RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

Whales meet you at sea level. This 12-person RIB tour combines a fast ride, puffin islands, and a serious search for whales and dolphins in Faxaflói Bay. I like the small group, which gives you a much better view than a crowded boat, and I like the marine biologist guides, who explain what you are seeing without turning the trip into a lecture. The supplied coveralls and suspension seats also make a cold North Atlantic outing more manageable.

The catch is the ride. The boat can move quickly and cover a wide search area, but the return across rough water may be hard on your back, knees, or stomach. At $208.09 per person, this is not a bargain boat trip. It makes the most sense if you value close wildlife viewing and a lively RIB ride more than a cheap, gentle cruise.

Key points before you book

• Small boat, maximum 12 people: You get more room to see the water and less crowding around the rails.
• Puffin season runs from early May through late August: The boat visits Akurey, Engey, or Lundey for about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Fast RIB design covers more water: That can improve your odds of finding whales, dolphins, and seabirds.
• Suspension seats soften the ride: They add comfort, but they do not turn a rough sea into a smooth one.
• Warm gear is provided: Coveralls and safety equipment are included, while you should bring wool or fleece, a hat, gloves, and sturdy shoes.
• No sighting means another tour: If poor weather cancels the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Leaving Ægisgarður for Faxaflói Bay

The tour begins at Ægisgarður 5d in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and returns to the same spot about two hours later. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to reach the harbour yourself. The meeting point is near public transportation, which keeps the logistics fairly simple if you are staying in central Reykjavik.

The first few minutes are used to get out of the harbour and prepare for open water. You receive coveralls and the required safety equipment before the boat heads farther from shore. The RIBs are described as fast, stable, and safe, with high-performance suspension seats designed to absorb some of the shocks from the sea.

That last feature matters. You are not sitting on a flat bench while the boat pounds over every wave. The suspension seats reduce the strain, and several outings have been praised for keeping passengers warm and dry in rain. Still, you should not confuse suspension with softness. The boat is built for speed and access, not a quiet ride.

The trip can be especially lively on the way out or back. One outing included a rough return, while another passenger with a tendency toward seasickness found the ride manageable. Conditions change quickly in Iceland, so I would treat the sea state as part of the decision. If you have knee or back problems, the operator specifically advises against this tour.

Akurey and Reykjavik’s puffin islands

From the harbour, the boat may visit Akurey, Engey, or Lundey during puffin season, from early May to the end of August. These low islands sit just outside Reykjavik, so the journey is short. You spend roughly 5 to 10 minutes near the birds before continuing toward the whale grounds.

This is a good opening act. Puffins, auks, gannets, and other seabirds gather around the islands and cliffs. The small RIB can get close quickly, giving you a sea-level view rather than a distant look from the harbour. Several outings have included puffins along with whales, dolphins, and porpoises, making the bird stop more than a token extra.

Keep your expectations in check. Puffins are wild birds, not performers, and the stop is brief. The boat may visit one of the islands rather than all three. If you are visiting outside the early May to late August period, the puffin portion is not part of the experience.

The bird stop also gives you a useful warm-up. You are close to Reykjavik, the boat is still in a relatively familiar setting, and you can get used to the gear and seating before the longer search in Faxaflói Bay.

One hour and 30 minutes searching for whales

The main portion of the outing takes place in Faxaflói Bay, where the crew searches for humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds. The RIB’s speed lets it cover more water than a slower boat, which can help when sightings are spread across the bay.

The best part is your position. You sit low to the water, so a whale surfacing near the boat feels immediate and surprisingly personal. You are not guaranteed a dramatic breach, but the close angle can make an ordinary surfacing memorable. Several outings included humpbacks near the boat, and one group saw a whale breach four times. Another saw two humpbacks breach at the same time.

Sightings vary. Trips have recorded single minke whales, several humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, and even a basking shark. One particularly strong outing included about 15 whales and several dolphins. These reports show the range of possibilities, not a promise for your departure.

A marine biologist guide helps make the quiet stretches worthwhile. Guides such as Maria, Sam, Ann, and others have been praised for explaining the animals and keeping the group engaged while the captain searches. Some guides have also taken photos and videos during the trip, allowing you to watch the water instead of keeping your phone raised the whole time.

That small point matters. Whale watching involves long periods of scanning for a blow or dorsal fin. A guide who can identify movement, explain behavior, and keep everyone focused adds real value. You are still dependent on nature, but you are not left guessing at every dark shape on the water.

Why the RIB format changes the experience

A standard whale-watching boat offers more interior space and usually a steadier platform. This RIB offers the opposite trade: fewer people, faster movement, closer access, and a more physical ride.

With a maximum of 12 people, you are less likely to be blocked by a crowd when a whale surfaces. You can also hear the guide more easily than you might on a large vessel. Families and small groups have particularly praised the feeling of having their own compact boat without being packed in with a large tour crowd.

The RIB is also fun even when the wildlife is quiet. The speed across the bay gives the trip some energy, and several outings described the boat ride itself as exhilarating. That makes this a better match for you if you want an active sea outing rather than a slow sightseeing cruise.

The drawback is equally clear. Fast boats react to the waves, and the open bay can be choppy. The supplied coveralls protect you from spray and cold, but they cannot prevent motion sickness or discomfort from repeated jolts. Children must be over 10 and taller than 145 centimeters, and the tour is not recommended for young children.

