The Original Classic Whale Watching from Reykjavik
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Reykjavik, Iceland
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get the chance to see marine mammals in the wild on this whale-watching cruise from Reykjavik—whales and dolphins are seen on more than 90% of tours in both summer and winter. With a local guide, cruise the coastal curve of Iceland to marvel at whales in their natural habitat. Keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife as you listen to your guide's fun facts about the majestic creatures.
- Perfect for fans of nature and marine biology in Reykjavik
- Learn more about the marine world from your guide than you would alone
- No spottings? No problem—you get a free ticket to come again
- Choose between morning and afternoon departures to best suit your schedule
What's Included
- Excellent live guide
- Overalls, raincoats and blankets
- Admission to Wildlife Exhibition
- Free WiFi on board
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Elding Whale WatchingÆgisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Meet us in the ELDING ticket office located at Ægisgarður 5c by the Old Harbour district in Reykjavík. Once at the pier, simply follow the red colour to find us! Be sure to arrive at least 15 min. before departure to ensure enough time to check in and to board the boat.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Passengers with limited mobility are warmly welcome. However, please note that our boats are not fully accessible, as steep stairs and high thresholds may limit access to inside areas and toilet facilities.
- Wheelchair users are welcome to bring a light-weight chair on board our larger boats. If possible, please notify us of your arrival in advance, as assistance with boarding may be required.
- If conditions in Reykjavík are unfavourable, the tour may either be cancelled or depart from an alternative harbour, which could extend the duration by 1-2 hours.
- No whales or dolphins spotted on your tour? Join us again another day for FREE!
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 196 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
NATASHA_D
We had an amazing time on our whale watching tour in Iceland! From start to finish, the crew were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about marine life. The boat was comfortable and well-equipped, and even though the North Atlantic air was chilly, the staff provided warm overalls to keep everyone cosy.
During the trip we saw several minke whales and even a couple of playful humpbacks! The guides gave fascinating commentary throughout the trip, sharing facts about the different species and Iceland’s marine ecosystem. They were also very respectful of the animals, keeping a safe distance and ensuring we didn’t disturb them.
The scenery alone was worth the trip -stunning views of the coastline, mountains, and the crisp Icelandic sea air. I’d recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland. Whether you’re a wildlife lover or just looking for a unique adventure, this experience was truly magical!
Reviews
4.6
based on 2,830 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Steven_L, Jul 2026
Well perhaps it was the rough sea or the rainy weather but whale sightings are far and few between. The have a system for letting people know when they see whales. 12 o'clock is straight ahead. 3 o'clock is to the left 6 o'clock is the back of the boat and 9 o'clock is to the right. If you are sitting at 9 o'clock and they see a whale at 3 o'clock and you want to see it the whale is long gone. I got very brief views of 2 whales and saw the fin of a dolphin. Because of the sea conditions several people appeared to get sea sick. The staff was very good and did their best, but to me is what not worth it.
NadjaLana_W, Jul 2026
My partner got really seasick even if they gave out tablets against seasickness. Of course it’s nobody’s fault but if you are sensitive, maybe take 2 tablets 😁 it was a stunning experience! We saw humpback whales 🐋 and we were surrounded by dolphins. The crew and our lovely sea/ocean biologist was faboulous and really passionate!
PAUL_H, Jul 2026
This is an absolute must whilst in Iceland. The boat was excellent with lots of seats and waterproof clothing provided FOC.
The staff were excellent and kept us fully informed of the mammals we were about to see.
Saw lots of pods of dolphins and numerous whales. All came up close to the boat so we got excellent photos.
danielle_r, Jul 2026
Our whale watching excursion was absolutely incredible! The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish. We were lucky enough to see multiple whales, and watching them surface so close to the boat was unforgettable. The guides shared interesting facts throughout the trip and clearly cared about both the wildlife and making sure everyone had a great experience. The scenery was breathtaking, and the boat was comfortable and well organized. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting. It was an experience we’ll never forget!
Allison_E, Jul 2026
We saw a few whales and lots of birds. Our guide was great at directing us where to look and what to look for
David_F, Jul 2026
Perfect tour very knowledgeable guides, could not ask for better. Easy to pick up tickets and board.
Vladimir_L, Jul 2026
Very special and inspiring. Real lava at 1100 degrees very close to you. Breathtaking and educational.
Jim_W, Jul 2026
This was a great tour. Some luck and lots of crew skill. We saw dolphins, humpback whales, and minke whales. Very, very cool. Definitely recommend.
Milos_S, Jul 2026
Great experience! We saw whales and dolphins from close distance. The boat and guide are great. Even got pictures and a report after the trip.
Anneli_B, Jul 2026
Professional and very friendly staff. Very rough sea but luckily offered a seasickness tablet beforehand which work wonders. We went in July but freezing cold out at sea so dress warmly. Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales but got free tickets valid for 2 years.
Scott_P, Jun 2026
On a cold and misty day, it was great they had heavy duty slickers. The boat was very active looking for whales and other sea mammals and we saw porpoises and a humpback
vanessa_s, Jun 2026
Well organised. Great facilities. Saw porpoise, dolphins, minke whales and a hump back!
