L
Iceland October 2026
The highlight of our trip! It was awesome!
RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik
+7 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $196 / person
- Location
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 274 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Whale Safari
- Meeting point
- Our ticket office is located at Ægisgarður 5d in 101 Reykjavík at the corner of the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík.
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10 times a day, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 15
- Adult (ages 10+)
- $196
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 4:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:28 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
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!
Faxafloi Bay
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.
Sun Voyager
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.
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
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.
What's included
Included
Professional marine biologist guide
All necessary safety equipment
Use of coveralls
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
274 reviews
How it compares in Reykjavik
- Starting price $196 is 43% above the typical $137 for tours of similar length in Reykjavik
Excurgo comparison of 1,576 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
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
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 RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik take?
RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik cost?
Prices start at $196 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 RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 10 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM.
Can I cancel RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Our ticket office is located at Ægisgarður 5d in 101 Reykjavík at the corner of the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik 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 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not recommended for young children
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 274 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Whale Safari.
Reviews(274)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
E
Whales and more whales!
Great time on the water! We saw humpbacks and minke whales! Great time. Guide and captain were amazing!
A
Fun whale watching with attentive captain and guide
We saw humpback and minke whales and porpoises and birds. But that's the reason for the rating, as wildlife sighting is highly unpredictable. The high rating is for the professional instructions, the overalls, life jackets, gloves and goggles, etc. The boat and seats are clean and comfortable. The captain and the guide were on high alert the whole time, spotting different wildlife and pointing them out to us. I highly recommend them.
M
Easy and straightforward...
Easy and straightforward instructions . The staff is extremely welcoming and the tour itself was an absolute riot . We had a fabulous tour and saw amazing wildlife
T
OMG this was fun
This was soooo much fun! We were on a small boat and for me this was a bonus. Not only did we see lots of a of whales, along with some last-departing puffins and a school of dolphins, but the boat ride was like a roller coaster on water (I thought this was FUN). Great guides, stellar operation. Totally worth the cost!
J
Amazing!
Amazing experience. So well organised and professional. Saw a humpback whale and dolphins multiple times. Would highly recommend.
K
Fantastic whale watching trip. Followed a whale for 20 min and a group of dolphins followed us!
The trip and guides were amazing!
K
Minke and Humpback sightings!
We loved this trip. It was incredibly informative and we felt very well looked after, as well as very lucky to see minke whales. The ride was also quite riveting. Guillermo and Miguel looked after us incredibly well and even sent fantastic photos afterwards. I can thoroughly recommend this trip and recommend as many layers as possible! They were also very polite about discouraging us taking biscuits and drinks with us :) but let our eldest take a bottle of water when they got stressed about this, it was much appreciated, a very caring team.
J
Best whale watching experience
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.
W
Beautiful and unique
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.
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- Shortest: RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik — 2 hours
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik | 2 hours | 4.7 (274) | $196 | |
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 Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík | 2 hours | 4.9 (527) | $171 | View |
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 Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat from Downtown Reykjavik | 2 hours | 4.6 (39) | $160 | View |
 Whale-Watching Boat Tour with Expert Guide from Reykjavik | — | 4.2 (721) | $102 | View |
from$196
4.7(274) Free cancellation