Trip would seem expensive if we came back after no sightings. Genetic material from a large whale killed off the coast of iceland has confirmed the creature was a rare hybrid. These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial. Of the 23 different species of whale found in iceland s waters, eight are frequently spotted on whale watching excursions. Hop on board for some of the best whale watching in the world.
How likely are we to see whales at that time of year. Whale watching in iceland ultimate guide extreme iceland. According to the ceos of iceland s two whaling companies, exporting whale meat does not really pay off. Whether youre planning a city break or a selfdrive journey through remote rural areas, make sure to pack smart and stay warm and dry with our quick tips below allseason essentials. It might be pretty cold though but the whale watching tour are going all year. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. Whale watching 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. Whale watching in june reykjavik forum tripadvisor. The whales of iceland exhibition located in reykjavik, iceland. Whale watching from reykjavik, reykjavik civitatis. 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. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact.
The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. That is where you find the whale watching company arctic sea tours. Sail the coast of iceland, and marvel at the whales of the north atlantic in their natural habitat, seeing these impressive mammals up close. See a sperm whale, go on a 3d journey the kids will love. About whales of iceland open since 2014 lifesized models. Visit the whales of iceland exhibition with lifesized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience. Iceland s minke whale quota in recent years has been set at 224 minke whales per year, though nowhere near that number has been caught in recent years. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. Iceland s weather is as varied as its incredible landscape. If you have humpback whale photos taken around iceland, with information. Enter an underwater wonder world of whales found in icelandic waters at whales of iceland. The whales of iceland exhibition, open since 2014, features lifelike fullsized models of the whale species around iceland, an interactive installation, vr and.
The countrys unique position between two ocean currents in the north atlantic means that its waters are filled with krill and fish the perfect attraction for hungry whales and dolphins. 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 1986, and that still. However, it is not unheard of to see other creatures, such as orcas, pilot whales, fin and sei whales and the great blue whale although rare in our waters. Rib whale watching is a thrilling experience from dalvik village in north iceland. My schedule is quite full, but i could squeeze in a whale watching trip my question is, is july a good time for spotting whales. Get app whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. Departing from numerous destinations across the country, these boat excursions provide for an intimate and unforgettable experience. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whale watching. Reykjavik whale watching in iceland itsallbee travel blog. Iceland, dalvik watching crazy humpback whale from the. Get a boat and sail into this new exciting adventure. Whales are drawn by fish and so every selfrespecting tourist is there to see the miracle.
Each year continues to surprise us with the wildlife it offers. Many of my friends have been visiting from all over the world and this is what they have talked about being the must haves when traveling around iceland. Heres a sample packing list of items you should bring with you regardless of the time of year youre travelling. The species that frequent iceland s waters most regularly are minke and humpback whales, whitebeaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Whale watching in july reykjavik forum tripadvisor. By far the best time of year for whale watching in iceland is during the summer months, from april through september, when over 20 species of cetaceaincluding the orca, minke, humpback, and blue whale can be seen in the north atlantic and arctic oceans on either side of the island. Hello, im off to iceland next week for the first time and very excited. The roads can be very icy and snow covered, visibility can be poor from low cloud or blowing snow. They are running a charming oak boat and offers light refreshments on board. At the spectacular whales of iceland exhibition in reykjavik you will get to learn. 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.
The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. While setting out to sea in the winter months of iceland may seem daunting, the reward of seeing the incredible marine mammals that frequent our waters is wellworth the trip. Whale and puffin watching tours allow you to get up close and personal with iceland s most astonishing wildlife. According to kristjan loftsson, ceo of icelands only whaling company, hvalur hf. If there are no sightings on the tour, you can use your ticket number to reschedule your reservation and join another tour for free.
The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often. Another advantage is fin whales are often spotted on whale watching boat trips from north iceland. Overview of whale watching in iceland iceland boasts not just the best whale watching in europe but is also one of the best places to whale watch in the world. Winter whale watching is a unique experience and a whole other adventure compared to our summer tours. Also, in regard to dog sledding, is there an experience where you can drive the sleds, i have seen one where you just sit in the sled, but would be interested in having a go at driving. However the weather in iceland changes quickly, so conditions can deteriorate. Please be at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure. Incredible blue whales are, also, far more prevalent in the waters around north iceland. It is prohibited to download or copy the collection, but you are free to share a link to. 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. 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. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities.
Rib express whale wathing this is a once in a lifetime boat experience. 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. I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year. Next time you are visiting iceland we recommend joining a whale watching tour in holmavik in the westfjords of 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. Here is a list of the things i like to have with me when i am traveling around iceland. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. That market has since collapsed and no whale meat was exported from iceland in 2017. Whale watching in iceland tips and tricks for families. Whale watching in iceland information arctic adventures. So i would definitely recommend you to go on the whale watching tour in november.
Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. Whale watching reykjavik special tours updated april. Yes, its 100% crueltyfree safe and definitely worth your while. Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. Whitebeaked dolphins and minke whales are common and occasionally other species such as humpback whale and orca can also be seen along with puffins, fulmars, gannets. Plus the whales are usually closer to land and therefore the total duration of the tour is only 2 hours perfect for.
Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. Humpback whale photo id marine and freshwater research institute. The whales of iceland exhibit is the largest exhibition of its kind in europe. The fjord is incredibly sheltered from most winddirections, meaning the tour is very smooth and calm. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. After selecting a departure time to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whale watching destination on the icy.
Im planning a trip to iceland within the next two months and whale watching is pretty high on my list of awesome things to do. Hi, we intend to travel to iceland this february is it possible to go whale watching in february most tour companies still seem to be advertising summer trips. And it is always hard to say about the weather in iceland. We are thinking of visting iceland the end of december. Top 10 pictures for february list february in iceland has brought some beautiful weather, with pink skies at dawn and dusk and lots of calm sunn. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages.
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