The north of iceland is known as the capital of whale watching. The northern lights, also called aurora borealis, are lights often green which seems to dance in the sky. The best time to see whales in iceland and success rates. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Theres also some places for opportunistic whale watching while doing a regular nature tour, i. Since 1970, blue whales balaenoptera musculus have been seen feeding in the waters off southern chile during the summer and autumn. 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. Whales are drawn by fish and so every selfrespecting tourist is there to see the miracle. Pdf rediscovery of a humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae.
At least one of the reykjavik whale watching 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 is operated from various locations around iceland. Argentina belize brazil chile colombia costa rica ecuador galapagos. We are thinking of visting iceland the end of december. The various types of whales commonly sighted include minke whales, whitebeaked dolphins, harbour propises and.
Iceland special tours whale watching and other tours from. Substantial numbers live off the coasts of great britain, ireland, iceland. With convenient location, excellent sighting rate and high quality service, the companies reputation grew fast and it quickly became one. Additionally we also offer sea angling andor bird watching tours from grundarfjordur. The whales that we can spot on our tours on faxafloi bay are mainly 4 types minke whales, whitebeaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and humpback whales. These days are just the perfect time to go whale watching here in north iceland. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save. 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. To be able to see them, you need a dark night and a clear sky. Whales are mentioned in the oldest documented sources and beached whales have always been considered a great perquisite, especially when times were hard.
If taking the tour in summer, you may get so lucky to see puffins that reside in iceland to breed during the summertime as well as countless other seabirds. 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 and whitebeaked dolphins among other whale species. Discover the best time to see orcas with some of the best killer whale watching. Experience the drama and poetry of whales, seen on more than 95% of summer tours and 80% in winter. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. The combination of snorkeling through the famous silfra fissure followed by whale watching is a great way to get to know the many forms of one of icelands most prominent elements. Other species previously reported in the fjord are the blue whale, orcas and fin whales, although they are not a permanent resident in the area and quite a rare sighting on our tours. Whale watching from dalvik close to akureyri north iceland with arctic sea tours is adventure on sea. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. Midnight sun whale watching tour reykjavik, iceland.
The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. The day begins when we will pick you up at your hotel in the morning and drive with you to the national park thingvellir where you will snorkel silfra. Ambassador whale watching akureyri 2020 all you need to. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place.
The whaleplanner july a whale watching infographic whaletrips. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. Also where are the best chances of i will be in iceland midseptember. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. Winter in the north is generally a good season to view lights. Whale watching in reykjavik iceland on the go tours.
Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Founded in 20, ambassador was the first whale watching company to operate tours from the town of akureyri in northern iceland. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. 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 iceland s bays. Starting in reykjaviks old harbour, your whale watching adventure is located right in the city centre. Our whale watching holidays include trips to see blue, killer, sperm, grey, fin, pilot. Then the midnight sun shines 24 hours here in iceland. Encounter whales, dolphins, porpoises and birds on a 3hour cruise from reykjavik and see the. With convenient location, excellent sighting rate and high quality service, the companies reputation grew fast and it quickly became one of the biggest whale watching companies in eyjafjord. Usually the best time of night on clear nights to watch for auroral displays is local midnight adjust for differences caused by daylight savings time. From april to october, the city of husavik turns into heaven for whale loversthe coastal area is so full of them. Ambassador whale watching akureyri 2020 all you need. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Iceland travel offers a variety of tours, packages tickets and services products through its website icelandtravel.
Best time to visit iceland in 2020 northern lights, scenery. What i appreciated about laki tours was how knowledgable the staff on board was. Yet the icelanders dont want to chase away the whales, so they only let a limited number of boats go on a whale safari on a daily basis. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. We had a lovely time aboard the midnight sun whale watching tour. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you. Reykjavik currently observes greenwich mean time gmt all year dst is no longer in use clocks do not change in reykjavik, iceland. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins cetaceans in their natural. Norway and iceland also provide great opportunities to combine seeing orcas.
