Faxaflói, Iceland: Our most recommended tours and activities

Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

1. Reykjavík: Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise

Take a boat trip from Reykjavik’s harbor to discover Iceland’s rich marine life, which is one of this island country’s highlights. All year round you can spot a variety of whales and other marine animals in the Reykjavik area, including minke and humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and whale-beaked dolphins. Have an opportunity to see some of Iceland's most beautiful marine animals, along with the stunning scenery of the Icelandic coast. The peak season for whale watching runs from April to October, but of course, the ocean is always full of magical creatures, and you never know what you might see. Benefit from the services of specially-trained whale watching guides who are experts at spotting the animals. You will be free to listen as they tell you about the behavior of the whales, and answer any questions you may have. Enjoy the stunning scenery of the Icelandic coast as you spot local wildlife. Take a break and warm up in the heated indoor area. Relax on board the boat and enjoy the indoor and outdoor seating, and purchase drinks and snacks along the way from the onboard bar and cafeteria. You will experience a pleasant and comfortable ride, even at higher speeds, and will be able to share your adventure live on social media with the onboard WiFi.

Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

2. Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

Step aboard the Puffin Express for a charming bird-watching adventure in Reykjavik. Enjoy a 100% guarantee of puffin sightings, and learn about these and other local birds from an expert guide. Head out from the Old Harbour of Reykjavik to the surrounding Faxaflói Bay and onto two nearby islands, Lundey and Akurey, covered in small hills and slopes and known for their colorful birdlife. Once arriving at the islands, observe the native birds and picturesque surroundings with the boat's engine turned off. Enjoy seeing puffins as well as other birds, such as northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots. All of this takes place on an old wooden boat, Skúlaskeið, which is fondly referred to as "Old Skuli." It is spacious enough to hold 33 passengers but not too big, in order to ensure that your tour is personal and comfortable.

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour

3. From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour

Start the trip from a beautiful harbor in the city center and sail out to Kollafjöður, where you can see the island in the bay. Videy Island is known for the Lennon/One Peace tower, Richard Scerra's 'Milestones', and other attractions, along with great bird life. Continue on to Faxaflói Bay, popular for whale and bird watching, sea angling, and also great fishing grounds. The mountain ring seen from the bay, among which Snaefellsjökull Glacier may be spotted on clear days, is particularly beautiful.

Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

4. Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

Hop aboard a RIB speedboat and head out for a thrilling adventure just off Reykjavik's coast. Marvel at the abundance of sea life Iceland has to offer, such as majestic whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Begin your tour from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and cruise among the small islands in the Faxaflói Bay, as well as along the coast of Reykjavík. Admire fantastic views of the city and its landmarks like the Harpa concert hall as you search for wildlife in the water. During your tour, pass by Engey, the second-largest island of the Kollafjörður (Faxa Bay) fjord in western Iceland. Also cruise past Lundey, literally “Puffin Island” in Icelandic, a small uninhabited island off Reykjavík’s western coast. Enjoy the chance to see incredible animals in their natural habitat without being overcrowded onboard the boat. And if you don't get lucky with wildlife sightings on the day you go, you'll receive a complimentary ticket to try again another day.

Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

5. Reykjavik: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour

Climb aboard a whale-watching boat operated by the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland. Get up close to humpback, minke, and orca whales, as well as abundant sea birds, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. After setting sail, explore the southern part of Faxafloi Bay off Reykjavik’s old harbor and have an excellent chance of encountering mysterious and fascinating whales off the coast of Iceland, where the ocean currents create some of the best whale-watching conditions in the world. Enjoy a tour with a high success rate: Whales are seen on more than 95% of summer tours and 80% of winter tours, often surfacing within a few meters of the boat. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed, boats sail at a constant speed toward the whales' habitat, a sustainable policy that also minimizes oil use and pollution. Learn about the wildlife and scenery from guides that have gone through an extensive training program, based on exclusively developed guiding principles. And as a successful whale watching tour is a team effort, the crew works closely with passengers to spot whales, helping you feel an important part of the experience.

Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

6. Reykjavik: Half-Day Whales and Puffins Cruise Combo Tour

Discover adorable puffins on a cruise from the Old Harbor in Reykjavík. Search for local whales on a second cruise from Reykjavík to Faxaflói Bay. Stay warm with inside seating and overalls. See local wildlife clearly with the use of binoculars on the puffin tour. Travel by a small boat named Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli), perfect for puffin watching, since it has a shallow draught, and therefore can get really close to the small islands where the puffins live. The guides are very knowledgeable about the thriving bird life in Reykjavík's surroundings. Benefit from this combo tour's included classic whale watching tour, operated on the Andrea boat, lasting 3 to 3.5 hours. The Andrea is the biggest whale watching boat in Iceland, and has an educational and interactive focus. It is also family friendly and spacious with a cafeteria on-board. If you choose to, you can switch to the express tour leaving 1 hour later on a faster boat that gets you out to the whale watching area quicker than the other whale watching boats, but still allows you to have plenty of time. Most common whale sights in Faxaflói Bay are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Note that these are two separate tours and you don't have to do them on the same day.

