Planning a visit to Iceland’s north? Do add one in every of these finest Akureyri whale watching excursions to your itinerary.
Whale watching is a well-liked exercise in Akureyri and close by areas similar to Husavik. On this information, we are going to share the highest 3 whale watching excursions in Akureyri which can be eco-certified, and likewise share suggestions and insights on taking advantage of your go to to the second-largest metropolis in Iceland!
6 Greatest Iceland Akureyri Whale Watching Excursions (eco-certified)
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks. If you happen to click on one in every of them, we might obtain a small fee at no further value to you.
Greatest Iceland Akureyri Whale Watching Tour
Our decide is the Basic Whale Watching tour, which lasts 3 hours and is obtainable all yr spherical. This epic tour takes place on a conventional oak boat with ample seating and viewing areas.
1. Akureyri: 3-Hour Basic Whale-Watching Tour
➤ BOOK this Basic 3 hour Whale Watching tour
♡ RATING: 4.4 Out of 5 stars – with greater than 500 optimistic critiques
Why select this tour?
This basic 3-hour tour leaves from the city of Akureyri, so it’s a straightforward addition to your Northern Iceland itinerary. You’ll depart on a high-speed ship (and an operator) that’s ecologically licensed for whale watching.
There’s a dwell information on board, and additionally, you will discover wifi and bogs. There’s additionally a bar and cafeteria the place you should purchase drinks and snacks. Plus there’s ample indoor and outside seating to accommodate giant teams.
In 3 hours, you’ll get to see the majestic great thing about the Eyjafjord’s humpback whales and different marine life.
The information shares insights and tips about the habits of the whales and so they reply any questions you might have. That is one basic whale-watching tour that you simply can’t miss!
Word: If no whales or dolphins are seen on the date of your tour, you can be provided a complimentary ticket, legitimate for two years in Reykjavik and Akureyri
Tour Highlights:
☑ 3-hour whale-watching tour
☑ Onboard a high-speed whale-watching ship
☑ Wifi on board
☑ Reside Information – English
☑ Overalls provided
“The guides have been very good and gave us loads of attention-grabbing details about whales throughout the journey. Regardless of the slightly dangerous climate with rain, we noticed humpback whales and it was nice! We are able to additionally solely advocate placing on the provided overalls (out there in several sizes) – they maintain you heat and above all dry, making the expertise on deck much more enjoyable.” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
2. From Akureyri: 2–Hour Whale Watching Categorical by RIB Speedboat
➤ BOOK this 2 hour whale-watching specific tour
♡ RATING: 4.6 Out of 5 stars
Why select this tour?
Brief on time? Be a part of this specific whale-watching tour from Akureyri. This tour lasts 2 hours and is finished on a specifically made RIB boat, which lets you get nearer to the whales and wildlife than every other boat.
Plus they’re sooner and smaller boats, which means they cowl a much bigger space as you scout for wildlife providing you with a wider probability of recognizing whales, dolphins, and chicken life with out disturbing them of their pure habitat.
And….you can be within the arms of an ecologically licensed firm who will share insights on humpback whales and provide you with a warning once they present up within the waters.
It is a small group tour (of 12 passengers max), so that you additionally get an intimate whale-watching expertise.
Word: Minimal age to affix the tour is 10 years of age, and the minimal peak is 145 cm
Tour Highlights:
☑ 2 hour whale-watching tour
☑ Specifically designed RIB boats
☑ Small group (12 individuals max)
☑ Whale and chicken watching
☑ Life vest and crucial security tools
“Improbable expertise! A number of whales are allowed to see up shut. The nice information gave loads of data, and each the information and captain have an excellent eye for recognizing the whales. The fits are actually heat sufficient, you’ll get gloves and glasses. I’d do it once more in a heartbeat!” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
3. From Akureyri: Whale Watching within the Midnight Solar
➤ BOOK this Whale Watching tour within the Midnight Solar
♡ RATING: 5 Out of 5 stars
Why select this tour?
