Whale Watching Express Adventure

by Reykjavik Sailors · Whale watching · Reykjavík

4.30· 215 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Suits older travellers
Good with teenagers
Eco-certified

from €103 per person

Next departure: Tue 1 Jun

Book Tue 1 Jun · €103 Other dates

Whale Watching Express Adventure — Reykjavik Sailors

Whale tail diving beneath the waves near Reykjavík Iceland

Whale swimming near the ocean surface during a Reykjavík whale tour

Whale blowing water from its blowhole in Icelandic waters

Whale surfacing beside a whale watching boat near Reykjavík

Humpback whale breaching above the ocean near Iceland

Whale visible below the ocean surface during an Iceland boat tour

View from a whale watching boat sailing through Icelandic waters

Whale tail above the water during a Reykjavík whale watching trip

Whale surfacing in the ocean during a wildlife cruise in Iceland

1 / 10

10 photos from Reykjavik Sailors. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Very easy
Season
All year
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup available at extra cost, or meet at the start point
Starts at
Special Tours
Geirsgata 11, Reykjavík
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
10:00, 14:00, 21:00
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Join us for a fast-paced whale watching adventure. In just 2 to 2.5 hours, spot majestic whales and other marine life up close. Our expert guides share fascinating facts along the way, making this a fun and unforgettable experience perfect for those short on time.

Our whale watching tours depart from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. It only takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the whale watching area. For those looking for a quicker option, the Express tour gets you to the area even faster, while still offering the same amount of time to enjoy whale watching on the bay.

Find answers to common questions in our FAQ.

Whale Watching Express (1st May - 30th September):

10:00 - May 1st to September 30th
14:00 - May 1st to September 30th
21:00 - June 15th to July 31st

Check our DAILY DIARY on the web site for essential updates before your tour.

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ADDRESS

We start at Geirsgata 11 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/DatKA6eiZ5sXyxTW7)

Get there 30 minutes early to join the excitement.

Have any questions? Get in touch with us today.

Learn more about who we are and what we do.

Explore our latest stories, tips, and insights.

See you soon.

Description from the operator, Reykjavik Sailors. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

Whale Watching tour from Reykjavik

Included

2-2.5 hours Whale Watching tour

Expert and professional guides

Complimentary ticket for a second tour if no sightings occur

Warm flotation overalls

Enjoy free WiFi on board

Relax in heated indoor cabins featuring convenient toilet facilities

Complimentary seasickness tablets available

Not included

Snacks and beverages, available for purchase on board and pickup service, offered at an extra charge.

Good to know

Here's a friendly recommendation for your comfort and enjoyment:

We suggest wearing sturdy footwear and warm clothing to stay cozy during the tour.

Don't forget to bring your camera to capture amazing photos of your Whale Watching adventure.

Prepare for an unforgettable experience and make lasting memories with these handy tips.

Unfortunately, this boat is not wheelchair accessible. Please reach out to our team for further details and assistance.

Before your arrival, kindly check the tour status on our homepage in the Daily Diary.

Please meet us directly at Geirsgata 11, Special Tours ticket office in Reykjavik Old Harbour pier, 30 minutes before departure.

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.

1Reykjavik Sailors 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 — €24 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Reykjavik Sailors · €103	Your Friend in Reykjavik · €79
How long it runs	2.5 hours	3.5 hours
How hard it is	Very easy	Easy

On everything we can measure, the Your Friend in Reykjavik tour is the better buy. The €24 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.

Why we list it

Reykjavik Sailors 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 Reykjavik Sailors

Read all 215 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.3/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

K Reu
★★★★ · 3 months ago
We booked the whale watching and puffin watching tour package (whale watching boat followed by puffin watching boat) through Get Your Guide in late May. We did not see a single whale which isn't the fault of the tour guide, just something to consider when choosing tours late May. However, we saw more puffins on the puffin tour portion than we saw the entire time in Iceland. It was great. If going late May you'll definitely want your waterproof layers to stay warm. The company provides you with seasickness tablets if needed.
Anna Lis
★★★★★ · 7 months ago
We went whale watching in Reykjavik and had such a fantastic time! The guide was absolutely hilarious — the perfect mix of informative and funny, which made the whole trip even more enjoyable. And yes… “Banana” and “Apple” showed up so many times! 🐋🐳 It was so exciting every time we spotted them again. Seeing the whales surface so close to the boat was unforgettable, and the crew made sure everyone had a great view. The whole experience was well organized, fun, and memorable. If you’re in Reykjavik, don’t miss whale watching — especially if you get a guide like ours!
Ariel Macon
★★★★★ · 8 months ago
Seeing humpback whales in Iceland was an unforgettable experience. I cried from joy. Since we went in December, we knew the chances could be slim, but that made it even more special when we spotted them. The tour wasn’t overcrowded, which made the experience feel more personal. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and even knew details about the individual whales, explaining how biologists study and track them. Warm oversuits were provided, which made the cold completely manageable, and they also offered anti-nausea medicine for anyone worried about seasickness. Even beyond the whales, the scenery was stunning. Between the views, the expertise of the guide, and the overall care taken by the crew, the tour was absolutely worth the cost. I can’t recommend it enough. (Mobile photos included. DSLR cameras allowed.)
Luna
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
We went whale watching, our guide was super helpful and friendly. We were super lucky we saw the humpback whales and dolphins and the dolphins decided to swim with the boat

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Whale watching with kids: age limits and toursWhale watching with children from Reykjavík: Elding and Reykjavik Sailors take any age on the big boats; the RIB speedboats start at 7 to 10.
What to do on your arrival afternoon in ReykjavíkFood walk, whale watching or bed on the afternoon you land — which one survives a red-eye, which one wastes the day, and the combo we'd actually book.
Cruise port to Keflavík airport transferGetting from Reykjavík cruise terminal to Keflavík airport: private transfers start around €147 a car, and you should book before the ship docks.

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 →

One checkout, any number of operators
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from

€103 per person

Reykjavik Sailors'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.

Departs10:0014:0021:00

Reykjavík: light 03:25–23:26, 20 h 1 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Reykjavik Sailors 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: Reykjavik Sailors'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 €6 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.