Elding Akureyri: Classic, RIB Express and Midnight Sun Whale Watching

Side by side

This table compares the Elding Akureyri trips on price, length, boat and rating, with figures from each tour's own listing and Elding's schedule. Every fare has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

On the Classic you sail on the catamaran Holmasol, which carries up to 190 passengers and has a heated indoor area with large windows. The RIB Express uses custom-made 12-seater boats that reach the whale areas faster, which Elding says gives a bigger chance of spotting whales without disturbing them. The Midnight Sun trip runs in the evening, when the low light over the fjord is the draw.

Classic or Express, which one?

Pick the Classic if you want comfort, indoor space and toilets on a big boat for 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Pick the RIB Express if you want less time on the water and a faster ride, and you are happy to wear overalls, goggles, gloves and a life vest and hold on. Riders must be 10 years old or 145 cm tall, and the RIB has no toilet on board.

Younger children, and anyone who dislikes cold wind, do better on the Classic, where thermal overalls come in children's sizes. On a budget, the $95 Midnight Sun trip uses the same kind of big boat in the evening.

Before departure

The ticket office sits by the floating pier behind the Hof Culture and Conference Centre at Oddeyrarbot 2, 600 Akureyri. It is no more than 150 metres from the nearest tourist information office and about a 2-minute walk from Hof. Arrive with time to spare, because late arrivals get no refund or rescheduling.

Check in and listen to the briefing.

On the water

Eyjafjordur is a 60 km long fjord fed by nutrient-rich runoff from four rivers. Humpback whales frequent the fjord because coastal currents carry cold, nutrient-rich water from the north into it. The Classic spends 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the water, with a naturalist guide and crew photos when possible.

The Express spends 1.5 to 2.5 hours on the water. On the RIB you wear overalls, goggles, gloves and a life vest, and ride low to the water. Under-13s on any Elding boat must wear life vests.

If no whales appear

If no whales or dolphins are seen on the Classic, Elding gives a free ticket for another Classic tour, valid two years in Akureyri or Reykjavik. It is a retry, not a refund. If Elding cancels for weather, you get a full refund.

The operator also posts a daily sightings report for every tour, so you can look at recent results before you choose a departure.

Directions

The GPS location is 65°40'59.8"N 18°05'09.1"W. From Hof it is about a 2-minute walk to the office, and the nearest tourist information office is no more than 150 metres away. Buses stop frequently at the station by Hof, a couple of minutes from the main office. The harbour has ample free parking next to the ticket office, though no overnight camper van stays.

The harbour is in the city centre, within walking distance of most major hotels.

Arriving by cruise ship

The cruise ship terminal is within a 5 to 7 minute walk of the office and the departure pier. That makes a whale trip realistic on a port day in Akureyri. The 3-hour Classic fits most cruise schedules, and the 2-hour RIB Express gives the biggest margin if your time ashore is tight.

Individual bookings can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before departure if your ship's call changes.

Hotel pickup

No pickup is offered in Akureyri. Staff help arrange a transfer with a local taxi company if you need one. The phone number for the office is (+354) 497 1000.

Akureyri airport is about 3 km from the centre, 5 minutes by car, if you fly in on the day.

What you can see

Visit Akureyri says humpback whales are the main attraction in Eyjafjordur and are seen throughout the year. Eyjafjordur is one of the country's longest and most scenic fjords, so the sailing itself is part of the trip. Elding lists humpback whales, minke whales and dolphins on the Classic.

In Skjalfandi Bay at Husavik, about 1 hour away, the Husavik Whale Museum lists humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and blue whale as the most common species.

When to go

Elding's Akureyri Classic runs all year, 1 January to 31 December. The RIB Express runs 1 April to 31 October. The Midnight Sun trip sails in the evening summer light, so check its card for the dates on offer.

Elding runs multiple guaranteed departures a day in summer, which gives the widest choice of times. In winter, dress for colder air: winter averages in Akureyri sit around 0°C.

How to pick a slot

Humpbacks are seen throughout the year in Eyjafjordur, and Elding posts a daily sightings report for every tour, so recent results are public before you choose. Cruise passengers should book the slot that clears the ship's departure time with a buffer. If you want soft evening light for photos, the 3-hour Midnight Sun trip at $95 is built for that.

If the forecast shows wind rising later, go early. In summer Elding runs multiple departures a day, so a later slot is usually open if the morning is too windy.

The practical difference

From Akureyri you walk from your hotel or cruise ship to the pier in minutes, with departures all year. Husavik is about a 1-hour drive from Akureyri and bus 79 travels there, so it takes most of a day. Closer options sit up the fjord: Hauganes is about 25 minutes away, with daily scheduled whale watching all year, and North Sailing sails from Arskogssandur, about 30 minutes away.

Visit Akureyri also lists Special Tours, Keli Sea Tours and Arctic Sea Tours among nearby options.

When Husavik Is Worth the Drive

Husavik sails on Skjalfandi Bay, where the Husavik Whale Museum lists humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and blue whale as the most common species. Gentle Giants runs its GG1 oak-boat tour there from 1 April to 30 November, about 3 hours long. If you want a full whale-themed day trip and you have a car or a seat on bus 79, the drive can pay off.

If your time is short or you are in port for the day, staying in Akureyri is the simpler choice.

What your ticket buys

The $113 Classic includes a 2.5 to 3.5-hour cruise, a naturalist guide, thermal overalls in children's sizes, free Wi-Fi, a heated indoor area with large windows and crew photos when possible. If no whales are seen, you get a free Classic ticket valid two years. The $189 RIB Express includes a guide, overalls, neoprene gloves, goggles and a life vest.

The $95 Midnight Sun trip includes the same guide, overalls, Wi-Fi and heated indoor area as the Classic. Every fare has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

What sits outside the fare

There is no hotel pickup in Akureyri, so a taxi transfer, if you need one, is arranged separately through a local company with the office's help. Food and drinks are sold on board the big boats, and the RIB has no food and no toilet. Warm layers, a hat and waterproofs are worth packing yourself, since Elding advises dressing warmly because it is chillier on the water than on land.

If you are prone to motion sickness, take seasickness medicine before boarding.

Good fits

Families do well on the Classic, which Elding describes as a family-friendly sightseeing tour on a stable ship carrying up to 190 passengers, rated 4.6 from 3,852 reviews. Children under 16 must board with a responsible adult. Cruise passengers like the 5 to 7 minute walk from the terminal.

Photographers and adventurous travellers get the most from the 12-seat RIB Express, rated 4.7 from 619 reviews. Budget travellers can take the Midnight Sun trip at $95 per person in the evening light.

Who should think twice

Anyone who cannot manage a RIB ride in cold wind, or children under 10 or under 145 cm, should take the Classic instead of the Express. Travellers who want a tiny boat with a handful of other guests will find the 190-passenger catamaran busy. If you need hotel pickup as part of the ticket, note that no pickup is offered in Akureyri, so plan your own way to the pier.

Plan around the sailing

The pier sits by the Hof Culture and Conference Centre, about 2 minutes from the tourist information office, so the harbour area is an easy stop. Visit Akureyri calls Eyjafjordur one of the country's longest and most scenic fjords, and the view from the water covers mountains on both sides. The Arctic Circle lies 60 km north of Akureyri.

From late August through April, northern lights can often be seen on clear dark nights. If whales top your list, book the Classic early in your stay so the free retry ticket protects your plans. For more operators across the town, see Akureyri whale watching.