Reykjavik Tours
RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik
4.5

RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

By Whale Safari Iceland
Recommended by 91% of travelers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Though Iceland may be best known for the raw beauty of its landscape, it's also a go-to whale watching destination for international visitors. Experience these majestic creatures in the wild on this whale watching cruise on Faxaflói Bay. Just hop in your rigid inflatable boat as your guide skims you through Reykjavik Old Harbour, and helps you spot local species—like dolphins and porpoises—and migrating species, like the elusive and beautiful minke and humpback whales.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 10-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Cruise around Faxaflói Bay on a whale watching adventure, from Reykjavik
  • Try to spot various aquatic species, and pass the seasonal puffin colonies
  • Take in the views of Reykjavik, from its fishing huts to Harpa Concert Hall
  • Get a great value with coveralls, safety gear, boat ride, and guide included

  • Professional marine biologist guide
  • Use of coveralls
  • All necessary safety equipment
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off


Start:
  • Ægisgarður 5d, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
    Our ticket office is located at Ægisgarður 5d in 101 Reykjavík at the corner of the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 7680WSWPR

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Dress warmly: Wool or fleece seater, Hat, gloves and sturdy footwear are recommended
    • In the case of no sightings you will get a ticket for an alternative tour
    • Children must be over the age of 10 and over 145 centimeters tall
    • Not recommended for travellers with knee problems
    • Not recommended for young children
    • 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 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: 7680WSWPR

