Are you interested in whale watching during your trip to Iceland? Then consider booking a whale watching tour in Husavik. This charming town on Iceland’s north coast is considered the whale capital of the country for good reason. Whether you’re a nature lover or looking for things to do in the Diamond Circle as part of your Ring Road road trip, don’t miss out on a tour of a lifetime.
- Whale Watching Husavik Guide
- Best Whale Watching Tour in Husavik
- Gentle Giants Whale Watching Tour Experience (GG1 Whale Watching Tour Review)
- Husavik Travel Tips
Here’s everything you need to know about whale watching in Husavik, including the type of whales you’ll see, the best time to go whale watching, and whether whale watching in Husavik is even worth it.
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Whale Watching Husavik Guide
Where is Husavik Iceland?
Husavik is a small town located in Skjálfandi Bay off the northern coast of Iceland. It’s the bay’s nutrient-rich waters that make Husavik an ideal feeding ground for whales and one of the best places to go whale watching in the country.
What kind of whales can you see in Iceland?
Iceland is home to a variety of whale species, including minke whales, humpback whales, fin whales, blue whales, and sperm whales. During your whale watching tour, you’ll have good odds of seeing minke and humpback whales (with blue whale sightings being extremely rare).
When is the best time of year for whale watching in Iceland?
Summer is the best time of year to go whale watching in Iceland as the whales arrive in search of food.
There are tours that also run in winter. During this time of year, you might see other marine life such as white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, pilot whales, and orcas (and even the possibility of catching the Northern Lights).
What to wear on a whale tour in Iceland?
Iceland is not warm. Even in the summer, daytime temperatures range between 50-60°F and it’ll be cooler once you’re out on the water.
It’s best to wear warm layers like long sleeve shirts, vests, waterproof jackets, and pants. While some tour companies also provide warm overalls, you’ll be most comfortable bringing your own layers that you can easily put on or take off (but don’t bring a hat or a scarf unless you can prevent them from blowing away).
Best Whale Watching Tour in Husavik
The most popular whale watching tour companies in Husavik are Gentle Giants (my recommendation!), North Sailing, and Husavik Adventures. You can’t go wrong choosing between any of these 3 companies. All of them are highly rated, have strong sustainability practices, and hire highly qualified guides who can inform you about the whales and the bay. They are also highly collaborative, which is why they all boast high success rates of seeing whales during their tours.
Company | Tour Name | Length | Description | Price Range |
Gentle Giants | 3 hrs | Boat: Oak boat Includes: | ISK 10990 | |
Gentle Giants | 2-2.5 hrs | Boat: Rigid inflatable boat (max: 12) Includes: whale watching & puffins | ISK 19990 (~$150 USD) | |
North Sailing | 3 hrs | Boat: Oak boat Includes: whale watching only | ISK 11300 (<$100 USD) | |
North Sailing | 3 hrs | Boat: Electric or hybrid-electric viat Includes: whale watching & puffins | ISK 11990 (<$100 USD) | |
Húsavík Adventures | 2 hrs | Boat: Rigid inflatable boat (max: 12) Includes: whale watching & puffins | ISK 19700 | |
Húsavík Adventures | tours start between 21:30 and 22:30 | 2 hrs | Boat: Rigid inflatable boad (max: 12) Includes: whale watching | ISK 19700 (~$150 USD) |
NOTE: All tours provide free cancellation and reservation changes up to 24 hours before departure. Some tours may also provide hot chocolate and cinnamon buns.
⭐ RECOMMENDATION: My top pick is the Gentle Giants GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins Tour. Not only is this tour capped at 12 passengers, it’ll take you closer to the whales and cover more surface area compared to traditional oak boat tours. You’ll also spend slightly more time on the water compared to the Husavik Adventures Big Whales and Puffins Tour (disclaimer: while I didn’t get to go on this tour because there was no more availability, it was my #1 choice based on my own research. I did end up selecting a different Gentle Giants tour where I had a great experience and which is why I highly recommend this company).
How to Pick the Best Whale Watching Tour
The most important factor to consider when choosing which whale watching tour to book is availability. If several tours have similar availability, here are a few other things to consider when picking your tour:
- If you’re pressed for time, book a tour with Húsavík Adventures whose tours run about 2 hours long.
