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Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

star-4448 Reviews
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Reykjavík, Iceland
Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik
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Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik
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From $89.15

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Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults0 Youths1 Youth2 Youths3 Youths4 Youths5 Youths6 Youths7 Youths8 Youths9 Youths0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon3 hours  (approx.)
iconOffered in: English and 1 more
Good for avoiding crowds

Overview

Cruise Faxaflói Bay in search of humpback and minke whales during this whale-watching tour from Reykjavik. A naturalist guide talks about the biology and behavior of these magnificent marine mammals while you look for signs of their presence. Stay warm and dry in provided thermal coveralls as you keep your eye out for whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Choose from a 2.5-hour, high-speed express boat option or a full, 3.5-hour tour.
  • Faxaflói Bay whale-watching cruise from Reykjavik
  • Watch out for harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales and humpbacks
  • Learn about some of Iceland’s most majestic native wildlife from an onboard guide
  • Choose between a 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise, or a 2.5-hour high-speed boat version

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

A choice of two tour durations and multiple departure times means you can tailor this excursion to your schedule. Indoor/outdoor viewing areas and provided thermal coveralls let you decide your threshold for exposure to the Icelandic elements while you scan for local marine life.
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From $89.15

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour - sightings guarantee!
Use of thermal overalls - also available in children's sizes!
Free WiFi
Heated indoor seating areas
Complimentary sea sickness tablets, if needed
NEW - Special Tours App (available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese)
Gratuities
Food and drink (can be purchased on board)
Hotel transfers (can be added for an additional fee)
Geirsgata 11 , Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
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Please make your way to the Special Tours Ticket Office, located at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik.

This activity will end right where it started.
Following pickup at your Reykjavik hotel (if booked directly with the supplier), you'll be transferred to the city's Old Harbor. Choose between an express 2.5-hour, high-speed tour or a 3.5-hour cruise at the time of booking.

Step aboard your comfortable boat and pull on a pair of thermal coveralls to protect you from the Icelandic elements. Find a comfortable spot on the deck and settle in for the scenic ride out into Faxaflói Bay. If at any point you get chilly, make your way into the warm indoor viewing area, where hot chocolate, tea, coffee and snacks are available for purchase. 

As the boat cruises through the surf, keep your eyes open for white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales and harbor porpoises.This company has a 90 percent whale-spotting success rate, so have your camera at the ready. As the boat cruises through the surf, keep your eyes open for white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales and harbor porpoises. Keep your camera ready to photograph these magnificent creatures. In the unlikely event that you don't see any wildlife, you'll receive a complimentary ticket for a second whale-watching excursion. 

At the conclusion of your eco-adventure, return to shore and board your land vehicle for drop-off back at your hotel (if booked).
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • German guidance available on Classic tours from May 1st - September 30th.
  • Operates in a variety of weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • If cancelled due to unsuitable sailing conditions, you will be give the option of an alternative date or a full refund.
  • Hotel pick up: Available to book directly with supplier (extra fees apply).
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Wheelchair accessible for the 3 - 3.5 hours trip
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 180 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Special Tours Iceland
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
See all safety measures taken by Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "We can rebook for free for another time since we didn’t see that mdd as n’y animals." See review

