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Faxaflói

Faxaflói: Our most recommended tours and activities

Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

1. Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

Take a boat trip from Reykjavik’s harbor to discover Iceland’s rich marine life, which is one of this island country’s highlights. All year round you can spot a variety of whales and other marine animals in the Reykjavik area, including minke and humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and whale-beaked dolphins. Have an opportunity to see some of Iceland's most beautiful marine animals, along with the stunning scenery of the Icelandic coast. The peak season for whale watching runs from April to October, but of course, the ocean is always full of magical creatures, and you never know what you might see. Benefit from the services of specially-trained whale watching guides who are experts at spotting the animals. You will be free to listen as they tell you about the behavior of the whales, and answer any questions you may have. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Icelandic coast as you spot local wildlife. Take a break and warm up in the heated indoor area. Relax on board the boat and enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating, and purchase drinks and snacks along the way from the onboard bar and cafeteria. You will experience a pleasant and comfortable ride, even at higher speeds, and will be able to share your adventure live on social media with the onboard WiFi.

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

2. From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

Climb aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) equipped with special shock suspension seating for a smoother ride. Look for whales and other marine life in the wild. Travel aboard the 12-meter long boat to get extra close to whales in a way that is safe for passengers and the animals. Benefit from warm flotation suits, life vests, gloves and goggles to keep you cozy and safe, and avail of the services of an experienced guide who will provide information about the animals and bay in English.  Stop by the island of Akurey to look for adorable puffins during the summer. See their nests along the coast during their breeding season. Head out to the bay on a fast and thrilling ride with the wind in your hair. Reach a comfortable cruising speed of 32 knots and get plenty of time in the feeding grounds. Then, take a scenic route back along the coast of Reykjavik. After your tour, you can visit the Whales of Iceland Museum, located in the Grandi harbor district of Reykjavik. Here, you can discover more about the various whale species of the Atlantic, with exhibits on whale biology, migration, and conservation.

Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

3. Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Climb aboard a whale-watching boat operated by the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland. Get up close to humpback, minke, and orca whales, as well as abundant sea birds, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. After setting sail, explore the southern part of Faxafloi Bay off Reykjavik’s old harbor and have an excellent chance of encountering mysterious and fascinating whales off the coast of Iceland, where the ocean currents create some of the best whale-watching conditions in the world. Enjoy a tour with a high success rate: Whales are seen on more than 95% of summer tours and 80% of winter tours, often surfacing within a few meters of the boat. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed, boats sail at a constant speed toward the whales' habitat, a sustainable policy that also minimizes oil use and pollution. Learn about the wildlife and scenery from guides that have gone through an extensive training program, based on exclusively developed guiding principles. And as a successful whale watching tour is a team effort, the crew works closely with passengers to spot whales, helping you feel an important part of the experience.

Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

4. Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

Discover adorable puffins on a cruise from the Old Harbor in Reykjavík. Search for local whales on a second cruise from Reykjavík to Faxaflói Bay. Stay warm with inside seating and overalls. See local wildlife clearly with the use of binoculars on the puffin tour. Travel by a small boat named Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli), perfect for puffin watching, since it has a shallow draught, and therefore can get really close to the small islands where the puffins live. The guides are very knowledgeable about the thriving bird life in Reykjavík's surroundings. Benefit from this combo tour's included classic whale watching tour, operated on the Andrea boat, lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The Andrea is the biggest whale watching boat in Iceland, and has an educational and interactive focus. It is also family friendly and spacious with a cafeteria on-board. If you choose to, you can switch to the express tour leaving 1 hour later on a faster boat that gets you out to the whale watching area quicker than the other whale watching boats, but still allows you to have plenty of time. Most common whale sights in Faxaflói Bay are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Note that these are two separate tours and you don't have to do them on the same day.

Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

5. Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

Hop aboard a RIB speedboat and head out for a thrilling adventure just off Reykjavik's coast. Marvel at the abundance of sea life Iceland has to offer, such as majestic whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Begin your tour from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and cruise among the small islands in the Faxaflói Bay, as well as along the coast of Reykjavík. Admire fantastic views of the city and its landmarks like the Harpa concert hall as you search for wildlife in the water. During your tour, pass by Engey, the second-largest island of the Kollafjörður (Faxa Bay) fjord in western Iceland. Also cruise past Lundey, literally “Puffin Island” in Icelandic, a small uninhabited island off Reykjavík’s western coast. Enjoy the chance to see incredible animals in their natural habitat without being overcrowded onboard the boat. And if you don't get lucky with wildlife sightings on the day you go, you'll receive a complimentary ticket to try again another day.

Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

6. Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

Discover the puffins of Iceland on a wildlife watching tour by RIB Boat, These boats cover a larger area and get closer to the puffins than on a conventional vessel. Watch the birds as they nest, dive and fly, and learn about their characteristics as you cruise around the rocks and cliffs. Make your own way to Reykjavik Old Harbour in the early morning and meet the captain of your RIB. Listen to a short safety briefing, put on your provided coveralls, climb aboard, and take hold of the grab rail as your boat sets off. Take in the views of Faxaflói Bay as your RIB zips out over the ice-cold waters. As you cruise, watch for Iceland’s wildlife, including the many species of sea birds that frequent the bay and its islands in summer. As well as puffins, gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns all visit the local waters. Bump over the waves toward the rocky islands and sea cliffs, and sail up close to the rocks and inlets to view the puffins that nest here between May and August. As you watch the puffins, listen to interesting facts about the species from the expert guide and captain. Hear about their natural behaviors and diet, and snap photos of them nesting, diving, and flying as you sail around the little inlets.  After about an hour on the sea, arrive back at Reykjavik harbor where your puffin watching cruise ends.