Good commentary through. Nice warm inside lounge too.
Rene_S, Jun 2026
This was s great tour with a knowledgeable guide. It was comfortable for all age groups with bathrooms on board and complimentary seasickness pills if needed. We saw 5 different whales and various birds. Such a cool experience. We even received pictures from the guide after the tour via email.
Joslyn_C, Jun 2026
Great tour with great guides and crew. It was even better that we got to see several animals— 2 types of whales, dolphins, puffins, and other birds.
Chaim_B, Jun 2026
We had a great time. Very nice boat ride. Unfortunately for us we did not get to see any whales on our trip. Operator offers a second chance on a later date which is very nice.
If you're prone to to motion sickness, make sure you take a pill prior to boarding. They do offer before you get on the boat as the water is quite rough.
Ruth_F, Jun 2026
Wrap up warm and be prepared for some rough waves.
You will be offered outdoor overalls to protect you outside.
Don’t be too disappointed if you do not see any whales as they will offer you a free return trip, so make sure you book at the start of your trip to be able to advantage of the offer.
Lee_A, Jun 2026
We took a great trip out to see the whales. Overall, the ride out was great a little rough at times and very manageable. I appreciated the offered meds if necessary for sea sickness (not needed). We got to see four different times of whales on our tour. The guides were great and great views of such a stunning place, thank you !
Cathy_P, Jun 2026
Extremely organized and well-run tour. All details are managed; for example, they have gear you can borrow to stay warm and dry. I particularly appreciated a crew member coming around before we left the dock, explaining how rough the seas were going to be and encouraging us to take the complimentary seasickness meds. I never have issues but the one-on-one discussion changed my mind. Thank you! That crew member likely saved our experience. The seas were very rough and I felt great.
And the best part: We were able to observe 3 humpbacks for a good amount of time. Incredible experience!
Peter_S, Jun 2026
Very informative and environmentally positive guide and overall an amazing tour. The excitement and expertise was phenomenal!
Nicola_T, Jun 2026
Loved this trip and we were successful in seeing whales, humpbacks, moving by us, feeding, showcasing their tails and fins and one whale breached a few times.
The crew knew how to find the whales and behaved respectfully near them, for example not overstaying our welcome. It was quite a windy day which caused the boat to periodically rock from side to side with quite a wobble. I found it difficult to move along the deck in these moments, but the crew were extremely helpful.
Do not hesitate to book this trip, it is well managed and all staff were helpful, knowledgeable and polite.
Johanna_E, Jun 2026
Very nice experience and wonderful for a solo traveller. We saw four humpback whales! The boat slowed down for every encounter. I found it very nice how they talked about protecting the wildlife, not bothering the whales too much, and how we stopped for a while to make sure we didn't hit one that was seen nearby.
Natalie_N, Jun 2026
This is my mom’s favorite activity wherever we go and this trip was awesome! We saw a humpback whale right off the bat which was unusual, but then saw dolphins, and multiple other humpback whales. We got lucky at the end and one put on a show for us with tail slaps and breaching- totally showing off. It was amazing! Our captain did great with giving us great views of the animals we saw, and our guide gave us a ton of great information on species, whales, and the actual whales we were seeing based on their tails. They were both excited about what we saw too! I would highly suggest dressing warm even in good weather! It gets chilly out there with the wind.
Alison_C, Jun 2026
Be patient! Being of a cynical nature, and having seen just a few dolphins, I thought it was time for the skipper to head back to port with not a whale to be seen. Wrong! A blow spout was seen, then another, and we ended up with two humpbacks and some porpoises alongside us. It was fantastic. The crew went way beyond expectation to ensure we had an experience to remember and worked at least an hour more. Big thank yous.
Donald_B, Jun 2026
Our boat always seemed to find the animals before the other boats. We had an awesome time with two humpback whales. We also saw a Minke whale, some white-beaked dolphins and lots of puffins!
Claire_R, Jun 2026
It was so well organised. Amazing staff .
We seen 2 humpback whale just off the end of the boat .
What an unbelievable experience
Sarah_M, Jun 2026
An afternoon spent whale watching with an excellent guide who was really informative. We were exceptionally lucky to see two humpback whales tail slapping and a breach plus fin wave. An amazing experience.
Laura_H, Jun 2026
A very knowledgeable and friendly team on board. Nice boat with good facilities and an easy ticket collection service. We managed to see 2 humpback whales on our tour :)
shannon_d, Jun 2026
Fantastic experience. Wonderful crew. Excellent guide with interesting information. 4 different species sighted. Highlight were the photos they shared with us. So we could just sit and actually enjoy the experience.
Sam_P, Jun 2026
We saw two incredibly active humpbacks amazing experience once in a lifetime. Not guaranteed we where very lucky.
Gary_M, Jun 2026
Great experience! Saw two different kinds of whales, dolphins. Weather was wonderful, crew very friendly. Highly recommend !
From $105.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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