Iceland, a major whaling nation since the late 19th century and a founding member of the iwc, did not formally object to the 1982 decision and was thus bound by the ban. Tips for animallovers visiting iceland in winter whats on in iceland. The reason is that the whales are busy far away in the caribbean, relaxing and taking care of their newly born offspring. 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. Next time you are visiting iceland we recommend joining a whale watching tour in holmavik in the westfjords of iceland. Whales in iceland iceland tour operator and travel. A good time for orcas would be from november to april around snaefellsnes, humpbacks are mostly seen in november december and then again from february around akureyri and husavik. Whale watching in iceland tips and tricks for families. 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. Tours departing from reykjavik operate all year round while tours from husavik, on the north coast of iceland, only operate from the end of march to november. How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. This guide lists the best and most useful apps to download for planning a successful trip to iceland. Companies follow a protocol so as not to disturb them any more than than necessary, turning off their motors.
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. Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. If you are looking to visit reykjavik and the south coast, snow may or may not happen. 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. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around icelands coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. That would be the answer to many of the questions we have had. 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. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. As the following images reveal, skjalfandi bay is crowded with humpback whales now. They have whale watching trips year round but it is a very cold, very wet experience in winter. The whaleplanner november a whale watching infographic. See more ideas about whale watching, whale and iceland.
Whale watching in december iceland forum tripadvisor. After november, you can get private tours for groups. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback whales that are hunting in the fjords rich in fish. When we spent november in iceland, the country was. In 1982, the international whaling commission iwc imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling, effective from 1986. You can find the exhibition in reykjavik, icelands capital city. It might be pretty cold though but the whale watching tour are going all year. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year.
Why you should visit incredible iceland in november 2020. The atlantic ocean, surrounding iceland, is a popular destination of whales in various shapes and sizes. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Iceland, dalvik watching crazy humpback whale from the. The whaleplanner august a whale watching infographic. Whale watching in november iceland forum tripadvisor.
The best time of year to spot the northern lights in iceland is between november and march image. In light of the corona covid19 pandemic we regretfully have halted our tours until april 15th the first. Whale watching in the offseason can be very cold and rough, plus its a gamble whether or not youll see anything and for how long. Starting in reykjaviks old harbour, your whale watching adventure is located right in the city centre. Whales of iceland partners with several whale watching companies around iceland. And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial. After selecting a departure time to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whalewatching destination on the icy ocean. The focus is naturally on the giants of the sea and we hope to see minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked. They migrate from the south and are best seen from march to november, but should be visible all year. Get a boat and sail into this new exciting adventure. And it is always hard to say about the weather in iceland.
Embark on an incredible and affordable whale watching excursion from reykjavik. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. You could go whale watching and you might see whales but you may not like rough seas and being cold and wet. Icelandic goats, whales, sheep, cats, horses, reindeer, the list of animals to be found in and around iceland is definitely not endless, but the country is home to.
Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. 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. Whale watching in reykjavik iceland on the go tours us. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland.
Whales and dolphins are at their greatest numbers during the summer months between april and october when the marine beasts come to feed on the plankton that thrives on the nutrientrich deposits of icelands bays. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. 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. If the weather is to bad they will cancel the tour and then you will be able to either get a refund or go on another day. The whales of iceland exhibition, open since 2014, features lifelike fullsized models of the whale species around iceland, an interactive installation, vr and audio guide. In winter, iceland is one of the best places in the world to observe whales, too. Its cozy sailing around the bay in the winter wonderland iceland has become.
This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in ice land, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. So i would only recommend going whale watching if you know youll enjoy being out on the water regardless what happens, and if no one in your party has trouble with motion sickness. He really wants to go on a whale watching trip, but ive read that there are no. On this whale watching excursion you will be able to get up close to some of icelands amazing wildlife. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Whale watching is a popular activity by visitors, a rare. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. Most common whales seen around iceland are humpback whales, minke whales, blue whales, pilot whales, dolphins and fin whales. When you go whale watching in iceland, rest assured that the whale watching companies iceland conduct their activities with respect for the gentle giants. 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. Whales of iceland uses cookies to give you the best experience when you visit our website, whalesoficeland. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it. We really want to go whale watching, but is this worth doing at this time of year.
In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. All tours leave with the welfare of the whales in mind youll never. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Within a few minutes i spot minke whale on a restaurant menu next to a selection of puffin tapas. Are you thinking about visiting iceland in november.
Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Hi, my friends and i are going to reykjavik on 5th8th november. The ultimate guide to iceland in november guide to iceland. Whale watching in november reykjavik message board. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. With luck, marvel at the majestic mammals as they dive and plunge before your eyes. Late this november, husavik has once again proofed that it is the whale capital of iceland, with humpback whales in numbers rarely seen before at this time of the year. Whales are drawn by fish and so every selfrespecting tourist is there to see the miracle. 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. Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages.
We recommend at least 4 days in iceland get an early morning flight on day 1 and a late one on the way back so that you can make the most of your time there. Our skilled whale watching guides will introduce the whales in general, describe the whale species we encounter, and tell us interesting stories about them. I am more so drawn to the misconception among iceland tourists that whale meat described as steak with a fishlike flavor is a local specialty worth trying. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. Why are there hardly any whale watching tours in iceland during winter. Our travel experts will quickly get back you with information on availability and assist you in.
We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whalewatching. The hotel posts daily if and when they are going out with the boat. These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. Whale watching in november reykjavik forum tripadvisor. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. My son and me are going to reykjavik in the middle of november. You certainly wont be short of things to do in iceland in november, especially if youre only on a quick weekend break like many people are. 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. Whale watching tours in the north of iceland dalvik if youre based in the north of the country, a whale watching trip from dalvik is the ideal option for you.
Minke whales in iceland like humpback whales, minke whales are very frequently spotted all around the coast of iceland. So i would definitely recommend you to go on the whale watching tour in november. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. The best time for spotting whales around iceland is the summer. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik. Rib express whale wathing this is a once in a lifetime boat experience. This ocean adventure grants you a fantastic opportunity to see a wealth of marine and bird life, without taking considerable time away from your holiday. Whales of iceland opened its doors for wdc and erich hoyt who held an impressive lecture to celebrate 25 years of whale watching in iceland. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. We are thinking of visting iceland the end of december.