Skarfabakki Cruise Port if transfer selected, or the Special Tours Ticket Office in the Old Harbour if meeting directly.
Description
Choose from a 2.5 or 3.5h shore excursion at a time to suit you – morning or afternoon – and then hop aboard your whale-watching boat at Reykjavik Port. Watch out for the incredible marine life for which Iceland is famed as you head toward the waters of Faxaflói Bay. Your guide will hand you a pair of warm (and waterproof!) coveralls to wear, should you need them, enabling you to sightsee without feeling the cold. Listen to your guide explain the different species of whales that are found in Iceland, and hear captivating tales about encounters with these magnificent sea creatures. The waters around Faxaflói Bay are home to porpoises and white-beaked dolphins as well as whales, and the creatures often surface close to the boat; have your camera ready! Your cruise has a 90 percent success rate for seeing whales, but in the unlikely event that you don’t see any your guide will give you a complimentary ticket for another boat ride.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 5:00 PM
Next available
Fri, Oct 9
Adult (ages 16+)
$112
Youth (ages 7–15)
$56
Child (ages 0–6)
Free
Out at sunset: the 5:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:48 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 30 of the next 90 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Classic Departures
Classic Whale Watching: 3-3.5 hr tour. Free pick-up from Skarfabakki port for cruise ship passengers. Otherwise, meeting point is at Geirsgata 11.
Pickup included
What's included
Included
Free WiFi
Complimentary sea sickness tablets, if needed
Roundtrip transfer from Skarfabakki Harbour: pickup 1 hour before departure and dropoff after
Use of thermal overalls - also available in children's sizes!
Free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified
Pickup Locations & Times
Please be ready at the Skarfabakki Harbour 1 hour prior to your departure time if you have selected pick-up.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.3
73 reviews
5
46
4
12
3
7
2
4
1
4
How it compares in Reykjavik
Starting price $112 is 49% below the typical $222 for tours of similar length in Reykjavik
Excurgo comparison of 1,572 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise take?
Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise lasts about 3h 50min.
How much does Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise cost?
Prices start at $112 per person for this Reykjavik experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 5:00 PM.
How much does Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise cost for children?
Children aged 0–6 pay nothing, adults from $112.
Does Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise sell out?
It can: 30 of the next 90 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Please be ready at the Skarfabakki Harbour 1 hour prior to your departure time if you have selected pick-up.
What languages is Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 189 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(73)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
F
Felipe_P
September 5, 2026 · via Viator
In Iceland from Maryland
The boat, Andrea, was about the right size, clean and enough room and choice of viewing locations. Luckily, for us we had a great day, the weather was right. We were able to see a few whales and also dolphins.
Our guide was great on providing information about the whales.
It was a great experience for me and my family.
Recommend doing this tour.
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you and your family had such a great experience with us.
It's fantastic that Andrea provided plenty of space, was comfortable and clean, and offered a variety of viewing spots for wildlife watching. We're also glad the weather cooperated and allowed you to enjoy sightings of both whales and dolphins during the tour.
Thank you as well for your kind words about our guide. We're pleased that the information shared about the whales helped make the experience even more enjoyable and memorable.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are grateful that you chose to join us. We hope to welcome you and your family back on board for another unforgettable adventure in the future!
M
macaes5
July 17, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Good excursion and an even better guide :)
We went on the whale watching tour. Booked with Civitatis and operated by Special Tour.
We were very lucky to see humpback whales and dolphins.
The guide, Alessio, was super friendly and very pleasant; his explanations were very easy to understand, he spoke several languages, and we were able to talk more with him and learn interesting facts about the whales and the puffins.
We are very happy with the experience.
