Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching

What you'll experience.

The Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching tour commences at the Elding ticket office  in the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavik. Be ready to present your voucher to their staff. Merely steps away you will find the Visitor Centre facilitated on board a converted fishing vessel permanently placed by the pier. There you will meet your crew for the day. Before (or after) the tour you can stroll through the souvenir shop, have a drink at the Whale Café, or enjoy the onboard whale exhibition located in the hull of the boat. The show includes multimedia images and videos of whales as well as fun facts about the cetaceans and other marine animals you are likely to come across on the tour. From that point you will be shown to the whale watching vessel and start your Reykjavík whale watching adventure.

Once on board the tour boat you will find several outdoor viewing platforms, a large indoor saloon with an on board café where you can buy light refreshments, basic bathroom facilities and a cloak room where you can borrow one of our blankets or overalls on colder days. You can either stay outside in the fresh air or stay inside the heated lounge and observe the views from within through the large panoramic windows. One of the very knowledgeable guides will commentate on the sights and views at hand through the intercom system on board. The guide will also be available to you to answer any questions you may have throughout the tour.

Summer season (1 April – 31 October) is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at it’s highest peak! This is the time when the Minke whales are at their most abundant, along with White-beaked dolphins, Harbour porpoises and the occasional Humpback whales, giving you the perfect chance to enjoy and learn about them and their natural environment.

Winter season (1 November – 31 March) is a whole other experience and adventure compared to our summer tours. Each year continues to surprise us with the wildlife it offers. The winter low lying sun is also something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the white-capped mountains surrounding the bay and to breathe in the winter’s fresh and crisp air is just incredible.

The most common cetacean in the area are the Minke whales, White-beaked dolphins and Harbour porpoises. Occasionally we spot other species including Humpback whales, Killer whales/Orcas, Fin whales and Blue whales to name but a few.

The weather can change quite frequently in Iceland and therefore we reserve the right to alter routes and itineraries by sailing from other harbours in the nearby area where the weather or sightings are more favourable each time, which could result in a slightly longer tour. Please consult with our ticket sales staff if you are on a tight schedule.

Please be aware that the tours are run in wild nature and we can never guarantee sightings on a particular tour. The estimated duration of tours are standard times and can change according to conditions at sea. Although our success rate is high, the cetacean abundance is unpredictable and varies with the food availability of our shores.

COMBO: Combine this activity with a Puffin tour.

Please note that for your enjoyment, this tour is subject to weather and conditions at sea and therefore it could get cancelled on short notice. Stay updated on your tour status.

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This tour is operated by our friends at Elding. Elding has worked hard on minimizing their environmental impact and is a part of projects such as Earth Check, Blue Flag, and Vakin the Icelandic environmental and quality label.

Elding’s certifications include: