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Northeastern Region, Iceland Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Northeastern Region, Iceland Cruises & boat tours

Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Guide

1. Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Guide

Embark on a whale-watching cruise in Húsavík with live commentary. Marvel at the natural beauty of Skjálfandi Bay and get up close to whales, dolphins, and sea birds. Cruise by the north coast of Iceland on a traditional oak boat with light refreshments and warm overalls included. Observe the large diversity of marine animals in Skjálfandi. Enjoy a smooth, safe sailing adventure in an Icelandic oak ship and treat yourself to a cup of hot cocoa and some cinnamon buns on the return trip. This round-trip tour is an authentic wildlife activity operated by the pioneers of whale watching in Iceland. With informative commentary from your guide, learn why Húsavík has turned into Iceland’s whale-watching capital.

Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

2. 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.

Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour

3. Akureyri: 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour

Experience the majestic beauty of the Eyjafjord's humpback whales and other marine life in their natural habitat on a cruise trip from Akureyri. Listen to your guide's commentary and discover how the warmth of the summer sun brings vibrant life and plenty of food for the larger-than-life mammals.  Benefit from the services of specially-trained whale watching guides who are experts at spotting the animals. Listen as they tell you about the behavior of the whales and answer any questions you may have. Journey aboard the only specially-modified, high-speed whale watching ship in Iceland. Capable of carrying 200 people, it provides spectacular views from its cinema-style viewing platforms. Relax aboard the boat and enjoy the ample indoor and outdoor seating. Purchase drinks and snacks along the way from the onboard bar and cafeteria. Experience a pleasant and comfortable ride, even at speed, and share your adventure live on social media with free Wi-Fi.

Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

4. Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

On this 3-hour tour on a traditional oak boat you can discover the magnificent nature of Skjálfandi Bay, observing whales, dolphins and puffins, as well as with other sea birds, in their natural habitat.   Marvel at Puffin Island, the home of thousands of puffins, while enjoying smooth, safe sailing of a traditional Icelandic oak ship. Finally, treat yourself to a cup of hot cocoa and some cinnamon buns on this authentic wildlife adventure that is suitable for the whole family. 

Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

5. Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

Embark on a guided RIB speedboat tour around Puffin Island. See the thousands of puffins in their natural habitat before heading to Skjálfandi Bay to spot whales with frequent sightings of humpback and minke whales. After check-in at the ticket office, be escorted to the dressing room to receive warm water-resistant overalls and life vests. Sit back and peel your eyes across the rocking waves of the Atlantic, looking for any sign of life. Make sure to bring hats and gloves—it's always colder in the bay than in the town. When everybody is ready the guide will show the way to the boat where passengers will find their seats and get informed about safety regulations on board. During puffin season, the first pit-stop will be Puffin Island. Circle around the Island, enjoying the view of thousands of puffins during their breeding period. See Tjörnes peninsula, known for its fossil layers with the most ancient one being two million years old. The next destination is whale watching in Skjálfandi Bay, an area renowned for its rich wildlife, Víknafjöll and Kinnarfjöll mountain ranges. There are 20 different species of cetacean in Iceland, the most common being humpback and minke whales. There is a chance to spot rarer species like orcas, Harbour Porpoises, Blue Whales, and more. With a smaller vessel like a RIB, your captain can get much closer to where these animals swim as small boats make less noise, and are less likely to deter whales. After 2 hours of cruising the ocean, begin the return journey back to the harbor. On your way, you will likely pass one of the numerous nesting Puffin colonies that live in the area—just another fantastic reason to come aboard.

Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

6. 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.

From Dalvik: Arctic Whale Watching in Northern Iceland

7. From Dalvik: Arctic Whale Watching in Northern Iceland

Watch whales in the picturesque landscape of Eyjafjordur and inside the majestic mountains of Tröllaskagi, an area just short of the Arctic Circle. Join an enjoyable and exciting adventure at sea and experience the beautiful wildlife and scenery of Dalvík. Explore the waters of Dalvík, where there is an exceptionally good chance to encounter the great humpback whale, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, small harbor porpoises and sometimes even the majestic blue whale, fin whales or killer whales. Get excited about a tour where guests have seen whales or dolphins in 98% of whale watching tours!

Hjalteyri: Whale-Watching Boat Trip

8. Hjalteyri: Whale-Watching Boat Trip

It's not surprising that many northerners believe that Hjalteyri is one of the best-kept secrets of North Iceland. Eyjafjörður is a favorable habitat for marine life, so favorable in fact that whales were spotted on all of these tours in 2016. On this whale-watching tour, you'll graciously glide through the calm seas of Eyjafjörður under the guidance and expertise of a qualified crew. This tour is approximately two-and-a-half hours long. This tour gives you the unique and exceptional opportunity to get in touch with the magnificent wildlife found in the north of Iceland, most notably the majestic whales and seabirds.

Húsavík: Whale Watching on a Carbon Neutral Oak Boat

9. Húsavík: Whale Watching on a Carbon Neutral Oak Boat

The original whale watching tour is now available carbon neutral. The local tour operator has adopted an active environmental policy based on the idea of sustainable development. In 2015, it became the first whale watching company in the world to offer carbon neutral whale watching. In cooperation with some other actors, a unique hybrid propulsion system that allows running the ship on renewable energy instead of fossil fuel has been developed.  Experience the tour on a carbon neutral boat and discover the magnificent nature of Skjálfandi Bay observing whales, dolphins and seabirds in their natural habitat. Enjoy smooth sailing and treat yourself to a cup of hot cocoa and cinnamon buns. Join the tour and enjoy an authentic wildlife adventure with the pioneers of whale watching in Iceland.

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

10. 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.

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What people are saying about Northeastern Region, Iceland

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 38 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