Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching
by Elding Adventure at Sea · Whale watching · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
- Eco-certified
- Self-guided
from €106.45 per person
Next departure: Thu 22 Oct
1 / 44
Duration
3 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup available at extra cost, or meet at the start point
Starts at
Ægisgarður 5c, Reykjavík
Departs
09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00 …
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
Meeting point, in Elding Adventure at Sea's words: Please stop by the Elding office in the Old Harbour no later than 15 min. prior to tour departure to collect your ticket(s).
About this experience
Venture into Faxaflói bay with our expert crew and specially trained marine biologist naturalists. Led by our passionate crew, you will explore the whales of Reykjavík and learn about the incredible wildlife that call Iceland their home. Encounter a variety of whale species, such as humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of majestic killer whales, fin whales, or long-finned pilot whales.
The bay is even full of birdlife, from charming puffins to northern gannets and arctic terns, the skies are teeming with life. Watch as these incredible birds dive and feast on the abundant fish that thrive in the bay. Surrounding landscapes offer a beautiful contrast to the vast sea, with stunning mountains on the horizon creating a picturesque backdrop.
While summer brings an abundance of life to the bay, each winter continues to surprise us with its own unique encounters. Our ongoing research shows that numerous whales inhabit the area all year round, making every season an ideal time to explore these nutrient rich waters.
Make the most of your day by combining this activity with Puffin Watching in the summer, or Northern Lights Cruise in winter. Alternatively, you can book our Premium Whale Watching for a more exclusive experience, or explore our combo tours if you're seeking even more adventures.
Description from the operator, Elding Adventure at Sea. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- Check-in
- Wildlife Exhibiton & Boarding
- Classic Whale Watching
- Disembarking
Included
- 2-3,5 hr. whale watching tour
- Use of warm overalls and blankets
- Excellent live commentary in English
- Complimentary WiFi on board
- Access to our Wildlife Exhibition
- Heated indoor saloon
- Large viewing windows
- Wildlife guarantee (or try again for free)
- Pictures taken by crew (when possible)
Not included
- Pick up / Drop off (available for an extra charge)
- Refreshments (can be purchased on board)
Good to know
Remember to dress according to weather and wear a hat, gloves and sturdy footwear. Feel free to borrow our thermal overalls if needed.
This is the original whale watching tour from Reykjavík and one of the most popular attractions in Iceland. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of Faxaflói bay.
As the weather in Iceland can be quite unpredictable, we advise you that this tour is weather dependent. In case of unfavourable conditions in the bay, the itinerary may be altered (possibly resulting in a longer duration) or the tour could get cancelled on short notice. You will be notified of any changes as soon as possible, but we suggest that you have a look at our online whale diary to check for updates.
Since this is a genuine wildlife tour we can never predict or guarantee sightings of any kind. Additionally, we abide by a Code of Conduct for responsible whale watching and thus each encounter is on the animals' terms. In the event that we don't encounter any whales or dolphins, we do not offer refunds, but instead give our passengers a complimentary ticket to use another day.
See here for more information about whale watching from Reykjavík and get to know the cetacean you can expect to come across on the tour.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure; in winter this happens often. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Elding Adventure at Sea decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Sailing with Giants: Whale Watching from Reykjavik from Your Friend in Reykjavik is €79 — €27 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Elding Adventure at Sea · €106 | Your Friend in Reykjavik · €79 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 3 hours | 3.5 hours |
On everything we can measure, the Your Friend in Reykjavik tour is the better buy. The €27 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Why we list it
Elding Adventure at Sea is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Elding Adventure at Sea
Read all 2,419 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.5/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
We had an incredible sunset whale watching trip. From the beginning, every member of staff was attentive and helpful. Our guide shared lots of info on the wildlife we spotted - birds and whales. We were blessed with beautiful weather and the boat wasn't busy so we had room to move around and spot wildlife. Lots of tips on how to spot whales were shared. We saw a minke whale and then in the distance the sprays from several humpbacks.We made our way towards these and then stayed with one for ages - it was magical! The captain was very generous with time - because our encounter was quite far out, our trip was over 3.5 hours, we were not rushed back because time was running out! We saw lots of different bird species too. The sunset was stunning and we were able to enjoy this on the way back and also get some beautiful pictures of Reykjavik as we approached. We were also impressed with the way Elding respect the wildlife. Our 9 year old learned so much about whale spotting and ga been putting it to use on our cruise - spotting minkes and humpbacks from the ship! Thank you so much, Elding, for a truly memorable and magical evening!
★★★★★ · a month ago
Great experience! Information on what and where very clear on the website and the ground staff very nice and friendly when one went for the tickets. The crew were helpful, fun and full of information on the whales but also other wildlife that could be seen. They were really persistent in ensuring we actually did see a whale, and we ended up being quite far out of the port with the total cruise time around 3.5 hrs instead of the envisioned 2.5 hrs. We were most grateful for their efforts!!! It was much appreciated that after the tour itself we received an e-mail with photos the crew had taken of our particular cruise. Highly recommended!
