On the Water
3 hours
Free cancellation
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$79
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Gentle Giants Whale Watching
Gentle Giants Whale Watching
4.5
Boat ToursEco ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursSpeed Boats Tours
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Imagine encountering whales in wild nature. This is what we do at Gentle Giants and welcome you to join us. Gentle Giants offers whale watching tours and other exciting seafaring adventures from Húsavík, in the north of Iceland – often considered as the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Our company is proud of its originality and background with more than 160 years of family history in Skjálfandi Bay. Welcome aboard traditional Icelandic oak boats or modern RIB speedboats in search of the giants of the ocean. Your chances of seeing whales are up to 97-99%.
Husavik, Iceland
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Gentle Giants Whale Watching
On the Water
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 93% of travelers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
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$143
per adult
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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
2,180 reviews
Excellent
1,709
Very good
287
Average
76
Poor
50
Terrible
58
latestfilly
West Yorkshire177 contributions
Sep 2021
I booked a GG8 tour - whale watching and horse riding tour.
As we paid the day before departure we didn't need to arrive as early as everyone else (9.30 am, instead of 9.15 am for a 9.45 am departure). Paying early enabled us to get our tickets and then get discount in restaurant's and museums in Husavik (see website for full details) that evening.
Upon arrival at the boat, we were given the option to have waterproof warm onesies or not. We opted for them and were glad we did as even though the weather was ~20 degrees and the sea was nice and calm we went quite far out and it was cold so we were glad to have them.
The boat had seating for ~70% of the people on board. Seating as far as I could see was all outside so if there was bad weather it might be a bit miserable.
We were a little unlucky in our sightseeing as we saw some white beaked dolphins and one minke whale on our trip. This is not the fault of the crew as we went a long way out of Husavik to find whales as the staff said fish/whales don't like warmer water temperatures so move further out and the day before the weather was 22 degrees Celsius. This of course is not gentle giants fault - whales are wild and don't parade around for tourists!
The staff seemed really knowledgeable about the whales and dolphins and at the end of the tour held up a large laminated book giving more detailed information regarding the whales and dolphins we saw and also a part of the baleen plate to explain how minke whales eat.
Overall, very good excursion and would recommend.
As we paid the day before departure we didn't need to arrive as early as everyone else (9.30 am, instead of 9.15 am for a 9.45 am departure). Paying early enabled us to get our tickets and then get discount in restaurant's and museums in Husavik (see website for full details) that evening.
Upon arrival at the boat, we were given the option to have waterproof warm onesies or not. We opted for them and were glad we did as even though the weather was ~20 degrees and the sea was nice and calm we went quite far out and it was cold so we were glad to have them.
The boat had seating for ~70% of the people on board. Seating as far as I could see was all outside so if there was bad weather it might be a bit miserable.
We were a little unlucky in our sightseeing as we saw some white beaked dolphins and one minke whale on our trip. This is not the fault of the crew as we went a long way out of Husavik to find whales as the staff said fish/whales don't like warmer water temperatures so move further out and the day before the weather was 22 degrees Celsius. This of course is not gentle giants fault - whales are wild and don't parade around for tourists!
The staff seemed really knowledgeable about the whales and dolphins and at the end of the tour held up a large laminated book giving more detailed information regarding the whales and dolphins we saw and also a part of the baleen plate to explain how minke whales eat.
Overall, very good excursion and would recommend.
Written September 12, 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 joining our tour and leaving us a review! I´m glad to hear that you enjoyed the time with us and managed to spot dolphins and minke whale! Best regards, Aleks
Written October 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bransonrasko
1 contribution
Oct 2021
I'm not a typical review writer, but this is one of those rare instances where it's just necessary. No company can guarantee that your going to see Whales, regardless of what they advertise. Gentle Giants is very cognizant of that and openly offers the option to not go if there are any doubts, even after booking. This was an amazing trip, and even at the beginning of October we were graced by the presence of several whales throughout the trip. The deck staff and captain do an amazing job of making sure that everyone on the boat gets the best opportunity to view the whales no matter where you are on the boat. They are entertaining, informative and will keep you informed of whats going on through the entire journey. Take note, you are on a boat in open water - I imagine the swells are present no matter the time of year, so plan accordingly if you are prone to motion sickness. The only thing that would have made this trip better would have been if WE would have chosen a time to go while the Puffins were still nesting.
Written November 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.
Dear bransonrasko, thank you so much for this detailed amazing feedback! It is wonderful to see that the tour "met all expectations" and that you were happy with the whale sightings, service and the crew on board. Thanks for sharing your experience! Best regards, Daniel
Written November 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Global53782
Tampa, FL1 contribution
Jul 2021
Our guide and captain were so friendly and both educated us and presented to us the beauty of the wildlife in the sea in their bay. We saw both Minke and Humpback whales. The puffins were so fun to watch and learn about. Highly recommend the rib boat as it allowed us to get close enough to hear the breaths of the Humpback and to learn when it was going to show us some tail!
