Traditional Whale Watching from Húsavík by Local Family Company
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Sail aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat from Húsavík, the Whale Capital of Iceland
Enjoy a relaxed 3-hour whale watching tour in Skjálfandi Bay
Discover whales and Icelandic wildlife with knowledgeable local guides
Stay warm in safety overalls provided by the crew
Choose a truly locally owned family company in Húsavík
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
Please bring warm and waterproof clothing
Children must be accompanied by an adult
A minimum number of passengers is required for all our tours. If the minimum number is not reached, we reserve the right to change or cancel departures, even with short notice. In such cases, customers are offered alternative options or full refund
Unfortunately, if no whales or dolphins are sighted on the tour, passenger refunds are not permitted. However, customers can receive a voucher to join a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, depending on availability
Please arrive at the Gentle Giants Ticket Center in Húsavík at least 40 minutes before departure
What To Expect
Experience the real Gentle Giants of Húsavík – the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Welcome aboard a traditional Icelandic oak boat for a 3-hour fully guided adventure in search of the mammals of the ocean. Your chances of seeing whales are up to 97-99%.
Options
GG1 Whale Watching
Experience the traditional tour from Húsavík. Our birthplace is considered by visitors as the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. It is a unique adventure at sea - watching the wonders of nature.
What‘s Included
Professional guide
Warm safety overalls, and rain jackets if needed
Live commentary on board
Exclusive discounts with selected local partners in Húsavík
Transportation to/from attractions (Tour departure is within walking distance from accommodations in Húsavík)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
406 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
They tell you there is a 98% chance of seeing whales, and if not, they allow you to come back another day.
Ismael A,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00What they don't tell you is that from far away, very, very far away, you see something and you have to believe it's a whale. People running from one side of the boat to the other to see a fin super far away, and that counts as seeing whales. On top of that, before you arrive, they show you a book and tell you that you have seen 3 different types of whales, which almost nobody achieves. As an experience, it was very good, but come on, just a bit of seasickness and fins from afar. Great
Whales
annverhaeghe,Jun 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything was excellent and we saw a lot of whales!
Beautiful day on the water
EmilyItaly,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a beautiful day for our tour and we saw several humpback and blue whale tails. They stayed a respectable distance from the whales which I appreciated. Just a great day on the water! I thought the tour length was the perfect amount of time.
Absolutely brilliant experience
B2217UXchristinek,Jun 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Too much nut kicking can be self-inflicted, as the organizer provides thick equipment.
Whale watching
James R,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a good time on this 5 pm tour. We saw a humpback whale and followed him for about 30 minutes. The whale jumped all the way out of the water! My 2 kiddos got seasick so I would recommend taking some seasick meds before the ride. The oak boat is very jumpy. The guide was great and very knowledgeable.
Excellent experience
traceycL3969MN,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent experience on our Icelandic holiday. The whole operation was very smooth with excellent attention to safely and information. The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining, and the staff at the ticket office were very friendly and helpful. We had around 4 hours on the boat and managed to see some humpback whales diving, although none were feeding or breaching. Well worth the fee and would definitely do it again given the opportunity.
Sightings of humpback whales.
thomaskV3469OT,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Very good whale sighting. The captain always turned the boat so that everyone had a good view.
Perfect day for Whale Watching
LUCY S,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Everyone involved in this whale watching tour was extremely professional and helpful. My family and I were driving from Hofn (5 hours) to get on the 1:15 p.m. boat. We had car trouble and I kept in touch with a very nice woman from the tour. I told her our problem and she said they will try to wait for us as long as they could. As I go closer, I told here we were there and she told me to go straight to the ticket office, they were waiting for us. The tour itself was terrific. We saw 3 whales, 2 stayed together and the third was by himself. We had beautiful weather and enjoyed our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the whales and even told us the names of the 3 whales that we saw. If you ever get to Iceland, I suggest that you take this whale watching tour, you won't regret it. If my family and I ever get back to Iceland, we will definitely take this tour again.
Awesome!
Bajjemaa,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lovely trip, nice crew, lots of interesting facts and info. Have seen a lot of whales, the weather was very nice, we really had an awesome day!!
Pure experience
michiel r,May 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent guide, friendly, patient, exactly the right information. And always a great smile. We did see 3 whales. That was great too.
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Operated by Gentle Giants Whale Watching