Iceland travel s terms and conditions contain legal obligations. Special tours offers amazing sea adventures from reykjavik, iceland. Adding an exciting whale watching tour to the famous golden circle will give you quintessential iceland in a day. On this whale watching excursion you will be able to get up close to some of icelands amazing wildlife. Arctic sea tours whale watching dalvik 2020 all you. It is difficult to say for how long they have been visiting the gulf before the discovery but today anyone willing may go on a whale watching trip during the chilean summer months. Whale tours can best be taken starting at husavik or the snaefellsnes peninsula, but tours are also offered starting from the capital reykjavik or from akureyri close to husavik. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. The focus is naturally on the giants of the sea and we hope to see minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Historic, present and future dates for daylight saving time and clock changes. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So when is the best time to visit iceland for northern lights. Iceland whale watching tours with laki tours leave from both olafsvik and grundarfjor.
Whale watching from hjalteyri day tours iceland travel. The previous dst change in reykjavik was on october 29, 1967. To make travel in iceland safer for your safe return. Whale watching in iceland best places and time to see.
Reykjavik currently observes greenwich mean time gmt all year. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year. 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. We offer whale trips from snaefellsnes and the westfjords. Whale watching is a popular activity in iceland but that doesnt necessarily mean its for everyone. This tour has it all great history and amazing geology at. Elding tour operator offers whale whatching tours from reykjavik iceland, one of many family friendly things to do. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. In light of the corona covid19 pandemic we regretfully have halted our tours until april 15th the first. Whale watching takes place in the picturesque landscape of eyjafjordur and fishing inside the majestic mountains of. Here, you can spend time getting to know these curious aquabatic giants of the. 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 you continue from the argentinean atlantic coast to the chilean pacific coast, you. Daylight saving time dst not observed in year 2020.
The best time for spotting whales around iceland is the summer. From december to april the gulf appears to teem with these lovely sea mammals feasting on the krill found in abundance in these waters. Estimates of abundance and trend of chilean blue whales off isla. Apr 10, 2020 best time to visit iceland for northern lights. Daylight saving time changes 2020 in reykjavik, iceland. Frequent summer excursions depart from the ports of genoa and imperia. Most of the whale watching tours sail out from the old harbour in reykjavik as well as neighbouring areas in reykjanesb. Best time to visit iceland in 2020 northern lights. Get a boat and sail into this new exciting adventure. Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. Our whale watching boat, rosin the rose, offers an absolute innovation in whale watching adventures in iceland, it is fast and a luxurious whale watching boat, one of its kind in iceland, providing security and luxury for all. Whale watching in iceland best places and time to see them. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen.
It is difficult to say for how long they have been visiting the gulf before the discovery but today anyone willing may go on a. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. Experience the poetry of whales, seen on more than 95% of summer tours. That of course has to do with the big amounts you can see here. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. This article helps you evaluating whether whale watching is worth your time and money. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Swim with killer whales in iceland or norway or watch them from a ship in canada. 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.
The long periods of darkness and the frequency of clear nights provide many good opportunities to watch the auroral displays. 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. Our skilled whale watching guides will introduce the whales in general, describe the whale species we encounter, and tell us interesting stories about them. They form the basis on which bookings are accepted by iceland travel. Killer whale holidays best time to see orcas natural world safaris. Whale watching reykjavik special tours updated april. Visit our website for bookings and further information. Whale watching in december iceland forum tripadvisor. Great sighting success and five stars on tripadvisor. Visit sweden, take a whale watching vacation to sweden, and enjoy a whale watching trip in sweden. The previous dst change in reykjavik was on october 29, 1967 try selecting a different year below.
Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. 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. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. 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. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around icelands coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. Book whale watching tours reykjavik iceland at guaranteed low prices with handpicked reliable suppliers. Whale watching from olafsvik day tours iceland travel. Our tour selection combines of whale watching, northern lights by boat, puffin, rib and sea angling tours among other exciting adventures. Whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland elding. I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year.
Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. At the time of settlement, there were probably more whale species in the ocean around the country than nowadays. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. Whale watching in iceland with laki tours boarding call. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. Best time to visit iceland for whale watching 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. In summer, a number of grey whales feed on the rich plankton off tofino and. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. Water was way too rough to be out on and i was sick the whole time, even after taking.
Time changes between years 2020 and 2029 in iceland reykjavik are shown here. Whale watching in iceland nightlife and food tours in iceland. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. Whale watching reykjavik special tours all you need to. On this booking page you can secure your tickets for one of our tours by boat.
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