Written August 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.
Thank you for joining our tour and leaving us a review! I´m happy to hear you enjoyed our crew and your time spent with us! It is indeed magical experience being close to whales and we are very happy we could do that for you. Best regards, Aleks
Written August 11, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
lion1229
Athens, Greece248 contributions
Jul 2020
We wanted to see whales and that is what happened. "Gentle Giants" almost guaranties that you will see whales outside Husavic and as far as we are concerned they really provided that. This is obviously due to their expertise and also due to the location. It was an amazing experience.
Written September 10, 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.
Thank you very much for this nice review! Really great to see that you were happy with the tour and saw "Whales everywhere". Thanks for sharing your experience! All the best, Daniel
Written September 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nils1braun
1 contribution
Jul 2020
That was the most perfect Moment in my live. 2 Meters next to the boat jumps a humpbuckwhale out of the water and show us his wonderful Head, Back and Tale. The Guide was very nice and informativ. And we learn a lot of whales und the sweet puffins. I would come Back and make the Tour again!
Written August 5, 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.
WOW nils1braun - "the most perfect Moment in my live" is surely the best feedback we can get. You were indeed very lucky on your tour with a jumping humpback and playful. Thank you so much for this fantastic review and hope to see you again on board! Best regards, Daniel
Written August 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
plombarre
Annemasse, France29 contributions
Aug 2020
With favorable weather conditions we were able to get on the boat and install my disabled wife on the aft deck thanks to the very professional crew.
We saw the whales and took a great photo.
Iceland is a small country with a big heart for people in wheelchairs. we will return to learn their culture
We saw the whales and took a great photo.
Iceland is a small country with a big heart for people in wheelchairs. we will return to learn their culture
Written September 9, 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.
Dear Laurent B, thank you so much for this beautiful review! We are very glad to see that you and your wife were able to enjoy the tour and see whales. Thanks for very kind words towards the crew. Best regards, Daniel
Written September 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alicia BNB
Asnieres-sur-Seine, France9 contributions
Oct 2023
We took the RIB boat tour in october (so only to see the whales). The boat is very fast and it makes a difference with the other boats : we always were the first near to the whales which showed themselves to breathe.
We spent the first half hour to look for the whales : our guide explained us that he will search in the zone where they were last seen the day before. We started seeing water jets in a distance : the captain of the ship used it to localise the whales. As soon as a whale was spitting through their blowholes, the boat chased them, as the RIB boats are very fast, we were the first ones in the front row. I am wondering if this approach didn't disturb the animals.
We only saw humpback whales always submerged and their tails when they went back diving. A warning though : you should not trust the photos you see on the website, you will not see them jump !
We were well equipped with a suit for the cold provided by gentle giants but our feet froze at the end so do not hesitate to cover yourself more than necessary.
I was a little disappointed with our guide : she was very polite and gave us some interesting indication about whales way of life (we however didn't learnt a lot of new infos because we had visited the whale museum before, we strongly recommend it !) but a little cold. Even though there were few people on the boat because of its size, it is difficult to see well when we are on the wrong side of the boat...
It is worth a visit because it is very impressive to see whales in the real life ! The more mixed reviews did not outweigh the joy of seeing these animals in their environment thanks to Gentle Giants !
We spent the first half hour to look for the whales : our guide explained us that he will search in the zone where they were last seen the day before. We started seeing water jets in a distance : the captain of the ship used it to localise the whales. As soon as a whale was spitting through their blowholes, the boat chased them, as the RIB boats are very fast, we were the first ones in the front row. I am wondering if this approach didn't disturb the animals.
We only saw humpback whales always submerged and their tails when they went back diving. A warning though : you should not trust the photos you see on the website, you will not see them jump !
We were well equipped with a suit for the cold provided by gentle giants but our feet froze at the end so do not hesitate to cover yourself more than necessary.
I was a little disappointed with our guide : she was very polite and gave us some interesting indication about whales way of life (we however didn't learnt a lot of new infos because we had visited the whale museum before, we strongly recommend it !) but a little cold. Even though there were few people on the boat because of its size, it is difficult to see well when we are on the wrong side of the boat...
It is worth a visit because it is very impressive to see whales in the real life ! The more mixed reviews did not outweigh the joy of seeing these animals in their environment thanks to Gentle Giants !
Written November 10, 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.
Dear Alicia,
First of all, thank you very much for your honest feedback on the tour you joined with us. I am sorry to hear the trip did not fully satisfy your expectations.
