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Iceland Whale Watching Holiday: 9 Day Tour

This Iceland whale watching tour package for 9 days is designed for whale enthusiasts interested to join a variety of whale watching tours in different areas of Iceland. You will also see some amazing natural sights Iceland is famous for, such as glaciers, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, endless lava fields and more.

If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.

Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.

Tour Code

SD-14

Season

May - Sept

Travel Style

Self-Drive

Duration

9 days / 8 nights

Location

West and North Iceland

Accessibility

Not recommended

Included

  • 8 nights accommodation (budget/comfort/quality) with breakfast
  • Rental car of your choice for 7 days with unlimited mileage, CDW & VAT
  • 1 extra driver for each rental car
  • WiFi hotspot in your rental car for easy internet access
  • Transfer from Keflavík Airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik
  • Private information meeting with our travel consultant in Reykjavik before your tour starts
  • Big, handwritten, detailed map with route, recommendations and accommodations highlighted
  • Entrance to the Whales of Iceland museum
  • Transfer with pickup at your accommodation in Reykjavik upon departure
  • 1. Whale watching tour from Snæfellsnes Peninsula
  • 2. Whale watching tour with sea angling from Dalvík
  • 3. Whale watching tour by RIB boat from Husavik
  • 24-hour emergency service
  • Taxes and service fee

Not Included

  • Flights to/from Iceland
  • Meals and drinks at restaurants and entrance fees (unless otherwise agreed upon)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gasoline
Day 1 | Arrival in Reykjavik and the ‘Whales of Iceland’ Museum

Welcome to your Iceland whale watching holiday. Once you have arrived and made it through customs at Keflavik International airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Reykjavik.

We highly recommend starting your Iceland whale watching holiday by visiting the Whales of Iceland Museum (entrance included). There you will see life-size models of all 23 whale species that live in the Icelandic waters. In the evening, we recommend a cosy dinner in one of the city’s whale friendly restaurants to celebrate the start of your Iceland whale watching holiday. Overnight in Reykjavík.

Day 2 | Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Orca Whale Watching Tour

Today, your Iceland whale watching adventure starts as you receive your rental car in the morning. Drive to the  Snaefellsnes peninsula in the West of Iceland where you will join a whale watching tour from the town of Ólafsvík. Snaefellsnes is a very special place for whale watching. Nowhere else in Iceland is there a better chance to see orcas also called killer whales. Chances to see those black and white beauties are especially good in early summer but they are also regular visitors of this area later in summer. Another rare whale species that visit this area mainly in June are sperm whales. Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales and one of the deepest diving whales in general. Other whales regularly spotted in this area are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.

After your whale watching tour, you will explore the natural highlights Snaefellsnes has to offer. Visit the small pebble stone beach Djupalonsandur, walk along the cliffs in the small fishing village Arnarstapi and stop by the picturesque old church in Budir. You should also have a look at the famous stratovolcano Snaefellsjökull with a glacier covering its summit. You stay for the night in this area.

Day starts in

Reykjavík

Day end in

Snæfellsnes area

Driving distance

~250 km / 155 miles

Day 3 | Vatnsnes Peninsula, Seals and a Troll Rock

Today you visit Vatnsnes Peninsula in the North of Iceland. This is an often overlooked corner of Iceland since it is a small detour from the main ring road. Vatnsnes peninsula is famous for its large colonies of seals, birds and beautiful landscapes. It has the most accessible seal sanctuary in Iceland and you have the chance to get very close to the animals. Especially on the eastern side of the peninsula, you will find several observations huts, where you can watch the seals without having to disturb the animals. It is also recommended to visit the small seal museum in Hvammstangi.

As you drive along the Vatnsnes peninsula also you will also witness the extraordinary rock formation of Hvitserkur. This is a 15 meter (49 ft) tall cliff jutting out straight from the sea. It has a unique shape and looks like an animal of some sort, an elephant or a rhino – or even a dinosaur drinking from the ocean. The legend goes that Hvitserkur is a petrified troll who forgot to retreat from the light and was turned to stone in the sunrise. You will stay for the night in this area.

Day starts in

Snæfellsnes area

Day ends in

Skagafjörður area

Driving distance

~394 km / 245 miles

Day 4 | The Beautiful Troll Peninsula and Whale Watching from Dalvik

Today you will explore the North of Iceland further and drive all around the Tröllaskagi peninsula. Once you reach the village of Hofsós, we recommend that you make a stop and dip into the beautiful geothermal infinity pool that offers great views out to the ocean. Further on you will reach the town of Siglufjörður. This charming town offers great harbour views and fantastic restaurants where you can enjoy a nice lunch.

In the afternoon, you will join a whale watching tour from Dalvík. The tour takes place on a traditional oak boat and in the past years, in 98% of all tours, whales or dolphins have been spotted. The most common whales seen in this area are humpback whales. They are the most acrobatic of all the great whales. If you are lucky, you might see them breaching or tail slapping. At the end of the tour, you can also try sea angling for approximately 15 minutes and the freshly caught fish will be barbecued for you at the harbour (tours without fishing are also available). You stay for the night in the area of Akureyri.

