Orca Whale Watching on Snaefellsnes

Go on a whale watching tour from the Snæfellsnes peninsula and watch orcas – also called killer whales – only meters away from the boat. This is the perfect opportunity to watch these massive mammals, to hear them as they blow and to take wonderful photos. Nowhere else in Iceland is there a better chance to see killer whales than along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula coastline.

Iceland is a wonderful place to go whale watching and this tour is promising both in summer and also in winter. The Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see orcas – also called killer whales.

When planning your trip, please consider that different species can be seen during the year. The best chances to see orcas are in winter and early in summer. For the past years, the herring have chosen the fjords around Grundarfjörður as their wintering grounds. This phenomenon provides a golden opportunity to see a big group of orcas in this area which feeds on the herring. During winter, white-beaked dolphins are also regular guests in this area.

During summer, chances to see orcas are good as well but not as regularly as during winter. Other whale species that live or feed in this area in summer are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

Other wildlife seen on this tour includes gannets, white-tailed eagles, grey and common seals and other seabirds (both in winter and summer). From November to March the tour starts from Grundarfjörður. From April to September the boat departs from Ólafsvík. Both fishing villages are located on the north side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Please note that pick up from Reykjavík is not available for this tour. We recommend reading on our blog about the best options to reach Snaefellsnes (especially during the winter season).

This orca whale watching tour is operated by one of our reliable partners.

Meeting points:
Summer months:
April 1st to October 7th
From the harbor in central Ólafsvík (Norðurtangi 9, 355 Ólafsvík)

Winter months:
December 10th to March 31st
From the harbor in Grundarfjörður (Nesvegur 5, 350 Grundarfjörður)