RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

A whale can surface right beside a small RIB boat, close enough that you hear the blow before you see the back. That low position on the water is the main reason to choose this two-hour trip from Reykjavik. The boat carries no more than 12 people, so you are not fighting a crowd for a view.

I love the small-group setup, which gives the guide room to move the boat and point out sightings without a wall of passengers blocking the view. I also like the fast, stable RIB, which can cover more of Faxaflói Bay than a slower boat and includes shock-absorbing seats for rough water.

The tradeoff is clear: this is an active ride, not a gentle harbor cruise. Choppy seas can make the return rough, and the tour is not recommended for people with knee problems or for young children. You must be over 10 and taller than 145 centimeters.

Key points to know before you book

• The boat holds a maximum of 12 people, giving you a much better chance of seeing wildlife from the rail.
• Puffin visits run from early May through late August, when the boat stops near Akurey, Engey, or Lundey.
• The main search takes place in Faxaflói Bay, with time set aside for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds.
• High-performance suspension seats reduce the shock of rough water, but they do not turn the trip into a smooth ride.
• A marine biologist guide leads the outing, and guides have included Maria and Sam, with crew members such as Emily helping operate the boat.
• No-sighting protection is provided: if poor luck keeps wildlife out of view, you receive a ticket for an alternative tour.

Why the RIB format changes whale watching

The biggest difference between this trip and a standard whale boat is the scale. A large vessel gives you more indoor space and often a steadier ride, but you share the view with many more people. On this RIB, you are close to sea level and near the action, with fewer heads and cameras in front of you.

The boat is also built for range. The crew can travel quickly through a wider search area, which matters because whales and dolphins are wild animals, not scheduled performers. A fast boat does not guarantee sightings, but it gives the crew more flexibility to look for signs of life.

You should also expect the ride itself to be part of the experience. Several outings have included long, choppy stretches before reaching the whales. Other passengers describe the seats as comfortable and the ride as exhilarating, but those two things can be true at the same time. The RIB is designed for open water, not for a calm lap around the harbor.

The maximum group size of 12 is a real advantage. You can usually keep your view open, hear the guide, and shift your attention quickly when a whale appears. At $208.09 per person, you are paying a premium over a basic group cruise, but the price reflects the small boat, specialist guide, warm gear, and more personal viewing position.

Starting at Ægisgarður in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

The meeting point is Ægisgarður 5d, beside the Old Harbour. The activity begins and ends there, so you do not need to arrange a separate transfer back across town. The harbor is also close to public transportation, which makes this easier to fit into a day in central Reykjavik.

Plan to arrive ready for cold and wind, even if the city feels mild. The open bay can feel much colder than the streets, and the tour operator supplies coveralls and safety equipment, not a full personal wardrobe. Wear a wool or fleece sweater, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear.

The company provides warm protective suits, and several outings have also included gloves, hats, and goggles. That gear helps with spray and wind, but you should still dress in layers. Your hands and feet can get cold while you wait for wildlife, even inside a protective suit.

The crew gives you the required safety equipment before departure. Listen closely to the instructions, especially if you have never ridden in a RIB. You will spend a good part of the trip seated, but getting on and off the boat and bracing through a rough patch require reasonable physical fitness.

The puffin islands from early May to late August

During puffin season, the first wildlife stop is usually at Akurey, Engey, or Lundey, the small islands just outside Reykjavik. The trip from the Old Harbour is short, and the boat spends about five to ten minutes near the birds.

That short stop can be lively. Puffins share the islands and cliffs with auks, gannets, and many other seabirds. You may see birds on the water, in the air, and around the rocky edges of the islands. The RIB can approach quickly and get closer than a larger boat, though the crew must still respect the wildlife and sea conditions.

Puffins are seasonal here. From early May through the end of August, they are part of the planned experience. Outside that window, the trip focuses on whales, dolphins, and other sea life instead, so do not book a fall or winter departure expecting puffins.

Five to ten minutes may sound brief, but this is not meant to be a long birding expedition. The stop gives you a quick look at a natural colony before the boat moves on to the wider bay. If puffins are a major reason for your visit, book during the stated season and treat the birds as one part of the outing, not the whole event.

Faxaflói Bay and the search for whales

The main portion lasts about an hour and a half in Faxaflói Bay. This is where the guide and captain begin the real search, watching the water for blows, fins, backs, and movement from birds that may signal feeding activity.

The species seen on different trips have included humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds. One outing produced around 15 whales and several dolphins. Another included four humpbacks, a minke whale, and a porpoise. A few groups have even seen a basking shark.

Humpbacks are the stars when they appear. A breach is never promised, but several trips have included repeated breaches, including two whales breaching at the same time. A humpback surfacing near the boat can make the small size feel especially valuable, since you are looking across only a short stretch of water rather than across a crowded deck.

