Whale Watching Cruise: Reykjavik Marine Life Adventure

Embark on an exciting whale-watching cruise from Reykjavik and encounter minke whales, humpbacks, and more. Choose from a Classic or Express cruise and capture Reykjavik’s native marine life in the wild.

Duration:
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Opt for either a relaxing 3.5-hour cruise or a swift 2.5-hour high-speed boat trip, and then head to Reykjavik’s Old Harbor to board your luxurious whale-watching vessel.
Find a cozy spot on deck and put on the provided coveralls to stay warm. Don’t forget to bring a hat, scarf, and gloves to ensure extra warmth. Listen as your guide shares information…

What's Included
  • Access to Free WiFi
  • Complimentary Sea Sickness Tablets
  • Thermal Overalls Available for Use
  • Heated Indoor Seating Areas
  • Downloadable Special Tours App (Multiple Languages)
  • Sightings Guarantee with Free Return Ticket
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drink (can be purchased on board)
  • Hotel transfers (can be added for an additional fee)
Additional Information

Embark on a whale-watching voyage from Reykjavik in search of minke whales, humpbacks, and more. Dress up in the coveralls provided, and keep an eye out for harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, and whales while you navigate the tranquil waters of Faxaflói Bay. During your voyage, your knowledgeable guide will provide informative commentary about…

Location
Geirsgata 11
Geirsgata
Please make your way to the Special Tours Ticket Office, located at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(664 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Paul_f
Feb 23, 2026
Amazing Whale Watching - A wonderful way to spend the afternoon watching these amazing and majestic creatures in their natural habitat. Lots of information shared about the area as well as the whales made it very interesting and enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
Martinad8112ew
Feb 19, 2026
AMAZZIING ONE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE - Dear Heroes, I’m still thinking about the incredible whale watching tour in Reykjavik — it truly exceeded every expectation and deserves to be celebrated in detail. From the moment we arrived at the harbor, everything felt perfectly organized and welcoming. The check-in process was smooth, the staff were friendly and professional, and the atmosphere on the dock was filled with excitement. The boat itself was clean, spacious, and well-prepared for the North Atlantic conditions, with warm overalls provided to ensure everyone stayed comfortable throughout the journey. As we sailed out from the coastline of Reykjavik, the scenery alone was worth the trip. The mountains rising in the distance, the crisp ocean air, and the peaceful rhythm of the water created a sense of calm anticipation. The guides immediately stood out — knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about marine life. Their introductions were informative without being overwhelming, striking a perfect balance between education and excitement. Once we reached the prime viewing areas, the real magic began. The first whale sighting was absolutely breathtaking. Watching a massive humpback whale surface gracefully beside the boat was a moment that felt both surreal and humbling. The way it moved through the water — powerful yet elegant — was unforgettable. The guide calmly explained the whale’s behavior, pointing out the patterns of movement and helping everyone understand what we were witnessing in real time. And it didn’t stop there. Throughout the tour, there were multiple sightings, each one as thrilling as the last. Seeing a whale’s blow mist into the cold air, watching the curve of its back roll beneath the surface, and especially witnessing a fluke dive — when the whale lifted its tail high before descending into the depths — felt like rare privileges. The guides made sure everyone on board had a chance to see and reposition for the best views, creating an inclusive and considerate experience for all passengers. Beyond the whales themselves, the entire experience was thoughtfully executed. The commentary provided fascinating insights into the local ecosystem, migration patterns, feeding habits, and conservation efforts. It was clear that the team genuinely cares about protecting and respecting marine wildlife, which added meaningful depth to the excursion. The boat crew maintained a perfect atmosphere throughout — attentive without being intrusive, enthusiastic without being overwhelming. Safety was clearly a priority, and yet the tour never felt rigid or overly structured. It felt natural, immersive, and wonderfully balanced. Even between sightings, the experience was special. Standing on deck with the vast Icelandic seascape stretching in every direction, feeling the fresh ocean breeze, and scanning the horizon for movement created a sense of connection to nature that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. By the time we returned to the harbor, there was a shared sense of awe among everyone on board. Smiles, excited conversations, and countless photos captured the success of the trip. It wasn’t just a tour — it was a genuinely memorable wildlife encounter delivered with professionalism, warmth, and expertise. For anyone considering a whale watching tour in Reykjavik, this experience sets the standard. Exceptional crew, remarkable sightings, stunning scenery, and a strong commitment to marine conservation — it truly offers everything one could hope for in a North Atlantic adventure. Thank you for an unforgettable day on the water. Martin
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindyla72
Feb 19, 2026
Whale Watching - Excellent instructions for collecting our boarding tickets. Boat was spotless and warm inside. Staff were super helpful. We saw 2 humpback whales within 15 minutes of setting sail. What an experience. We saw dolphins after this too. Great day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Journey18982839429
Feb 18, 2026
My whale watching adventure. - A wonderful experience with a helpful and friendly crew. It was well organized and the person on the mic was able to give us lots of information about the whales. I would definitely do it again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
154lucianp
Feb 17, 2026
Amazing - There were many posts saying that it’s not worth going on a whale watching tour in February because most whales migrate away at that time. Rest assured, it is well worth it and I highly recommend it. We saw a couple of humpback whales, porpoises and many curious dolphins that were swimming along the boat. The crew was great, we had a lot of fun and they gave us so much information about whales.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyage25075959222
Mar 2, 2026
Slightly disappointed - The board pilot seemed to be focused on ensuring the people at the front got the views and forgot a lot of people could only see from the sides? Therefore a lot were left with limited view and I would guess a somewhat less of an experience....
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyager68013857350
Mar 1, 2026
Beautiful creatures in beautiful setting - Some reviews on here claim whale watching not open during winter but it absolutely is. Lots of tours throughout. I don’t think you can go anywhere in Iceland where the scenery doesn’t blow you away and the same goes when viewing from a boat. We were very lucky that Banana the humpback whale made several appearances for us throughout our excursion. We also saw porpoises and a seal. But there are no guarantees. Our guide Jitka was fantastic, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful. Dress warm and take seasick tablets if needed (though they give them out free on boat) Great captain who maximised our time in trying to ensure we saw as much as we could from a respectful distance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fearless09259894079
Feb 22, 2026
Interesting - Nice but be careful it's extremely cold but you can see the whales up close
Review provided by Tripadvisor
33denar
Feb 12, 2026
Good adventure. - The boat was comfortable and the crew pleasant. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Upper deck was too small for the number of people trying to take pictures. It was very valuable that pictures were taken by tour guide and posted on website. That made price worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
715katalinr
Feb 13, 2026
We do not recommend this trip with this company - The boat was too big, too crowded, we didn't see much whilst freezing too death. There whales we see were so far away that we could barely see them with our own eyes and even the crew's professional photos didn't show anything which was worth the money of the trip. The fact that we were told at the beginning that they're are three shakes called Banana, Orange and Apple made it worse in our opinion because we knew they're are only those three rather than feeling we are seeing random whales in the wild we gent we were in a large zoo with trained and managed whales.. we did not enjoy the trip at all. It was not a qudlity trip like we expected. We wish we booked a small group trip like all our others.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $105
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).