Reviews by Viator travelers.  We perform checks on reviews

Reviews

4.0
star-4
448 Reviews
5 stars
208
4 stars
106
3 stars
65
2 stars
38
1 star
31

Reviews by Viator travelers

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 448 reviews
star-5
Great experience!
slapshak
, Aug 2022
This trip was perfect! The staff and boat guide were friendly and informative. We went on an afternoon excursion on a sunny July day, however that did not stop us from utilizing the warm overalls they provide because it gets quite chilly on the open air deck. We sat indoors on the lower deck while trekking out to sea. You can hear the guide speaking though a speaker system even when indoors. We spotted a couple whales that were being very playful and showing off for us with flapping its tail in the air quite a bit. It was so exciting when a whale would jump out of the water (even if not fully out). Really an enjoyable outdoor experience that doesn't happen just anywhere. Also there were decent bathrooms on the boat and drinks and snacks for purchase if you chose.
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star-5
Recommended!
simona_t
, Jul 2022
Great experience. Professional tourist guide and capitan. I managed to see quite a few whales. The trip lasted around 2 hours
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star-5
Great experience!!! We saw some beautiful whales.
STERGIOS_C
, Jul 2022
Great experience, we saw some beautiful whales all around us. I definitely recommend it to anyone who visit Iceland.
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star-5
A great experience
Eileen_F
, Apr 2022
Watching dolphins swimming by the boat learnt a lot about whales an experience not to be missed even though we didn’t see a whale,
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star-1
The trip was cancelled...
EdwardDTaylor_T
, Apr 2022
The trip was cancelled for the second time this week so we never got to see whales or dolphins on our Iceland visit
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star-5
Whales Tail
Alyssa_S
, Mar 2022
It was a cool experience to see the whales in the water. I only got to see the whales fluke and tail when I was hoping to see the whale breach or jump. Upon research, Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo because there was never an opportunity where the boat wasn’t rocking.
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star-5
Great customer service
Karen_T
, Feb 2022
Sad to say we never got on this tour. But I can recommend tour operator for their customer service we knew in plenty of time trip was cancelled so didnt bother getting dressed for the occasion. If we had the time we would of rearranged tour but for us no time left But with a bit of luck we'll come back next year and book again with your company
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star-5
Plenty of room, great...
James_B
, Nov 2021
Plenty of room, great host (iga) who was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we saw 3 humpbacks. Thanks
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icon Response from Host , Dec 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your Whale Watching tour with us and we will pass the compliments along to your guide, Iga. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Humpback paradise
Shaun_G
, Nov 2021
Picked up boat at the old harbour. Nice sized vessel with plenty of indoor seating & loads of outside standing for viewing. It was a calm day with very little swell but as a bad sailer I took sea sickness tablets just in case. I got these from a local chemist and weren’t cheap and then found out the boat had free tablets onboard. We cruised out for about 40mins before we saw white beaked dolphins & a smaller species I forget the name of. Then you see a massive plume of air & spray and that’s when the fun begins. The captain of the baat was so skilful with his steering that we saw these beautiful mammals in their natural environment without the boat impeding them or spooking the Whale. We saw 3 humpbacks in the hour and it was an incredible experience. The lady who was commentating over the speakers was so knowledgable also. A great day out
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icon Response from Host , Dec 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your Whale Watching tour with us! Humpback whales are one of the most common species we see in the bay, we are happy you saw 3 of them. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
An unforgettable experience
Harriet_D
, Oct 2021
We loved every minute of our whale watching tour and would recommend to anyone who is interested in wildlife. We were lucky to see a pair of humpbacks as well as some dolphins playing very close to the boat. Thank you for a wonderful tour!
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icon Response from Host , Dec 2021
Thank you for the review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us and we are thrilled to hear you would recommend us :) Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
We loved it!!!!
Daniel_A
, Aug 2021
The staff is great. The ride is awesome. The bay is beautiful. Mother nature is unpredictable so whales are not always there. we got to see puffins, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. It is well worth.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your whale watching tour with us and will pass the compliments along to our staff. White-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are two of the four most common species we encounter in the bay, and the dolphins are often the most curious and active around our boats. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Highly recommend
Emily_C
, Jul 2021
The woman leading our whale watch was awesome! She was super knowledgeable and fun to talk with. We didn’t think we were going to end up seeing anything besides puffins, but we had a pod of dolphins follow us near the end of the tour! The crew really did all they could to try and find us some whales to see too which we appreciated!
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icon Response from Host , Jul 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us and we will pass the compliments along to your guide. White-beaked dolphins are one of the four most common species that we encounter and they are often the most active around the boats. Thank you for sailing with us and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-4
Valuable experience overall
Diana_N
, Jul 2021
Overall, a lovely and educational experience but just beware that there are no guarantees in seeing the whales depending on the weather and season. Our group got to see a lot of playful dolphins and several minky whales but really afar because this boat is too big. We did not see the humpback but there was viewing in the group that went out earlier. It’s very cold, so please dress appropriately. The tour purchase gives a decent discount for a museum exhibit, have I known that I would have took advantage of this, but the tour was in the afternoon and there was not enough time to go to the museum.
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icon Response from Host , Jul 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us. Minke whales and white-beaked dolphins are two of the four most common species that we see, but you're correct that it is never possible to guarantee sightings of wildlife. Each tour is different in terms of which species are seen, how long we see them, etc. Thank you for sailing with us and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Enjoyed the trip
Nina
, Jul 2021
Enjoyed it very much Saw a mink whale and some dolphins since i was on the right spot on the boat. We can rebook for free for another time since we didn’t see that mdd as n’y animals. Staff very friendly and knowledgeable.
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icon Response from Host , Jul 2021
Thank you for the review! We will pass the compliments along to the guide and crew. Minke whales and white-beaked dolphins are two of the four most common species that we encounter. Whenever the sightings are not good we offer the ticket to come again for free. This offer never expires, so just send us a message when you know the date you'd like to try again. Thank you for sailing with us and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
A great adventure.
Matthew_P
, Jun 2021
This was an amazing tour. The gentleman conducting the watch was very knowledgeable and quickly and accurately pointed out and identified the whales. I’ll definitely be back.
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icon Response from Host , Jun 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us and will pass the compliments along to your guide. Thank you for leaving us a review, and we hope to see you during your next visit to Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Great cruise searching for whales!
Gary_P
, Jun 2021
Excellent tour on a great boat with a fantastic crew. When we located a whale the crew took us for an extra hour cruising so we could keep catching a glimpse of the whale.
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icon Response from Host , Jun 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us to see the whales and will pass the compliments along to the guide and crew. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-1
What a waste
Patrick_F
, Jul 2020
It was awful. You'd see far more wildlife in a fish aquarium at home.... Even if your aquarium only has two or three fish in it.
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icon Response from Host , Jul 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write a review - we're sorry to hear that you did not see anything on your whale watching tour with us. We can never guarantee sightings of wild animals, which is clearly stated in our terms and conditions. Whenever nothing is seen on a tour we invite passengers to come again for free. This offer never expires, so whenever you know the date you'd like to try again please contact us at info@specialtours.is and we can arrange your next tour. We hope that you enjoy your stay in Iceland, Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-4
Very nice
simonerizzi91
, Feb 2020
Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales but the all boat trip was so interesting and the guy was so excited when talking about the whales! Definitely something to do
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star-5
Beautiful tour!
marcospuk
, Feb 2020
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see large whales, just small species... but despite the bitter cold, due to the season, the tour was fantastic and at the end we saw a pretty large group of dolphins swimming around us for a while. Wales and dolphins are wild animal, and they will not be there waiting to be seen! I would do this tour again, for sure And the lady who was spotting them for us and giving all the explanations was great!
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star-4
Whale watching
Charles_G
, Oct 2019
Fantastic crew and though we didn’t see any whales we did see plenty of dolphins and education was excellent. This was especially true with regards plastic pollution and it’s negative impact on sea life. It was therefore strange (and disappointing) that the company sell numerous plastic bottles on board. It would be great if this could be stopped to set an example
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