Though a seasonal tour, this 3 hour whale watching tour is really magical below the midnight solar.
Obtainable in the summertime months solely, on this tour, you’ll journey a high-speed custom-built pace and take within the views of humpback whales within the picturesque Eyjafjörður fjord.
The ship has ample cozy seating indoors and outside and with a bar and cafe on board, so you’ll be able to sip in as you go.
You’ll have the corporate of an knowledgeable dwell information who will share info on the whales, midnight summer season in addition to the wildlife and surroundings of the world.
Word: Identical to the northern lights, the midnight solar is seasonal and climate dependent.
Tour Highlights:
☑ 3 hour whale-watching tour
☑ Bar and cafe onboard
☑ Wifi on board
☑ Reside information in English
☑ Midnight solar expertise
“The variety of whales plus the midnight solar made this tour breathtaking.” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
Different whale-watching and puffin excursions close to Akureyri
The north coast of Iceland is a haven for nature and marine life lovers. Though Akureyri is the second largest settlement in Iceland and is well-liked for whale watching, there are different choices close by.
Husavik is situated simply an hour’s drive from Akureyri and it supplies a wonderful alternative to go whale and puffin watching on Iceland’s north shore.
4. Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Information
➤ BOOK this Husavik Whale Watching tour
♡ RATING: 4.4 Out of 5 stars – with greater than 700 optimistic critiques
Why select this tour?
This is likely one of the well-liked whale-watching excursions close to Akureyri. It’s a 3-hour tour that leaves Húsavík and takes you on the Skjálfandi Bay and brings you up near whales, dolphins, and sea birds.
You’ll get to cruise by Iceland’s north coast on a conventional oak boat and luxuriate in gentle refreshments onboard.
Húsavík is called Iceland’s whale-watching capital, and this tour offers you a superb glimpse into the wildlife and landscapes that the nation is understood for.
Tour Highlights:
☑ 3 hour whale-watching tour
☑ Mild refreshments
☑ Overalls offered
☑ Reside Information – English
☑ Experience a conventional oak boat
“It was an incredible expertise, we have been fortunate sufficient to see not less than 6-7 whales, some even very near the boat. The tour is lengthy sufficient to see whales and I additionally actually loved the information’s explanations. The boat journey itself can be very good as you might be surrounded by the loopy landscapes of the Icelandic mountains. You’re supplied with a fisherman go well with for chilly climate and water splashes. It’s not extremely really useful for many who undergo from seasickness because the climate situations can typically be opposed. Lastly, refreshments are additionally offered on the boat..” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
5. Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour
➤ BOOK this Husavik Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour
♡ RATING: 4.6 Out of 5 stars – with greater than 100 optimistic critiques
Why select this tour?
This 3-hour whale-watching tour takes you to see whales, dolphins, and puffins on a COMBO expertise.
You’ll be taken onboard a conventional oak boat to Puffin Island, which is the house of hundreds of puffins. You will note them and whales of their pure habitat whereas crusing comfortably.
Tour Highlights:
☑ 3-hour whale and puffin-watching tour
☑ Mild refreshments offered
☑ Reside Information – English
“We have been fortunate to have great climate. All was very nicely organized, An excellent information/crew member Kaja has given us loads of details about the whales, and the ocean the captain discovered, and adopted not less than 3 humpbacks, and dolphins. We have been in a position to observe the lifetime of puffins. And the cinnamon cake and heat candies on the finish of such a profitable journey. Thanks! Extremely really useful!” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
6. Húsavík: Huge Whale Safari & Puffin Island Tour (RIB pace boat tour)
➤ BOOK this Huge Whale Safari and Puffin Island tour
♡ RATING: 4.7 Out of 5 stars – with greater than 400 optimistic critiques
Why select this tour?
Embark on a 3 hour guided whale-watching tour to Puffin Island from Húsavík. This tour takes off on a specifically designed high-speed RIB pace boat that makes sightseeing simple.
You’ll get to soak up the views of Puffin island and study nature, marine life, and puffins from an skilled information onboard.
