Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion, Reykjavík

4.2 (22 reviews)
Spot breaching whales and dolphin pods without leaving the Icelandic capital with this three-hour cruise around Faxaflói bay.
Show all photos
C
cathy d.
Oct 04, 2026
A terrific trip to see whales, which we had never done before. Take your dramamine before you board, although they have it onboard if you need... Read more
Liz
Liz K.
Aug 05, 2026
We saw loads of humpback whales, so this was definitely a successful excursion. The boat was very well equipped and the tour leader did an excellent... Read more
Adam
Adam K.
Apr 19, 2026
We had a great experience on the Elding Whale Tour. The weather ended up being perfect, and although they can't guarantee that you will see whales... Read more
Lisa
Lisa D.
Aug 18, 2025
This by far was one of the highlights of our trip. Saw humpback whales and minke whales and they appeared to be following our boat. Very... Read more
Julie
Julie H.
Oct 01, 2023
We saw a pod of dolphins, a loan porpoise, three Minke whales, and a number of beautiful sea birds. Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable, and... Read more
Previous Next
See all reviews

Overview

Set off from Reykjavík's Old Harbour for a three-hour whale watching adventure in the wildlife-rich waters of Faxaflói bay. With the help of expert naturalist guides, you'll have the best chance of spotting the region's many remarkable species in their natural habitat—look out for breaching minke and humpback whales, cruise alongside playful pods of white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises, and glimpse diverse birdlife like puffins and arctic terns. The purpose-built whale watching boat also includes a cozy viewing area and a cafeteria with hot drinks, so you can enjoy this experience year-round.

Highlights

  • Learn about the marine life of Faxaflói bay from expert marine biologists
  • Experience close encounters with humpback whales, minke whales, and white-nosed dolphins
  • Spot diverse birdlife like arctic terns and puffins
  • Enjoy the cruise in comfort from a well-equipped boat with heated viewing areas and a cafeteria

Know before you go

Duration
3h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group

What you'll do

Your whale watching adventure begins at the Old Harbour in Reykjavík, where you'll check in at the ticket office at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. Then it's time to take a short stroll down the harbor and step aboard Fífill, a converted fishing vessel that now hosts a unique floating Wildlife Exhibition. Get a quick primer on the fascinating world of Iceland's marine wildlife as you marvel at whale and dolphin skeletons and learn about the different species that frequent the bay, then continue to your whale watching vessel.

You can choose to sit in the boat's heated interior with large viewing windows, or nab a place on one of the outdoor viewing platforms. You can also don a pair of complimentary overalls to stay warm on deck, or grab a hot drink from the boat's cafeteria. As you cruise into the bay, your expert naturalist guides will share fascinating facts about the region's diverse marine life and explain why the nutrient-rich waters are a prime habitat for whales.

Keep an eye out for humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises; if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of rarer species like orcas or fin whales. Along with the marine mammals, the bay is also teeming with birdlife, so keep your camera close as you spy puffins, northern gannets, arctic terns, and more. After a memorable three hours on the water, you'll cruise back to the harbor to disembark. This excursion has a wildlife guarantee, so on the rare chance you don't spot any animals, you'll receive a free ticket to try again!

Start times

  • Daily
    9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 7:30 pm

What's included

  • English-speaking naturalist guide
  • Access to the Wildlife Exhibition
  • Use of warm overalls and blankets
  • Wildlife guarantee (or try again for free)
  • Pictures taken by crew (when possible)

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Traveler photos
See all photos

Traveler reviews

22 total ratings, 18 with reviews
4.2
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.3
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.5
Transport
4.2
C
cathy d.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 04, 2026
A terrific trip to see whales, which we had never done before. Take your dramamine before you board, although they have it onboard if you need it. Read more

A terrific trip to see whales, which we had never done before. Take your dramamine before you board, although they have it onboard if you need it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Robyn
Robyn P.
Saint Louis, MO, USA | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2026

We cancelled this activity 24 hours in advance due to poor weather conditions and schedule conflict.

Tony
Tony B.
Washington D.C., DC, USA | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2026
It was a well-run experience though in mid-September there were not a lot of whale sightings to be had. As our guide/spotter/photographer Matteo reminded everyone, we are going into the wild, not an aquarium. He did get four pictures of the animals we saw on the trip which the tour company emailed to us upon request (as they did not have my email thru the Kimkim booking). Read more

It was a well-run experience though in mid-September there were not a lot of whale sightings to be had. As our guide/spotter/photographer Matteo reminded everyone, we are going into the wild, not an aquarium. He did get four pictures of the animals we saw on the trip which the tour company emailed to us upon request (as they did not have my email thru the Kimkim booking).

