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Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Cruise & Bay Islands

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/26

Duration3h

GroupUp to 125

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three hours on the water hunting whales off Reykjavik's coast

You board at Reykjavik's Old Harbour and spend three hours on a professional yacht searching Faxaflói Bay for minke whales, humpbacks, orcas and dolphins. The crew handles spotting and navigation while you stand on heated observation decks wrapped in warm blankets, with hot drinks available if you need them. If nothing surfaces, you get a free return ticket good for three years instead of a refund.

Step-by-step itinerary

Depart from Reykjavík Old Harbour
Sail among Faxaflói Bay islands
View Reykjavík coastline
Spot minke and humpback whales
Look for dolphins and porpoises
Chance to see orca whales
Pass by Harpa concert hall
Pass by Faxafloi Bay
Pass by Engey island
Pass by Lundey (Puffin Island)
Pass by Viðey Island

The Experience

The boat pulls away from the Old Harbour and you're already scanning the water. You didn't expect how fast the city shrinks behind you, or how the bay opens up — Viðey Island to one side, the peninsula of Akranes visible across the water, and somewhere out there, if you're lucky, the whales. The crew knows what they're looking for. Minke whales show up most often, humpbacks less so, and orcas are rare enough that spotting one feels like winning something. The professional guides have done this hundreds of times and they move through the boat with a kind of quiet focus, pointing out movement in the water before you'd see it yourself.

The yacht has observation decks that let you stand outside without fighting for space, and they hand out warm blankets because the wind off the bay cuts through whatever you wore. Three hours sounds short until you're out there and realize how much of it is just watching — the water, the islands passing, the light changing on the basalt cliffs. Dolphins and porpoises show up regularly too, smaller and faster, breaking the surface in ways that make you lean forward. There's WiFi if you need it, and a restroom below deck, but most people stay topside. The crew sells hot drinks and snacks if you get cold or hungry, which most people do.

One thing to know upfront: sightings aren't guaranteed. This is wild nature, not a tank. If the whales don't show, the company won't refund you, but they'll give you a free return ticket valid for three years, so you can try again when conditions are better. Weather can shut the whole thing down too — they'll cancel if the bay gets too rough. It's not a flaw in the tour; it's the reason the tour exists at all. You're not going to see whales in a pool.

What’s included

Professional guides experienced in whale spotting.
spacious observation decks.
warm blankets.
WiFi on board.
restroom facilities.
panoramic views of Faxaflói Bay, Viðey Island and the Reykjavik coast.
hot drinks and snacks available for purchase.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Iceland Discover

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Icelandic whales without arranging your own boat or timing — the fixed 3-hour schedule and professional crew handle the navigation and spotting, leaving you to watch the water and the islands pass.