Below are some of the most common questions we receive from our guests, covering everything from tour details and booking to practical tips, safety, accessibility, and what to expect on board. We’ve gathered this information to help you feel well prepared and confident before joining us on tour.

Please take a moment to read through the list - your question might already be answered here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we’re always happy to assist you directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Booking & Reservation

  • The best way to book is through our website you can see real time availability and secure your spot instantly. We recommend booking online, especially during peak seasons, to ensure you get your preferred date and time.

    Keep in mind that many of our tours have a cut off time, which means you can only book online up until 30-60 minutes before departure. In this case you can take advantage of our spot sale option for last-minute bookings.

  • Once payment is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details of your tour, including the date, time, and meeting point. Please ensure that you put the correct contact information in the booking process to avoid any delays in communication, especially if we need to notify you of important updates or changes to your tour.

    If you don’t receive your confirmation email within a few minutes of booking, please check your spam folder. If it’s still missing, contact us directly at info@whalewatchingakureyri.is with your name and booking details, and we’ll help you from there.

  • Of course. You can change the date of your booking, subject to availability. Please contact us as soon as possible, preferably at least 24-48 hrs. before departure, to make any adjustments, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

    We also see lots of seabirds year round including gannets, arctic terns and long-tailed ducks. The surrounding areas of the fjord is not to be missed as sailing in the longest glacial fjord in Iceland and having land on both sides of you is an experience not soon forgotten.

  • Yes, we do offer private tours! Private tours can be arranged for groups looking for a more personalised experience, whether it's for whale watching, northern lights or a cruise in the fjord for a special occasion.

    These tours allow flexibility in timing and customisation to suit your group's needs. To arrange a private tour, please contact us directly via email at info@whalewatchingakureyri.is for more information, details about pricing and availability.

  • Please check our current price list for special children fares. If you are a group of 10+ or more, make sure to send our team an email via info@whalewatchingakureyri.is and we will be happy to make you an offer.

General Tour Information:

  • Whales and dolphins can be seen in Iceland all year round, so there really is no 'best season' to see them. Each year the availability of food in our waters change and with that so does the abundance of whales.

    Our crew is experienced searching for wildlife in Eyjafjörður and know the area and whale behaviour very well. Please keep in mind that these are wild animals and therefore sightings cannot be predicted or guaranteed.

  • We haven't found the whales to be more active at any specific point of the day, so the chances are equally as good in the morning as in the afternoon.

    Whales and dolphins are wild animals and they can move very quickly, so there is no way of knowing if, where and when we will see them. They are mammals which means that in order for them to stay alive they need to come up to the surface every so often to breathe, which is our chance to spot them.

  • The most common species we see from Akureyri are the humpback whales, minke whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins. Other reported sightings are orcas/killer whales, blue whales, sperm whales, sei and fin whales to name but a few.

    We also see lots of seabirds year round including gannets, arctic terns and long-tailed ducks. The surrounding areas of the fjord is not to be missed as sailing in the longest glacial fjord in Iceland and having land on both sides of you is an experience not soon forgotten.

  • Finding the animals is a team effort. We look out for indicators like splashes, a blow from the whales, black backs or dorsal fins or flock of feeding birds. No sonars are used finding the whales as it can be harmful to them, besides it can affect their echolocation system. We also work closely with different operators in the area by notifying each other of whale sightings and then take turns watching them.

  • It is entirely up to the whales how close we get. We abide by IceWhale's code of conduct for responsible whale watching to make sure we do not disturb any natural behaviour. Whales are curious animals and therefore it is not uncommon that the whales swim up to our boats and spy on us and dolphins are often seen bow riding and jumping out of the water next to our boats.

  • The possibility of puffin sightings in Eyjafjörður is not likely since their nesting grounds are further north. They have however been seen on our tours before so there is still some chance!

Onboard Experience:

  • All our boats (except the RIB's) have an on board café where you can buy light refreshments during the tour, a heated indoor saloon and basic toilet facilities. In case of an emergency we have floatable vests and life rafts and all our crew is trained in maritime safety - our equipment is up to code and is inspected on a regular basis.

  • There is no dress code but we always recommend dressing warm as it is a bit colder on the water than on land. On board we offer use of warm floatable overalls, raincoats and blankets free of charge but sturdy shoes, gloves and hats will also come in handy, especially during the winter months.

  • It usually depends on the wind speed and conditions at sea - stop by our ticket office and we will advise you what to do. If our recommendations is not to do the tour on a particular day, we can help you alter your travel itinerary if possible.

    We also offer free motion sickness tablets if you want to take one before boarding (not advised for young children or pregnant women). 

  • Children under the age of 16 will not be permitted to board unsupervised unless we have some form of authorisation from a parent or legal guardian. Young children must be under adult supervision at all times while on our premises.

  • You are able to join our Classic tour, although we do recommend asking about weather conditions and sea state before embarking as pregnant women can often be more vulnerable to sea sickness. Pregnant women are not advised to join our Express tour.

  • Most of our boats can accomodate wheelchair users (except the RIB's), however each boat has more than one level with somewhat steep stairs and there are no elevators on board. This means little or limited access to indoor areas and toilet facilities.

  • The short answer is no.

    In order to operate your drone at sea, you need to be a licensed drone operator and get prior consent from the captain to accommodate your flight. You may also need to register your drone and apply for a permit from the Icelandic Transport Authority.

    Drone operators are solely responsible for complying with the UAV regulations as well as being liable for their own equipment and any damage caused by a drone in flight.

    Keep in mind that:

    • It is forbidden to fly drones over crowds of people

    • You cannot fly over 120 metres above ground or sea

    • Disrupting air traffic or flying over vehicles or ships is prohibited

Location & Transportation:

  •  No. Most, if not all hotels in Akureyri are within walking distance to the harbour. If you are staying just outside of city, we can help you arrange for a taxi.

  • Yes, there is free parking next to our ticket office. No parking clock is needed and you can stay there all day. Please keep in mind that camper vans are not allowed to stay overnight!

  • Yes, we are located just 5-7 min. walk from the main cruise ship terminal. If you walk towards the town centre, you should see our ticket office on the left hand side by the big round building, HOF.

Sightings, Cancellations & Refunds:

  • If there are no whales or dolphins seen on your tour, we will offer you a complimentary ticket to try again in either Akureyri or Reykjavík. Please note that voucher is valid for 2 years on the CLASSIC tour and is for returning passengers only. We recommend doing the tour early on your holiday so you have the option to go again another day. 

  • Our team happily advises and assists you to find a new departure date if possible when the weather conditions are better. No charge is made on our behalf if you cannot join our tour at a later date due to our cancellation.

    Please contact us via email at info@whalewatchingakureyri.is to request a full refund for your cancelled tour.

    Note that by booking through a third party, other cancellation terms may apply.

  • Individual bookings can be cancelled without penalty up to 24 hours before departure. However, we kindly ask that private tours and groups of 10+ or more provide at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations made with less notice will not qualify for a refund.

    If we must cancel a tour due to weather, force majeure, or other unforeseen circumstances, you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

    For combo tours, if one portion is canceled, the remaining segments of the combo tour will still be confirmed. You can then reschedule the cancelled tour or receive a partial refund upon request.

    If your booking involves a partner-operated tour, or was booked through a third party, please note that other cancellation policies may apply.

    All cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing to info@whalewatchingakureyri.is.

    For more details, please refer to our full terms and conditions here.

  • We are committed to staying on schedule, so we kindly ask that all passengers arrive 15-30 minutes before scheduled departure to help ensure a smooth check-in process and enjoyable experience.

    If you miss your tour for any reason, we regret that no refund can be offered. However, we will do our best to accommodate you on the next available tour or assist with rescheduling, subject to availability.

    In the event of unexpected situations, such as accidents or medical emergencies, please contact us as soon as possible with any supporting documentation. Otherwise, we recommend referring to your travel insurance policy to see if your circumstances are covered.

  • Individuals can cancel bookings up to 24 hrs. prior to departure without penalty, but we ask that groups of 10+ pax give us at least 48 hr. notice. If booking a combo- or partner tour or through a third party, make note that other cancellation policies may apply.

If you can't find the answer to your question(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. You can send an e-mail to info@whalewatchingakureyri.is or call us at +354 497 1000.