
100% SIGHTING SUCCESS
since 15 May 2016
Whale Watching Akureyri started operating in early 2016. From the start our emphasis has been on whale friendly whale watching and by following IceWhales' Code of Conduct we strive to safely show our passengers the whales of Iceland in their natural habitat, without disturbing them and negatively effecting the environment.


We offer whale watching tours year round among other seasonal tours, such as the Northern Lights Cruise, in winter. Our fleet has two fundamentally different vessels and thus, tours to choose from. We recommend the Classic tour for a relaxing, family friendly experience and the Express tour for a more thrilling ride.
The mountains were covered in their second day of snow, giving us a cold, crisp day. The morning brought some sunshine, but clouds and rain soon followed. Humpback whales were far out in the fjord, and north of Hjalteryi we found a very active one that surfaced close to our boat. Further north near Grenivik, another whale fed calmly at the surface. In the afternoon we met Bob, a familiar whale, always showing its tail.
The first day with snow on the mountains. In the morning we had a Humpback whale close to the green bouy. In the afternoon we were heading further north and came across two other Humpback whales east of Hjalteryi.
It was a pretty normal autumn day in North Iceland, some clouds, a bit of sun, and a light breeze. After about an hour of sailing, we arrived in Hjalteyri, planning for a dip in the hot tubs. Instead, the highlight was spotting two Humpback Whales nearby. They showed up on all of our tours today, and one tail even looked familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it. All in all, a really pleasant day.
A Wonderful Day in the Fjord
The day began with gentle rain, a fitting touch of Iceland’s charm. The fjord lay calm, perfect for spotting whales. Near Hjalteyri, two humpbacks surfaced gracefully, lifting their tails as though welcoming us. We often cut the engine, drifting quietly to admire their beauty in peace. Though birdlife was sparse, northern fulmars soared near the hot-water waterfall, completing a serene day of rain, whales, and the fjord’s quiet magic.
Today the sky was cloudy and windy, though some blue patches appeared, and luckily no rain fell. Akureyri’s fjord sheltered us in its unique microclimate. In the morning near Strytan, we spotted a humpback whale surfacing in shallow waters, even lifting its tail. It moved slowly, covering distance in search of food. Later, north of Hjalteyri, we saw it again before heading south of Hrisey, where two lively humpbacks surfaced often, flukes shining.
This Saturday was rainy, but the sea conditions were excellent for whale watching, rain never stops us in Iceland! We ran two tours, morning and afternoon, and both offered wonderful encounters. Between the Green Buoy and Hjalteyri, we saw two Humpback whales actively feeding, with some lunge feeding in the morning. North of Hjalteyri, we met two more humpbacks, including “Dissy” (or DC), a familiar summer visitor. A rainy yet magical day in the fjord, full of whales.
We set out this morning under cloudy skies and a light northern breeze, with calm seas in Eyjafjörður. Between the Green buoy and Hjalteyri, we spotted two Humpbacks, raising their tails and showing their immense size. Near Hauganes, another Humpback appeared. The highlight came on our return: just a mile from the harbour, we encountered a Blue whale, the largest creature on Earth, truly breathtaking.
Perfect weather conditions for a day on the water. with a mirror-like sea. We have seen 2 Humpback whales north of Hjalteyri, and a Minke whale in one of our tours launch feeding near Raudavik.
With a tailwind all day and the sun making sporadic appearances. We spotted three different humpback whales in the fjord today — two north of Hjalteyri and one very close to the harbour, right near the warm waterfall.
Today we have had perfect conditions to head out in search of whales. We spotted two humpback whales near the Strytan vent field, swimming peacefully. They weren’t diving for long, surfacing again and again close to the boat, giving us the chance to watch them beautifully. Regarding to birdlife we saw northern fulmars, arctic skuas, guillemots, razorbills and arctic terns.
Whales and Rainbows… Today’s rain brought us the perfect image of the Humpback whale “ Constellation” with a huge rainbow across the sky.
Today brought us sun, calm sea and whales. Just as last night we have two huge Humpback whales which are good friends and are hanging out together. We also had some amazing encounters with another smaller Humpback whale which came really close up to the boat.
Autumn has arrived! The skies may be grey, with rain, wind, and a restless sea, but the fjord is bursting with life. Today we were lucky enough to spot three humpback whales feeding and breaching between the green buoy and Hjalteyri.
While waiting for the humpbacks to resurface, two harbour porpoises popped up right beside our boat. They stayed only for a brief moment, but long enough for everyone on board to catch a glimpse, what a treat!
Despite the chilly north wind and low clouds, Eyjafjörður had no shortage of drama today. After a quick encounter with a speedy minke whale, we made our way north to Hjalteyri, where two graceful humpbacks were busy feeding and showing off their impressive tails. Watching those flukes rise and vanish into the fjord never gets old.
A humpback whale breaching and repeatedly slapping its tail against the surface – a moment perfectly captured in today’s photo. The sound echoed across the fjord, a mix of raw power and playfulness, reminding us that even in grey weather, the whales always bring the color.
What a beautiful way to start this month of September! We sail out for our first tour and quickly find a Humpback whale next to the green buoy. We found a few more Humpback whales before Hjalteyri, as well as a Minke whale.
There is nothing quite as breathtaking as the moment a whale breaks the surface of the ocean, rising high above the waves before crashing back with a thunderous splash. These graceful giants, often seen leaping in a spectacular display known as breaching, remind us of the mystery and power hidden beneath the sea.
Join us on this journey through the oceans and discover why these creatures continue to inspire awe and wonder. Keep reading to explore more about the magic of whales…
When Giants Dine in Eyjafjörður
Caught in the act! This humpback whale treated us to an incredible lunge feeding display, massive mouth wide open, fish scattering, and seabirds going wild above. And guess what? This was just the beginning of an unforgettable day out on the fjord.
Dive into the full story on our blog and relive the adventure with us!
Calm Sea and Gentle Giants.
We have seen south of Hjalteyri +5 Humpback whales, some of them lunge feeding. North of the green buoy we spotted a Minke whale.
Today brought perfect weather with bright sunshine, clear blue skies, and no wind. The fjord sparkled beautifully, and with sun protection on, it was an ideal day to head out on the water in search of whales.
During the morning tour, we were thrilled to spot the three most common species of the fjord: a Minke whale, several Harbor Porpoises, and the magnificent Humpback whales. The Minke surfaced several times, offering excellent views despite its usually shy nature, while the Humpbacks delighted us by raising their tails. In the afternoon, we encountered the same whales again, repeating their wonderful displays.
Another Fun Day in Eyjafjörður
Today was a real treat! The weather was kinder than in previous days, clouds sitting a little higher, patches of sunshine sneaking through, and the southeast wind finally taking a breather. Add a calm, flat sea to the mix and you get the perfect recipe for a whale-watching adventure.
A Fantastic Day for an Adventure
The day began under a sky veiled with low clouds, with a steady south-southeast wind stirring up the sea and adding a touch of challenge to the journey, especially for those of us riding the Rib boats. Yet, that only heightened the sense of adventure. We set out determined, eager to encounter our beloved cetaceans.
It didn’t take long for the magic to begin. The first signs of life appeared in the form of shy harbour porpoises, gliding gracefully across the surface with their family, likely feeding together. Their presence filled us with excitement and anticipation. Soon enough, just north of the green buoy, we encountered our first humpback whale. Moving swiftly and diving repeatedly, it was clearly engaged in active feeding, likely chasing herring, surfacing only briefly before plunging back into the depths, reappearing minutes later in the distance…
A soup of life!! Sunny day with all little chicks chirping on Eyjafjörður. Humpbacks lunge feeding Minke’s being sneaky! What a great day for whale watching.
Today is a day unlike any other. The rare Black Moon rose above us, casting its quiet mystery while the sun shone brightly, warming the air like midsummer. Nature itself seemed to whisper an invitation to explore.
And what a journey it was. We witnessed the breathtaking majesty of a Blue Whale, its silvery back shimmering as it surfaced with power and grace. Soon after, families of long-finned pilot whales welcomed us with their gentle presence, followed by humpbacks dancing joyfully near Hjalteyri. Even a minke whale graced us briefly. Each encounter felt like a gift from the ocean.
The morning started with some of the thickest fog we seen in a very long time. We still managed to find two Humpback Whales in the fog before they disappeared. The fog lifted in the afternoon and we got close up encounters with two Humpback whales north of Hjalteryi, and had another three further away in the distance.
In the morning, the fjord was covered in thick fog, but by the afternoon and evening, the sun came out. On this trip, we saw humpback whales near the green buoy and later north of Hjalteyri. We were also lucky to spot harbour porpoises swimming close to the boat. The fjord was full of birdlife too, with guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, Arctic skuas, and even a gannet.
The day started cold and cloudy, but by afternoon the sun was shining and the sea was calm.
Humpback whales were spotted near the green buoy, and many more appeared north of Hjalteyri, what a remarkable day in the fjord!