Icelandic whalers have slaughtered more than 1,700 whales fin, minke and sei whales since the global ban on commercial whaling came into force in 1986. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. The cruising speed is up to 24 knots which allows you to get out to the whale watching area in half the time only 1520 minutes. We only seat 12 passengers per boat, and each boat has a expert whale watching guide and captain on board. Iceland s most influencing weather element is the wind. Apr 05, 2019 the best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching.
Apr 29, 2019 the best time to see humpback whales in costa rica is august and september. The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. The official northern lights season in iceland is from october till march. Jul 15, 2014 whale watching on a tour with gentle giants out of husavik in iceland. Whale watching in iceland ultimate guide extreme iceland.
At least one of the reykjavik whalewatching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind. Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. Green whale watching husavik on the ecofriendly opal. Midatlantic offers a great platform for travel industry professionals from around the world to meet, work together and exchange ideas, in iceland a hub between europe and. A rib is faster than the wind and makes it therefore more likely for us to find the big whales. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. The north, east and interior experience colder winter temperatures but warmer summers, and noticeably less snow and rain. Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. But did you know that husavik is also the only place in iceland where. The best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. The best whale spotting opportunities occur from midjune to august, which coincides with icelands peak tourist season.
Its really special experience to head out to see a whale move greacefully through gentle fjord waters or out across a bay, relatively close to the shore. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. But with almost everything else in the animal kingdom, there are seasons for everything and your best chances to get a glimpse on these majestic animals is from april to october. Nowadays, every so often news reports will carry stories about a beached whale. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed. Apr 14, 2017 the colorful whalewatching town of husavik winter is generally the worst season to go whale watching. The official northern lights season in iceland is from. The best whale spotting opportunities occur from midjune to august, which coincides with iceland s peak tourist season. Enjoy the norwegian and icelandic winter and combine whale watching orcas, humpbacks and fin whales.
You have probably heard that husavik is a great place for whale watching. The more activity the more likely it is that you will see the northern lights but that is not all. Oct 26, 2016 we have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954. We will restore gunnar fully during this winter and have him ready for our next season alongside our. On a whale watching tour from reykjavik with special tours wildlife adventures you will be able to experience some of icelands rich and thriving bird life, as well as visit our large variety of sealife, including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked dolphins among other whale species. Please be at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure. Close to downtown, this is truly an otherworldly venue. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. We can provide our guests with whale watching tours, departing both from reykjavik harbor and various fishing towns in iceland, e. Whale watching season is from april to midoctober with a peak in june. This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in iceland, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. On display at whales of iceland are 23 lifesize whale models of species found in icelandic waters. Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages.
See all 6 whales of iceland tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Whales of iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. Jun 29, 2015 for 2015, icelands fisheries ministry has given the whalers a quota of 154 fin whales the second largest mammal after the blue whale and 229 minke whales. Best value whale watching trip from reykjavik guide to iceland. Year round whale watching tours from reykjavik iceland. All the year around youll be able to see a variety of whales by the coast, from the minke, humpback and killer whales to whitebeaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Weve been preparing our two boats, niels jonsson and sandvikin, the last couple of weeks after the now finished winter fishing season. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. Migrating whales flock to this bay, and sighting success rates are the highest in iceland. The high season for whale watching tours is from april to midoctober. Whale watching from reykjavik whale watching iceland. Akureyri grundarfjordur took 6 hours but the scenic drive was worth being stuck in the car all morning on a nice day.
Therefore it is quite easy to include this activity in your wider tour. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Weather at sea is always colder than on land and therefore we recommend dressing appropriately, by wearing warm clothing and good sturdy shoes. Our travel experts will quickly get back you with information on availability and assist. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. A beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. At least one of the reykjavik whale watching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind. These range from one of the smallest marine mammals, the harbour porpoise, all the way up to the gigantic blue whale.
The annual icelandair midatlantic tradeshow was held in reykjavik last week and gentle giants took an active part as usual. Our whale watching boat, rosin the rose, offers an absolute innovation in whale watching adventures in iceland, it is fast and a luxurious whale watching boat, one of its kind in iceland, providing security and luxury for all. Rib express whale wathing this is a once in a lifetime boat experience. We zoomed around on a speedboat to get close to the whales and at one point we were surrounded by humpback whales that were. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species.
Be prepared to capture a photo of the giant whales of iceland. The best time to see humpback whales in costa rica is august and september. Best whale watching in iceland season, cheap tours, everything you need to know. This is the original whale watching tour from reykjavik and one of the most popular attractions in iceland.
We will restore gunnar fully during this winter and have him ready for our next season alongside our every trusty oak boat niels jonsson ea 106. You can book our whale watching tours through our online booking system booking by email send an email to our travel help team with basic information about the tour youre interested in, what date you are thinking of and then something about you or those going on the tour. This is when they come to breed and raise their young and is the best time to go on a costa rica whale watching tour. Best whale watching in iceland season, cheap tours. Akureyri grundarfjordur took 6 hours but the scenic drive was worth being stuck in the car all. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. They are lurking around all year round though, i would very much like to point that out. Whalers cut open a 35ton fin whale in 2009, one of two caught by a hvalur crew off the coast of hvalfjsrour, north of reykjavik, on the western coast of iceland. Thousands of humpbacks gather in the warm waters to mate and give birth.
It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in some parts of the country. For 2015, icelands fisheries ministry has given the whalers a quota of 154 fin whales the second largest mammal after the blue whale and 229 minke whales. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. As a disclaimer i havent been there myself but i guess it should be ok because its off route 1 which gets plowed year round. Whales of iceland is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world. We have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954.
Minimize your carbon footprint and join the electric sailboat opal for a green whale watching of a lifetime. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling. Keep in mind that whales are lurking in the deep throughout the year. The most recent icelandic hvalreki event happened on 26 november 2015, when a beached whale appeared at seltjarnarnes, a lovely peninsula on the. Whale watching on a tour with gentle giants out of husavik in iceland. Iceland refuses to recognise the ban and currently allocates its whalers a quota to kill endangered fin whales the second largest creature on earth as well as minke whales. Featured are 23 lifesize models of the species found in icelandic waters.
Arctic adventures whale watching tour from reykjavik departs from the citys old harbour and sails out onto faxafloi bay. Our specially made rib boats are made to get close to the whales, dolphins and puffins of the faxafloi bay. Mar 01, 2018 a beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. Sep 15, 2016 day 4 in iceland, day 3 driving the ring road. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours.
You can see whales all along the pacific coast of costa rica during those months. Whale watching husavik, iceland gentle giants whale. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. The official humpback season in costa rica is december to march and.
Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. Iceland whaling season under way despite protest whaling. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. Summer is the peak season for whale watching, as it is the prime feeding time for the whales and migratory seabirds such as puffins can be seen. Join us on a icelandic whale watching tour from the old harbor of reykjavik. Iceland does not have a rainy season, but precipitation peaks in october to february, with the southern and western parts receiving the most rainfall. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like. Husavik and dalvik, plus akureyri in the north and olafsvik on the west coast.
Several tour operators in iceland offer excursions on the water, from fishing trips and harbour excursions to puffin watching, some of which are shorter and less expensive than whalewatching. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of faxafloi bay. September 24, 2018 surrounded on either sides by the north atlantic ocean and arctic ocean, iceland is definitely one of the best places in the world to go whale watching. If there are no sightings on the tour, you can use your ticket number to reschedule your reservation and join another tour for free. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around icelands coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. That being said, the winter months still regularly yield excellent results. With our speedboats we can offer our passengers more area to cover in search for the gentle giants.
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