| Departure | Tour | Price read | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Húsavík | Gentle Giants GG1 oak boat, about 3 hours | Adults ISK 12,490, children 7 to 15 ISK 6,490, ages 0 to 6 free (2026) | April 1 to November 30; overalls included |
| Húsavík | Gentle Giants GG2 RIB, about 2 hours | See operator | Ages 8 and over, 130 cm minimum; final departures late October |
| Akureyri | 3-hour classic tour by ship | From €92, rated 4.6 from 3,844 reviews (6 November 2026) | Leaves from Akureyri |
| Húsavík | North Sailing sailing and electric boat tours | See operator | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on day tours; children 6 and under free |
Which town
Húsavík is the whale capital of the north: its tourism office says Skjálfandi Bay has the highest sighting rate in Iceland. Akureyri is a better base if you want a town with museums, a Botanical Garden and a Christmas market, and it is about 40 minutes by plane from Reykjavík. Goðafoss is 47.4 km from Húsavík and Lake Mývatn 56.8 km, which makes Húsavík easy to combine with the Diamond Circle. See Húsavík and Akureyri. From the north, see whale watching from Akureyri.
Season and species
Gentle Giants reports that May to September are the most successful months, with recent sightings also in April, October and November. Visit Iceland says summer is prime, especially in the North, where humpbacks and minke whales are common and blue whales and orcas appear occasionally. Gentle Giants lists harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, minke, humpback and blue whale as the commonest species in the bay. Puffins nest on the South Coast and in the Westfjords from May to about mid-August; the operators run separate puffin tours.
What the operator provides
On Gentle Giants tours, warm safety overalls are included, and rain jackets if needed; overalls are mandatory on RIB tours and optional on the oak boat. Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves. RIB boats are more stable, which may reduce seasickness, but the company does not sell medication; a pharmacy is across the road from the ticket centre.
Refunds and guarantees
No tour can promise 100 percent sightings. At Gentle Giants, if no whales or dolphins are seen, tickets are not refunded but you get a voucher for a free GG1 tour. Online paid reservations cancelled more than 24 hours before departure are refunded in full; within 24 hours they are charged in full. Changes are free, subject to availability. In November the GG1 left once daily at 10:15.
Combinations
Gentle Giants also sells GG3 Whales & Horses, which combines whale watching with Icelandic horse riding, GG4 to Flatey island and its birdlife, GG5 sea angling on Skjálfandi Bay and GG6 Puffins Exclusive, a one-hour express trip to Puffin Island. North Sailing offers Whales and Puffins, Midnight Sun Whale Watching, Whales and Horses, Whales and Sails and a silent electric boat; its Árskógssandur tour in Eyjafjörður lasts 2.5 hours. Check the operator page for prices, which are not published on its home page.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking a RIB tour for a child under 8 or shorter than 130 cm.
- Assuming a refund if no whales appear: you receive a voucher.
- Forgetting warm layers under the overalls.
- Booking late in the season without checking dates: the GG1 season ends on November 30, and the RIB final departures are in late October.
FAQ
When is the best time for whale watching in Iceland?
May to September, with sightings also in April, October and November.
Which whales can I see?
Humpback and minke whales are common; blue whales and orcas appear occasionally.
How long are the tours?
The oak boat takes about 2.5 to 3 hours; the RIB about 2 hours.
Is it worth combining with horse riding?
Gentle Giants and North Sailing sell whale and horse combinations; see horse riding in Iceland.
The Iceland Authority editorial team, 7 November 2026.