Day starts in

Skagafjörður Area

Day ends in

Akureyri

Driving distance

~173 km / 172 miles

Day 5 | Husavik – Europe’s Whale Watching Capital

Today you will visit Husavik, also known as Europe’s whale watching capital. There you will join a whale watching tour by RIB boat. On this tour, the focus is mostly on the bigger whales. The RIB boat allows you to get closer to the whales and wildlife than other boats can offer. Furthermore, it is possible to cover a larger area and you are able to go further out of the bay where the bigger whales are often to be found. The most common whales in this bay are humpback whales, white beaked dolphins and minke whales. If you are lucky, you might even get the chance to see blue and fin whales (the best chances are in June).

After the tour, we recommend visiting the Whale Museum in Husavík (optional) and in the afternoon you can explore the highlights around Ásbyrgi. Ásbyrgi is a huge canyon in the shape of a horse shoe where you can go on some very nice hikes. Along the way, we recommend a short stop at Tungulending Café. There you can enjoy the view over Skjálfandi Bay while drinking a nice cup of coffee. This place is also one of Iceland’s only fossil beaches. You stay for the night in the area.

Day starts in

Akureyri

Day end in

Mývatn Area

Driving distance

~234 km / 146 miles

Day 6 | The Highlights around Myvatn

In the morning it would be possible to join another whale watching tour from Husavík (optional) and the rest of the day is reserved to explore the wonderful natural attractions around Myvatn.

Myvatn is an active volcanic area and we highly recommend visiting the lava fields around Krafla volcano. The last time it erupted was back in 1984 and the huge lava fields with their interesting formations have their own special way of beauty. Another place, not to be missed, is the geothermal area of Námafjall. There, you will see many solfataras and boiling mud pots, surrounded by sulfur crystals of many different colours. Other interesting places around Myvatn are the Dimmuborgir Lava park and the pseudo craters in Skutustadir. You will stay for the night in the area of Myvatn / Akureyri.

Day starts in

Lake Mývatn

Day ends in

Lake Mývatn

Driving distance

Optional

Day 7 | Grábrók Volcano, Hraunfossar Waterfalls and Back to Reykjavik

Today you will drive back to Reykjavik and you will visit the natural highlights of West Iceland. Stop at Grábrók crater and go on an easy hike all the way to the top of the crater (approximately 20 minutes walk). The crater is the largest of three and was formed about 3400 years ago in a fissure eruption. From the top, you have an amazing view over the area and can also have a look at her two crater sisters.

We also recommend visiting the Reykholt area with its interesting waterfalls and more. There, you should definitely visit the Hraunfossar waterfalls. They are actually a series of small waterfalls coming out of a huge lava field. Close by you will then find another waterfall named Barnafoss. Barnafoss supposedly takes its name from two children who fell into the waterfall centuries ago (Icelandic folk mythology), and translates to “the waterfall of the children”.

You can also visit the hot spring Deildartunguhver, which has the highest flow of any hot spring in Europe. The water temperature is 97 degrees Celsius and the flow rate is over 180 litres per second. You can also stop at the historic site of Reykholt to visit Snorralaug pool, the home of Snorri Sturluson who is the author of many of the Icelandic sagas.

Day starts in

Lake Mývatn

Day ends in

Reykjavík

Driving distance

~ 486 km / 302 miles

Day 8 | Golden Circle, Reykjanes or Free Day in Reykjavik

The schedule for today is very flexible and you can, for example, visit the Golden Circle with its three main highlights; Thingvellir National Park, Geysir spouting spring and Gullfoss waterfall.

It would also be possible to explore the volcanic active area of the Reykjanes peninsula. There, we recommend visiting the geothermal areas Krysuvik and Gunnuhver, the impressive cliffs at the end of the peninsula (from there, with some luck, you can also spot some whales) and the lighthouse in Gardur. It would be also possible to end your Iceland whale watching holiday with a relaxing soak in the famous Blue Lagoon.

Last but not least, you can simply enjoy a free day in Reykjavik and to visit e.g. the picturesque lighthouse Grotta, have a walk in the old harbour area or enjoy the view from Perlan combined with a visit of the glacier exhibition.

Drop off your car in the evening and enjoy your last dinner in one of the whale-friendly restaurants in Reykjavik.

Day starts in

Reykjavík

Day ends in

Reykjavík

Driving distance

Optional

Day 9 | Departure

All good adventures must come to an end, and so does this wonderful Iceland whale watching holiday. You will be transferred to Keflavik International Airport in good time for your departure. Thank you for travelling with Iceland Unlimited. We wish you a safe and enjoyable journey back home!

Highlights:

Budget

Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.

Comfort

Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.

Quality

Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.

Luxury

Luxury accommodations include Suites and high-end rooms in Quality Accommodations. These types of lodges and resorts provide an upscale look and personalized services.
Classy, elegant, and comfortable, luxury accommodations strive to offer a first-class experience and top-quality services to ensure a truly extraordinary and memorable stay.

Volkswagen Golf


or similiar

Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Kia Ceed Wagon


or similiar

Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Hyundai Kona


or similiar

Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Kia Sportage


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size Intermediate
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser


or similiar

Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

Hyundai H1


or similiar

Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)

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