I would also think carefully before booking if anyone in your group has knee trouble, back pain, or limited physical fitness. The stated requirement is moderate physical fitness, and the operator’s warning about knees is worth taking seriously.

Warm clothing, suspension seats, and what to wear

The operator supplies coveralls and all necessary safety equipment. The coveralls have been praised for being waterproof, warm, and comfortable, including on rainy trips. Some outings also provided gloves, hats, and goggles, but the core information confirms coveralls and safety equipment, so you should not rely on every extra item being available every time.

Wear wool or fleece under the suit. Add a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. Reykjavik may look calm when you leave the harbour, but the temperature and wind on the bay can feel much sharper. Warm layers also help during the slower periods when the boat is stopped or moving at low speed to watch wildlife.

The suspension seats are one of the tour’s strongest practical features. They absorb some impact when the boat crosses waves, and several people specifically appreciated them once the sea became rough. Even so, keep your expectations realistic. This is still a small open-water boat, and the ride can be physically demanding.

The return along Reykjavik’s shoreline

After the wildlife search, the boat heads back toward Reykjavik. The return is not simply a straight run to the dock. You travel along the city shoreline, with views of Reykjavik from the water and photo opportunities around the Sun Voyager sculpture.

The boat also passes Harpa Concert Hall, the city’s glittering glass landmark. Seeing Harpa from the harbour gives you a different angle from the usual waterfront view, and the final few minutes help turn the outing into a small coastal tour rather than only a wildlife search.

This part is short, around five minutes at the listed stop, but it is a pleasant finish. If conditions are rough, you may be more focused on staying comfortable than taking photographs. Keep your camera protected from spray and wait for the guide’s advice before moving around.

The tour ends back at Ægisgarður, roughly two hours after departure. Because the wildlife search depends on conditions and sightings, the exact rhythm can vary. The schedule includes about 1 hour and 30 minutes in Faxaflói Bay, with the harbour and puffin portions taking up the remaining time.

Is $208.09 a fair price?

At $208.09 per person, this costs more than a basic large-boat whale excursion. You are paying for the smaller group, the RIB’s speed, the sea-level viewing position, the marine biologist guide, supplied coveralls, and the chance to cover more water.

The value improves if you care about access and personal space. A whale surfacing close to a 12-person boat can feel far more immediate than the same sighting viewed from a crowded deck. You also spend less time waiting for a large vessel to turn or reposition.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a low-cost way to get out on the water. Wildlife is never guaranteed, and a rough day can make the trip feel demanding even when the crew works hard. The no-sighting policy helps: you receive a ticket for an alternative tour if no wildlife is seen. That gives the purchase some protection, though it does not guarantee whales on the replacement outing.

The strong overall score, 4.7 from 241 ratings, and 93 percent recommendation rate support the idea that the experience usually delivers. Still, the two poor experiences in the supplied feedback point to real risks: bad weather, late notice of cancellation, an engine problem, a transfer to a larger boat, and no whales. Those are not reasons to reject the tour, but they are reasons to keep your schedule flexible.

How to choose your departure day

This tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

I would avoid putting this at the very end of your Iceland trip. A weather cancellation is easier to handle when you have another day available. Booking it earlier also leaves room for a replacement outing if the first departure is called off.

The tour is available in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the activity begins and ends at the Old Harbour meeting point. Since food and drinks are not included, eat beforehand and plan your own refreshments after returning to shore.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this tour if you want several things at once: a compact group, a fast boat, close wildlife views, and a guide who can explain the animals. It suits couples, friends, and families with older children who are comfortable on open water.

It is also a strong choice if you have done whale watching before and want a more intimate setup. The combination of puffins, dolphins, minke whales, and humpbacks gives the outing plenty of variety when conditions cooperate.

I would choose a larger, slower boat instead if you need a gentler ride, have knee or back concerns, or dislike the possibility of a choppy return. The RIB is not the sensible pick for a very young child, and children must meet both age and height requirements.

Should you book this Reykjavik RIB tour?

Book it if the boat ride is part of the attraction, not just transport to the whales. The small group, low viewing position, suspension seats, warm coveralls, and skilled wildlife guides give you a real advantage over a crowded cruise. The puffin islands add another worthwhile stop in season.

Skip it if your priority is comfort, low cost, or a calm ride. At $208.09, the tour asks you to pay for a more active experience, and the sea can be rough. For the right person, though, a humpback surfacing beside a small boat, with only a handful of people watching, can justify the price very quickly.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour start?

The tour starts at Ægisgarður 5d, 101 Reykjavik, in the Old Harbour. It ends at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours. About 1 hour and 30 minutes are scheduled for searching for whales in Faxaflói Bay.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

Yes, but only during puffin season, from early May through the end of August. The boat visits Akurey, Engey, or Lundey and spends around 5 to 10 minutes near the birds.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, gannets, auks, and other seabirds. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

What should I wear?

Wear warm layers such as wool or fleece, plus a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. Coveralls and necessary safety equipment are provided.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be over 10 years old and taller than 145 centimeters. The tour is not recommended for young children or people with knee problems, and a moderate level of physical fitness is required.