Whale Watching and Sea Angling in Eyjafjörður: Cast a Line

Cast a line between whale sightings in a sheltered fjord

Whale Watching Hauganes runs a combined whale watching and sea angling tour on classic Icelandic oak boats in the still waters of Eyjafjörður fjord, near Akureyri. The 3.5-hour trip includes warm overalls that double as flotation suits, hot coffee and chocolate, locally made pastries, and sea angling equipment. Whales averaged just 20 minutes from the dock last year. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour, and the operator plants one tree for every departure as part of its carbon-neutral operation.

The experience

The boats leave from Hauganes, a small settlement 25 minutes north of Akureyri, and head into Eyjafjörður: a fjord sheltered enough that the water stays calm even when the North Atlantic churns outside. This is where the activity splits: you watch for whales while the boat moves slowly through the fjord, and between sightings you drop a line to fish. The operator calls it "slow travel" because the pace leaves room to notice the landscape and the wildlife without feeling rushed or intrusive. The boats themselves are built from Icelandic oak, spacious and stable enough that the motion stays gentle.

What you bring on deck matters here. Warm overalls that function as flotation suits come with the tour, but you'll want to pack a hat and gloves. The wind off the water is real even on a calm day. Hot coffee and chocolate wait in the cabin, along with locally made twisted donuts and cinnamon buns. The sea angling gear is set up for you. If you've never fished from a boat, the guide will show you how. Last year the operator logged a 99% whale sighting rate, with whales typically spotted about 20 minutes from the dock, so the odds of seeing something are solid.

The carbon-neutral angle matters if you care about it: the operator blends the boat fuel with biodiesel made in Akureyri from frying oils collected at local restaurants, and plants one tree for every tour that departs. Hauganes itself sits near a cluster of other things (a restaurant, hot tubs by the black sand beach at Sandvik, and a beer spa five minutes north), so you can build a longer day around the tour if the weather holds.

What’s included

• Warm overalls that function as flotation suits.
• sea angling equipment.
• hot coffee and hot chocolate.
• locally made Icelandic twisted donuts and cinnamon buns.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full 3.5 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jun 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (6 to 15 years) · Child (under 6): free

GroupUp to 72

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Whale Watching Hauganes

Is this one for you?Small groups and families will share the boat with other travelers, which keeps the pace relaxed and the boat stable in the fjord's still water: ideal if you want to fish and watch wildlife without the rush of a larger commercial tour.

Traveler reviews

4.72★★★★★★★★★★

65 verified traveler reviews

5 ★57

4 ★2

3 ★3

2 ★2

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 15 years); Child (under 6): free.

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.

How often do you actually see whales on this tour?

Whale Watching Hauganes reported a 99% sighting success rate during the 2022 season, with whales typically spotted about 20 minutes from the Hauganes dock on average.

What happens if I've never fished before?

Sea angling equipment comes with the tour and the live English-speaking guide will show you how to fish. No prior experience is needed.

How cold is the water, and what should I wear?

Warm overalls that also serve as flotation suits are included, but bring your own hat and gloves because the wind off the fjord is sharp even on calm days.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 3.5 hours total, with time split between whale watching and sea angling as the boat moves through Eyjafjörður fjord.

Is the boat ride rough, or is it smooth?

Eyjafjörður is a sheltered fjord that stays calm even when the open North Atlantic is rough. The classic oak boats are spacious and extremely stable, so the ride is gentle.