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Husavik Tours
Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík
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Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

By Husavik Adventures
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 8-80, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Local taxes
  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Warm overall, life jacket and raincoat (if needed)
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Transportation to/from attractions
  • Gloves & hats


Start:
  • Husavik Adventures, Garðarsbraut, 640 Húsavík, Iceland
    The tour begins by meeting at the Húsavík Adventures's ticket office 30 minutes before departure. Please note that we share the office building with our parent company North Sailing. You can easily find the office on the opposite side of the road from the famous church of Húsavík
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34418P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Minimum age onboard is 8 years old, or 130 centimeters in height
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 34418P1

    From
    $149.69
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Husavik Adventures
      432
      Husavik, Iceland
      Joined in July 2015
    • 776hilaryh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The BEST whale watching experience!
      I booked the 7pm spot for the whale and puffin tour in July 2022 and it was an amazing experience. I felt super safe and warm with all the gear that you are required to wear. I was informed that the water was going to be calm and to make sure we bring cameras! I loved getting that heads up and was able to capture some incredible photos. We ended up seeing 12 whales and they surfaced so many times. I liked that the boat kept a safe distance from the whales and the way the guides spoke you could tell they really appreciated the whales and loved educating people on how important they are to the world. I've done a larger boat tour in Holmavik and loved the Husavik RIB boats much better as you weren't running from side to side trying to get the best view. It was amazing just boating with 12 people and having a great view from either side. I highly recommend this experience.
      Written September 1, 2022
    • N9434XCdavidp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing whale watching
      Amazing experience, really well organised and friendly. Knowledgeable crew who ensured we had a great chance to see puffins and whales. In the RIB we got to see both humpback and blue whales, being first out and fast to respond to sightings. Had a bonus dolphin sighting as well.
      Written May 24, 2022
    • capucinejnn
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Trip !!!
      Beautiful trip on a zodiac, which allowed to be closer to the whales! a great team who accompanied us well explained everything! We could see humpback whales
      Written September 29, 2019
    • 756jog
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best whale watching ever
      Had an amazing trip out today, saw so many hump back whales and amazingly were actually so close to one whale we could have easily touched it. The boat captain seemed to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time and not scaring the whales. One whale really liked out boat and actually came to the boat and stayed for quite some time. Both the guide Laura and the captain August were lovely and very knowledgable. There were plenty of other whale watching boats out at the same time and we definitely got the best views of whales.
      Written August 27, 2019
    • suehN7208HC
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome
      Just had the most spectacular experience whale watching with Husavik Adventures. We booked online last night and arrived as booked for the 1500hr trip on the rib. we got suited up quickly and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Only 5 passengers so we could move fairly freely to get great views of the whales of which there were many. It was great doing the adventure on the rib as the driver skillfully was able to locate and get close very quickly to the sightings. Speeding through the ocean was great too. I would strongly recommend this company.
      Written August 26, 2019
    • itsasecret1974
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Slightly disappointed
      Back from an 11 day trip to Iceland. We booked the whale and puffin tour for when we passed through Húsavík. The check-in and suit up went very smoothly. When we began our walk to the boat, I walked a little ahead to hopefully get one of the seats in the front of the boat. When we arrived at the boat, the tour guide told a group of 4 to take the front of the boat. I asked if I could and she said "they were reserved". Since there was no "front of the boat" seating option when we booked, I am not certain why it wasn't simply first come, first served, as with 99% of group tours I have been on in my life. The boat took off to Puffin Island. I highly recommend bringing binoculars and/or a high powered zoom photo lens, since, and I am not certain if this is every tour, but we couldn't get close enough to the island to decipher a Puffin from a Pigeon. The pictures on the website make you feel as if you're going to get close to the birds and we didn't. The whales were very cool. We saw a bunch and the boat is quick enough to jump to an area where they are spotted. Another word of advice is that if you go on a warm sunny day, bring water. The suits you wear are very hot. That plus the waves of the ocean can possibly make you uncomfortable.
      Written August 11, 2019
    • CalSara
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic Family Adventure - One of the highlights of our trip!
      We took the 10am RIB boat on June 30th with our 8yo and 10yo daughters. The weather was a bit rough, and they warned us and gave us the chance to back out, but we elected to go out anyway. Definitely glad that we had hats/gloves/buffs and the provided goggles/suit/boots. The kids wanted to sit in front, and the captain had us parents sit directly behind them. It was a wild ride!! We had about 15 minutes off the puffin island and at least an hour out in the bay watching multiple humpbacks, the rest was transit time. One whale was SO CLOSE to the boat, it was unforgettable. I got great photos/videos just on my cell phone, that's how close we were. Definitely glad we chose the zodiac instead of the traditional boats after seeing them both in action. Honestly, for me, the most memorable part of the experience was holding on for dear life while cresting the waves and slamming down into the trough. Despite being freezing, we all had huge smiles on our faces and it was one of the highlights of our two week trip to Iceland.
      Written July 10, 2019
    • carmentoip
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Puffin island and whale watching
      Our tourist guide, Sofía, was spectacularly friendly and nice. In the tour we saw puffins, a curious seal and a whale for a long time. They put a lot of effort so we could see the whale and Sofía gave us a lot of information about the puffins and the whales. Also, the trip until the puffin’s island and to the whale viewpoint was really funny, the driver was really good. They treated us really well, we would hire this service again.
      Written July 8, 2019
    • K708RNchrish
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Puffin island and whale watching
      My daughter and I did the evening puffin island and whale watching tour with Sofia as the guide. There were only four passengers on the rib and it was superb - the skies were clear and the unusual 4-6 foot swell made for an exciting ride through the waves there and back again. We had at least an hour out where the whales were feeding in the bay and had plenty of opportunities to see one surfacing and then diving back down again. Very memorable and would do again.
      Written July 7, 2019
    • BrendaLong
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This is the group to go with
      This is the group to go with they are friendly and very informative. We absolutely loved our whale watching adventure because the the team and the journey.
      Written June 28, 2019
    • Ada N
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing trip
      I want to thank Laura for perfect trip.I heard a lot of curiosities from her. It was great experience to saw two blue whales.
      Written June 9, 2019
    • Paul B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale watching on a speed boat
      Went whale and puffin watching on a two hour rip boat, I feel it was good value for money as I had a craw that made me feel safe and had lots of good information during the whole trip. The most important thing to say is I got to see whales!!
      Written June 1, 2019
    • _estrella_muller
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Humpback frenzie
      Had an amazing time on the speedboat! It was a lovely calm and sunny day. We saw 3 humpback whales, very satisfying. The host was very kind and was able to tell us all kind of information about marine wildlife and behaviour. They even named a couple humpbacks Milkyway and Missy, because they track and follow the behaviour of the present species. We root for these excursions to preserve this type of wildlife!
      Written April 7, 2019
    • Robin C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Speed whale watching
      This was an amazing adventure, where we sped up the fjord with no promise of whales but we saw several and quite close. They provided suits for us to wear but make sure you have lots of layers on underneath
      Written September 14, 2018
    • Wawrzyniec S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great whale watching opportunity
      Husavik is doubtlessly the great place to see whales so there are a few companies offering whale watching trips. Due to the fast boat we were able to be very close of them - just a few meters. During 2 hours we have seen five different humpbacks (some of them twice) and hundreds of flying puffins. The service level was great starting for warm high quality waterproof clothing, nice fast boat up to focus on our impressions and safety. Great team.
      Written August 28, 2018
    See all 432 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles280 reviews
    Excellent
    262
    Very good
    9
    Average
    6
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    1

