Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. The identification catalogue is available for download at. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year. It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in some parts of the country. Orca watching iceland go to snaefellsnes with a private guide. The ocean around iceland and in eyjafjordur has a variety of quality fish and we, as experienced fishermen, can almost guarantee that youll get a catch if you try. This is the original whale watching tour from reykjavik and one of the most popular attractions in iceland. Swim with killer whales in iceland or norway or watch them from a ship in canada. Thousands of humpbacks gather in the warm waters to mate and give birth. On a whale watching tour from reykjavik with special tours wildlife adventures you will be able to experience some of icelands rich and thriving bird life, as well as visit our large variety of sealife, including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked dolphins among other whale species. Most of the animal is black, with the exception of the belly which is white right up to the beak. How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. Below you can download the catalogue and read about our icelandic orca.
Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Weve been preparing our two boats, niels jonsson and sandvikin, the last couple of weeks after the now finished winter fishing season. But with almost everything else in the animal kingdom, there are seasons for everything and your best chances to get a glimpse on these majestic animals is from april to october. This is of course wild nature and indeed unpredictable, but the chances of seeing whales are very high. Whale watching on the snaefellsnes peninsula guide to iceland. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. Whale watching is operated from various locations around iceland. At least one of the reykjavik whalewatching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind. Killer whalewatching in iceland audio slideshow travel. Killer whales of west iceland orca guardians iceland. As a disclaimer i havent been there myself but i guess it should be ok because its off route 1 which gets plowed year round. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer. The orca killer whale orcas are the ultimate predators of the oceans. All you need to know about whale watching in iceland.
Killer whale orca the orca, also known as killer whale, is a member of the dolphin family and belongs to the toothed whales odontoceti that form a suborder of cetaceans. Iceland is one of the best places in europe for whale watching. The orcas are apex predators, which mean that no other animal feeds on them, while the majestic sperm whale is the worlds largest predatory animal. Orca watching and northern lights holiday in iceland. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you. Marine biologists have cataloged around 400 unique individuals in iceland s waters, although it is possible that many more migrate during the warmer season. Orcas in iceland where and when can you see killer whales in. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. Whale watching in december iceland forum tripadvisor. They have been known to attack other whales, which is why they are commonly referred to as killer whales. Exhibition whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. Depending on the season and mainly on the daylight, we will be able to add a few extra stops along the way. In the period from january to march they invade waters around snaefelsnes peninsula, bringing other colourful water life with them. Moreover, icelands first coop was founded in husavik in 1882.
Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. Visit the whales of iceland exhibition with lifesized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience. Year round whale watching tours from reykjavik iceland. Try a unique whale watching tour from the charming village of hjalteyri, a well kept secret in the heart of north iceland, only a 15 minute drive from akureyri. Orca whale watching norway message board tripadvisor. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours. Kvaloya, a neighbouring island to tromso, meaning whale island is where youll find the acrobatic humpback whale and the wolf of the sea, orca or killer whale. Icelandic waters make a home for around 24 species of whales, and north iceland is extraordinary. Seeing these majestic giants of the deep in the flesh, as they play amongst the waves, is one of the finest experiences that iceland has to offer and a worthy. Get the ultimate whale watching experience during the peak season from april through october, when over 20 kinds of whale flock to the north atlantic. Discover the magnificent nature of skjalfandi bay observing whales, dolphins, and seabirds in their natural habitat. Cruise the harbor in comfort and style, enjoy access to an indoor saloon stocked with snacks and drinks sold on board, and spot icelands diverse aquatic species with help from the.
The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic whaletrips. This page is about killer whales in iceland, and the research conducted by the icelandic orcas project. Killer whale close to haguanes whale watching north iceland. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of faxafloi bay. They are lurking around all year round though, i would very much like to point that out. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. By day see the orca killer whales hunting in the fjords. A holiday highlight is the opportunity to see beautifulyetdeadly killer whales feeding in the fjords of. Explore the landscapes of south and west iceland on this winter flydrive adventure. Agriculture and farming have also been important for the inhabitants. Summer season 1 april 31 october is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at its highest peak.
The good old whale watching tour with a little sea angling at the end of the tour. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in 1986, and that still. The orcas are apex predators, which mean that no other animal feeds on them, while the majestic sperm whale is. More than 20 different species live in the waters surrounding iceland, 8 of which can frequently be seen on whale watching tours. The old harbor is conveniently located in the city center, with various cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the area. Whitebeaked dolphins and minke whales are common and occasionally other species such as humpback whale and orca can also be seen along with puffins, fulmars, gannets. Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. At least one of the reykjavik whale watching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind.
