RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Zoom around the Icelandic waters aboard a custom designed RIB speed-boat, and enjoy close-up views of whales, dolphins, puffins and more.
The small yet powerful vessel is not just manoeuvrable out on the waters but also capable of reaching high speeds, allowing you to cover a larger area and get closer to the Reykjavik wildlife than you would in a classic boat.
After seeing the sights on the open water, enjoy panoramic views to admire Jón Gunnar Árnason’s 'Sun Voyager' sculpture and Harpa Concert Hall on the shoreline.
Numbers are limited to 12 per boat on this tour offering an unique small group experience with an expert captain & wildlife guide.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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 the Classic Whale Watching tour
Minimum Age Requirement of 10 Years
Strict Minimum Height Requirement of 145cm (4ft 9in)
Maximum Weight Limit of 140kg (308lb)
Not recommended for travellers with knee problems
Not recommended for young children
What To Expect
This great whale watching tour starts from the Old Harbour of Reykjavík and during the puffin season (early May to the end of August) we also visit the puffins in their natural habitat. Next we head out in search of the whales. There are very few things that will beat the experience of seeing the whales and dolphins as up close as you can at sea level from our RIB boats. On this fun tour the fast, stable and safe boats also allow us to cover more area as we search for the wild life, thus increasing your chances of spotting whales, dolphins and bird-life.
During the puffin season (early May to the end of August) we also visit the puffins in their natural habitat, at the Islands of Akurey, Engey or Lundey just outside of Reykjavík. The journey here is a short one, and we spend around 5-10 minutes with the Puffins. Puffins, auks, gannets and an incredible variety of other sea birds dominate the skies and sea cliffs just a few minutes sailing from the Old Harbour. Our RIB's are fast and small so we get you extra close and extra quickly out to the islands!
Options
Whales, Puffins & Reykjavík
Available from the Old Harbour from April 1st to October 31st. Please note Puffins are in season only from May 1 to ~Aug 20th Premium: Only 12 passengers per boat Duration: 2 hours: The tour is 2 hours long. Remember to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. RIB boat
What‘s Included
Professional marine biologist guide
All necessary safety equipment
Use of coveralls
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
257 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Highly recommend
margaretmR4739MI,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible experience - Anna and Emily were wonderful guides. We saw a humpback breach multiple times and wave at us with his/her dorsal fin for a solid 5 minutes. Incredible. Highly recommend this outfit - safe, knowledgable, and you are sure to see some great sea life....AND free pictures after the adventure.
The tour was great!!! The...
Kecia M,Jun 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was great!!! The guide was very informative, helpful, and was just as excited to see the whales and puffins as we were. It was kind of like going fishing. You are just waiting for the sea animals to do their thing and they didn’t disappoint. The puffins were the cutest.
Great tour
Stacey C,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The seats were comfortable for the experience, only 2 rows of seats so no issues being able to see, the captain and the guide were friendly and knowledgeable. The guide took her own pictures for us so you could enjoy seeing the whales and not worry about snapping photos
Tour Cancelled
Trish M,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00This tour was canceled due to weather so we had to switch to a larger vessel which was not as fun. Plus we all got very sea sick.
Whale at 3m
90ivesm,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very professional team Good organization, good guides Excellent experience Thank you for the time you provided us at 3m from the whale
I had a nice tour...
Angela M,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I had a nice tour overall, though there weren’t as many whale sightings as I had hoped. I really enjoyed the RIB boat—it made the experience exciting. We did see dolphins, and we got fairly close to Puffin Island, although visibility from my side wasn’t great. Wildlife tours can be a bit of a dice roll in terms of what you’ll see, but the experience was still worthwhile. The staff and guides were professional, friendly, and informative throughout.
A 100 percent recommendation!
Jurgen P,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Super organized and very friendly! It was a great experience. We experienced dolphins right by the boat and even several whales in close proximity to the boat! A 100 percent recommendation!!!
Highly recommended!
Linda M,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We were accompanied by Eleftherios Manioudakis. He was very motivated and told us a lot about the animals we saw. We had an all-around good experience! Safety is prioritized, but fun is not lacking; you feel very comfortable. We would book again at any time. Besides whales, dolphins, and puffins, we also learned a lot about birds. Eleftherios even provided us with his pictures from the trip for free.
It was the best ride in the park
Dee B,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was the best ride in the park. Our driver and tour guide were very informative and made sure we had a chance to see the whales. We went to an island first to see some puffins and then went straight away to an area where whales had been spotted. I think we had a perfect day for this activity
Exhilirating tour
517cam,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome tour, the RIB boat is fast and feels exhilarating. Since it seats less people you dont get to experience crowds in your way like one would in a normal boat. It felt like a fun roller coaster if you sit closer to the front (just beware, it is a bumpy ride with tons of big waves!) Great guides, we saw whales and puffins and they shared pictures after the tour.
Related Experiences
Operated by Whale Safari