And throughout the puffin season (April 15 – August 20 roughly), you’ll be able to observe hundreds of colorfully beaked cuties on the island.
On this tour, you even have a excessive probability of seeing whales – humpback whales, blue whales, and so on. The information on board will seek for the majestic whales and provide you with a warning once they discover.
“Watching whales of their pure atmosphere from a RIB speedboat is a singular expertise.”
Tour Highlights:
☑ 3-hour whale and puffin-watching tour
☑ RIB high-speed boat
☑ Wifi on board
☑ Reside information
“This was superb! We did the night time tour (9 PM) on the finish of July. We have been nervous that it could be too darkish to see something, however that was actually not the case. The sundown and the mountains have been lovely. Parking was simple in entrance of the workplace and it was a brief stroll all the way down to the water. Once you first arrive, you’ll get suited up right into a flotation gadget outfit. It additionally helps to maintain you heat, though I’d advocate bringing a hat and carrying heat garments. After you get suited up, you head out to the boat and first go to a puffin nesting floor. There have been tons of puffins. We then headed out to seek for whales. We have been fortunate and noticed three humpback whales. They have been very lively, which I feel is partly as a consequence of it being nightfall. We additionally noticed some seals. Our information was very educated and taught us loads about whales. I’d extremely advocate this tour, particularly since it’s on a pace boat, so it offers you a better probability of seeing whales.” — Reviewer on GetYourGuide
Whale Watching in Akureyri – North Iceland
Akureyri and Eyjafjordur are blessed with a wide range of whale species, together with humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, northern bottlenose whales, sei whales sperm whales – even the majestic blue whale!
A fascinating boat tour from Akureyri on Icelandic oak boats will grant you an unforgettable encounter with these unbelievable creatures.
The precise kind that you could be spot depends on luck in addition to seasonality; nonetheless, there’s little doubt that your expedition shall be one for the books!
Aside from Akureyri, the city of Husavik is a superb place to identify whales and go on puffin-watching excursions. In reality, Husavuk is called ‘the whale watching capital of Iceland’, and its location on the shores of Skjálfandi Bay makes it good for sighting marine creatures. which is a haven for marine life.
Learn: Someday in Akureyri itinerary
The season for Whale Watching: Iceland Akureyri
Whale watching in Akureyri is a well-liked pastime that may be loved all yr spherical, as humpback whales make their manner into the fjord to feed.
There’s all the time a superb opportunity of seeing these majestic creatures throughout your tour!
Extra particulars:
- Blue whale: The biggest animal recognized to have ever existed, the blue whale will be often seen in summer season months, sometimes from mid-June and mid-July.
- Humpback whale: Usually present in most oceans on this planet, humpback whales are seen all yr spherical in Akureyri Iceland.
- Minke whale: These are smaller whale species, at 10 metres in size. They are often noticed from Might to October within the fjords and are fairly well-liked in Iceland.
- Northern bottlenose whale: They’re a species of beaked whale that may be seen in each summer season and winter months.
Learn: Greatest guided excursions in Iceland
FAQ: Iceland whale watching Akureyri
Sure, you’ll be able to see whales in Akureyri! The fjords alongside the northern coast of Iceland are dwelling to a number of species of whale together with minke, sei, fin, and humpback whales. In the course of the summer season months between late April and September, guests to Akureyri have a superb probability of recognizing these majestic creatures as they journey to and from feeding grounds.
Conventional whale watching will be carried out by way of boat excursions or a whale-watching cruise. Oat and/ or wood boats are well-liked methods to see Blue whales and beaked dolphins.
Usually these excursions final 3 hours (from finish to finish). You too can add a visit to Puffin Island throughout puffin season to see these cute creatures as nicely.
When happening whale-watching in Akureyri, you’ll want to costume warmly and put on a life jacket always.
So there you will have it! These have been among the finest whale-watching excursions in Iceland’s north which can be price testing!
Learn extra of our Iceland guides:
Pin: Greatest whale-watching excursions in Akureyri Iceland
