Choose an IceWhale operator for memorable and responsible encounters with cetacean in their natural habitat.
There are many reasons for the success of whale watching in Iceland; including the number of whales species, accessibility and the success rates of the tours. The summer months have generally been considered the high season for whale watching in Iceland but the winter months have increasingly proved an exciting and adventurous whale watching period. We encourage guests to choose an IceWhale operator for boat-based whale watching in Iceland, as they abide to our code of conduct for responsible whale watching. Don’t forget – you can also watch whales from land in some parts of Iceland.
WHALE WATCHING IN ICELAND
Whales have for centuries had a strong place in the Icelandic society. Icelandic folktales and proverbs indicate the importance of whales in earlier times and some of them tell stories of fascinating interactions between humans and cetacean.
The idea of whale watching in Iceland is believed to have first been set out in 1948 by Jóhannes Kjarval, a famous Icelandic painter and conservationist. His idea was to build a ‘Whale Peace Vessel’ that would substitute the whaling operation that was under construction at the time. It wasn’t though until 1991 that Kjarval’s ideas came through and the first whale watching tour was run on a chartered fishing vessel from Höfn in Hornarfjörður and again in 1992.
The formal start of the operation is though considered 1995 following a whale watching workshop in Keflavík lead by WDC and the Reykjanes Tourist Board. The first scheduled tours were operated from Húsavík and Keflavík and since then the operation has grown exponentially and is now run in many locations, including the capital area. The summer months have generally been considered the high season for whale watching in Iceland but the winter months have increasingly proved an exciting and adventurous whale watching period.
ARCTIC SEA TOURS
ARCTIC SEA TOURS
Svarfaðarbraut 14, 620 Dalvík
www.arcticseatours.is | book@ArcticSeaTours.is
Arctic Sea Tours operates whale watching all year round from Dalvik in North of Iceland – only 30 minutes from Akureyri. We emphasize on personal service along with a unique & cultural experience on board – respecting the whales in their natural habitats at all times! Our sightings are around 98-99%! Arctic Sea Tours is open for business all year round.
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ELDING ADVENTURE AT SEA
ELDING ADVENTURES AT SEA
Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík
www.elding.is | elding@elding.is
Elding is a family owned company and the first to offer whale watching tours from Reykjavík. We put great care into the business and the adventures at sea have become a lifestyle for us. We follow IceWhale’s codes of conduct for responsible whale watching and we are EarthCheck certified. Elding is open for business all year round.
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WHALE SAFARI
WHALE SAFARI
Ægisgarður 7, 101 Reykjavík
www.whalesafari.is | info@whalesafari.is
Whale Safari is Reykavik’s only small groups whale watching tour operator. Our specially made RIB boats are made to get close to the whales, dolphins and puffins of the Faxaflói Bay. We only seat 12 passengers per boat, and each boat has a expert whale watching guide and captain on board. We search for the whales and also visit the puffins when they are in season and do a sightseeing tour of Reykjavík from the sea front. Oh! And all of this in less then two hours.
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SPECIAL TOURS
SPECIAL TOURS
Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, 101 Reykjavík www.specialtours.is | info@specialtours.is
Special Tours offers Whale Watching, Puffin Watching, Sea Angling, Northern Lights by Boat, Reykjavik Dinner Cruise and Incentive adventures out of Reykjavik’s Harbor. We offer two types of Whale Watching adventures; Educational & Interactive and the Express tour! We are Blue Flag and Vakinn certified. We Go The Extra Mile. Special Tours is open for business all year round.
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NORTH SAILING
NORTH SAILING
Húsavík harbour (Hafnarstétt 9, 640 Húsavík)
Tel. +354 464 7272
www.northsailing.is | info@northsailing.is
Eco-friendly whale watching since 1995!
The Húsavík original whale watching tour with North Sailing has been visitors’ top pick for more than 20 years, placing the small fishing town on the map as the whale watching capital of Iceland. Now the tour is available carbon-neutral, on Andvari, the silent, green energy, electric boat with minimum disturbance to whales and nature. Also offering puffins and northern lights tours from Húsavík and shorter whale watching tours from Hjalteyri, a charming small village in Eyjafjörður, only a 15 minute drive from Akureyri.
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SALKA WHALE WATCHING
SALKA WHALE WATCHING
Garðarsbraut 6, 640 Husavik
salkawhalewatching.is| info@salkawhalewatching.is
Salka Whale Watching is a family owned company emphasizing on personal service and comfort for our passengers. Our whale watching tours take you to traditional whale watching areas on a beautiful oak boat. Skjálfandi Bay is alive with birds, puffins and whales.
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GENTLE GIANTS WHALE WATCHING IN HÚSAVÍK, ICELAND
GENTLE GIANTS WHALE WATCHING
Harbour Side, 640 Húsavík
Tel. +354 464 1500
www.gentlegiants.is | info@gentlegiants.is
Imagine encountering whales in wild nature. This is what we do at Gentle Giants and welcome you to join us.
Gentle Giants offers whale watching tours and other exciting seafaring adventures from Húsavík, in the north of Iceland – often considered as the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Our company is proud of its originality and background with more than 150 years of family history in Skjálfandi Bay. Welcome aboard traditional Icelandic oak boats or modern RIB speedboats in search of the giants of the ocean. Your chances of seeing whales are up to 97-99%.
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Whale Watching Akureyri
WHALE WATCHING AKUREYRI
Torfunef 7 , 600 Akureyri
www.whalewatchingakureyri.is | info@whalewatchingakureyri.is
Experience and get close to the incredible humpback whales of the Eyjafjord, a place of serene beauty, filled with marine life and framed in by massive glacier carved and snow capped mountains. From 15 May – 30 September we operate our whale watching tours up to 8 times a day. You can choose between our Classic Whale Watching on our newly renovated and specially modified 200-passenger Catamaran, equipped with cinema style viewing platforms and spectacular views or one of our 12 seater RIB-boats for a more thrilling experience and closer encounters.
Whale Watching Hauganes
WHALE WATCHING HAUGANES
Hafnargata 2, 621 Hauganes
www.whales.is | whales@whales.is
Whale Watching Hauganes is the oldest whale watching tour operator in Iceland, founded in 1993. We operate from Hauganes, a small fishing village on the west side of Eyjafjörður, just 20 minute drive North of Akureyri. From this picturesque town, our tour will quickly immerse you in the midst of the whale populations and rich sealife characteristic of the area. Whether the whales have ventured deep into the fjord or stay closer to Hrisey, they are always just a short trip away from Hauganes.
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LÁKI TOURS
LÁKI TOURS
Nesvegur 6, 350 Grundarfjörður
www.lakitours.is | lakitours55@gmail.com
Láki Tours is a vibrant company originated from Grundarfjordur, Iceland. It operates three boats for whale watching with departures from Grundarfjordur in winter time and Olafsvik and Holmavik in summer time. Snæfellsnes peninsula (Grundarfjordur and Olafsvik) offers excellent orca watching opportunities in winter and early summer but it’s humpback whales that are most common on tours from Holmavik. Other species such as dolphins and minke whales are common but occasional visitors are blue whales, orcas, pilot whales and sperm whales.
If you have any questions or comments regarding these listings, or are new to the industry and would like to add your responsible whale watching operation in Iceland to the list, don’t hesitate to drop us a line to info@icewhale.is