The 15 Best Zodiac and RIB Whale Watching in Iceland

1.Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,221 reviews · 2 hours · from $175Our pick

Review of Húsavík’s two-hour RIB whale safari, with puffins, small groups, expert guides, practical tips, price advice, and weather notes.

“Took a guided tour with Gentle Giants on Sept 10 in the morning. Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly, the speed boat was able to get to whale locations very fast, compared to the big slow crammed boats. We saw rare whales and humpbacks; at one point just over an arms length away. Our guide she educated us, the captain he knew what he was doing, everyone was so overjoyed. I am so happy I took a risk and spent a little extra on a much higher quality tour. Life changing experience! Sebastien and Tia”

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2.Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Ride a small RIB from Húsavík to see whales, dolphins, puffins, and Tjörnes Peninsula with warm gear and expert guides.

“Fabulous! Zina was a wonderful guide and the whole trip was brilliant!”

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3.Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 621 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Review of Reykjavik’s 2-hour RIB whale-watching tour, with dolphins, puffins, practical tips, pricing, weather advice, and who should book.

“Very good Whale-Watching tour. Did see Dolphins, Puffins and various Humpback Whales up close. Would definitiely recommend. We were only 4/12 people on the tour but they still went out and didn't cancel. Cudos to that for sure!”

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4.Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $203Top rated

Review of Húsavík’s Big Whales and Puffins RIB tour, with wildlife highlights, cold-weather tips, price value, logistics, and booking advice.

“We had great whale sightings, up close. The weather was not great but the crew tried hard for us to have a good experience.”

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5.Akureyri: 2-Hour Whale Watching Express by RIB Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 489 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Review of Akureyri’s 2-hour RIB whale watching tour, with humpbacks, fast boats, mountain views, practical tips, pricing, and honest drawbacks.

“Mack was a great guide and gave us loads of insights on whale behaviour. Found it really interesting. We saw many whales and it was great that the boat stayed a respectful distance from them allowing them to come toward us if they felt like it. It's the only tour we did in Iceland that I left feeling like it was well worth the money.”

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6.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 417 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180

Ride a fast RIB from Húsavík to spot whales, dolphins, and puffins, with warm suits, expert guides, and a small group setting.

“We had an amazing time! We saw minkes, humpbacks and the largest pod of dolphins I've ever seen jumping and playing all around our boat. Our guide and captain did a wonderful job! If you've never been on a rib boat before the seats are all individual - like a motorcycle or snowmobile - which allows you to bend your knees or stand when appropriate. This is important for when the boat is going fast and hits a wave hard. You will want to stand to prevent your back from being jolted on impact - think of it like going up and down in the saddle of a horse. Do…”

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7.Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 393 reviews · 2 hours · from $194

Review of Reykjavik's 2-hour RIB whale tour, with puffins, dolphins, warm gear, museum entry, practical tips, and honest value advice.

“we saw a humpback and several dolphins. and puffins! it was lovely! captain and guide were excellent!”

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8.Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 293 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Review of Reykjavik's 2-hour RIB whale and puffin tour, with marine biologist guides, warm gear, wildlife odds, costs, and practical tips.

“We received protective gear against water & wind which was amazing - the boatride is of course bumpy but the guides give you safety instructions and regularly check in if everyone is ok. We saw plenty of dolphins, puffins, a humpback and minke whales. Great experience”

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9.RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 241 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $208

Review of Reykjavik’s small-group RIB whale tour, with puffins, whales, dolphins, practical tips, price, comfort, and weather advice.

“The trip was incredible! The staff was so enthusiastic and informative. The trip itself was exceptional. The boat ride was exhilarating. We were able to see a whale breach 4 times!”

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10.Speedboat Whale Watching Small-Group Tour in Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 223 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $164

Review of Reykjavik’s fast RIB whale-watching tour, with small groups, warm gear, wildlife odds, practical tips, and honest value advice.

“Excellent experience- well saw three types of whales very close to the boat, excellent captain and guide, saw puffins and enjoyed every minute. Fun boat ride too!”

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11.Akureyri Express Whale Watching by RIB boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 168 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180

Race into Eyjafjordur on a 12-person RIB for two hours of whale watching, with warm gear, expert guides, and a free return if needed.

“Loved this tour! It was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland. The smaller boat made it so easy to watch the whales and get great information from our guide, Jacob. The smaller boat also made it easy for us to get close to the whales as we spotted them. They provide coveralls - which in addition to our jackets and beanies kept us warm! Would recommend bringing something to cover your face as the wind is chilly while you ride. Overall would definitely recommend this excursion!”

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12.Dalvík: Whale Watching Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 154 reviews · 2 hours · from $165

Ride a small RIB from Dalvík to seek humpback whales, dolphins, puffins, and seals beneath Eyjafjordur’s mountains.

“Kurze Wartezeiten, nur 15 vorher. Wir waren nur 6 Teilnehmende und konnten uns auf dem Boot bewegen. Haben mehrere Buckelwale gesehen. Die beiden Bootsführer konnten all unsere Fragen zu den Walen und zur Landschaft beantworten.”

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13.From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 119 reviews · 2 hours · from $192

Race from Reykjavik harbor into Faxaflói Bay on a 12-seat RIB, seeking whales, dolphins, puffins, and sharp city views.

“What a fabulous speed boat trip ! the guide and boat navigator worked well as a team to firstly spot and then follow a hump back whale which was feeding therefore just blowing up air every now and then . We saw it come out the water . Only saw the one whale but was given a great synchronised show by a pod of dolphins that followed us for quite a while circling under and the around boat diving in and out of the water. Then we were taken to the puffin nesting area and were given quite an aerial and water display by lots of puffins flying and swimming…”

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14.2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 96 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $189

Review of Reykjavik’s 2-hour RIB whale watching tour, with fast boats, puffin island, warm gear, practical tips, and honest drawbacks.

“This was such a great experience for me and my partner! The lead guide Jonathan was super knowledgeable about the animals that we saw on the way, including the puffins "running" across the water and the other sea birds! We managed to see three humpbacks during our tour out and it was AMAZING! We were literally meters away from a humpback and her calf, spraying water and displaying the flukes! The boat experience was one of a kind, such a smooth ride considering! The shock resistant seats really made all the difference. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for something fun to do outside in Iceland in their free…”

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15.Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 77 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Ride a fast RIB from Reykjavik for whale and dolphin sightings, puffins, harbor views, and a small-group adventure on Icelandic waters.

“Great!!! They were super nice. I had so much fun!!!”

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