Whale Watching in Ólafsvík, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

4.4 (7 reviews)
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Abraham Sebastian
Abraham Sebastian K.
Mar 21, 2024
Although all of us were tired from the long flight in from US, the boat trip from Olafsvik woke everyone up. We had close encounters with... Read more
Connie
Connie P.
Jun 15, 2023
My daughters wish list and it did not disappoint.
Rachel
Rachel K.
Jun 03, 2022
The whale watching excursion with Laki Tours was so much fun. While the first few hours we didn’t see anything, in the last hour we saw... Read more
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Overview

Nowhere else in Iceland is there a better chance to see the ocean's top predators—sperm whales, pilot whales, and orcas—than along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula coastline. So, join a whale-watching tour from the town of Ólafsvík on the peninsula's northern side (about 2.5 hours from Reykjavik) and experience these amazing creatures in their wild habitat.

This unique trip takes you into the sea around Snaefellsnes, where ocean giants swim in the shadow of the magnificent Snæfellsjökull Glacier. There's a better chance of seeing orcas in the winter, spring, and early summer (February to early July), but they're also in the area through the summer months.

You can view male sperm whales between March and June in deeper water. In July and into autumn, the chances of seeing pilot whales, often in groups of hundreds of animals, increase. Other whales in the area include humpback whales and minke whales, plus white-beaked dolphins. You'll get as close as the tour can without disturbing the animals.

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Traveler reviews

7 total ratings, 5 with reviews
4.4
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
3.8
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
5.0
Rachel
Rachel M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jul 03, 2024
Too long for kids, very rough waters with uncomfortable seating Read more

Too long for kids, very rough waters with uncomfortable seating

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Abraham Sebastian
Abraham Sebastian K.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2024
Although all of us were tired from the long flight in from US, the boat trip from Olafsvik woke everyone up. We had close encounters with Orcas, Sperm whales and porpoises. It was a great start to our vacation. Read more

Although all of us were tired from the long flight in from US, the boat trip from Olafsvik woke everyone up. We had close encounters with Orcas, Sperm whales and porpoises. It was a great start to our vacation.

Tips for future travelers

My son got a little seasick. We should have been mindful of bringing anti-nausea medication in preparation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Connie
Connie P.
Albuquerque, NM | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2023
My daughters wish list and it did not disappoint. Read more

My daughters wish list and it did not disappoint.

Tips for future travelers

You have to wear huge water “coats” which were a tight fit for some in our party.

Quality of Experience
Rachel
Rachel C.
Fairland, MD | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2023
We got really lucky and saw humpback whales and several orcas and their babies. While it was awesome to see these creatures in the wild, the water was pretty choppy, and not for the faint of heart (or stomach). It is an outdoor boat - so cold, and there was competition for the best spots on the rails to get photos. I'd still recommend this experience. Read more

We got really lucky and saw humpback whales and several orcas and their babies. While it was awesome to see these creatures in the wild, the water was pretty choppy, and not for the faint of heart (or stomach). It is an outdoor boat - so cold, and there was competition for the best spots on the rails to get photos. I'd still recommend this experience.

Tips for future travelers

Take dramamine or sea bands. Bring a good camera or have your phone on a tether (the boat moves a lot), and bundle up.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rachel
Rachel K.
Eldersburg, MD | Reviewed on Jun 03, 2022
The whale watching excursion with Laki Tours was so much fun. While the first few hours we didn’t see anything, in the last hour we saw orcas (including a baby). Since we saw them so late, the tour operator stayed out another 30 minutes so we could watch the whales. We were under the impression that it was a small group tour, but there were about 40 or more people on this excursion. This may be what is typical for small group tour size, and we were not aware. Read more

The whale watching excursion with Laki Tours was so much fun. While the first few hours we didn’t see anything, in the last hour we saw orcas (including a baby). Since we saw them so late, the tour operator stayed out another 30 minutes so we could watch the whales. We were under the impression that it was a small group tour, but there were about 40 or more people on this excursion. This may be what is typical for small group tour size, and we were not aware.

Tips for future travelers

Ask if it's a small group tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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

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