Reykjavik: Midnight Sun Whale Watching Tour

7. Reykjavik: Midnight Sun Whale Watching Tour

Whales are the most mysterious of creatures, and some of the best whale watching in the world is just off the coast of Iceland’s capital, where the ocean currents create excellent viewing conditions. Climb aboard a whale watching boat operated by the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland, and explore the southern part of Faxafloi Bay in the Midnight sun of the summer months. On the 3.5-hour tour you will get up-close to whales such as playful minke, as well as see abundant sea birds, dolphin and harbor porpoise. Whales are seen on more than 95% of summer tours, often surfacing within a few meters from the boats. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed, boats sail at a constant speed towards the whales' habitat. This is part of a sustainability policy, trying to minimize oil use and pollution. Guides have all gone through an extensive training program, based on exclusively developed guiding principles. They will provide valuable information about the wildlife and scenery in an entertaining way. And as a successful whale watching tour is a team effort, the crew work closely with passengers to spot the whales, helping you feel an important part of the experience.

Reykjavik: Best Value Whale Watching Boat Tour

8. Reykjavik: Best Value Whale Watching Boat Tour

Start the trip from a beautiful harbor in the city center and sail out to Kollafjöður, where you can see the island in the bay. Videy Island is known for the Lennon/One Peace tower, Richard Scerra's 'Milestones', and other attractions, along with great bird life. Continue on to Faxaflói Bay, popular for whale and bird watching, sea angling, and also great fishing grounds. The mountain ring seen from the bay, among which Snaefellsjökull Glacier may be spotted on clear days, is particularly beautiful.

Reykjavik: Luxury New Years Fireworks Midnight Cruise

9. Reykjavik: Luxury New Years Fireworks Midnight Cruise

Join an amazing evening yacht cruise on the Amelia Rose to celebrate the New Year and say bon voyage to 2021. The luxury yacht Amelia Rose leaves the harbor at 10:00 PM, and returns approximately half an hour after midnight. The view from the sea gives you the chance of seeing the world-famous fireworks over the city and the surrounding towns. If the skies are clear, you might be able to catch the Northern lights too! Receive a complimentary glass of Champagne as midnight approaches and, as the clock strikes 12, raise a toast to the New Year. Three panoramic decks will ensure that you will get the best view possible of the fireworks, the Reykjavík coastline, and if the skies are clear hopefully catch the Northern lights too.

From Reykjavik: Buggy & Whale Watching Adventure

10. From Reykjavik: Buggy & Whale Watching Adventure

It’s no more than 15 minutes from your Reykjavik accommodation to the buggy base camp. After being picked up from your accommodation in Reykjavik you will be taken to the base camp, given instructions and safety training then geared up. No experience is necessary to ride and your expert guides will make sure you know everything you need for a safe and fun buggy adventure. You will drive off-road on a variety of terrains as you head for Úlfarsfell Mountain. The ride to the top is a chance to experience the true thrills of buggy riding. And when you get there, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic view across the whole city, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains. Please note that the buggies are 2-seater, so you can either choose to share or choose to drive your own buggy by selecting the 'single rider' option. After your buggy adventure, you will enjoy lunch in Reykjavik Harbor. The old harbor is one of the coziest parts of town. There’s a nice selection of little restaurants and cafes, and you can get a recommendation from your guide. While you refuel, you can look out across the bay and imagine the magnificent creatures that swim below the surface. After lunch head out from the harbor to enjoy some whale watching. The boat is waiting as you head off in search of magnificent Mink whales and the other rich marine life of Faxaflói Bay. A 3-hour guided sea tour provides a fascinating insight into the life of the sea, and great views back to Reykjavik. Whales are a lot harder to predict than buggy vehicles, so sightings are never guaranteed!

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What people are saying about Faxaflói

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 1,520 reviews

I really didn’t think I’d see much on this tour but it wasn’t long at all until we saw a humpback whale! it even gave us a little show by jumping out of the water which the tour guide says rarely happens at this time of year. She was also brilliant and now I can cross something else off my bucket list. Very happy :)

We were lucky we had calm seas and managed to see a juvenile humpback whale, which has been a regular in the area since August, as told to us by our guide. The guide was great and took the time to answer any questions. The boat was warm inside and served a good selection of drinks.

If you go out whale watching in Reykjavik, definitely go with the Sea Trips 'Sailor' team. Some boats turned back due to cold and visibility but fortunately our ship didn't. Thanks to our spotter 'Lucky' we got to see the whale many times. Magnificent, I'd go again

Fantastic tour and amazing guide and crew. One very emotional journey meeting the gorgeous solitary humpback whale. Thank you!

Everything was super, the whale saw this is the most important thing