Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. 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. There are companies in iceland that run tours throughout the year. Featured are 23 lifesize models of the species found in icelandic waters. The calm waters of eyjafjordur offer excellent conditions for whale watching and exploring the beautiful nature around the bayread more. The cookies used on our website do not collect any personal information about you. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. More than 20 different species live in the waters surrounding iceland, 8 of which can frequently be seen on whale watching tours. When and where to see whales in iceland iceland rovers. It is fast and agile and instantly recognizable by its pointed snout, streamlined body and white bands on its pectoral fins. Whale fjord is situated in the west of iceland between mosfellsbaer and. In 2018, icelandic whalers were accused of slaughtering a blue whale. You can prepare yourself before visiting exhibition by downloading whales of.
The reason is that the whales are busy far away in the caribbean, relaxing and taking care of their newly born offspring. No single marine animal has brought more attention to the whales of iceland than keiko, and since his tragic passing, whale watching in iceland has rapidly grown into a flourishing industry. The best time of year to see whales in the waters around iceland is from april to october. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. Genetic material from a large whale killed off the coast of iceland has confirmed the creature was a rare hybrid. In winter, iceland is one of the best places in the world to observe whales, too.
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. Visit the whales of iceland exhibition with lifesized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience. The humpback whale is a big traveler and has incredible endurance and takes almost no resting on his long seasonal migration to the south seas approx. The whaleplanner october a whale watching infographic. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Iceland has an exemption to the moratorium through the reservation made in 2002. Iceland had pledged not to resume commercial whaling until 2006 when presumably talks about sustainable whaling would be completed.
Iceland is a country known for its natural wonders. Is october a good month for whale watching in reykjavik. Orcas, also known as killer whales, and sperm whales. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. Cetaceans often sighted are minke whales, humpback whales, sei whales, fin whales and blue whales. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in. The minke whale is one of the most common whales in iceland. Whale watching and puffin tours allow you to adventure into the worlds of some of the most magnificent creatures. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. Mar 03, 2016 that would be the answer to many of the questions we have had. Iceland, dalvik watching crazy humpback whale from the rhib.
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. October is the shoulder season in iceland, but its still a great time to travel here. This article helps you evaluating whether whale watching is worth your time and money. Iceland is a great place to observe whales, as they enjoy the cold waters and abundant feeding grounds. Orcas in iceland orca whale watching iceland killer. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it be the best spots for whale watching. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year. Whale watching and in iceland in october october comes just after the end of the summer, meaning that most migratory animals are now on their way out of the country. View of a whale s tail fin in kaikoura, new zealand.
The incredible migration of the humpback whale whales of iceland. On this escorted tour of iceland start and end in reykjavik, and witness these natural wonders while enjoying fun and unique experiences. Hi, im visiting reykjavik for the first time in october and would love to go whale watching. The minke whale is an inquisitive animal known to approach whale watching boats and swimming along side of vessels trying to keep up. Companies follow a protocol so as not to disturb them any more than than necessary, turning off their motors when they get very close and never approaching from the front.
Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. Best time to visit iceland in 2020 northern lights. Iceland is a wonderful place to go whale watching and this tour is promising both in summer and also in winter. The best time for spotting whales around iceland is the summer. This orca whale watching tour is operated by one of our reliable partners. Oct 19, 2016 as time passes, one would assume the whales will soon leave and start their journey towards warmer waters. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it be the best spots for whale. There are more than 20 species of whales and dolphins to be seen here, including minke, fin, sperm, humpback, blue whales and orca. Many refer to the peninsula as iceland in miniature. Even though our whale watching season will finish in less than a month, whalewise we cant really see any difference to the summer time the bay is still frequented by several humpback whales.
However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Whale watching tours in the north of iceland dalvik if youre based in the north of the country, a whale watching trip from dalvik is the ideal option for you. Elding tour operator offers whale whatching tours from reykjavik iceland, one of many family friendly things to do. The orcas are apex predators, which mean that no other animal feeds on them, while the majestic sperm whale is the worlds largest predatory animal. Whales iceland stock photos download 276 royalty free photos. The best season for whale watching in most parts of iceland is between april and. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Species visiting the island include the orca, minke, humpback and blue whale. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it be the best spots for whalewatching. Whales of iceland uses cookies to give you the best experience when you visit our website, whalesoficeland. The whales feed mostly on small krill and various species like herring and mackerel which the icelandic ocean is rich of for the whales in winter. Whale watching in dalvik, north of iceland if you set the course for the north, your chances of seeing a whale dong his big splash can be up to 98%. The ultimate guide to iceland in october guide to iceland.
