This realistic Whale Watching Iceland Tour Review helps you plan your next wildlife viewing adventure in Akureyri.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Whale watching is a great activity. It is both educational and memorable. Iceland is one of the best destinations in the world for a whale watching tour.

Eyjafjordur Fjord

Most whale watching tours in this part of the country start in Akureyri. The town sits at the tip of the fjord. But whales tend to be in its mouth. This is the area near the village of Hauganes and Hrisey island.

That means that you will spend about 45 minutes getting to the main whale watching spots.

Enjoy a smooth ride. You will have time to admire the views. There is a lot to see. At first you will watch the port and the town go by.

After that the flattop mountains will be on full display. These mountains surround the fjord on both of its shores.

Houses and fields on the shores of the fjord will be the main sight for a while. You will also see occasional marine birds.

But things will get very interesting quickly as soon as the boat reaches the mouth of the fjord. Get ready to watch humpback whales.

The next section of this Whale Watching Iceland Tour Review will discuss the common tour features.

Whale Watching Iceland Features

There are a few things that sets Whale Watching Iceland Tour apart from other tours.

It is common for whale watching to have multiple tours going at the same time. This is how tours operate in Kenai Fjords, Boston, and Channel Islands.

But things are different in Iceland. A few motor boats follow the main tour boat in Akureyri. It is surely a more thrilling experience for people on these boats. In fact, you could get a lot closer to the giant whales.

You cannot control when and where whales surface. As a result, these small boats often get in the way for whale watchers on the larger ship. Your only solution is to have a bigger lens.

Otherwise you will capture some of the most iconic whale moments with other boats in sight. Here is a view of the whale slapping its tail near the boat.

Sometimes you could get lucky. In this case you will see a whale fluke between the two motor boats. Neither of them will be in your view.

Other than the thrill of being near a giant animal, it is better to watch whales from a bigger boat. Here are a few reasons why:

• You will feel rough seas less.
• You can watch whales from the upper decks. It will allow you to see further than from a small boat.
• You can freely move around the boat. This will help when the whale resurfaces on a different side.

Red jumpsuits are another distinctive feature of the Whale Watching Iceland Tour. Every visitor gets one for the duration of the tour.

These jumpsuits are very warm. You can put them on top of your parka or jacket. Just do not forget your gloves and hat.

Whale Behaviors to Watch For

Whale Watching Iceland Tour is a great opportunity to see different whale behaviors up-close. You can see a range of behaviors.

• Fluke Dive
• Tail Slapping
• Spouting
• Breaching

The first three behaviors are quite common for humpback whales. Breaching or jumping is far less frequent. You need a bit luck to see a whale jump out of water.

This Whale Watching Iceland Tour Review will now describe key whale behaviors to watch for. Look for tips to increase your chances of capturing them.

Fluke Dive

A fluke dive is something every whale watcher hopes to see. Simply put, a fluke is a whale’s tail. When whales go for a dive, they position their tails in a certain way. This results in a fluke dive.

You will not confuse a fluke dive with any other whale behavior. But you should not take fluke dives for granted. Not every dive will have a fluke.

It is key to watch for the dorsal fin. A whale would show its dorsal fin just before diving. This position helps whales dive deeper. The bigger the arch, the deeper the dive. And the more likely you are to see a fluke dive.

A dive like this one will probably not have a fluke. This whale will likely barely show its tail before diving.

But this dive shows more promise. The arch is quite big. And you will likely get a picture of a fluke dive within the next few seconds.

The next thing to watch for is the whale’s position towards the boat. This whale is parallel to the Whale Watching Iceland boat. Therefore, you will only get a partial view of the fluke dive.

You can get the best pictures of a fluke dive when the whale is at the angle to the boat.

Tail Slapping

Tail slapping or lobtailing is another common behavior. It takes place when a whale slaps its tail on the water surface. This could happen once or multiple times.

You might confuse tail slapping with a whale fluke at first. This is true for the pictures. It is easy to explain why. The whale lifts its tail before a tail fluke. There will be water flowing off the tail.

But unless the whale slaps its tail on the surface, it just results in a dive or a fluke dive. Tail slapping usually takes place when the whale resurfaced. But it happens well before the whale goes for another dive.

Spouting

Spouting is one of the most common whale behaviors. It happens when a whale breathes out warm air. This air condenses into drops. It looks like a small water fountain. As a result, it is very easy to spot.

