RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik
Description
Zoom around the Icelandic waters aboard a custom designed RIB speed-boat, and enjoy close-up views of whales, dolphins, puffins and more. The small yet powerful vessel is not just manoeuvrable out on the waters but also capable of reaching high speeds, allowing you to cover a larger area and get closer to the Reykjavik wildlife than you would in a classic boat. After seeing the sights on the open water, enjoy panoramic views to admire Jón Gunnar Árnason’s 'Sun Voyager' sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall on the shoreline. Numbers are limited to 12 per boat on this tour offering an unique small group experience with an expert captain & wildlife guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This great whale watching tour starts from the Old Harbour of Reykjavík and during the puffin season (early May to the end of August) we also visit the puffins in their natural habitat. Next we head out in search of the whales. There are very few things that will beat the experience of seeing the whales and dolphins as up close as you can at sea level from our RIB boats. On this fun tour the fast, stable and safe boats also allow us to cover more area as we search for the wild life, thus increasing your chances of spotting whales, dolphins and bird-life.
During the puffin season (early May to the end of August) we also visit the puffins in their natural habitat, at the Islands of Akurey, Engey or Lundey just outside of Reykjavík. The journey here is a short one, and we spend around 5-10 minutes with the Puffins. Puffins, auks, gannets and an incredible variety of other sea birds dominate the skies and sea cliffs just a few minutes sailing from the Old Harbour. Our RIB's are fast and small so we get you extra close and extra quickly out to the islands!
Next we head out in search of the whales in Faxaflói Bay. There are very few things that will beat the experience of seeing the whales and dolphins as up close as you can at sea level from our RIB boats. Our whale watching boats are equipped with high performance suspension seats. These shock absorbing seats increase safety and comfort and reduce the risk of injuries. So you can comfortably & securely enjoy your whale watching adventure out on the North Atlantic waters.
After the whale safari we travel back to Reykjavík, where we will take ride along the city's shore line, experiencing a unique panoramic view of Reykjavík from the sea (perfect for photos). Our boats will take you past the Sun Voyager sculpture on the seafront.
We then go by the harbour side of Iceland's most famous building, the glittering Harpa Concert Hall.
Finally, after a great adventure at sea, we head back to the harbour! This is approximately two hours after the tour start time.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Dress warmly: Wool or fleece seater, Hat, gloves and sturdy footwear are recommended
- In the case of no sightings you will get a ticket for the Classic Whale Watching tour
- Minimum Age Requirement of 10 Years
- Strict Minimum Height Requirement of 145cm (4ft 9in)
- Maximum Weight Limit of 140kg (308lb)
- Not recommended for travellers with knee problems
- Not recommended for young children
Reviews(265)
This is the best way to go whale watching. The boats are small and fast so when a whale is spotted they can catch up to them quickly. They can get very close to the whales.
The people that drive and guide are passionate about their job and truly know and love the animals. It can be hard to understand what they say on the boat (wind, rain, hood, foreign language), so if you do not hear very well make sure to seat on the front. I did not and I missed half of what she said. Which it is sad, because everytime I manage to hear it was actually very interesting.
Fantastic. Saw humpback,and minke whales, harbor porpoises, white beaked dolphins and puffins! Knowledgeable marine biologist guide and boat driver.
What a blast! Saw so much nature and despite my camera not getting great photos, our tour guide did and we were emailed them post tour. Such an amazing experience. It was cold so definitely listen to the advice of wearing layers
Fabulous experience. We were lucky with the weather, but the kit they provided was great. The guide was friendly, helpful fun and very knowledgeable. He even share the photos of the humpback whale and white beaked dolphins he took on the day with the group.
This whale/puffin experience was over the top! Up close and personal with the whales. Definitely a must do!
Best day in Iceland! The guides were knowledgeable and fun. It was much more exciting than we expected..
Great Experience!! Saw 2 kinds of whales, dolphins, and puffins. Recommend it. They had coveralls, never felt cold
This was just awesome despite the dismal Icelandic July weather :) The ride in the RIB was great in and of itself (fast and exciting, bumping on the waves), and then we saw puffins and 3 whales at different locations. Our crew provided relevant insight about the animals and sights. Organisation was spotless. Definitely recommend!
Finding the exact building was a little confusing, but other businesses helped me. There are flags, but they didn't have the name of the business I was looking for. Regardless, my experience was top notch. When you check in at the desk, they show you the hats, goggles, and gloves you can borrow - borrow them if you don't have your own! The briefing before you receive your suit is short and informative. The zip up waterproof suits are helpful protecting you from wind (and keep you dry from water sprays). I wore a sweater and jacket under my suit and was very comfortable. Others on the boat seemed chilled without those layers. Heading out to the sea was bumpy but our captain (Megan) did an excellent job navigating the large waves. It IS bumpy at times, so be prepared. We visited a tiny island not far from the harbor. Our guide, Maria, did a great job explaining what we saw (so many puffins and other birds). Then, we spent time searching for whales. The boat was small and everyone had a good view. The seats reminded me of riding a horse. They're comfortable and the holds (for hands and feet) make it easy to stay put when there are waves. There are other boats in the water and each boat searches for whales and provides information for other boats. None of the boats encroached on the whale's space. Everyone respected the animal's space while providing us a view of it. Pictures were shared so that everyone could have a copy of the pictures. I had my phone but wasn't able to capture good pictures. I appreciate having pictures of what I saw. I highly recommend this tour and would take it again if I return to Reykjavik.
