Iceland · Wildlife

Reykjavík Whales & Puffins

6 Hours Round trip from Reykjavík Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Combine whale watching and puffin watching in one day
  • 02 Cruise into Faxaflói Bay in search of whales and dolphins
  • 03 Visit one of the nearby puffin islands by smaller boat
  • 04 Look for puffins, eider ducks, arctic terns, guillemots, and cormorants
  • 05 Enjoy informative English guidance from the crew
  • 06 Take in views of Reykjavík and the Icelandic coastline
  • 07 Includes free time in Reykjavík between the two tours

Discover two of Reykjavík’s most memorable wildlife experiences in one day with this whale and puffin watching combo. Head out into Faxaflói Bay to look for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises, then enjoy a separate puffin tour to one of the nearby islands where thousands of seabirds gather during the breeding season.

This experience combines a 3-hour whale watching tour on a larger boat with a 1-hour puffin tour on a smaller boat, with free time in Reykjavík between departures. Along the way, enjoy informative commentary from the crew, scenic views of the coastline, and the chance to observe Icelandic marine life and birdlife in their natural habitat.

Discover two of Reykjavík’s most memorable wildlife experiences in one day with this whale and puffin watching combo.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
City Reykjavik
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival and Check-In

Please make sure to arrive at the Elding ticket office at the Old Harbour in Reykjavík at least 15 min. before your first tour is scheduled to depart. Check-in and receive your boarding tickets for both the puffin and whale watching tours. Meet the crew and receive a brief overview of the day's schedule.

Classic Whale Watching (3 hrs)

Depending on your selected departure time, you will either start with the Classic Whale Watching (3 hrs.) or the Classic Puffin Watching (1 hr.). Upon booking, you will receive further instructions on the exact departure times for each tour. 

Classic Whale Watching: Board the larger boat located by our floating 'Visitor Centre' and set sail into Faxaflói Bay. Experience the excitement of spotting minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Listen to informative commentary from the crew about the marine life and the bay's ecosystem. Take in the stunning views of the Icelandic coastline as you explore the bay. Return to the harbor around 3 hrs. later

Free time in Reykjavík between tours (2 hrs.)

Spend two hours in between the tours exploring Reykjavík at your own pace. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the local restaurants or wander around the Old Harbour area, visit nearby attractions, or relax and take in the scenery.

Classic Puffin Watching (1 hr)

Depending on your selected departure time, you will either start with the Classic Whale Watching (3 hrs.) or the Classic Puffin Watching (1 hr.). Upon booking, you will receive further instructions on the exact departure times for each tour.

Classic Puffin Watching: Board the smaller boat on the floating pier for your puffin watching adventure. Sail to one of the three islands (Akurey, Engey, or Lundey) known for their vibrant birdlife. Enjoy up-close views of puffins and other seabirds such as eider ducks, arctic terns, guillemots, and cormorants. Learn interesting facts and stories about the puffins and their habitat from the crew. Return to the harbor around 1 hr. later.

Combo tour conclusion

Disembark from the second boat and conclude your sea adventure and feel free to continue exploring Reykjavík on your own. The city offers many attractions, shops, and restaurants to enjoy. If you would like transportation back to your hotel, please visit our ticket office for more information. 

We hope you had a memorable experience with us and enjoyed your time exploring the incredible wildlife of Reykjavík.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Reykjavík 1 city · 6 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Excellent English guidance
  • 3 hour whale watching tour on a big boat
  • 1 hour puffin tour on a smaller boat
  • Free WiFi
  • Use of warm overalls
  • WC facilities

Know before you go

The total duration of this combo tour is approximately 6 hours and it consists of two separate tours; Classic Whale Watching (3 hours) and Classic Puffin Watching (1 hr). After the first tour, you have about a 2 hours of free time to explore Reykjavík, enjoy a leisurely lunch, or simply relax before the next tour starts.

Departure times are as follows: 09:00 Whale tour & 14:00 Puffin tour / 10:00 Puffin tour & 13:00 Whale tour / 11:00 Whale tour & 16:00 Puffin tour / 12:00 Puffin tour & 15:00 Whale tour / 14:00 Puffin tour & 17:00 Whale tour / 16:00 Puffin tour & 19:30 or 20:30 Whale tour. Please refer to the booking calendar to see what times are available on your preferred travel date.

Would you rather see both whales and puffins in one go? Try our Premium Whale & Puffin Watching tour instead and enjoy the thrill of speed, puffins and whale watching in a single, seamless adventure on a RIB boat!

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Reykjavík, IS
Tour start
Reykjavík, IS
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 6 hours finish where they began, in Reykjavík.

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