It is even easier to see if a whale gets close to the boat. Nobody could predict where a whale would surface. But Whale Watching Iceland Tours in Akureyri approaches whales much closer than other whale tours.

This way, you could observe a whale with a naked eye. It is breathtaking to see a massive whale right next to the tour boat. Humpbacks could weight about 60,000 lbs or 30 ton.

Humpbacks do not attack boats, unlike some killer whales. But you would still feel quite helpless with a whale so close to the ship.

You might get some more good luck. In this case, you will see more than one whale approach the boat. This is a common sight at Whale Watching Iceland Tours.

Breaching

Breaching is a cherry on top of any whale watching trip. It refers to a whale jumping out of the water. It is impossible to predict if a whale would do that while you are whale watching.

There are no real signs to look for. Breaching usually happens quite fast. And it is often surprising to both whale watchers and tour guides. You need to rely on your luck.

Listen to the announcements of the tour guides. If the boat has an echo sounder, they will often know when a whale is about to surface. The tour guides will tell you the spot using a clock analogy.

• 12 o’clock means front.
• 6 o’clock means rear.
• 3 o’clock means right.
• 9 o’clock means left.

You have to be at the side facing a spot where the whale is about to surface. And you need to be ready. If a whale decides to jump, this is the only reliable way to see it.

This was a great end to this Whale Watching Iceland Tour. The boat took another hour to return to Akureyri.

Continue with this Whale Watching Iceland Tour Review. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Akureyri

Whale Watching Iceland Tours take place throughout Iceland. You have the most options in Akureyri, Husavik, Reykjavik, and Snæfellsnes.

Akureyri gives most other locations a run for their money. It has a good combination of a long whale watching season and ease of getting there.

• It has an airport but most flights are from the capital.
• It is on the main Ring Road (Route 1).
• It takes under 5 hours to reach the town from by car.
• It is a stop on some cruise ship routes.

As a result, Akureyri is a no-brainer spot for your next whale watching adventure in Iceland.

Where to Stay

Akureyri is the 5th largest city in Iceland. It is one of the few towns in the country that has more than 10,000 residents. Thanks to its favorable location, the town has a lot of places to stay.

It helps to stay close to the starting point of the whale watching tour. Most tours start at 9 a.m. A hotel in this town will allow you to sleep longer and avoid a lengthy drive in the morning.

If you cannot find a place within your budget there, continue your search along the Ring Road. Settlements around Myvatn Lake have a few places to stay.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

It is possible to see whales at the mouth of the fjord from the shore. But you will get very distant views. To have a better experience, you need to take a whale watching tour.

There are a few whale watching companies in Akureyri. Their prices start at ISK 12,990 ($93) per adult.

• It is a lot cheaper than a comparable trip in Kenai Fjords.
• But it is a bit more expensive than Boston Whale Watching.
• The prices are usually similar no matter what company you book with.
• This is because there is just a handful of large whale watching boats.

You will be boarding a tour boat for about 3 hours. A trip to and from the mouth of the fjord will take about 1.5 hours. So you will have about 1.5 hours to watch whales.

The operators offer tours at different times depending on the season.

• There will be a few tours a day in the summer when the demand is highest.
• Most operators offer tours in the morning (9 a.m. or 10 a.m.) throughout the year.
• Afternoon tours (1 p.m., 2 p.m., or 5 p.m.) usually run only in the summer.
• The tours depend on the weather. There could be last minute cancelation if the seas are too rough.

Takeaways: Whale Watching Iceland

Whale Watching in Iceland is a must-do activity for any wildlife enthusiasts. You can see whales almost year round.

Knowledgable tour guides will let you know when and where to expect a whale. You could get amazing pictures if you are ready and lucky.

Compared to lodging, food, and gas prices, whale watching is quite affordable in Iceland. In fact, it costs far less there than similar trips in Alaska.

You can make the most from your whale watching trip in Iceland by following a few tips.

• Research tour companies to find a tour that fits with your itinerary.
• Wear layers to stay warm throughout the tour.
• Arrive early to park and check in.
• Learn about the common communication ways.
• Know what to look for to increase your chances of getting a perfect picture.
• Stay near the rear of the boat if you have sea sickness.
• Make an upper deck your base to quickly move between the sides of the boat.
• Enjoy a smooth ride and great views.

Take a look at this Whale Watching Iceland Video Tour Review. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!