    From
    $179.40
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Ægisgarður 5d, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
      Our ticket office is located at Ægisgarður 5d in 101 Reykjavík at the corner of the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík.
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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Whale Safari Iceland
      450
      Reykjavik, Iceland
      Joined in October 2012
    • L4194WQelainep
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Everything promised and more!
      Absolutely amazing and breathtaking morning spent with the very informative team. Puffins, dolphins and humpback whales were all seen. We spent a lot of time watching the whales, which was absolutely brilliant. Highly recommended.
      Written October 27, 2024
    • product-of-canada
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent puffin tour on RIB boat
      Having a small group of us in a RIB boat was a great experience. Both the guide and captain were great (Pedro & Rodrigo). Weather was on our side that morning, as there were only two partially sunny days during our 8-day stay in the city. Watching the puffins was so much fun. They are a bit skittish, so they do not let the boat get too close to the, particularly the ones in the water. If you are trying to get good close-up photos, you really do need a good zoom lens. The Boat does get close to their nesting island, but not close enough to get good close-up shots with a regular camera. I hear that there are other parts of Iceland, on land, where you can walk up to the puffins and they are not too afraid. But you will not find that here on this tour out of the city.
      Written September 23, 2024
    • arleeniebird
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A fun experience!
      A fun experience! They provide an extra layer of warmth with jump suits. I stayed perfectly warm and comfortable, even in the rain. We saw a number of Minke whales and some porpoises, and white beaked dolphins - who were curious and swam under the boat. The tour guide also identified some birds. We were out of season for puffins, but did see one juvenile. The tour was only 2 hours, so it was easy to squeeze into a busy day. Although I would have liked the tour to have been a little longer.
      Written September 4, 2024
    • laura_lamotta
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      So good!
      The best way to get up close to whales, dolphins and puffins in Iceland! The capacity of 12 and small boat meant we were able to get much closer to these incredible animals with as little disturbance as possible, plus the boat ride was so much fun
      Written August 26, 2024
    • Culture27570591632
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Adventure!
      This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and awe-inspiring nature. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend this whale watching tour. It’s an unforgettable journey into the heart of Iceland’s marine wonders!
      Written August 12, 2024
    • I9242TCcarolg
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whaling and Puffin Experience
      This experience was amazing. We'd never done one before and really didn't know what to expect. You report to the office in the harbor and after checking in are given overalls to place on over your clothes to keep you warm once you are out on the ocean. They have extra hats, gloves and goggles for those who forget them. On a sunny day, you really want sunglasses because of the sun reflection off the water and because the boat travels so fast it's like having your head out of moving car for 2 hours. The rib boat is one of the best ways to see the whales because the number of participants is small, 12, and they maneuver quickly to the sighted whales. We saw 3 humpback whales that surfaced time and time again, often within 10-20 yards of the boat. The beaked-nose dolphins were an added bonus. My son's GF had a go-pro and she got some amazing video and pics; but phones worked just as well. My kids are in their late 20s and they were so excited and loved it. The boat and its speed was kind of an added cool feature. Captain Gunni did a lot of the spotting and maneuvered the boat expertly, while Guide Trausti gave us broader context of what the whales and dolphins were doing with plenty of descriptive information about both the dolphins and whales. He's an avid and knowledgeable birder so the birds spotted were identified and he provided a list at the end along with several videos from our trip. We ended our trip by boating over to Engey Island where the puffin colonies are. Breathtaking and not to be missed.
      Written August 7, 2024
    • Suttonlee
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Incredible experience
      We had an incredible midnight sun (20:00) tour in perfect weather conditions with Captain Örn & Guide Eline. We saw 5 Humpback whales and many hundreds/thousands of Puffins. We headed out towards a flock of birds and moments later the first Humpback appeared. We then had numerous sightings (20-30 I'd estimate) of the 5+ whales including 3 breaches! One of which was meters away from our RIB boat! The Guide Eline was absolutely fantastic as was the piloting from Captain Örn. Incredible experience, worth every penny.
      Written August 3, 2024
    • timwV7130KQ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lots of puffins to view - so adorable.
      We had a great day to go out and enjoy all of the magnificent puffins and other sea birds. got to see lots and lots of puffins. Great tour. We also ended with a nice boat ride. Our guide was very knowledgable about all of the sea birds.
      Written July 27, 2024
    • Isaac_hase_kch
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing puffins experience
      Our tour guide was truly exceptional, providing clear and insightful explanations throughout the journey. We had the delightful opportunity to observe charming puffins and their assistance in capturing remarkable photographs enhanced our experience. Our trip to Iceland has undoubtedly become even more splendid ,
      Written July 20, 2024
    • sfene
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale Experience at Night
      Wow, we saw 4 humpback whales when we did the 8pm trip!! We went out some 20km and it might be looking for a ‘needle in a haystack’ from our perspective but this company knew their stuff. Experienced captain Gunni along with guide Eline found them 30 minutes into the 2 hour trip. We were a small group of three but the trip still went ahead. The business provides all the weatherproof clothing for warmth, protection against the water/cold aspects and also a life vest for safety on the water. Providing also goggles and gloves, a must as traveling at high speed. Our backpacks can be stored in lockers in the building, you just need a charged phone and your camera. The whales are a sight to see, surprising even the crew with their antics and proximity to the inflatable. Which was very comfortable riding in sea craft like this. Eline was a marine biologist who shared facts on this type of whale and the birds we saw, plus more when we stopped briefly at a puffin/ seabird sanctuary. Thanks for the adventure Kiwi Susan
      Written July 18, 2024
    • U3359ULleahs
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun Puffin Tour!
      Great experience! Boat ride was fun and comfortable. We were given everything needed to stay warm and dry on our tour. Tour guide was friendly and had great knowledge and love for the puffins!
      Written July 12, 2024
    • LindaMinna
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Puffins galore!
      Our whale watching trip was cancelled due to bad weather so we opted for the puffin tour the next day instead, and we were definitely not disappointed! The boat ride was fun in itself. We saw lots of puffins on and around Lundey island and our guide Rodrigo was great. The Dropbox photos that came a few days later were a really pleasant surprise! Highly recommended!
      Written July 1, 2024
    • OlcaySoykan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best choice for whale watching
      Very glad we took this tour. Zodiac was a good choice. All the staff was very kind at all times. We enjoyed the info given by our guide Kylie and Miquel took great pictures of everything we saw. He was very attentive when following dolphins and whales. We have been lucky enough to see a Humpback. It’s very nice to receive a report of what we have seem during the tour.
      Written June 18, 2024
    • T4294UJmatthewc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Puffins, animal conservation, and speedboats!
      One of our "must do" items on our trip to Iceland was to see a puffin out in the wild. We got that with this boat ride, and a lot more. It's exhilarating to fly over the water on one of these boats. The scenery is gorgeous as well, both on the trip out and on the way back in. This was one of the highlights of our trip, and one of the first places we put onto our list of places where we wanted to leave a review.
      Written May 23, 2024
    • sabrinak136
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale Watch….
      A visit to Iceland is not complete without experiencing a wildlife tour. Whale Safari is definitely a great option if you desire to see puffins and or whales. First of all the company is very professional and the safety of customers is paramount. The cost for three passengers, one child and two adults was $471.00 U.S. dollars. This cost includes the boat tour and the attire that is needed for such an adventure. We took the trip in July and the temperatures were cool thus, a hat and gloves were essential. It can get quite windy so it is better to be prepared with warm attire. Whale Safari does a great job with providing you with all the necessary safety gear. The gear includes flotation suits and goggles. The staff is also very efficient with helping everyone get geared up. The gear is necessary for safety and the company definitely believe in providing a safe experience. Our guide was excellent and provided superior information. However, I must admit I was not ready mentally for the wind and how much time it takes to watch whales in the wild. Nature is indeed a wait and see game and you must prepare yourself for the wait. We did have an opportunity to see a whale and I did enjoy that moment however, I think everyone in my family realized we had bargained for far more than we anticipated or wanted. I believe in the future we will leave our whale watching to a National Geographic documentary. What I learned from this excursion is that whale watching in the waters of Iceland is amazing; however, one must be prepared for wearing the gear, the boat ride, and the wait because Mother Nature is unpredictable. However, Whale Safari is a stellar company that provides the necessary equipment, excellent tour guides, great photos, respectful and responsible touring, while providing an opportunity for one to see whales in their natural environment. If you are up for adventure definitely take a moment to tour with Whale Safari this summer.
      Written May 6, 2024
    See all 450 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