Operator response
¡Muchas gracias por compartir vuestra experiencia! 😊 Nos alegra muchísimo saber que tuvisteis la suerte de ver ballenas jorobadas y delfines, y que disfrutasteis tanto de la excursión. Transmitiremos tus amables palabras a Alessio, que estará encantado de saber que sus explicaciones y conocimientos sobre las ballenas y los frailecillos hicieron la experiencia aún más especial. Gracias por confiar en nosotros y esperamos volver a veros en una nueva aventura muy pronto. 🐋✨
R
Richard_M
July 15, 2026 · via Viator
Wet and Wild with Whales
The commentator was a great speaker. Full of enthusiasm and very knowledgeable! Described things very clearly. Showed us she really loves her field!
Operator response
Thank you for your kind review! We are glad you enjoyed our guide's enthusiasm and knowledge; this is very important to us!
T
Tanja L
July 12, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale watching
Whale watching. Everything went great: organized and knowledgeable. Saw whales 👏😍 Thank you 🫶
Operator response
Vielen Dank für Ihre Bewertung! Wir freuen uns, dass Ihnen alles gefallen hat, inklusive der Organisation! Und dass Sie sogar Wale gesehen haben!! 😍
L
lisa_p
July 7, 2026 · via Viator
Worthwhile excursion
Good weather for whale watching. The boat did a great job of calling out sightings and maneuvering so all guests could see.
Operator response
Thank you for your kind review! We are glad you enjoyed your tour, and the captain did a great job offering everyone a good view!
E
Excursion62201336023
June 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour
The tour was fantastic. The guide was very informative and was diligent in trying to find whales!
The boat had good facilities as well.
Operator response
Thank you for finding our tour fantastic! We are very happy that you were able to see whales during your trip.
Thank you as well for highlighting our guide as an informative and diligent person who worked hard to locate the whales. We also appreciate you mentioning the good facilities on board.
Your kind feedback means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you on board again in the future.
7
702aidaa
June 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience
It was amazing to see a whale so close. Our guide Laura from France was really good!
Operator response
Thank you for rating us!
We are very happy that you had the chance to see a whale so close to you. Thank you for mentioning Laura’s work, it truly means a lot to us!
C
Crismitchell
June 16, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Experience
We booked the 5pm classic (3 hour) whale watching tour for the three of us (adults).
We really wanted to stay on the top deck but it was colder than expected! We were offered some lovely cozy overalls and then spent the whole trip outside!!
The guide we had was lovely, very knowledgeable and the team knew exactly where to head.
We were treated with sightings of Minky and Humpback Whales as well as dolphins.
Brilliant time and would 100% recommend.
Operator response
Thank you for recommending us!
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Whale Watching Classic tour. Despite the cold weather, we're glad our crew could help keep you comfortable by providing warm overalls for the trip.
It's wonderful to know that you were able to see not only whales but also dolphins during your excursion. Thank you as well for your kind words about our guide. We truly appreciate you highlighting their knowledge and friendly personality.
We hope to welcome you back on board again in the future for another memorable experience!
J
JohnCBlanchette
April 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Whale watching in Iceland
Excellent guide, we'll captained through some significant seas. It was sometimes tough to see the whales from anywhere besides the front of the ship.
Operator response
Thank you for your positive feedback about the tour. We’re delighted to hear that you appreciated both the guide and the captain, especially in the sea conditions that day.
We’re sorry that visibility of the whales was more difficult from your position on the boat. Since sightings can occur on either side, it can sometimes be challenging for everyone to share the same view.
We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on board again in the future.
3
382esterc
April 25, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
I’m very disappointed that I wasted my time and money for this tour.
Wasted money and it’s not worth it! You don’t see anything, only the tour guide will see everything in front of her..I don’t recommend! If you want to pay just to freeze in the middle of the ocean go ahead.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear of your disappointment.
As the whales are wild animals in their natural habitat, unfortunately, we cannot predict their behaviour or how close they may come to the boat. In cases where sightings are very limited, our crew may offer the opportunity to join another tour free of charge. If this applies to your tour, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can help arrange a new booking - info@specialtours.is
Regarding the cold, Iceland’s weather can indeed be quite harsh, especially at sea. For this reason, we provide warm overalls on board for all guests to use free of charge.
We appreciate your feedback and hope to have the chance to provide you with a better experience in the future.
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