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Take a Rib boat and come with us on a whale-watching tour from the old harbor of Reykjavik. Be prepared to capture a photo of the giant whales of Iceland. The perfect Iceland excursion!
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This unique adventure will take you on a nature hunt on the blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean, offering the chance to see cute little puffins (summer) and whales in their natural habitat. Our specially designed rib boat adds to the entire experience bouncing across the waves and allowing us to get up close and personal with some of the biggest and most intelligent marine creatures to have ever called our planet home. It is an exhilarating and awe-inspiring experience that is a must for anyone visiting the land of fire and ice.
Our adventure begins at Reykjavik's old harbor, where we will board our custom-made RIB boats, perfect for seeing all the magic Icelandic marine life offers. The RIB Boat's intelligent design is based on its shock-absorbing suspension that guarantees they are comfortable as we bounce across the ocean. This, combined with their low design, makes them ideal for wildlife watching. We can go where other boats can't and get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures while always maintaining enough distance that we don't interfere with what they are doing.
Our first stop will be the picturesque island of Akurey, famed for the many adorable puffins that nest there during the summer months. These cute birds have earned the nickname puffin island, although we also see other species, like eiders and arctic tern. We find that this portion of the trip is especially popular with children and families as the puffins' smiling faces are especially appealing to them. Everyone is sure to enjoy seeing these amazing birds in the flesh!
From there, we will continue into Kollafjordur bay – bobbing up and down as we cut a swathe through the white-crested waves of the Atlantic. Whale watching can never be an exact science, and we can't guarantee what you will see during the trip. However, our expert captains have been sailing this bit of sea for many years and will do their utmost to ensure that we see something, using local knowledge and the latest scientific research to give us the best chance of seeing something.
Iceland plays host to more than twenty different species of whale, which appear at varying concentrations and various times of the year. The most common are Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoises, and White-beaked Dolphins, with Orcas and Sperm Whales also visiting regularly. The gargantuan Blue Whale can also be seen on occasion, offering us the chance to see the largest creature to have ever existed!
When we see these majestic creatures in the wild, we are in for an awe-inspiring experience – as they frolic, play or hunt in the water. There is nothing quite like it, and you are bound to be impressed by the intelligence of their hunting methods and the way they propel jets of water out of their blowholes. They truly are some of the most impressive creatures you will ever see, and it is sure to be an experience you will treasure forever.
We will take the scenic route back to Reykjavik, enjoying more of Iceland’s incredible coastal wildlife, including more nesting birds and playful seals. The perfect way to end a wonderful day, combining an adrenaline-pumping boat ride and some truly remarkable wildlife.
We will provide you with all the safety gear you need for the tour, including insulated flotation suits, life-vests, gloves, and goggles. We recommend that you dress in warm clothing for the tour, as the seas around Iceland can be cold no matter the time of year. During the tour, there will always be a professionally trained guide who will keep you safe and tell you everything you need to know about the amazing things you are seeing. We also recommend that you bring a camera to capture all the amazing wildlife that we can see.
Meet at the location: Old Harbor, Special Tours Ticket Office, Ægisgarður 13, 101 Reykjavík. We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before departure.
This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide.
Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
View our pick-up locations in Reykjavík.
Before and during activities on the multi-day tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favourite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).
Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari on this tour you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our super jeep tours are also suitable for children over the age of 6 years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour.
Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our cancellation policy.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our self-drive tours.
All of our tours are guided in English.
No, for all your questions and concerns you would need to contact our customer service.
The standard in Iceland is 230V and 50Hz and we use F-type power sockets and plugs, so you might have to bring an adaptor if you are visiting from UK, USA, Canada or other countries using a different voltage, Hz or plugs.
Our tours are split into four different categories that help participants to understand what to expect from the tour. The categories are Easy, Moderate, Challenging and Demanding. Each tour is rated making it easier to find tours that suit you.
For further information about the difficulty ratings and descriptions.
We’ve partnered with the Kolviður Fund in a new carbon offsetting program, which passengers can select to participate in at the time of booking.
The Kolviður Fund is the oldest, most respected carbon offsetting program in Iceland. With your support, one tree will be planted in special Kolviður forests in Iceland to carbon offset your tour with us.
Kolviður forests are strategically planted to absorb the maximum amount of CO2 and the forests are protected for a minimum of 60 years. During their lifetime the trees absorb carbon and store it in their root system, trunk, and branches. Trees also prevent soil erosion and maintain storage of carbon in the soil.
