Wildlife Whale Watching and Puffin Tour in Reykjavik
Description
Delight in the wonders of Iceland's wildlife as we set sail into Faxaflói bay, seeking out Minke and Humpback whales, Dolphins, Harbour porpoises, and even the elusive Killer whales. Revel in the panoramic vistas of Reykjavik's majestic mountains and picturesque islands while being surrounded by an array of captivating bird species. Your specially crafted vessel, Skúlaskeið (“Old Skúli“), offers an intimate experience perfect for observing puffins up close as we navigate the shallow waters near their nesting grounds. Please note that this combo booking includes two different and separate tours with two departures. Puffin Tour: conducted on a smaller boat, approximately 1 hour in duration. Whale Watching: conducted on a larger vessel, approximately 3 to 3.5 hours in duration. When booking, you are choosing the whale watching departure time. Here are the available combos: Whale Watching 09:00 departure & Puffin 12:30 departure Whale Watching 13:00 departure & Puffin 17:00 departure
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your adventure begins at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, where you’ll board one of our comfortable whale watching boats. As you set sail into Faxaflói Bay, take in panoramic views of the city skyline and surrounding mountains while the crew shares insights about Iceland’s marine wildlife and natural environment.
Your adventure begins at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, where you’ll board one of our comfortable whale watching boats. As you set sail into Faxaflói Bay, take in panoramic views of the city skyline and surrounding mountains while the crew shares insights about Iceland’s marine wildlife and natural environment.
As you depart or return to the harbour, enjoy views of Harpa, Reykjavík’s iconic glass concert hall. Its shimmering façade reflects the light of the bay, making it one of Iceland’s most photographed landmarks.
Sail to Akurey Island, known for its lively puffin colonies. From the boat, you’ll get excellent views of puffins in their natural habitat—perched on cliffs or gliding above the waves. Binoculars are provided for an even closer look.
On clear days, admire breathtaking views of Mount Esja rising behind Reykjavík and, in the distance, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula — often called “Iceland in Miniature” for its diverse landscapes and volcanic peaks.
After few hours at sea, the tour concludes back at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. Warm up with complimentary overalls and enjoy a hot drink on board as you reflect on your unforgettable whale watching experience.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(8)
This was a great trip. We saw four whales and some dolphins. It was beautiful weather too. We lucked out. No puffins but we didn't expect to see them on this kind of big boat anyway. We saw the whales bubble netting and overall there was a lot of action. I usually get sea sick but I took two bonine. It was rough and rocky but much less so than in Monterey california. I recommend this trip highly. Its a nice boat with food and comfortable areas. I never went inside at all and sat on the top deck becasuse there was constant action.
Hello, We're delighted to hear that you had such an incredible trip. Seeing four whales, dolphins, and even witnessing bubble-net feeding is truly a special experience and one that many wildlife enthusiasts dream of seeing. It's wonderful that the weather cooperated and that there was so much activity throughout the tour. We're also pleased to hear that you found the boat comfortable and enjoyed the onboard facilities, even though the wildlife kept you happily occupied on the top deck the whole time! Thank you for sharing your seasickness tips with future travellers as well. Sea conditions can vary, but we're glad you were able to enjoy the excursion comfortably. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Friendly crew. Saw humpback breach and Minsk whales. Also puffin colony. Highly recommend this tour.
Hello, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and had the chance to see a humpback whale breaching, minke whales, and a puffin colony—what an amazing combination of wildlife sightings! We're also pleased that our crew helped make your experience memorable. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another unforgettable adventure! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Incredible experience...thanks to the captain's vast knowledge of the sea and the splendid explanations from the guide. We admired so many dolphins playing with the whales...an unforgettable day
Grazie mille per la splendida recensione! Siamo felicissimi di sapere che avete vissuto un’esperienza così incredibile. È fantastico che abbiate potuto ammirare così tanti delfini mentre giocavano insieme alle balene – momenti come questi sono davvero unici e indimenticabili. Un grazie speciale anche per le vostre parole sul nostro capitano e sulla guida: la loro passione e conoscenza del mare rendono ogni uscita ancora più speciale, e siamo lieti che abbiano contribuito a rendere la vostra giornata così memorabile. Speriamo di darvi il benvenuto di nuovo a bordo in futuro per un’altra avventura straordinaria! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Highly recommend. If you want to experience the local wildlife, the puffins are adorable and seeing whales is so majectic, just a magical day out on the ocean. Also, your ticket gets you a discount at many places around the old harbour so eating or more sightseeing.
