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Our winter whale watching tour offers a unique experience and a whole other adventure compared to the summer whale watching tours. The low-lying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snow-capped mountains surrounding the bay, often painting the sky bright orange or pink. Explore the rich wildlife of the coast in the shadow of the surrounding stunning landscape and breathe in the fresh and crisp air of the Atlantic ocean to maximize your experience!
Herring and Capelin being the main prey available in our waters, it often attracts Humpback whales, Killer whales/Orcas, White-beaked dolphins, and Harbour porpoises to our shores. Finding the cetaceans is a team effort and so we ask all our passengers to take part in the search out on the deck by scanning the horizon and pointing and shouting out their whereabouts (using the clock system). We abide by a Code of Conduct for responsible whale watching, thus each encounter is on the animal’s terms and distance may be kept to minimize disturbance. Although our success rate is high, we are working with wild animals and therefore sightings cannot be guaranteed. In case no whales or dolphins make an appearance on the tour we will offer you to join us another day for free.
The weather and thus sea conditions can be challenging during the winter months and therefore it is good to keep in mind that we often adapt by moving our vessels to harbors of more sheltered areas situated around the Reykjanes peninsula and transport our passengers there free of charge from our base in the Old Harbour. Our experience and flexibility allow for a more comfortable and reliable winter whale watching adventure, but going from other harbors means that we may need to take a bus anywhere from 20-60 min. away, where we can expect the duration of the tour to be around 3-5 hrs. in total.
Our whale watching tours are focused mainly on the southern part of Faxaflói, just off Reykjavík. Each day we scan the area for signs of whales as we never know for sure where we might find them. Sometimes when weather conditions or chances of spotting whales are greater elsewhere than our regular area in Faxaflói, we depart from nearby harbors like Hafnarfjörður, Keflavík, Sandgerði or Grindavík.
The following is important information applicable to this whale watching tour. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us by email or phone, we are here to make your tour exceptional!
Operation:
This tour is operated by our trusted partner.
Meeting point & Pick-up information:
Meeting point: Elding ticket office, AEgisgardur 5, Reykjavík 101
Please stop by our ticket office in the Old Harbour no later than 20 min. prior to tour departure to exchange this voucher for admission tickets.
Booking:
Our day tours are very popular and we have many days when all the available seats are booked out. Please book your tour early to avoid disappointment. You can book this tour online using the booking form or just call our office. We typically respond to phone calls from 8:00 AM to 17:00 PM GMT – if you do not reach us, please send an email and we will reply to your message as soon as possible.
Prices:
We accept payment by major credit and debit cards with no additional fees. If no whales or dolphins are seen on the tour, we do not refund the tour price, but we offer a complimentary ticket valid on our Classic Whale Watching tour. The ticket is valid for 2 years, for returning passengers only and are non-transferrable between tours.
Tour itinerary changes:
At all times your safety is our first priority. You can expect any kind of weather in Iceland. For this reason, the tour itinerary may be subject to change the sights without notice or the tour might be canceled due to weather, or other unforeseen circumstances. If the timing changes, we will need your valid mobile phone number to contact you and inform you of the time change. Please don’t forget to fill out your phone number on the booking form. The tour is dependent on weather and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Weather and sea conditions can be unpredictable during the winter months. Our captains will make their decision to sail based on many years of experience, always keeping in mind passenger safety and comfort.
Keep in mind that this is a wildlife excursion and as such we can never guarantee or predict sightings of any kind. In case we don’t encounter any whales or dolphins on the tour, we do not refund the tour price but we offer a return-ticket so you can try again another day. The complimentary ticket is valid for 2 years, for returning passengers only and are non-transferrable between tours.
What to bring:
Since the weather is unpredictable, always bring comfortable outdoor clothes, warm layers, with waterproof and windproof outer-layers. Jeans are not suitable clothing; a waterproof jacket and shoes and a warm sweater are highly recommended. It’s best to wear waterproof boots. Bring some snack or packed lunch. Bring your personal daily medications if required.
Medical conditions:
Please let us know of any allergies or medical conditions that you may require assistance with.
Authorized Tour Operator and Travel Agency certified by the Icelandic Tourist Board under the registered name Ferðaskrifstofa Kynnisferða.
Tours offered on this website are sold under the license of Ferðaskrifstofa Kynnisferða.