Whale watching sea angling tours in north iceland whales. You can find the exhibition in reykjavik, icelands capital city. Therefore many travelers use the opportunity to go on a whale watching trip during their holidays in iceland. You can also borrow one of our warm blankets and overalls.
The biggest visitor attraction is whale watching and our hometown has in fact become known as the whale watching capital of. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. Whales of iceland partners with several whale watching companies around iceland. She has worked as a whale watch guide in tysfjord and lofoten in northern norway, where hundreds of orcas gathered to feed on overwintering herring. Does whale watching from reykjavik make sense at this time. I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year.
Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. Weather at sea is always colder than on land and therefore we recommend dressing appropriately, by wearing warm clothing and good sturdy shoes. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. Start your whale watching year with ease why not visit hawaii. This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in iceland, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Orcas in iceland orca whale watching iceland killer. And the norwegian and icelandic fjords are full of whales, too. It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in. Orcas, also known as killer whales, and sperm whales. I am looking to go to norway next year about november time and want to go on a whale watching tour to see orcas.
Dec 18, 2014 killer whalewatching in iceland audio slideshow in grundarfjordur, northern iceland, a pod of orcas has taken to feeding in the fjord near the town in winter. Orcas in iceland where and when can you see killer whales in iceland. Enjoy the norwegian and icelandic winter and combine whale watching orcas, humpbacks and fin whales. This is when they come to breed and raise their young and is the best time to go on a costa rica whale watching tour. Are different whales sighted or do certain types have more likelihood of sightings during different times of year. Within 20 minutes we had a sighting of a humpback whale, and then a bit later also a family of orca.
This is the time when the minke whales are at their most abundant, along with whitebeaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, and the occasional humpback whales, giving us the chance to enjoy and understand them in their natural. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Hi, im thinking of visiting iceland in late september. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. We only offer this tour and are unable to arrange holidays to iceland at any other time. See more ideas about whale watching, whale and iceland. We are very excited about our our renewed trips to iceland in march 2017. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. Killer whale holidays best time to see orcas natural world safaris. Sail to the deep blue waters of faxafloi bay, which plays host to some incredible marine species, including minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and humpback whales. Whale tours can best be taken starting at husavik or the. Stay in remote countryside hotels, and as the evenings plunge the rugged landscapes into darkness, head out in search of the incredible aurora borealis. Over the last few years large pods of orca have been coming to the west coast of iceland from january to april, remarkably close to a small fishing village from where we will be based.
Whale watching tours are available from reykjaviks old harbour every day. On october 18th 2006, the government of iceland decided to allow commercial whaling again, and the first whale boat steamed 100 nautical miles out, almost to the fishing limits between iceland and greenland, looking for fin whales. Whale watching tour from reykjavik arctic sea tours. Research shows that basque whalers appeared in iceland and set up whaling stations there at the earliest in the early 17th century. The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. The official humpback season in costa rica is december to march and. Orca watching iceland how to reach snaefellsnes in the.
You can see whales all along the pacific coast of costa rica during those months. There is also a distinctive white patch above and to the rear of the eye. We highly recommend a privately guided tour to snaefellsnes for you with the addition of an orca watching tour. A unique experience and a show rare to be seen is the scene of killer whales coming to coastal waters to find some food. Foreign whaling fleets, in particular basque and dutch, did not become prominent in icelandic waters until the 17th century. Whale watching season is from april to midoctober with a peak in june. Our whale watching boat, rosin the rose, offers an absolute innovation in whale watching adventures in iceland, it is fast and a luxurious whale watching boat, one of its kind in iceland, providing security and luxury for all.
The best whale spotting opportunities occur from midjune to august, which coincides with icelands peak tourist season. Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. Danes did not whale here in large numbers, except briefly during the 1630s. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. Location gentle giants whale watching husavik, iceland. Orcas are easily identified by the tall dorsal fin, which can be up to 1,8 m tall, and the dominant black and white colour. Can anyone please let me know where is the best place to go on an orca safari. Jan 30, 2012 we sailed with elding whale watching, and were just off the reykjavik coastline. There are two types of boat trips offered, the classic whale watching tour or express rib boat tour. On a whale watching tour from reykjavik with special tours wildlife adventures you will be able to experience some of icelands rich and thriving bird life, as well as visit our large variety of sealife, including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises. In our bay, skjalfandi, we have the chance to encounter numerous types, shapes and sizes of whales. The north of iceland is known as the capital of whale watching. In recent years, yet another trade has grown in husavik the tourism industry.
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