- If you’re price-conscious, pick Gentle Giants GG1 Whale Watching Tour or North Sailing Húsavík Original Whale Watching Tour whose traditional Icelandic oak boats can accommodate 50-60 passengers and therefore run their tours at a cheaper cost.
- If you’re traveling in the summer and will arrive in Husavik in the evening, choose the Húsavík Adventures Midnight Sun Whale Watching Tour where tours start at 21:30 or 22:30.
- If you also want to see puffins, select either the Gentle Giants GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins Tour or the Húsavík Adventures Big Whales and Puffins Tour which will take you to Lundey Island.
- Gentle Giants GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins Tour and the Húsavík Adventures Big Whales and Puffins Tour are also the best options if you’re interested in a smaller tour group on a RIB sailboat and are looking for the best way to get closer to the whales.
- If you’re interested in a silent engine electric boat, opt for North Sailings Silent Whale Watching Tour for a quiet boating experience.
Gentle Giants Whale Watching Tour Experience (GG1 Whale Watching Tour Review)
We booked our tour with Gentle Giants and we could not have been happier. We chose Gentle Giants first and foremost because they run 6 tours in the summer months. Availability was our #1 most important decision criteria – since we didn’t necessarily know how long all of our activities would take, we wanted to find a tour company that had lots of tour options in case we needed to join a later one. Gentle Giants has multiple tours throughout the day and offer a full refund for cancellations 24 hours before departure. Additionally, they’ll allow you to rebook another tour free of charge if you don’t see any whales during your tour.
The second consideration was sustainability. Having been on tours where it’s clear that their goal is to make sure tourists see wildlife at all costs, we wanted to ensure that we picked a tour company that prioritized the wellbeing of the animals. Gentle Giants clearly outlines their commitment to sustainable tourism in their environmental policy, which I personally felt they upheld during the tour.
Tour Highlights
- Spot several humpback and minke whales
- See puffins dive into the ocean for food or swim on the ocean’s surface (even without stopping by Lundey Island).
- Watch arctic terns and other sea birds fly above the ocean
- Admire the stunning Icelandic coastline while cruising to Skjalfandi Bay
- Learn about the whales and other marine life in the area from an experienced and knowledgeable guide (like really learn, this was one of the most informative animal tours I’ve ever taken).
💡TIP: This is nature and while Gentle Giants has a 98% success rate of spotting whales, there are no guarantees. Keep this in mind as you’re planning your trip and either book the day of (after checking the weather) or add some buffer to your schedule so you can rebook on a different day. Also, even if your tour group sees whales, you may not see them in time depending on which side of the boat you’re seated. This is more of a problem if you book one of the tours on an oak boat, which is why my recommendation is the Gentle Giants GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins Tour.
Husavik Travel Tips
How to Get to Husavik
Counterclockwise on the Ring Road (East to North): Húsavík is a popular spot on the Diamond Circle route and is about 45 minutes away from Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, and Ásbyrgi Canyon. Dettifoss is further away and will take you about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Húsavík.
Clockwise on the Ring Road (West to North): If you are traveling from Snæfellsnes Peninsula or Reykjavík, it will take you between 5-6 hours to get to Húsavík.
More Things to Do in Husavik
If you have more time, here are some other popular attractions in Husavik:
- GeoSea – a local hot spring with views of the Húsavík’s harbor and coastline
- City Center – eat, relax, and wander around the town’s charming streets, boutique souvenir shops, and Husavik’s famous wooden church
- Húsavík Whale Museum – an exhibition where you can learn more about the biology and behavior of whales as well as the history of whale watching in Iceland.
Final Thoughts: Is Whale Watching in Husavik Worth It?
If you’re looking for a fantastic and ethical whale watching experience, I highly recommend booking a tour while you’re in Husavik.
The whale capital of Iceland is truly the perfect place to experience a responsible and authentic wildlife adventure. As pioneers of whale watching in the country, the town of Húsavík and its tour operators are committed to sustainable tourism and work with local partners to protect these magnificent marine mammals and their natural habitat. During your tour, you’ll have the chance to see all kinds of wildlife while sipping hot cocoa, indulging in traditional Icelandic buns, and sailing around the beautiful Skjálfandi Bay.
In short, yes, whale watching in Husavik is a must-add to your Iceland itinerary! All tours mentioned will take you on an incredible journey through Icelandic waters where you can see these wonderful wild animals up close in their natural environment.
As always, feel free to leave comments if you have any questions & I will always reply 😊
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