12 Majestic Whale-Watching Tours in Iceland

Set sail for Faxaflói Bay in search of whales on this tour from Reykjavik, which has a very high sighting success rate. The boat even offers free onboard Wi-Fi if you can’t wait to share your snaps.

Those who don’t mind a bumpy ride or getting a little wet along the way should opt for a whale-watching expedition by Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB). The advantages include a smaller group size and a speedier boat, which means you can get to where the whales are more quickly.

Cruise around Faxaflói Bay in both comfort and style on this tour aboard a luxury yacht. The yacht’s observation deck provides the perfect vantage point for whale spotting.

This value-focused experience combines two great tours from Reykjavik. As well as taking a trip to the rugged shores of the puffin-inhabited island of Akurey, you’ll also embark on either a leisurely cruise or a speedboat ride in search of whales.

Combine two top winter experiences and start the day with a whale-watching tour from the Old Harbour in Reykjavík. Later, board a northern lights–focused cruise and head towards the southern part of Faxaflói Bay, away from the bright city lights for maximum aurora-spotting opportunities.

In the height of the Icelandic summer the sun barely sets, which means you can go whale watching even in the wee hours. Under the glow of the midnight sun, this tour allows you to witness the nocturnal habits of dolphins and whales, while learning about Iceland’s native marine life through an onboard multimedia presentation.

Experience Iceland’s majestic nature by sea and by land on this combination tour that includes a whale-spotting boat trip and express Golden Circle tour from Reykjavik. Look for whales and other marine life on a morning whale-watching cruise. Then, in the afternoon, visit Gulfoss, the Great Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park.

Visitors to the north can jump aboard a cruise from Akureyri into Eyjafjord, Iceland’s longest fjord, which is known for attracting humpbacks for summer feeding. From June to August, a late-night cruise option is also available.

This full-day combination tour from Akureyri lets you ride an Icelandic horse through the countryside in the morning, then watch for whales on the Eyjafjord in the afternoon. The horseback riding section is suitable for all levels of experience.

On Iceland’s north coast, the little town of Húsavík claims to be the nation’s whale-watching capital. Limited to just 12 passengers, this whale-watching tour by RIB ensures that everyone has a good spot with unobstructed views.

If you’d like to deepen your experience of whales, join this citizen science tour that lets you both see whales and learn about marine wildlife and ocean conservation. While sailing in Skjalfandi Bay, you’ll assist as researchers studying the oceans use a manta trawl to take samples from the water.

Set sail on a whale-watching adventure from Húsavík on board a traditional Icelandic oak boat. Look out for humpbacks and blue whales while taking in the views of the Skjálfandi Bay and Vík mountains.