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles102 reviews
    Excellent
    84
    Very good
    9
    Average
    2
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    4

    Steviefull
    Kidderminster, UK2,065 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    What an experience, we started off on the speedboat which in itself was fun, we got to the puffin island and just getting to see the fascinating birds flitting around would probably have been an experience in itself but then things just got amazing.

    About 7 miles out we got our first sightings of a humpback breaking the water in the distance and the excitement levels were rising, a few more sightings and the boat maneuvered closer without invading his space and then 15 metres off the boats side it breached the water, truly awe inspiring to see this massive animal (called Davy Jones apparently) in its natural environment.

    We then left the whale to its self and were made aware of another, again an amazing display of breaking the water and waving a flipper. It was a truly emotional and humbling experience, all the while the puffins were still around fishing. We also caught a distant view of a minke whale before returning back home at high speed with a few tricks along the shore line.

    I get sea sick and although I felt rough at points the tablets i took beforehand certainly did the job, don't let this put you off.

    I can't recommend this tour highly enough, the tour guide was knowledgeable, the boat itself got us some amazing views. I've done a fair few tours in countries and this is without doubt one of the highlights that will live with me for a long time.
    Written August 30, 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.

    Lonni V
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    We had the best experion the sea where we saw both puffins and a very playful humpback whale and some minke whales. We had two very experienced marine biologist who was very good at answering questions. If you like speed on the sea you will also get your moneys worth it was fun.
    Written July 22, 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.

    Zareena
    Manchester, UK5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022 • Friends
    Amazing , once in a life time experience!!! Very knowledgeable guide Tena, full of quiet enthusiasm and exciting facts. No idea how she managed to spot the splash in the sea full of choppy waves that led us to find our humpback.

    The humpback was in hunting mode so would dive for 8 mins before resurfacing.

    Very exciting experience, from the high octane boat ride to "whale waiting" to the magical moment when the boat stops and we had our first glimpse of the whale!

    All the staff were kind and considerate and well versed in marine biology. Definately recommend!

    Note: Don't think everyone is lucky enough to spot a whale on their first trip but they said upfront if we didn't see one they would take us out again for free another time. Luckily we didn't have to take them up on that!
    Written May 29, 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.

    Pratik B
    Dublin, Ireland8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Booked via Elding. Was very confused between doing the ship and this and so glad I opted for this. It’s more personal and the speedboat is really fun. It would have been amazing without spotting whales but we saw a minke (I actually missed this) and 2-3 humpback whales which were far less elusive and super playful. We heard about other whale sighting and you can move far quicker with this than with ships so I’m pretty sure we had really good results overall.