    Lucas G
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The 2h tour was absoluetly amazing! Daniel and Robert (our guides) spotted the whales very well and also gave some very interesting information about the sealife in Iceland while waiting for the whales to come up again. It was truly a special tour that was worth every penny. Also they extended our trip a bit so that we could enjoy another whale that came to the surface on our way back. :-)
    Written July 8, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    meenu8388
    London, UK37 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    I'd recommend getting a balaclava or something to protect the face, since although weather is nice it can get super windy during the ride especially in the fort. These guys are amazing, the rib boat was super well made and seating was very comfortable. We were mesmerised seeing the whales and the landscape, an epic trip to remember.
    Written July 23, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for the warm review! We do our best to provide the best trip possible! Warm regards from Húsavik, Iñaki
    Written July 31, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Bára J
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021 • Family
    We a family of 5, went on a rib boat tour yesterday, amazing tour. We saw some Humpbacks and dolphins playing in Skjálfandi bay. It was a great experience. Both the captain and the guide were great and we stayed a bit longer to watch the dolphins play with the Humpback. Would definately recommend this tour.
    Written July 4, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    SebastienF67
    Thionville, France99 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience!

    The little yet powerful boat with max 14 people on board allows quick changes in direction, and that’s perfect to follow the whales’ movements.

    The staff is cool and friendly, very pro. They know the whales’ behavior, the know when to leave to avoid to bother the whales.

