Seal Watching and Scenic Fjord Tour from Isafjordur

Watch seals play on the rocks while the fjord opens around you

A half-day seal watching tour from Isafjordur port takes you along winding fjord roads to the Hvítanes seal colony, then to Súðavík village and a memorial honoring those lost in the 1995 avalanches. The tour runs 3.5 hours with a live English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and pickup and drop-off at your cruise ship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Seal watching and scenic fjord tour

• Travel along winding fjord road
• Watch seals at Hvítanes colony
• Visit avalanche memorial in Súðavík
• Watch documentary excerpts about avalanches
• Photo stop with fjord and mountain views
• Return to Ísafjörður and ship

The experience

The route starts at Isafjordur and winds along the fjord road to Hvítanes, a small rocky outcrop where a large colony of harbour and grey seals lives in the sheltered waters. You watch them lounge and play on the rocks below from an excellent vantage point. Looking north from here, you can spot Vigur Island, known for its eider ducks and the prized eider down collected each year: one of the finest natural downs in the world.

The second stop takes you to Súðavík village and a memorial to the 1995 avalanches that struck the Westfjords. Heavy snowfall, fierce storms and frequent avalanche risk define winters here. In that year, deadly avalanches claimed 14 lives in Súðavík and 20 in nearby Flateyri. The tour includes a viewing of excerpts from the 2024 documentary When the Mountain Roars, which tells the story of the town's recovery and the people who rebuilt their lives here.

On the return to Isafjordur, you stop at a photo viewpoint overlooking sweeping panoramas of towering mountains and shimmering fjords. On a clear day, you may glimpse Hornstrandir to the north: a remote 600 km² wilderness accessible only by boat, home to Arctic foxes and the kind of landscape that shaped the region's history.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup and drop-off at your cruise ship.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 13 May 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 59

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by BusTravel Iceland

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docking in Isafjordur and want a guided tour timed to your ship's schedule: the fixed departure works around cruise arrivals and departures, not the other way around.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years); Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What seals will I see at Hvítanes?

Harbour and grey seals live at the Hvítanes colony, taking advantage of the rich feeding grounds in the calm fjord waters. You watch them from a viewpoint overlooking the rocks where they lounge and play.

Why is Súðavík significant to this tour?

Súðavík was hit by a deadly avalanche in 1995 that claimed 14 lives. The tour visits a memorial honoring the victims and the town's resilience, and includes excerpts from a 2024 documentary about the recovery.

How long is the tour and when does it run?

The tour is approximately 3.5 hours and is tailored to cruise ship schedules, with pickup and drop-off at your ship.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes a live English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, pickup and drop-off at your cruise ship, and WiFi on board.