Whale Watching Safari by Traditional Boat, Husavík

4.3 (6 reviews)
Cruise the waters of Skjálfandi Bay with an expert whale watching guide to spot marine giants and seabirds.

Overview

Set sail from Húsavík aboard a traditional oak fishing boat for a three-hour whale watching adventure in Skjálfandi Bay. Guided by an expert with a 97% whale sighting success rate, you'll learn about the bay's unique ecosystem while spotting minke and humpback whales or pods of playful dolphins. Keep an eye out for birdlife, including the colorful residents of "Puffin Island," and take a break on deck for a warming treat of hot chocolate and cinnamon buns. Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, this scenic outing offers a thrilling glimpse into Iceland's natural world.

Highlights

  • Experience an eco-friendly cruise on a traditional Icelandic-built boat
  • Learn why Húsavik is known as "Iceland's whale watching capital"
  • Search the waves for minke, humpback, and blue whales
  • Warm up with a break for hot chocolate and cinnamon buns
  • Enjoy sightings of diverse birdlife like guillemots, arctic terns, and puffins

Know before you go

Duration
3h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group

What you'll do

This adventure starts when you step aboard a traditional oak fishing vessel and cast off from the picturesque town of Húsavík for a three-hour exploration of Skjálfandi Bay. The deep waters and rich plankton forests of this sheltered body of water make it a haven for marine wildlife; minke whales are the most common sightings, but humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises are also spotted frequently. From time to time, rare species like blue and sei whales are also seen. 

As you cruise the bay, your expert whale watching guide will share fascinating insight into the area's ecosystem as they lead you to the best locations depending on the season and the weather—with a 97% success rate of whale sightings over the last three decades, the odds are good that you'll witness some of these marine giants. The area is also a haven for birdlife, and your guide will point out species like guillemots, kittiwakes, terns, and razorbills, as well as the adorable flightless denizens of "Puffin Island." 

In between wildlife spotting, enjoy the sea air and scenic views from aboard the Icelandic-built wooden boat, helmed by an experienced crew. They'll make sure you're outfitted with warm overalls and raincoats if the weather turns chilly and will treat you to hot chocolate and cinnamon buns on deck before you return to port.

Start times

  • Daily
    9:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:30 pm

What's included

  • Expert whale watching guide
  • Warm overalls and raincoats if needed
  • Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns

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Traveler reviews

6 total ratings, 5 with reviews
4.3
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.4
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
4.0
Sue
Sue F.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Oct 13, 2025
Outstanding trip! We saw 2 humpback whales over the course of the trip--one was feeding. The docent was great and informative. The town is super cute Read more

Outstanding trip! We saw 2 humpback whales over the course of the trip--one was feeding. The docent was great and informative. The town is super cute

Tips for future travelers

Go to the Eurovision museum next to the GeoSea spa. I wanted to take a picture for a friend who likes Will Farrell so we went in. The owner told us all about how Will Farrell picked Husavik for the movie, details about the shooting of the movie, how many of the townspeople were extras in the film, and about his conversation about volcanoes with Pierce Brosnan.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mark
Mark F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 25, 2025

RATS - due to 10 foot waves, this was cancelled. Only flaw (beyond anyone's control) of out whoel trip. Did get a prompt refund.

Susan
Susan S.
Lyons, OR | Reviewed on Sep 21, 2025
Got to see several humpback whales which was way cool Read more

Got to see several humpback whales which was way cool

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lisa
Lisa H.
Chester, PA | Reviewed on Sep 19, 2025
Departing from Húsavik harbor on a traditional oak fishing boat in Skjálfandi Bay with North Sailing was an unforgettable experience. After about an hour of very misty sailing and some informative narration by our very knowledgable guide, we stopped in an area that revealed a number of active humpback whales. Lots of opportunity to take photos and videos to document the experience! Hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies were a bonus! Read more

Departing from Húsavik harbor on a traditional oak fishing boat in Skjálfandi Bay with North Sailing was an unforgettable experience. After about an hour of very misty sailing and some informative narration by our very knowledgable guide, we stopped in an area that revealed a number of active humpback whales. Lots of opportunity to take photos and videos to document the experience! Hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies were a bonus!

Tips for future travelers

The experience of going out on a traditional oak fishing boat was interesting but it was a slower and more crowded trip to see the whales. If not interested in the traditional boat, another option is to book a zodiac boat trip which is faster, fewer people, and has dedicated seating so that your time actually out seeing whales is optimized.

Quality of Experience
The number of whales seen in one location.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was extremely knowledgable.
M
Matty R.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025
Feels like a waste of resources. There are whales and we spotted some whales, but why are we crowding onto a motorized boat to see whales? Read more

Feels like a waste of resources. There are whales and we spotted some whales, but why are we crowding onto a motorized boat to see whales?

Tips for future travelers

It’s a cool way to learn about whales, but you can see more and learn more from a documentary.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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