    It was really the experience of a lifetime! They managed to get so closed to a whale that it was only at one meter from the boat!
    Written July 31, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    gazter
    Carlisle, UK59 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022
    Incredible. Just incredible. There was about four different humpback whales in the bay. We got incredibly close. The host was excellent, we were all well wrapped up with waterproof over clothes.
    I was phoned the day before to say that the earlier trip (we had booked for the morning) wasn’t running but would we be able to do the 1pm instead, no problem. We were out for about two hours.
    Don’t forget to visit the whale museum nearby, there’s a discount, and the restaurant opposite, also a discount and the geothermal pools up the hill, also a discount as part of the ticket.
    Written October 28, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear gazter Thank you very much for this great review! It makes us very happy to read your positive feedback :) First of all, we apologize for having rescheduled your reservation, but unfortunately, we did not have enough passengers for it. Sometimes happens by the end of the season. However, as I can read from you, it seems it was totally worth the wait! We can promise that having four difference humpback whales around by end of the season is certainly not common :) Geosea, Gamli Baukur and the Husavik Whale Museum are definitely a must visit in town, and always good to use our discounts! Best regards from the HA team, Laura
    Written December 4, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Joe H
    Chicago, IL9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    Incredible experience! The boat ride itself is worth the price of admission because we got to see such beautiful views. The guide and captain both were friendly and knowledgable and we got to see multiple whales, dolphins and puffins. Was a highlight of our time in Iceland and would strongly recommend this adventure!
    Written July 24, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    IkeEsq
    Alexandria, VA164 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2021
    Being in a small, fast boat cuts out a lot of travel time and allows you to get much closer to the whales and dolphins safely. It takes about 20 minutes to get out to where the whales are most likely to be seen.

    It was overcast and rainy for our trip, with fog around the land we came across. So no puffins, which was a bit of a disappointment. We saw a pod of dolphins. Unfortunately, they were not in a playful mood, so we did not spend too much time with them. We also saw a single humpback whale, and probably spent 45 minutes or more watching it blow, dive, and fluke. Often we were within a couple dozen meters or less.

    The company was great about communicating with me and was very accommodating. We had to change our tour twice. The first time was several weeks out because I accidentally booked the wrong day. The second time was the day before our tour as our plans changed and we needed to go on an earlier tour.

    They provide a jumpsuit, and life vest, as well as a rain slicker due to the weather. There were only 12 passengers and it is easy to see out in all directions. While the weather was a bit of a disappointment, the tour was not.
    Written August 20, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your review and joining us on the tour! Indeed, the Icelandic weather can be unpredicatable but we are glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience regardless. Indeed, the advantage of our boats is the speed, we can often reach active areas faster. The distance to the whale all depends on the animal. We follow code of coduct which suggests to stop the boat when whale is 50m away and see what happens. Sometimes the animals approach the boat and sometimes they decide to swim away. That is part of the magic of the exprience - we visit the animals in their natural and undisturbed habitat and have no influence over their behaviour. Greetings from Husavik, Aleks
    Written August 1, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    larlf
    Zurich, Switzerland2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2024 • Family
    It was amazing!
    Both our guide & captain were very experienced and guided the boat to the whale hot spot.
    We were lucky to see at least 3-4 different humpback Whales.
    Whenever a whale was under water, the guide filled the waiting time with personal and interesting stories / information about the whales.
    Everything was as perfect as it could be, I would definitely recommend it & come back again!
    Written July 17, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear larlf, Thank you for your review! It is truly special to observe so many whales during one tour! We appreciate your kind words about our crew and we are happy to hear that you enjoyed your time on board with us! We hope to welcome you again! Greetings from Húsavík, Zaynab
    Written July 25, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Catherine R
    Bryantown, MD150 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We drove up to Husavik exclusively to do the whale tour . We were not disappointed. The tour company took good care of us, everyone was given a snowmobile suit to wear over their clothing for the trip. The lady announcing the tour did a great job explaining the behavior of the hump back whales. We had to go out quite far to see the whales, and we were lucky enough to see 3 humpbacks.
    Written June 17, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear U6980THcatherine , thanks for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; our staff will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. So thanks for your kind words and we look forward to seeing you again. Daniel G.
    Written June 23, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Joyce R
    72 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was the most magical boat ride ! Laura and Robbie were fantastic hosts. Laura had a great energy. We got very lucky to see a playful minke whale for a long time! Got some porpoises and loads of puffins (out of season whoop). Would 10000% recommend you spend the extra few €$ to go on this RIB tour as it was brilliant.
    Written April 13, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your enthusiasm about your tour with us! Laura is indeed a great guide, and her energy and passion for whales and the ocean is contagious. It is cool that you got to see lots of types of marine life and we really look forward to seeing you on our RIB boats again soon :)
    Written April 21, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík provided by Husavik Adventures

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