    So much fun!!! I did the lavageur hike and didn’t think this would be memorable but it really is. I’m so happy!
    Written August 16, 2020
    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.

    Alex c
    3 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021 • Couples
    First of all the staff are great , very friendly and helpful.
    As no doubt like many before us , we set out from the harbour with high anticipation and looking forward to seeing whales in their natural environment as very strongly implied on all of the marketing.
    It was therefore extremely disappointing that 2 hours later we returned to the harbour having just gone for a speed boat ride only.
    To be fair the boat is great , the ride is exhilarating but this isn’t what you are paying the not cheap £118 each excursion cost.
    Now I know the response to this from Whale Safari will be they don’t control nature and they can’t guarantee you will see any whales but if that is the case they really should refund half of the cost to alleviate the customers disappointment and the feeling that they have just spent a lot of money for a speed boat ride only.
    They do offer another chance to go again but in reality this only suits those who have a spare day and aren’t leaving the following day , as was the case with us.
    Having spoken to a couple of locals we discovered our story was oh so familiar which made us feel even more disappointed.
    I really hope Whale Safari address this as at present this doesn’t sit right with us and no doubt several other disappointed customers.
    Written October 18, 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.

    anne70_11
    Dijon, France19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2021
    This a great experience for my sister and I.
    The team was great, the explanations (by Miquel) of the different whales was also perfect.
    We were given really warm outfit , waterproof. We didn't get wet.
    The ride was very fast, or It felt fast. Great view of the snowy mountains.
    And we did see humpbacks whales and minky whale!
    Trip absolutely perfect!
    Thank you to the team!
    Written September 27, 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.

    erin2510
    Washington DC, DC55 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2021
    What an amazing experience! We had incredibly good weather and smooth water and we saw puffins, two groups of white-beaked dolphins (including three who came to check out our boat and swam around us!), a harbor porpoise, and a humpback whale! Our captain Alejandro and guide Mike were wonderful and Mike told us a lot about the wildlife and talked a lot about conservation and how human activity impacts the well-being of these animals. We were so happy we booked with Whale Safari. This was the highlight of our entire week in Iceland.
    Written August 14, 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.

    Travel237780
    Chicago, IL2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Couples
    Our tour guide Rodrigo was outstanding as well as was the driver of the boat. The RIB ride was fun throughout. Although sightings are never guaranteed, we were able to see a Minke whale, and a few Humpback whales. We visited a "puffin island" and got to observe these birds and learn a great deal about them. And then on the way back to the base we were entertained by a school of White Nosed Dolphins that came by our boat and did some surfacing and diving for our benefit. This was an outstanding trip that we'll always remember.
    Written August 16, 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.

    Charlotte B
    Blackpool, UK106 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a must if you are going whale watching. Don’t go in the big boats go on these small group speed boats. You spend much more time with the whales and other wildlife. The captain is excellent and the guide is so friendly and knowledgeable. It is such an organised set up. You must do it! Wrap up warm, wear gloves and hats (they will provide if needed). I was a little scared at first but soon got into it. A fantastic experience with amazing staff
    Written April 12, 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.

    Lacinda C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Family
    If you are wanting to experience the vastness of the ocean and the beautiful animals it holds, I absolutely recommend the small-group RIB watching cruise with Whale Safari! Our boating captain and guide worked beautifully together to provide us a spectacular time at sea! What a treat it was to first see the puffin birds in their natural habitat on the island, nesting, flying over head and diving into the water to feed! It was soon though, that our eyes became fixated to the water’s surface in hopes of seeing the larger animals of the sea. Our hopes were quickly met and expectations exceeded as several different ocean animals were seen at different hours of the clock. Harbour porpoises, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and humpback whales all presented themselves, some at a distance, while others in close proximity to the RIB boat. We were in awe of their gracefulness and playfulness as they “welcomed” us to there home.
    Thank you Whale Safari and the boating crew for providing our family a very memorable experience.
    You are top notch!

    Cindy - USA 🇺🇸
    Written July 31, 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 the glowing 5-star review! We're overjoyed to hear that your whale watching adventure with Whale Safari was a success. Our team is dedicated to creating a seamless and enjoyable experience, and it's incredibly rewarding to know we hit the mark. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to your return for more whale-filled memories!
    Written November 28, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik provided by Whale Safari Iceland

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