - whale watching and horse back riding!

    8:00 Hours
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  • Whales & Imagine Peace Tower

    After exploring the wonders of the whales and seabirds it's ideal to stop by in the harbour area and have a lovely dinner before heading out to Viðey island looking at the beam of light representing world peace.

    5:00 Hours
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  • whales & snow all year combo tour

    Whales & Snow All Year

    This combo tour is an "open ticket" valid on a Classic Whale Watching tour with Elding and a snowmobile tour with Mountaineers of Iceland - available all year!

    6:00 Hours
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  • Whales & Viðey

    This tour combines the best of Reykjavík's surrounding waters. Before or after exploring the wonders of the whales and seabirds in Faxaflói it is ideal to visit Viðey Island and experience its tranquility and sense of bygone centuries.

    7:00 Hours
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  • Whales & White Water Rafting

    This tour combines two true adventures on the water. After exploring the wonders of the whales and birds it it is time to set your adrenaline free - rafting down the glacial river Hvítá admiring its stunningly beautiful landscape.

    8:00 Hours
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  • Whales in Reykjavík & Akureyri

    Are you crazy about whales, wildlife or nature in general? - Then why not make the most of your stay and go whale watching in South and North Iceland!

    6:00 Days
    Season:
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Iceland whale watching areas

Whale Watching in Iceland

Iceland is a great place for wildlife watching and in Faxaflói bay you'll find a variety of seabirds and marine mammals that feed on the rich feeding grounds provided by ocean currents in the area that create excellent conditions. The long period of light during the summer even provides the right environment for plankton and krill, making it a diverse and abundant bay.

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humpback whale wit passengers on board a whale watching boat

Whale Watching 101

If you're a first time whale watcher it is perfectly normal that you don't exactly know what to look for, but you should know that whale watching with Elding is a team effort and everyone on board is encouraged to help out. There are a few tips and tricks that can help you identify signs of whales and dolphins from a distance, and a few things to keep in mind when venturing out into open seas.

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Whale Statistics

What is the best time of year to see whales in Iceland? This is a frequently asked question we get a lot from our passengers when they join our tours. Surprisingly, such a simple question is not so easy to answer. It all relies on food availability at our shores and there are many factors that might influence where and when whales can find it.

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Responsible Whale Watching

Whale watching has been one of Iceland's top tourist activities since the mid 90's and has been subjected to remarkable growth in the last few years. The increase in boat traffic has raised concerns about the potential detrimental effects on cetaceans, mirroring concerns in wildlife destinations globally. Due to minimal comprehensive regulations governing whale encounters in Iceland, we at Elding take pride in our commitment to abide by a code of conduct for responsible whale watching, as well constructing and following our own stricter guidelines!

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Our latest sightings:

  • mountain Esja

    Wednesday, 20 November 2024

    • CLASSIC WHALE TOUR | 09:00, 13:00

    All whale watching tours are on schedule today from Reykjavík! Remember to dress according to weather and feel free to borrow our thermal overalls if needed!

  • humpback whale near land

    Tuesday, 19 November 2024

    In the morning, we enjoyed a stunning sunrise as we spotted a calm and graceful humpback whale just off Viðey island. In the afternoon, under bright sunshine, we encountered a shy juvenile humpback whale teasing us with brief surfaces. But just as we were heading back, it stole the show with an incredible breach right in front of the boat.

  • humpback whale

    Monday, 18 November 2024

    Today's tours featured incredible encounters with a humpback whale near Viðey island! In the morning, we watched this whale breach and perform fluke dives, surrounded by over 100 seabirds and 3 surfacing harbour porpoises. The afternoon brought a curious harbour seal and the same humpback as before, this time resting and feeding.

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