★★★★★ · a month ago
Our whale watching tour was so special. I will start with the whales: we definitely saw them! We found a couple of humpbacks busy feeding and out guide did a great job of pointing them out and describing the behaviors we were seeing. It was truly amazing. The crew has the skills and experience to find what’s in the area. Additionally, they provided us with pictures of the whales and a journal entry about our voyage. We heard from someone else on the boat that if you go out and do not see any wildlife, they will provide you with a voucher to come out again another time (this family was on their re-do but your mileage may vary as I didn’t hear or read about this.) But of course, one cannot control the outcome, and still I would recommend this trip. It was such a fun way to see the city of Reykjavik and the surrounding mountains. We had a beautiful day with a bit of wind and they provided motion-sickness tablets for free, but remaining outside I did not experience much malaise. I also want to say that the company was very accommodating. We had booked a morning tour that we couldn’t get to due to travel disruptions and they were very willing to honor our reservation at a later time slot.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
Booking excursions through Elding was seamless, and I really appreciated their ecological focus. I first took their free ferry to Viðey with my Reykjavík City Pass, then enjoyed the experience so much that I booked both their classic whale watching and puffin tours. Everything felt easy and well organized, from the cold weather gear to the books, wildlife guides, and knowledgeable experts who narrated the tours and answered questions along the way. These excursions gave me some of my favorite memories of Iceland while getting to learn. about the wildlife and explore Faxaflói Bay. Highly recommend!
Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026
Read before you book
- Iceland in April: what tours runApril is the hinge month: lights and ice caves run until late April, puffin boats start on the 20th, and you get thirteen to sixteen hours of daylight.
- Iceland in February: what tours runFebruary runs almost as much as autumn: about 1,300 of our tours show a date in mid-February. Ice caves and snowmobiles are at full strength, and daylight is back.
- Iceland in January: what tours still runMost tours run in January: about 1,260 of ours on a mid-January day. Ice caves and snowmobiles are at full strength; hiking, flights and some whale trips thin out.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Whale watching — questions people ask
When is the best time for whale watching in Iceland?
April to October, with June to August the most reliable. Humpbacks and minke whales feed in Faxaflói off Reykjavík and in the northern fjords all summer, and white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises turn up on most trips. Winter boats still sail from Reykjavík, but sightings drop and the sea is rougher. If whales are the point of your trip, come in summer and book an early departure; seas are usually calmer in the morning.
Can you see whales from Reykjavík in December?
Sometimes. Boats run from the Old Harbour all year, and winter trips do find whales, mostly humpbacks and the occasional orca. But December means short daylight, cold wind and a higher chance the operator cancels for weather. Sightings are noticeably less frequent than in summer. If you are here in winter, go anyway, but treat it as a sea trip with a chance of whales rather than a whale trip. Most operators offer a free second trip if nothing shows.
Is Húsavík or Reykjavík better for whale watching?
Húsavík, if you can get there. Skjálfandi Bay in the north sees humpbacks close to shore from May to September, and the small family-run boats like Friends of Moby Dick (/experience/752602/) keep group sizes down. Reykjavík is more convenient: boats leave the Old Harbour five minutes from most hotels and run all year. Akureyri and Dalvík in Eyjafjörður are also strong. If you are only in Reykjavík, go from Reykjavík and do not feel short-changed.
Will I get seasick on a whale watching tour?
You might. Faxaflói is open sea and the boats roll, especially in wind. Take a tablet an hour before departure, stay on deck in fresh air and watch the horizon rather than your phone. Morning trips tend to be calmer than afternoon ones. If you know you suffer badly, a two-hour RIB trip (/experience/155331/) is faster and bumpier but shorter, or pick a northern fjord like Eyjafjörður, which is more sheltered than the bay off Reykjavík.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.
from 16.181 kr.Lowest price
Guesthouse · Reykjavík
Old Town Reykjavík
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 41.790 kr.Mid-range
Hotel · Reykjavík
Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 60.840 kr.Top end
Hotel · Reykjavik
Hótel Holt
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €6 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
Elding Adventure at Sea
Reykjavík Whales & Snowmobile
153% above the €139 typical for whale watching tours
from age 7 · meet at the start point
6 h · from Reykjavík
- Gear included
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Elding Adventure at Sea
Whale Watching from Reykjavík & Akureyri
32% above the €139 typical for whale watching tours
meet at the start point
6 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Reykjavik Sailors
Whale Wonders: Morning Expedition
29% below the €139 typical for whale watching tours
pickup at extra cost
3 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Reykjavik Sailors
Whale Watching and Puffin Tour: Explore Iceland's Wildlife from Old Harbour in Downtown Reykjavik
about the usual price for whale watching tours
meet at the start point
3 h 30 · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Sea Trips Reykjavík
Whale watching - Downtown Reykjavík
34% below the €139 typical for whale watching tours
pickup at extra cost · works in rain
3 h 30 · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
Snaeland Travel
Door to Door Private Blue Lagoon Transfer
pickup included · works in rain
4 h · from Reykjavík
- Family friendly
- Free cancellation 24 h
- Private