Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion, Reykjavík

4.3 (19 reviews)
Spot breaching whales and dolphin pods without leaving the Icelandic capital with this three-hour cruise around Faxaflói bay.
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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
patty
patty p.
Jan 22, 2023
Even though it was cold, we loved every minute of it!!
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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)

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

19 total ratings, 15 with reviews
4.3
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.3
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.4
Transport
4.0
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
P
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
Lisa
Lisa D.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on 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 entertaining with slapping the water and full breaches by the whales. What an incredible experience. Read more

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 entertaining with slapping the water and full breaches by the whales. What an incredible experience.

Tips for future travelers

Depending on time of year, it is cold on the water. Dress warm and put on the waterproof suit that they offer. It really helped with the wind and rain. Nothing beats seeing whales though so stay outside and enjoy!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Julie
Julie H.
Elmhurst, NY | Reviewed on 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 instructions and directions were clear and understandable. Read more

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 instructions and directions were clear and understandable.

Tips for future travelers

The seas were a little rough when we went out and they offered us free dramamine - it was a lifesaver!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was very good at directing us to look where animals were popping up
Transport
The walk to the harbor was not difficult, and the boat itself was pretty great! It had a little indoor saloon with various sorts of beverages and snacks.
patty
patty p.
Palm Valley, FL | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2023

Even though it was cold, we loved every minute of it!!

Tips for future travelers

By all means, GO!

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