Small Group 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik

Experience the bright Icelandic summer nights as you watch whales under the midnight sun by booking this incredible guided excursion. Those eager to see these magnificent giants in their natural habitat should now book this small group tour.

Your tour starts at the meeting point at the Old Harbour in Reykjavik. You will meet the expert English-speaking guide and the other guests on your tour here. This excursion is a small group tour, so you can get to know the other guests and ask your guide any questions.

Your guide will give you warm overalls, goggles, and all the necessary safety equipment before you board the 12-seater RIB boat and get comfortable. The captain and your guide will give you a thorough safety briefing.

You’ll head out into Faxafloi bay, hoping to see whales and puffins. RIB boats are agile, so you can cover more ground and get closer to the wildlife. Your guide will tell you more about the animals and landscapes and answer your questions.

Peak sightings occur from April to October when minke whales, humpbacks, and dolphins are most active. While sightings aren’t guaranteed, experienced crews use real-time reports to increase the chances.

You might spot minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises in Faxafloi bay. Humpbacks are the most active, often surfacing with dramatic tail slaps, while minkes are smaller and more elusive.

White-beaked dolphins are playful and sometimes follow the boat. Less commonly, orcas and even blue whales appear. Seabirds like puffins, Arctic terns, and gannets are also common.

Puffins are common in Faxafloi bay from May to August, when they nest on the small islands just off Reykjavik’s coast. These seabirds spend most of their lives at sea but return to land in summer to breed.

Puffins are strong fliers but clumsy on land, often waddling around their burrows. They’re excellent divers, using their wings to ‘fly’ underwater while hunting for small fish. On a boat tour, you can see them floating in groups on the water or darting through the air.

Where possible, the captain will turn off the engine entirely so that you can experience the peace of nature under the light evening sky. After exploring the bay, you’ll head back to Reykjavik.

On your return journey, you’ll travel along the shoreline of Reykjavik as the sun is low in the sky. You’ll get panoramic views of some of Reykjavik’s most iconic landmarks, including Hallgrimskirkja church, the Sun Voyager sculpture, and the Harpa Concert Hall.

You’ll dock back at Reykjavik Harbor, ready to continue your adventures in Iceland or head home.

Enjoy this small group tour where you’ll race out on a RIB boat searching for whales under the midnight sun. Check availability now by choosing a date.