As of your concerns in regards of the approach, we strictly follow the Code of Conduct issued by IceWhale in order to keep disturbance as minimal as possible. The speed boats are fast as you say and therefore can easily approach and follow a whale while on the surface. Still, also a humpback whale is fast enough to get out of reach. If we notice an animal seems disturbed by our presence, we will always try to find a different individual instead. I hope this dispels your concerns.
Humpback whales are known to be acrobatic whales at times (as you saw on the photos on our website). However, a sighting of a whale breaching out of the water always involves luck - it does not happen all the time nor on a daily basis.
I’d also like to apologize you were disappointed by my guiding. As I point out in my pre-departure speech, I am happy to answer any question at any time and provide more insights on these magnificent animals if desired. Since the knowledge about whales varies a lot from one person to another, I generally start, as you write, with the main facts about whales to provide a better understanding. Also, I am sorry you had difficulties seeing to the side away from you. I wished you had told me during the tour to have the chance to re-arrange the seating constellation. I strive for everyone to return happy from a tour and will ensure to be clearer about both matters during my speech from now on - still I am very sorry it has affected your experience.
Last, it is great to read - and I am glad to know – that you thought seeing the humpbacks was impressive and that it filled you with joy regardless!
Once again, many thanks for your honest words and rating.
Best regards, Sarah
Written November 22, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sanderson0210
Sarasota, FL16 contributions
Jul 2021
We had a wonderful trip with Gentle Giants. The visit to puffin Island was an added bonus. It was so amazing to see thousands of those little guys flying all around you. Then, we had many encounters with dolphin jumping right next to the boat. The whales were a little harder to find on this day, but the team tried their hardest and we ended up getting to see a minke whale! Such a truly magical day! Thank you gentle giants! I highly recommend you, your staff members were so passionate and their love for their job was so evident. It was such a beautiful boat ride with amazing landscapes and wildlife!
This company does not lure the wildlife with bait. They also took care to respect the animal by providing it distance. Sometimes the animals came closer on their own accord, which was awesome! This is how wildlife viewing should be done! We are in their homes and we are blessed by getting to share it with them. Thank you gentle giants for everything you do! ❤🐋🐬🐧
This company does not lure the wildlife with bait. They also took care to respect the animal by providing it distance. Sometimes the animals came closer on their own accord, which was awesome! This is how wildlife viewing should be done! We are in their homes and we are blessed by getting to share it with them. Thank you gentle giants for everything you do! ❤🐋🐬🐧
Written August 10, 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 joining our tour and leaving us this wonderful review! It´s really nice to hear that you enjoyed the tour and the time spent with our crew! It sounds like you been pretty lucky on the day, jumping dolphins, puffins and a minke whale! Indeed, the situation can change very fast. Whales come and go and no two tours are ever the same even on the same day. Every tour is a complete new adventure, even for the crew onboard. Thank you again for joining and hope to welcome you onboard again in the future! Best regards, Aleks
Written September 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diamond_Snowflake
London, UK21 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We had awful weather which didn’t help but did see lots of whales! They didn’t tell us that the extra layer was the waterproof one so we got soaked through (to pants!) in just the thermal outfit. Wish they’d taken time to explain that better. The kids were so wet and cold they were miserable. Despite asking people to move round the ship, of course the same people took the best viewing spots - a place specifically for kids would make this a much better experience. No indoor seating at all 😕. I couldn’t hear the guide much of the time. Despite Covid, and the high cost, I felt there were far too many people on board. So we had to wear masks which got soaked also. No hot drink at the end nor warm changing rooms so walked soaked through to change in the car.
Written August 6, 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.
Dear Diamond_Snowflake, thank you for your honest feedback! I am sorry to hear that you and your children were wet and cold during the tour. We do provide warm overalls and raincoats but also recommend passengers to dress warmly as it can be very cold at sea. The traditional oak boats are old Icelandic fishing boats with limited space indoors. This is also what makes them fascinating and interesting to many people, preserving the old heritage of such boats. Due to COVID-19 we are not serving any refreshments on board, and all passengers are required for now to wear masks. Thank you for sharing your experience! All the best, Daniel
Written August 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tin0wan
2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
I took a trip with GG last week with my husband and kids and we had so much fun. We were lucky and quickly found ourselves some friendly humpbacks that came really close to the boat. Our guide, Daniel, was great. Very knowledgeable and fun and had so many great stories to tell. We were on one of those wooden boats and there was a bit of water flowing inside from the sides so I definitely recommend rubber boots or waterproof shoes unless you like wet feet. But beside that minor detail, everything else was amazing and I hope to come back some time.
Written August 5, 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.