Tips for future travelers

1. Get there early to secure a spot along the second deck forward railing for best field of view. 2. It was deceptively calm in the harbor and a bit more choppy in the bay so the company handed out free seasickness pills to take upon boarding. If you might get seasick, take their medicine or your own and try to stay outside the whole time for fresh air and clear views of the horizon. 3. Contact the tour company via email (address on the ticket) and let them know the sailing date and time and they will send you any professional pictures they took on your trip and share the guide's log summarizing the trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Matteo was well spoken and engaged. He told us a lot about the whales and marine life and Icelandic history around them.
Transport
Ship was well outfitted. Allow time before or afterwards to tour the ship store and museum (It is literally a ship they converted to serve as a floating based of operations.)
Liz
Liz K.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Aug 05, 2026

We saw loads of humpback whales, so this was definitely a successful excursion. The boat was very well equipped and the tour leader did an excellent job of pointing out the whales as she spotted them, many quite close to the boat. We also saw our first puffins of the trip out with the whales, so that was exciting.

Tips for future travelers

We use seasickness patches and I highly recommend doing this. Many people on the boat were seasick because the water a little rough.

Meera
Meera S.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 03, 2026

Maybe it was our bad luck but we couldnt see any whales during this trip. They did offer complimentary tickets for an alternate day but unfortunately our schedule could not accomodate

Jennifer
Jennifer Y.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2026
We did see whales so that was the main goal. The person telling us about the things we were seeing was very good. The whales were pretty far away so it would not be an experience for someone who wanted to see whales closer up. Read more

We did see whales so that was the main goal. The person telling us about the things we were seeing was very good. The whales were pretty far away so it would not be an experience for someone who wanted to see whales closer up.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Durk
Durk P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2026
We saw 2 whales. Read more

We saw 2 whales.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amy
Amy K.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 14, 2026

The tour was interesting and pretty scenery but we did not see any wild life- they did give vouchers to return but with our full schedule we could not make the reschedule work- we would likely skip this n the future as it took a lot of time and ultimately we didn’t see any thing

Adam
Adam K.
Hartford, CT, USA | Reviewed on Apr 19, 2026
We had a great experience on the Elding Whale Tour. The weather ended up being perfect, and although they can't guarantee that you will see whales at all, we ended up seeing LOTS of humpback and minke whales surfacing and breaching! The guide and the captain were both clearly experienced and knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go. At one point we had so many whales alongside the boat that we had to stop and wait for them to leave before we could head back to the docks. We saw a number of... Read more

We had a great experience on the Elding Whale Tour. The weather ended up being perfect, and although they can't guarantee that you will see whales at all, we ended up seeing LOTS of humpback and minke whales surfacing and breaching! The guide and the captain were both clearly experienced and knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go. At one point we had so many whales alongside the boat that we had to stop and wait for them to leave before we could head back to the docks. We saw a number of seabirds as well, including Atlantic puffins which was a highlight for our kids.

Tips for future travelers

The boat has both inside and outside viewing areas, a bar, and a bathroom onboard. Binoculars can be a good idea, especially for the birds. It is cooler and windy out on the water so dress accordingly. When the pilot slows the boat down and turns it for better viewing of the whales, the boat can rock quite a bit - if you are prone to motion sickness definitely take some medication first!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pamela
Pamela M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 11, 2026
We only saw one whale and we pretty much followed him around for 2 hours. The weather was very cold, windy and rainy, so the dry suits helped us stay warm and dry. Rough seas were expected due to the weather and the tour operator helpfully offered sea sickness pills for free. The tour did a good job - we just didn't see much and returned to the marina an hour early. Read more

We only saw one whale and we pretty much followed him around for 2 hours. The weather was very cold, windy and rainy, so the dry suits helped us stay warm and dry. Rough seas were expected due to the weather and the tour operator helpfully offered sea sickness pills for free. The tour did a good job - we just didn't see much and returned to the marina an hour early.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff

Like what you see?

Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

Get started

Itineraries with Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Previous Next

Reykjavík Experiences

Show more Reykjavík experiences
Previous Next

Iceland Experiences

Show more Iceland experiences
Previous Next

Best of Reykjavík

Best of Reykjavík
Previous Next

Trip Planning Essentials

Previous Next