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. With our speedboats we can offer our passengers more area to cover in search for the gentle giants. Whale watching hauganes is icelands oldest whale watching tour operator, based in the heart ofeyjafjor. Seeing these majestic giants of the deep in the flesh, as they play amongst the waves, is one of the finest experiences that iceland has to offer and a worthy. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. Its really special experience to head out to see a whale move greacefully through gentle fjord waters or out across a bay, relatively close to the shore. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Iceland s most influencing weather element is the wind. Apr 14, 2017 the colorful whalewatching town of husavik winter is generally the worst season to go whale watching.
Iceland does not have a rainy season, but precipitation peaks in october to february, with the southern and western parts receiving the most rainfall. Whale watching season is from april to midoctober with a peak in june. What is the best season for whale watching in iceland. The most recent icelandic hvalreki event happened on 26 november 2015, when a beached whale appeared at seltjarnarnes, a lovely peninsula on the. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. Weve been preparing our two boats, niels jonsson and sandvikin, the last couple of weeks after the now finished winter fishing season. Grundarfjordur, snaefellsnes iceland orca watching in winter december and march have proven to be the best months for watching orcas in iceland during winter. You should definitely stop by husavik, the whale watching capital of iceland.
North sailing also offers the most ecofriendly whale watching tours in iceland, on iceland s only electric whale watching boats. Jun 29, 2015 for 2015, icelands fisheries ministry has given the whalers a quota of 154 fin whales the second largest mammal after the blue whale and 229 minke whales. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. Iceland will not have commercial whale hunting for the first time in nearly 20 years getty images the last summer that iceland went without a commercial hunt was in 2003, when it limited hunting. This was impossible before with popcorn time, because many torrents contain unstreamable video formats.
They are lurking around all year round though, i would very much like to point that out. Several tour operators in iceland offer excursions on the water, from fishing trips and harbour excursions to puffin watching, some of which are shorter and less expensive than whalewatching. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours. Arrests made in shooting death of black man in georgia. Whale watching tour from reykjavik arctic sea tours. Other species can be sighted too, for example the whitebeaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and basking sharks. Between december and february, our whale watching tour is operated from grundarfjordur. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like. 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. Popcorn time online is one of the first users of the revolutionary torrents time technology. This orca whale watching tour is operated by one of our reliable partners. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. See all 6 whales of iceland tickets and tours on tripadvisor.
Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. One of iceland s top whaling companies says it has stopped hunting minke whales this year, in response to a new government regulation that enlarged the protected area for baleen whales. Oct 26, 2016 we have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954. Iceland sets target of 191 kills as country resumes whaling. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. Tour operators from northern towns, such as akureyri and. The official northern lights season in iceland is from october till march. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. We have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954. And the norwegian and icelandic fjords are full of whales, too. The cruising speed is up to 24 knots which allows you to get out to the whale watching area in half the time only 1520 minutes. The annual icelandair midatlantic tradeshow was held in reykjavik last week and gentle giants took an active part as usual.
We zoomed around on a speedboat to get close to the whales and at one point we were surrounded by humpback whales that were. Whales in iceland got a reprieve from hunters last year the. Year round whale watching tours from reykjavik iceland. Get app whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling. Please be aware that due to environmental reasons during certain times of the year our trips may be delivered on a shared boat with one of our partners. The minke whale hunting season came to an end in late august when only 6 minke whales had been caught. A rib is faster than the wind and makes it therefore more likely for us to find the big whales. Jul 15, 2014 whale watching on a tour with gentle giants out of husavik in iceland. For the first time one can play and stream almost every video format, smoothly and with stunning quality. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you.
Optimal time for whale watching the best time to watch whales in iceland is from april until september, when over 20 species of cetacea can be observed. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in 1986, and that still. Watch the giant sperm whales in the deep waters off the spectacular coast of kaikoura. It also features a whale museum and a civic museum for culture and biology. You can also borrow one of our warm blankets and overalls. Keep in mind that whales are lurking in the deep throughout the year. 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. The best season for whale watching in most parts of iceland is therefore between april and october.
This is the original whale watching tour from reykjavik and one of the most popular attractions in iceland. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland. The aim of the hunt is to develop nutritional supplements for the anemic from the meat, to make gelatin from the. Iceland will not hunt any whales this summer the reykjavik. Best whale watching in iceland season, cheap tours. That being said, the winter months still regularly yield excellent results. It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in some parts of the country.
With some luck you can see orca whales killer whales and blue whales. 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 from reykjavik whale watching iceland. This is the time when the minke whales are at their most abundant, along with the whitebeaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and humpback whales, giving us the chance to enjoy and understand them in their natural environment.
The whales of iceland exhibition showcases 23 lifesize whale models with a lot of indepth information, interactive experiences and underwater footage of whales shown on a 8 meter long screen. The old harbor is conveniently located in the city center, with various cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the area. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed. This small town of 2,000 inhabitants is possibly the best place to go whale watching in iceland.
Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. Cetaceans often sighted are minke whales, humpback. While many tour operators stick to the four most popular golden circle stops, there are a number of spectacular additional stops possible if you selfdrive the golden. Whale watching tours are available from reykjaviks old harbour every day. A total of 146 fin whales were caught during the 98 day long hunting season. So, you can be 99% sure that youll see some whales. 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.
The whales of iceland exhibition is wheelchair accessible. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of faxafloi bay. There are two types of boat trips offered, the classic whale watching tour or express rib boat tour. Iceland cancels whale hunting season this 2020 jan cortes. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. The current selfallocated quota for minke whales is 217, but unlike icelands fin whaling, the minke whale tally has always been far below quota and the number of companies and vessels operating has declined steadily in recent years. The whale watching begins march 1, so its a perfect timing the day is getting longer, the snow is slowly disappearing, and the whales are reappearing in larger numbers than ever before. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. The best whale spotting opportunities occur from midjune to august, which coincides with iceland s peak tourist season. But with almost everything else in the animal kingdom, there are seasons for everything and your best chances to get a glimpse on these majestic animals is from april to october. Jump on a boating adventure to see some of the most fascinating animals in the entire world, including adorable puffins, iceland s favorite bird, and the worlds largest mammals, the majestic whale.
From iceland no fin whaling in iceland this summer. Mar 01, 2018 a beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. 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.
Whalers haul a dead whale on a fishing boat off the west coast of iceland. Mbl reports that the company has been granted a quota of 161 fin whales to hunt this summer, up from the 155 fin whales they were allowed to hunt the last time they went whaling, in 2015. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
The lack of any real market for whale meat has prompted icelands whalers to forego the hunt this season, for the first time since 2003. Theres also some places for opportunistic whale watching while doing a regular nature tour, i. Summer season is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at its highest peak. A part of the exhibition focuses on conservation where the multiple threats and their solutions that whales face in the ocean today are showcased. Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. For most travellers on a short trip to iceland, after spending a day or two in reykjavik and soaking in the blue lagoon, their last day is spent touring the famous golden circle, easily accessible as a day trip from reykjavik. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic whaletrips. We will restore gunnar fully during this winter and have him ready for our next season alongside our every trusty oak boat niels jonsson ea 106. Whale watching tours can be enjoyed throughout the year, but the season in which you embark on one will entirely shape your experience. Orcas in iceland orca whale watching iceland killer. We always see humpback whales in our tours but also minke whales, harbour porpoises and dolphins. The north, east and interior experience colder winter temperatures but warmer summers, and noticeably less snow and rain. Complete guide to icelands golden circle stops with map.
North sailing was the first company in iceland to start scheduled whale watching tours. 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. The high season for whale watching tours is from april to midoctober. Found in skjalfandi bay in north iceland, husavik is known as the whale watching capital of the world. Whale watching in iceland ultimate guide extreme iceland. Midatlantic offers a great platform for travel industry professionals from around the world to meet, work together and exchange ideas, in iceland a hub between europe and.
The countrys two commercial whaling companies opted to skip the hunting season. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. There will be no whaling season for us, the captain of whaling ship hvalur 9 olafur olafsson told sto. Best time of year for whale watching in iceland while summer months of june, july, august and september is the best time to spot minke, humpback, blue whales and whitebeaked dolphins. The best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. After a twoyear break, whale hunting conducted by hvalur hf.
But this week the icelandic government announced it will allow up to 2,000 whales to be killed in the next five years. It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in. Ocras and sperm whales though can be spotted in summer months, these are also found in winter from december to march and also in early summer of april and may. Whalers cut open a 35ton fin whale in 2009, one of two caught by a hvalur crew off the coast of hvalfjsrour, north of reykjavik, on the western coast of iceland. Best value whale watching trip from reykjavik guide to iceland. A ministry of fisheries and agriculture statement released tuesday said a maximum of 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be killed each year between 2018 and 2025. An objection to an international ban on commercial whaling allows the country to hunt minke and endangered fin whales. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. If you dont see a whale, you have the option to take the tour again for free. 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. Whale watching husavik, iceland gentle giants whale. Nowadays, every so often news reports will carry stories about a beached whale.
Iceland stops hunting minke whales but only for this season. From iceland whale hunting to begin again in iceland. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Japan hunts whales, but claims it does so for scientific research purposes, although a large share of the whale meat ends up being consumed. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Whales of iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Weather at sea is always colder than on land and therefore we recommend dressing appropriately, by wearing warm clothing and good sturdy shoes.
Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. Apr 05, 2019 the best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Summer is the peak season for whale watching, as it is the prime feeding time for the whales and migratory seabirds such as puffins can be seen. About whales of iceland open since 2014 lifesized models. Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. On this combo tour of whales and puffins, we experience amazing wildlife directly from reykjaviks charming old harbour.
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