Hello, We’re delighted to hear that you had such a magical day with us and enjoyed seeing both the puffins and whales – it truly is a special experience to encounter Iceland’s wildlife in their natural environment. Your kind words about the tour mean a lot to our team. We’re also glad you made the most of the added benefits around the Old Harbour – it’s a lovely area to explore before or after the tour. Thank you again for choosing to sail with us, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future for another unforgettable adventure! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Two tours, great guides, awesome Icelandic Ocean Adventure. Kids were super excited to see whales in the open water, and they weren't disappointed. Saw one whale about 15 meters away as she emerged for air before diving with a splashy tail. Second tour with Joe was equally awesome with an up close and personal visit to a community of Puffins. Kids loved the binoculars and thought they were super cute. Both tours were informative, educational,guide were fantastic. Also got cheeky discount on whales of Iceland museum admission with our tour ticket and another discount at the cafe! Thank you all, we had a whale of a time 🐳🐋🐳
Hello, Thank you so much for your fantastic and detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that both tours were such a highlight of your trip and that your kids had such an exciting time out on the water. Seeing whales up close – especially such a memorable sighting – is always incredible, and we’re glad the Puffin tour with Joe was just as enjoyable. It’s great to hear the binoculars added to the experience and that the puffins were a hit with the whole family! We truly appreciate your kind words about our guides and the educational aspect of the tours, as well as your mention of the added discounts—it's always nice to make the experience even more rewarding. Thank you again for joining us—it sounds like you really did have a “whale of a time”! 🐳 We hope to welcome you all back on board again in the future. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Must do activity. Guides are well versed in the surrounding and have helpful information. Patrick does a great puffin behaviour show.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that you found the tour a must-do experience. It’s great to know our guides’ knowledge and helpful insights made a difference, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Patrick—his puffin “behaviour show” is always a guest favourite! Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back on board for another memorable tour in the future! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
Bummer that the weather didn’t cooperate and the whales didn’t either. But the info Patrick shared along the way was interesting and funny. The Puffin tour was a success, got to see lots of the birds. Tour operator has binoculars for participants to use if the chose to do so. I wished they had a speaker for those of us sitting outside. Could not hear the guide or captain well enough.
HelloThank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re sorry to hear that the weather and whale sightings didn’t fully meet expectations, but we’re glad you still enjoyed Patrick’s commentary and found it both interesting and entertaining. It’s great to hear the Puffin tour was a success and that you were able to see plenty of birds – that’s always a highlight! We also truly appreciate your comments regarding the outdoor audio. Your feedback is very valuable, and we’ll be sure to pass it along to our team as we’re always looking for ways to improve the experience for our guests. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back on board in the future. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
The whale watching boat was bigger, and it certainly rolls around in the sea when we are in a float pattern watching the whales, so consider that when you are joining. Smaller rib boats would be less that way. They do have dramamine tablets and ginger candy for free if you need them. Main thing...stay outside and look at land when traveling, and you should be fine. If you have young children, put a lofe jacket on them and please don't let them wander around alone. 🤦♀️ Puffin watching boat is much smaller and once again staff is fun! Great time!
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share such helpful feedback! We're glad you had a great time on both tours and appreciated the energy of our staff. You’ve shared some great advice for future guests — especially regarding seasickness and safety with young children. We're always happy to provide motion sickness support on board and do our best to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors
