Our Story 

Whale Watching Akureyri was founded in early 2016 as a sister company to two of Iceland’s most experienced and reputable whale watching tour operators: Elding Adventure at Sea and Whale Safari. The goal was to bring the same high standard of wildlife experiences from the south to the north - offering quality whale watching in the calm, sheltered waters of Eyjafjörður.

Elding Adventure at Sea began operating in 2000, initially from Sandgerði before relocating to Reykjavík, and quickly became one of the pioneers in modern whale watching in Iceland. Built as a family-run business with a strong environmental ethos, Elding has played a leading role in developing responsible whale watching practices in Icelandic waters.

Over the years, Elding has grown into the country’s largest whale watching company with a diverse fleet and a wide range of marine tours. Elding has built a reputation for quality, professionalism, and dedication to marine conservation and is actively involved in research and education, with naturalists onboard every tour and ongoing efforts to support scientific work on whales and dolphins around Iceland.

Originally launched as Sea Safari in 2006, the company introduced Iceland’s first small-group whale watching tours using custom RIB boats. Based in Reykjavík, it quickly gained popularity for offering a closer and more adventurous experience on the water - ideal for travellers seeking a personal and fast-paced alternative to traditional large-boat tours. In 2014, Sea Safari became part of the Elding family and has since continued to operate under the name Whale Safari.

Whale Safari specialises in small-vessel experiences, using lightweight, high-speed boats that allow guests to explore wide areas and reach wildlife sightings quickly. Their tours remain a favourite among guests who want to feel the thrill of the open sea while still enjoying expert guidance and respectful wildlife viewing.

In 2018, Whale Watching Akureyri joined forces with local operator Ambassador Whale Watching, the first company to offer dedicated whale watching tours from Akureyri. By merging operations, fleets, and expertise, the two companies officially became one under the name Akureyri Whale Watching.

Today, we operate from Oddeyrarbót pier, conveniently located just behind the striking round HOF Cultural and Conference Centre in the heart of downtown Akureyri. We are proud to offer a wider range of tours and an even stronger commitment to providing the best possible whale watching experience in Eyjafjörður.

Our location offers easy access to the calm, sheltered waters of Eyjafjörður, where some of Iceland’s most memorable wildlife encounters take place.

We offer a variety of tours throughout the year, tailored to the changing seasons - from sunny summer sailings to winter cruises under the northern lights. No matter the time of year, our focus is always on safety, education, and deep respect for the wildlife we encounter.

Whether you're looking for a calm and comfortable sightseeing experience or a thrilling, high-speed RIB adventure, our experienced and passionate team is here to help you connect with the incredible nature of North Iceland - and to make your journey unforgettable.

What We offer

• Whale Guarantee! See the whales on our tour or try again for FREE, In Akureyri or in Reykjavík!

• Great value whale watching tours on our comfortable sight seeing ship.

• Small groups whale watching tours on our RIB boats.

• Centrally located ticket and service centre at the floating pier in downtown Akureyri in North Iceland.

Code of Conduct

We have a long standing commitment to environmental sustainability and contribution to whale research. From the start our emphasis has been on whale friendly whale watching. We began by following IceWhales' (The Icelandic Whale Watching Association) guidelines but soon discovered that we wanted to take the matter further. It is our belief that, whether our presence has a negative effect or not, following these guidelines will at the very least result in no change to the whale watching.

Our mission is to safely show our passengers the whales of Iceland in their natural habitat with out disturbing them and without negatively effecting our environment. Respect for the wildlife and safety on board underlie everything we do.

“Akureyri Whale Watching is a member of the Whale Watching Association of Iceland and adheres to their strict "Code of Conduct" on all whale watching tours.”

Anti-whaling