Best Time to See Whales in Iceland: When to Go Whale Watching in Akureyri

Why June Comes Out on Top

By June the full summer timetable is in place. Special Tours runs its 2.5-hour trip from May to September. Elding's RIB express sails from 1 April to 31 October. Arctic Sea Tours in Dalvik, further out along the fjord, runs midnight trips from 20 May to 10 July. Elding says there are multiple guaranteed departures a day in summer, so a cancelled morning rarely costs you the day.

July and August keep most of that choice. The midnight trips end on 10 July, but the Midnight Sun Whale Watching from Akureyri keeps the evening slot for $95 per person.

When Akureyri Beats the National Season

Visit Akureyri says humpback whales are the main attraction in Eyjafjordur and are seen throughout the year. That is the reason the Elding Classic Whale Watching from Akureyri runs from 1 January to 31 December. Whale Watching Hauganes, about 25 minutes up the fjord, also sails all year.

A visit in March or November is still a whale watching trip here, not a gamble on an empty schedule.

The Whale Watching Calendar for Akureyri

The table sets out which boats sail in each month, from the operators' own published seasons. Prices are the per-person figures on the tour cards: the 3-hour Elding classic at $113, the 2.5-hour Special Tours trip at $102 and the 2-hour Elding RIB at $189.

Can You See Whales in Iceland in September, October, November or December?

Yes, from Akureyri you can. September keeps the summer boats, including the Special Tours Whale Watching from Akureyri at $102. October still has both Elding boats.

In November and December the 3-hour classic and Ambassador keep sailing, and Visit Iceland notes winter tours are less frequent but come with snowcapped mountains and possibly the northern lights.

Morning, Midday or Evening

Arctic Adventures, a tour seller, rates early morning between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. as the calmest water, and says the sea breeze often picks up in the afternoon. Special Tours sails at 09:00 and 13:00 from May to September, so both of its 2.5-hour trips fall in that window or just after it.

Evening is the summer choice. The Midnight Sun Whale Watching from Akureyri is a 3-hour cruise in the summer light for $95. Arctic Sea Tours in Dalvik runs midnight trips from 20 May to 10 July.

Winter Hours

From 1 December to 31 January Ambassador's departure is at 11:00, in the middle of the short winter day. The Ambassador Whale Watching from Akureyri lasts 3 hours for $104.98, and its heated cabin with toilets matters more in January than in July.

Humpbacks All Year, Visitors in Summer

Arctic Sea Tours, which sails the same fjord from Dalvik, lists humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and minke whales, and blue whales or killer whales on occasion. Treat orcas as luck, not a plan: no Akureyri operator sells them as a regular sight.

In Husavik, 1 hour away on Skjalfandi Bay, the Husavik Whale Museum names humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and blue whale as the most common species. The Gentle Giants Whale Watching in Husavik runs 3 hours for $78 from 1 April to 30 November.

Weather and Cancellations

Visit Akureyri gives summer temperatures up to 25°C and winter averages around 0°C, and it is colder on the water than on land. Arctic Adventures notes harsher winter weather means more cancellations than in summer. If Elding cancels for weather you get a full refund. At Arctic Sea Tours the captain decides, with a reschedule or refund.

If you are prone to seasickness, Elding suggests taking medicine before you board. Book a winter trip early in your stay, so a cancelled 3-hour sailing can move to another day.

Crowds by Season

Elding's catamaran Holmasol carries up to 190 passengers, so a big-boat seat is the easier one to find at short notice. The RIBs are the opposite: 12 passengers per boat on the Ambassador RIB Whale Watching Express, 2 hours for $180.62, so book a summer RIB seat as soon as your dates are fixed. Winter means fewer people on deck and more room at the rail.

What Each Operator Offers if Nothing Shows

The table lists the no-sighting terms on the tours that sail from Akureyri and Husavik. Plan a spare day, because a free ticket is only useful if you can use it.

Simple Timing Rules

The harbour by the Hof cultural centre is where Elding and Special Tours both depart, so a morning trip fits around breakfast in town. Husavik is about 1 hour by road, or bus 79, so leave a full day for a Husavik sailing. Hauganes is about 25 minutes away and Arskogssandur about 30 minutes.

In summer, pair a morning sailing with an evening one only if you want two different lights. In winter, keep to the midday departures and dress for 3 hours on deck. Compare the sailings for Akureyri whale watching tours once your dates are fixed.