Whale Watching Cruise from Reykjavík

by Sea Trips Reykjavík · Whale watching · Boat tours · Reykjavík

4.8· 26 reviews of this tour4.60· 348 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Luxury
Couples
Eco-certified

from €99.03 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

Book Thu 22 Oct · €99.03 Other dates

Whale Watching Cruise from Reykjavík — Sea Trips Reykjavík

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sea trips reykjavík - Whale Watching Cruise from Reykjavík

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27 photos from Sea Trips Reykjavík. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Season
May – Sep
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup available at extra cost, or meet at the start point
Starts at
Please check-in 30 minutes before departure
Ægisgarður 2, Reykjavík
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
09:15, 10:30, 13:15, 16:00 …
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

Our take on this one

Sea Trips run this on the Amelia Rose, a yacht rather than a converted fishing boat, which means fewer people on board and three deck levels to move between when the rail gets crowded. Three and a half hours out into Faxaflói, past Engey, Lundey and Viðey, with the city skyline behind you the whole way. Minke and humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises are the usual sightings and orcas turn up occasionally — nobody can promise you any of them, and the crew won't. Blankets are provided and there is a heated indoor cabin and a bar. Check in at the Old Harbour 30 minutes before; pickup costs extra. Summer only, five departures from 09:15.

Book it if: People who want the Faxaflói whale trip on a smaller, more comfortable boat than the big operators sail.
Skip it if: Nobody can promise you a whale, and Faxaflói can be rough — if you get seasick, the 09:15 sailing is usually the calmest, and even that is a gamble.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

ome aboard the Amelia Rose yacht and see the incredible wealth of marine wildlife that lives in the waters just off the shores of Reykjavík City. Nature lovers looking to see some of Iceland’s majestic whales, dolphins, and porpoises, but who wish to do so in a small group, should grab this chance now. Whale watching on a superyacht takes whale watching to the next level.

The ship sets sails from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour and during your journey, you’ll sail among the small islands in the Faxaflói Bay, as well as along the coast of Reykjavík, providing you with a fantastic view of the city as you search for the wildlife in the water.

The most common sights are minke and humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises. However, there is always a chance to spot a few orcas (also known as killer whales) as well as a wealth of other species. The professional team onboard is very experienced in spotting whales and are dedicated to making sure their passengers leave with a smile.

This tour is conducted on a beautiful yacht called the Amelia Rose. With three panoramic deck areas, the vessel provides every passenger with a good view of the surrounding area as well as an excellent opportunity to capture some amazing pictures. The decks are partially covered, providing some shelter from wind and rain, and you can easily circle them to enjoy the best views.

Amelia Rose is designed as an offshore vessel, making it better adapted to take on the turbulent waves of Iceland’s waters, ensuring a smoother sail with less probability of passengers experiencing nausea or seasickness.

So don’t hesitate. Book now to enjoy whale watching in both style and comfort on this small-group whale watching tour. Check availability by choosing a date.

Description from the operator, Sea Trips Reykjavík. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

Pass By: Old Harbour
Pass By: Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre
Pass By: Faxaflói
Pass By: Engey
Pass By: Lundey
Pass By: Videy Island

Included

2.5 - 3 hours Whale Watching Cruise
Professional guides
Panoramic views
Warm blankets
Free Wi-Fi
Drinks and snacks available for purchase
Restroom on board
Warm indoor sitting area onboard
Pickup is available for an extra charge

Good to know

We recommend all guests dress warmly in layers and good footwear it is always colder on the water and don´t forget your camera.

Please check-in at the Old Harbour House at Aegisgardur 2, 101 Reykjavík 30 minutes before departure.

If you added pick-up service, we will pick you up 75–45 minutes before departure. This is the pick-up window. Traffic may cause small delays, but we’ll do our best to arrive within that time.

Weather is a big factor for the tour, we may have to cancel the tour due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The tour takes place in wild nature, sightings cannot be predicted or guaranteed. If there are no sightings on the tour, we do not offer refunds but instead, we offer our passengers a free return to join our tour depending on availability, valid for up to three years.

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.

1Sea Trips Reykjavík 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 →

Who this is not for

Not available in winter; the operator runs it roughly May to September.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Sea Trips Reykjavík 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 Sea Trips Reykjavík

Read all 348 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

János Kiss
★★★★★ · a month ago
Luckily, the boat wasn't crowded at all, which we were really happy about. The vessel was very comfortable, and having multiple decks meant we could enjoy the scenery from different viewpoints. Unfortunately, despite the beautiful weather, we didn't spot any whales, and only a few of us caught a brief glimpse of white-beaked dolphins swimming alongside the boat. But no worries—better luck next time! Since the tour wasn't successful in spotting whales, we received a voucher to book another trip for free within the next three years.
Zack Eckley
★★★★★ · a month ago
An absolutely incredible experience out on Faxaflói bay with Sea Trips Reykjavík. We were lucky enough to spot several whales, which made the trip truly unforgettable. The crew onboard were wonderfully friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable throughout the entire sailing. On top of that, the tour was very reasonably priced for such a fantastic adventure. Highly recommended if you’re visiting Reykjavík!
Hernan Torres
★★★★★ · a month ago
Puffin Watching Yacht Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík – Small Group Experience https://seatrips.is/tour/puffin-watching-yacht-cruise-from-downtown-reykjavik/ It was a really smallest group experience, like a private tour for both of us, we booked way before our trip, very easy, and once over there, the day before someone from the tour operator called me to see if we were willing to move our tour time from 2:30 pm to 12 pm, because some technical issues, I know things happen, so no problem, we went there around 11:30 am, nobody was in the office because all shops around there were doing some painting, we went to a restaurant across the street, and Ana was there, we did the check in and ready to go on board the “Sea Ranger”, small powerful and beautiful yacht and guess what? We were the only passengers, the whole boat just for us! Ana was the guide and a young nice man the pilot, they took us to 2 small islands near the port, no more that 15 minutes away, and we were able to see those beautiful, colorful, small and fast elusive sea birds, it was worth and we took several pictures /videos from them very close, you cannot step on land, it’s forbidden, and they don’t stay put for the pictures! You need to know, the birds have their own “calendar for the year” , that day (8/19/26) was the last day for the season, they go and live on the sea and come back next year in early April, how? Good question. In the background you can see the Tall ship ARC Gloria from the Colombian Navy on its yearly cruise with Naval Cadets on board
Katie Hepting
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
Claudia was an incredible guide for our northern lights tour on March 22, 2026. She was very attentive and informative, giving constant updates on light activity and giving us all tips for photographing. Inside the boat was warm and cozy, and you can’t beat having bathrooms and a bar available! The boat wasn’t packed full of people which we appreciated. It was very easy to move around. Highly recommend this tour!

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Iceland in October: what tours still runAlmost everything runs in October except the shared Highland day tours. Ice caves near Jökulsárlón open early in the month, and northern lights tours run nightly.
Iceland in September: what tours runNearly everything runs in September. Puffin boats have stopped, the Highland day tours run to the 30th, and northern lights tours start nightly.
Whale watching in Reykjavík: RIB or yachtTake the yacht unless you are fit, fond of speed and over 145 cm. The RIB is faster and closer, costs about €60 more, and is shorter and rougher.

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.

All hotels in Reykjavík →

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from

€99.03 per person

Sea Trips Reykjavík's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs09:1510:3013:1516:0017:00

Reykjavík: light 08:37–17:48, 9 h 11 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Sea Trips Reykjavík cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Sea Trips Reykjavík's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €5 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.