This part of the country is rightly famed for active and diverse sea life that abounds in whale watching hubs. Iceland resumed commercial whaling on 21 october 2006 after icelandic whalers caught a fin whale. Whales of iceland is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world. We have celebrated a tremendous success on our akureyri whale watching tours since 20. We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whalewatching. The best season for whale watching in most parts of iceland is therefore between april and october. Watch icelands vast array of whales breach from the ocean and our lovely puffins swoop down from the cliffs. If you like it more crisp and winterly, norway and iceland are the perfect options. Team of iceland unlimited recommends all travelers and especially families to visit this spectacular museum iceland unlimited team visited whales of iceland museum in reykjavik, the largest whale exhibition in europe. Whale watching is one of the most popular activity in iceland hvalfjordur whale fjord, iceland.
Whales are drawn by fish and so every selfrespecting tourist is there to see the miracle. There is no demand for fin whale meat in iceland and the hunt continues to supply a small but enduring japanese market for whale meat. Still undertheradar as a whale watching destination, iceland is actually one of the best places in europe to do it. Discover the natural majesty of iceland with the reykjavik super saver, a combination of two popular tours at a discounted price. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until mid october. In october 2006, the icelandic government issued licenses for a commercial whale hunt in addition to the continuing scientific program. Here are some thoughts and info on whale watching in iceland. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales.
Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. A good time for orcas would be from november to april around snaefellsnes, humpbacks are mostly seen in november december and then again from. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. October is the perfect time to visit south africa main season for southern right whales. Is october a good month for whale watching in reykjavik iceland forum. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. Also where are the best chances of whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum thorn tree. Yes, youll want to bring layers to stay warm, but youll be able to do a ton of cool stuff and. Rib whale watching is a thrilling experience from dalvik village in north iceland.
Last year alone, just under 300,000 people ventured on whale watching trips from icelandic. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. I know that its weather dependent, but would the sea generally be rough at that time of.
October is a great time to see the whales in iceland, as the weather is still nice and the sea is calm. In light of the corona covid19 pandemic we regretfully have halted our tours until april 15th the first. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year. We can provide our guests with whale watching tours, departing both from reykjavik harbor and various fishing towns in iceland, e. Whale watching is a popular activity in iceland but that doesnt necessarily mean its for everyone. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. Husavik and dalvik, plus akureyri in the north and olafsvik on the west coast. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Aug 22, 2017 this is a part of our journey to iceland contains shots from the whale watching tour organized by arctic sea tours from dalvik. Season ends at the north american east coast with still good chances to see humpbacks and blues. Therefore many travelers use the opportunity to go on a whale watching trip during their holidays in iceland. Get a boat and sail into this new exciting adventure. There are two whale watching locations on the snaefellsnes peninsula, depending on the season.
Arctic adventures northern whale watching tours have a 98% success rate when it comes to whalesightings. 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. Why are there hardly any whale watching tours in iceland during winter. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. They are lurking around all year round though, i would very much like to point that out. As a result, in 1886 a may to october ban was enacted on whaling in herring fishing areas and. Northern lights and whales in iceland on your aurora trip. When do we recommend you go to see northern lights and whales. How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. Whilst whale watching has traditionally been a summer activity in iceland, the last 2 winters have proven that the incidence of sightings in the winter is very good too at about 70%, so now you can see whales and the northern lights at the same time. Minke whales in iceland like humpback whales, minke whales are very frequently spotted all around the coast of iceland.
Realize your dreams of seeing wild whales during a 2. On october 18th 2006, the government of iceland decided to allow commercial whaling again, and the first whale boat steamed 100 nautical miles out, almost to the fishing limits between iceland and greenland, looking for fin whales. Iceland, dalvik watching crazy humpback whale from the. Browse all 46,502 iceland topics is october a good month for whale watching in. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer. Iceland is one of the best places in europe for whale watching. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. Whale watching on the snaefellsnes peninsula guide to iceland. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback whales that are hunting in the fjords rich in fish. Get app whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. Sightings sound low from some things ive seen on line. Whale watching season is from april to midoctober with a peak in june.
The whaleplanner august a whale watching infographic. This is why one of the best places to go whale watching in iceland is the northern icelandic town of husavik. By the end of october and early november, most of the humpbacks whales are well fed and prepared for their seasonal migration back to the gulf. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Furthermore, our tour leaves from d owntown reykjavik, so its very convenient for you to catch it. When you go whale watching in iceland, rest assured that the whale watching companies iceland conduct their activities with respect for the gentle giants. 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. These range from one of the smallest marine mammals, the harbour porpoise, all the way up to the gigantic blue whale. We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whale watching.
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