From Reykjavik: New Volcanic Eruption Area Helicopter Tour

7. From Reykjavik: New Volcanic Eruption Area Helicopter Tour

In our Fagradalsfjall helicopter tour, you’ll meet your pilot and receive a briefing on this spectacular journey when you arrive at Reykjavik’s domestic airport, which is at a convenient place. You’ll next walk onto the tarmac to your modern, sleek helicopter, which will be waiting for you to take off. Only five or six seats per craft will be available, ensuring a spectacular perspective and an intimate interaction with the volcano. Please remember that eruptions are a natural occurrence that may or may not be active during your visit. This eruption has occurred on the 19th of March, 2021. Relatively, this eruption is small-sized and has taken place on Reykjanes Peninsula. Its geographical location can be traced in Geldingadalir Valley some 20 miles away from Reykjavik. Before this eruption, the Reykjanes peninsula witnessed such eruptions in the 14th century AD. More Interestingly, some 50000 earthquake jolts have taken place following this eruption. It is a catastrophic scenario in the area. The experts of seismology maintain that this volcanic eruption is no less than a surprise. The reason is that meanwhile, the volcano eruption takes place, there was no seismic activity. Without such seismic activity, the eruption seems unlikely. However, the volcano erupted at this site, proving it to be a surprise for the seismic studies. A major benefit of a flying tour like this one is that you will be able to obtain the best view, away from the masses who have come here on foot, giving you a much more intimate experience while enjoying the best view. Remember our Heli tour will not provide you with landing at the site just to ensure the safety of our passengers. You’ll get some beautiful views of the environment surrounding Iceland’s capital as you loop around to the Reykjanes Peninsula, including the verdant Mount Esja and dazzling Faxafloi Bay. The total duration of the tour is approx. 45-60 minutes. Showing you the simmering crater, flowing lava stream, and the extensive lava field. We feel our passengers will get the best experience inside our helicopter. Be sure that our company is supposed to show you the lava scenes during this Icelandic helicopter tour. If the natural occurrence of lava does not take place during our flight, we are not responsible to carry on another flight or assume a new schedule. All of our flights are weather-dependent, and we must follow the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management’s rules and regulations to make our Icelandic helicopter tour for volcanoes secure

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

8. From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

Climb aboard a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) equipped with special shock suspension seating for a smoother ride. Look for whales and other marine life in the wild. Travel aboard the 12-meter long boat to get extra close to whales in a way that is safe for passengers and the animals. Benefit from warm flotation suits, life vests, gloves and goggles to keep you cozy and safe, and avail of the services of an experienced guide who will provide information about the animals and bay in English.  Stop by the island of Akurey to look for adorable puffins during the summer. See their nests along the coast during their breeding season. Head out to the bay on a fast and thrilling ride with the wind in your hair. Reach a comfortable cruising speed of 32 knots and get plenty of time in the feeding grounds. Then, take a scenic route back along the coast of Reykjavik. After your tour, you can visit the Whales of Iceland Museum, located in the Grandi harbor district of Reykjavik. Here, you can discover more about the various whale species of the Atlantic, with exhibits on whale biology, migration, and conservation.

Reykjavik: Midnight Sun Whale Watching Tour

9. Reykjavik: Midnight Sun Whale Watching Tour

Whales are the most mysterious of creatures, and some of the best whale watching in the world is just off the coast of Iceland’s capital, where the ocean currents create excellent viewing conditions. Climb aboard a whale watching boat operated by the only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland, and explore the southern part of Faxafloi Bay in the Midnight sun of the summer months. On the 3.5-hour tour you will get up-close to whales such as playful minke, as well as see abundant sea birds, dolphin and harbor porpoise. Whales are seen on more than 95% of summer tours, often surfacing within a few meters from the boats. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed, boats sail at a constant speed towards the whales' habitat. This is part of a sustainability policy, trying to minimize oil use and pollution. Guides have all gone through an extensive training program, based on exclusively developed guiding principles. They will provide valuable information about the wildlife and scenery in an entertaining way. And as a successful whale watching tour is a team effort, the crew work closely with passengers to spot the whales, helping you feel an important part of the experience.

Reykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise

10. Reykjavik: Northern Lights Motor Yacht Cruise

Embark on an unforgettable journey along Iceland's stunning coastline, starting from Reykjavik Old Harbor and extending into the expansive Faxaflói Bay. Step aboard a luxurious motor yacht for an exclusive experience that combines the allure of city lights with the elusive magic of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Your tour is meticulously designed to lead you away from the city lights, immersing you in the ocean's darkness for an optimal viewing of this celestial phenomenon. Weather permitting, witness the breathtaking choreography of lights in the sky, created when solar particles interact with the Earth's atmosphere. Capture these mesmerizing moments with ease, as the stable vessel provides a perfect platform for photography. Guided by a seasoned crew, navigate through the vast darkness behind the islands of Faxaflói Bay, including Viðey, where Yoko Ono's Imagine Peace Tower graces the night sky from October 9 to December 8, and select other days of the year. Admire iconic landmarks like the Harpa Concert Hall, its glass façade inspired by the basalt landscape, and the Sun Voyager statue by Jón Gunnar Árnason. Gain a unique perspective on the historic Höfði house, where the Cold War came to an end in 1986. Escape the bustling crowds with our limited group sizes, ensuring a more personalized and intimate experience. Should the chilly ocean breeze set in, wrap yourself in warm blankets provided onboard. Indulge in hot drinks and refreshments available at the bar as you patiently await the awe-inspiring appearance of the Northern Lights.

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What people are saying about Faxaflói, Iceland

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 1,520 reviews

If you go out whale watching in Reykjavik, definitely go with the Sea Trips 'Sailor' team. Some boats turned back due to cold and visibility but fortunately our ship didn't. Thanks to our spotter 'Lucky' we got to see the whale many times. Magnificent, I'd go again

journey was long and cold,I bought sandwiches for way back,seeing the whales come in and out the water,as our tour guide notifying us of were they were. definitely recommend

Fantastic tour and amazing guide and crew. One very emotional journey meeting the gorgeous solitary humpback whale. Thank you!

Very informative guide. Friendly crew. The offer of free access to top class photographs from the trip was much appreciated.

Everything was super, the whale saw this is the most important thing