Did you know that February 18th is Whale Watching Day? It’s okay. Most people didn’t. Well, I decided to contribute to this random holiday and go whale watching in Faxaflói Bay, Iceland. It was quite the adventure. It was booked with Viator.com and was a combination tour with the famous Blue Lagoon. So, here’s my review on the Elding Whale Watching portion.
Elding Adventures
Elding is a family owned company that began with a personal interest in wildlife, boats and people. Whale watching tours were the perfect way to unite these interests while giving locals and tourists the chance to experience Iceland’s marine life.
They started in 2000, and over the years their products and services have developed a great deal; from small-scale seasonal tours to year-round products, and whale watching is now one of the top three tourist activities in Iceland. They are proud to be the original whale watching operator in Reykjavík. Now let’s talk about the full tour description if you planned on booking it.
Tour Description
An exhilarating premium tour starting from the Old Harbour in Reykjavík every day from 1 April to 31 October. This is a small group tour with only 12 passengers per boat, specially trained crew and certified RIB captain.
Search for the wildlife and explore seas on the adventure of a lifetime on our premium, small groups whale watching tour. Our specially engineered RIB boats get you closer and faster to the whales and puffins than our bigger boats. These stable and safe boats also allow us to search a bigger area, thus increasing your likelihood of viewing the whales, dolphins and birdlife.
This fantastic whale watching tour starts from the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík. First we ride out to one of three islands close to the harbor and check out the breeding puffins (season 1 May – 20 August). Next we head out further in search of whales and dolphins. Seeing the wildlife as up close as you can from our RIB boats is a once in a lifetime adventure and experience. After exploring the wonders of the sea we sail back to Reykjavík, where we will ride along the city shore line. Along the coast we will have views of the city from a unique angle, Sólfarið viking ship sculpture and mesmerizing Harpa Concert Hall.
Tour Begins
The Elding whale watching tour I took was from 9:00a – 12:00p. About 30 minutes prior to boat departure, we went to this kiosk and exchanged our electronic vouchers for actual tickets. We then were able to board the boat. You can’t miss it. It’s bright red and has the logo branded all over it. When you get there early, it’s very foggy and you can only see within a few feet in front of you.
Life Onboard
We were greeted on the boat with a nice “barista” who provided coffee and motion sickness pills. Although I’ve never gotten sick from motion before, I took the pill. Better safe than sorry. The announcer was giving everyone information on what to expect on the waters. Then, we were told to head downstairs to get coveralls, very fashionable coveralls I might add. I mean, look how cute right? #OOTD
Whale Watching
After suiting up, we headed outside for some whale watching, or lack there of. Apparently, in winter the whales head south for warmer waters. So, the only thing we did end up seeing was a pod of happy dolphins jumping out of the water. Was it worth ~$100? Probably not. If you go during a good time I would highly recommend it. The speaker made things interesting the entire time, so at least that wasn’t dull. Look at this little fatty. Someone’s been eatin’ good in the neighborhood. Overall, I would recommend this if you go during a good time for whale watching.
Planning your trip to Iceland?