Dear tin0wan, thanks for the amazing review! Glad to see that your whole family enjoyed the tour and had an amazing experience with friendly humpbacks. Thanks for kind words towards the crew. Yes on some days it is indeed recommend to wear warm and waterproof footwear. Hope to see you on board some time again. Best regards, Daniel
Written August 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Good afternoon, are there discounts for people with disabilities?
Written August 10, 2019
Good afternoon, are there discounts for people with disabilities?
Written August 10, 2019
Hi! Me and my family will be arriving at iceland at the end of July. Is it necessary to book the whale watching tour in advance or is it allright to just arrive at the tour times at your office?
Written June 21, 2019
Thank you for your question!
July is generally a very busy time here so especially if your schedule is not so flexible we would recommend booking in advance to ensure your tour is at your preferred date and time, and also to ensure there is space onboard for everyone in your group.
You can choose to pay on arrival, and can contact our ticket centre at info@gentlegiants.is if you need to make adjustments to your booking to suit your plans as the time comes closer.
I hope this helps!
Kind regards,
Charla
Written June 21, 2019
Which of the companies offer the bigger boats, as my wife is likely to become seasick on the smaller boats?
Written February 13, 2019
Hello, Gentle Giants offers two different types of boats: traditional oak boats as well as RIB speedboats. Best regards, Daniel
Written February 13, 2019
I am planning to be there mid October 2018. How likely is it that we will see whales on your tour at that time of year?
Written June 3, 2018
Very low. But make sure to check the weather and cancel if it is bad. They don’t care how bad the weather is, we did a tour today and it was pouring rain and the waves almost knocked over the boat multiple times and the company didn’t care.
Written June 18, 2018
Hi
We are coming whale watching in mid June . What is a more likely time of day to see whales in your experience ? Early morning , afternoon or evening ? Do appreciate they are unpredictable though.
Many thanks
Written March 11, 2018
Dear skippy029,
Thank you for your question!
There is no time of the day when we are more likely to encounter see the whales, really. They come and go and the situation in the bay can change very fast. Nature is unpredictable, like you write. Every trip is a new, unique adventure and that is what makes whale watching so exciting!
I recommend you to pick a departure time that suits your other travel plans and then keep an eye on the forecast in advance as the weather conditions play a bigger role in our chances of seeing whales, rather than the time of day you go to sea.
Hope this helps you. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Alexia Askelöf
Digital Marketing/Sales at Gentle Giants
Written March 12, 2018
Is there a certain time of year when whales breach? We have seen plenty of whale's tails on whale watching trips in other parts of the world, but would like to have a chance to see whales breaching. Also, is it generally better to go in the morning or afternoon to see whales and to have calmer sea conditions?
Written December 1, 2017
Dear SammyK5,
Thank you for your question!
The whales' behaviour is very unpredictable and that is what makes whale watching so exciting as no two tours are ever the same. Both the previous answers here (from Joop V and conrad p) are completely correct!
There is no time of day when the whales are more or less active. Humpbacks are often acrobatic and we usually have them in our bay throughout the season. We have a feeling that they tend to breach more during rough sea conditions, but it does happen when the sea is calm too.
If you decide to give our whale watching a go, I hope you will be one of the lucky ones to have a gentle giant breach for you.
All the best,
Alexia Askelöf
Digital Marketing/Sales at Gentle Giants Whale Watching
Written December 19, 2017
Hello! I wouldt like to come the 22th novembre of this year and I am wondering if I am gonna see whales at this periode? Thank you
Written November 5, 2017
Dear Charlinepiescik,
Thank you for your message and interest in going whale watching with us!
Now in November we run one daily departure at 10:45. Our chances of encountering whales are very high – up to 98% throughout the season. Though, as whale watching is quite weather dependent it is a good idea to check the forecast in advance and/or be in touch with us again when it gets closer.
Most welcome to Húsavík!
Best regards,
Alexia Askelöf
Digital Marketing – Sales – Guide
Written November 5, 2017
hello
I would like to book a whales excusing the 24 th of April but I don't manage on your website. is it possible?
regards
justine
Written October 9, 2017
Dear Justine V, thank you for your message! Our online bookings for 2018 will be opened in the next days. Best regards, Daniel Annisius, Assistant Manager
Written October 10, 2017
Dear, We would like to go for a boat trip upcoming September. We were wondering, do the boats have a toilet on board?
Thanks in advance
Written August 20, 2017
Dear Annemarie, thank you for your message! Our traditional oak boats (GG1 Whale Watching) have toilets on board. However, our RIB speedboats (GG2 Big Whale Safari) do not have any toilets. I hope this helps you. Best regards, Daniel Annisius
Written August 23, 2017
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