Whale watching with kids: age limits and tours
Whale watching with children from Reykjavík: Elding and Reykjavik Sailors take any age on the big boats; the RIB speedboats start at 7 to 10.
The short version
- The big boats from Reykjavík take any age: Elding, Reykjavik Sailors and Special Tours list a child category from 0 to 6, at about €99 to €106 for adults.
- RIB speedboats set minimum ages: 10 for Sea Trips and Reykjavik Sailors, 7 for Iceland Discover. Adult prices run €139 to €179.
- The Reykjavik Sailors Express is about 2.5 hours, the shortest of the big boats. The classics run about 3 hours.
- Seasickness is the real risk for children, more than age. Choose a calm month and the bigger boat.
For children under 10, take the big boat, not the speedboat. The classic whale watching tours from Reykjavík take children of any age: Elding, Reykjavik Sailors and Special Tours all list a child category from 0 to 6. The RIB speedboats are different, with minimum ages of 7 to 10. A toddler on a boat is allowed. Whether it is a good idea is a separate question.
The big boats
The Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching from Elding (about €106, three hours, no pickup) is the standard family choice. It sails from the Old Harbour on a large boat, which gives you more room to move and shelter than a speedboat. Children aged 0 to 6 and youths aged 7 to 15 are booked in their own categories. The version with pickup is about €134.
If three hours sounds like too much, the Whale Watching Express from Reykjavik Sailors (about €102, two and a half hours) is the shortest big-boat trip we sell from Reykjavík. Half an hour saved matters with a restless five-year-old. Special Tours runs a three-and-a-half-hour tour at about €106 with the same child categories.
All three offer free cancellation until 24 hours before departure. That matters, because a child with a cold on the morning is not a surprise.
The speedboats
A RIB is an open, fast boat. You wear a flotation suit, you hold on, and the ride is bumpy. Sea Trips’ RIB whale tour (about €157, two hours) lists a youth category of 10 to 15. Reykjavik Sailors’ RIB Whale Expedition (about €179, two hours) does the same. Iceland Discover’s RIB trip starts at 7.
These are exciting for a ten-year-old who wants speed. They are the wrong choice for a child who is easily frightened or prone to car sickness. You also cannot move around, so a child who needs the toilet has to wait until you are back on shore.
Seasickness
This is the real limit, not the age. Faxaflói can be calm or lively, and the big boats still roll. A few things help:
- Sit low and in the middle of the boat, near the back, and watch the horizon.
- Give your child a light meal beforehand. A hungry child is sick sooner.
- Ask your pharmacist about travel sickness remedies for the age. Do not guess a dose.
- Pick a calm-looking forecast. Summer is usually kinder than winter.
If your child is sick on the first ten minutes of a car trip, treat a three-hour boat with caution.
Cold and clothes
The deck is windy even in July. Ask the operator what it lends and in which sizes. Wear a warm layer under a windproof jacket and bring a hat and gloves. If your family is short of kit, our guide to clothing rental in Iceland covers it.
In the north
From Húsavík the Original Whale Watching with North Sailing (about €103, three hours) has a child category from 0 to 6 and a youth category from 7 to 15. If you are already in the north, this is the easy family option. Compare the towns in our guide to whale watching in Reykjavík and Húsavík.
Our honest take
Book the Elding Classic if you want a safe default, and the Express if your children are small and three hours feels long. Both are bigger and steadier than a speedboat.
Save the RIB for children of 10 and over who like speed and are not seasick. Do not book it to impress a younger child. And remember that no operator can promise whales, so tell your children there may be dolphins or nothing at all. Ask about the retry policy before you book.