Minke whales can be more understated. You may see a smaller, quicker surface appearance before the animal slips away. Dolphins and porpoises add another kind of excitement, especially when they travel near the boat. The guide’s role is important here, since a trained eye can spot a brief blow or a distant back long before you do.

You should keep your camera ready, but do not let it control the trip. Sightings can last only seconds, and the best moment may happen on the opposite side of the boat. The crew sometimes takes photos and videos during the outing and shares them afterward, allowing you to watch the water rather than stare at a screen.

Suspension seats help, but rough water remains rough

The boat’s high-performance suspension seats are one of its practical strengths. They absorb some of the impact when the RIB hits chop, which makes the ride safer and less punishing than a basic bench would be. Several people have singled out the seats as especially helpful once the boat reaches rougher water.

Still, you should not confuse shock absorption with comfort in all conditions. One trip included a very choppy ride far offshore, and another had a rough return. The crew warns against booking if you have knee or back problems, and you should take that warning seriously.

Sea conditions can also affect the tour itself. The operator requires good weather, and high winds can lead to a cancellation or a change to a different date. In some cases, an alternative trip on a larger boat may be offered, but poor conditions can still mean a rough ride and no whale sightings.

If the weather forces the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy is useful, but it does not remove the need to keep some flexibility in your schedule. I would avoid placing this tour on the final few hours of your Iceland visit.

The ride back offers a different view of Reykjavik

After the wildlife search, the boat heads back toward the Old Harbour along the city shoreline. This final part changes the mood from open-water searching to a short waterfront tour.

You pass the Sun Voyager sculpture from the sea, a fine angle for photographs. The boat also goes by Harpa Concert Hall, whose glass facade looks especially striking from the harbor side. These are brief stops rather than formal visits, each lasting about five minutes, but they give you a useful city view from a different position.

The return also gives everyone time to settle after the whale search. If the water is calm, it can feel like a pleasant finish. If the wind has risen, the ride back may be the least comfortable part of the trip. Keep your layers on and hold your position securely.

The tour ends at the same Ægisgarður meeting point roughly two hours after departure. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so plan your own way to and from the Old Harbour.

What the guides add to the experience

The tour includes a professional marine biologist guide, which matters most during quiet stretches. Whale watching is not constant action. You may spend time scanning empty water, and a good guide turns that wait into a lesson about whale behavior, seabirds, and the bay.

Guides named in different outings include Maria and Sam. Crew members such as Emily have also been praised for handling the boat and keeping people comfortable. The strongest part of the guiding is not just naming a species. It is helping you understand where to look, what a blow means, and why the boat is changing direction.

Guides have also helped people dealing with seasickness. If you know you are prone to it, tell the crew early and follow their instructions. The ride may be manageable on one day and rough on another, so do not treat another person’s experience as a promise about your own.

The small group gives the guide more room to answer questions. It also makes the outing feel less like a mass departure and more like a shared search. That personal quality is the clearest reason to pay extra for this format.

Is $208.09 a fair price?

At $208.09 per person, this is not the budget choice for whale watching in Reykjavik. You are paying for a maximum group of 12, a high-speed RIB, a marine biologist guide, suspension seats, safety gear, and protective coveralls.

I think the value is strongest if you care about the viewing position and the size of the group. Seeing a whale breach from a small boat, with no large crowd around you, is a different experience from watching the same event from a broad sightseeing deck. The extra cost also makes more sense if you want the fast boat ride itself.

The value is less clear if you dislike rough water, need a gentle ride, or mainly want a short harbor cruise. A larger boat may suit you better, especially if warmth, room to move indoors, and a calmer pace matter more than closeness to the water.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 241 reviews, with 93 percent recommending it. That strong record matches the main pattern: excellent wildlife encounters and enthusiastic guides, balanced by occasional weather problems and rough rides.

Who should book this RIB tour?

I would choose this trip for adults, older children who meet the minimum height and age requirements, couples, families with active teenagers, and anyone who wants a close-up wildlife outing rather than a standard sightseeing cruise.

It is especially suited to you if you:

• Want a group of no more than 12 people
• Like fast boat rides and open-water adventure
• Can handle a bumpy return
• Want puffins as well as whales during the May to August season
• Prefer a guide who can explain the animals and help spot them
• Value a low sea-level view and room to photograph sightings

I would think twice if you have knee or back problems, dislike motion, or need a highly predictable schedule. The minimum age is over 10, and children must also be taller than 145 centimeters. Young children are not recommended.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, so check the forecast and keep the local cutoff time in mind.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB whale tour?

Book it if your priority is the best chance at a personal, close-to-the-water whale watching experience. The combination of a 12-person boat, fast search range, marine biologist guide, and warm protective gear gives you a strong package, especially during puffin season.

Skip it if you want a smooth, quiet cruise or if rough water could cause pain. The wildlife is never guaranteed, though the operator provides an alternative tour ticket when there are no sightings. For the right kind of visitor, the price buys more than transportation across the bay: it buys space, speed, and the chance to watch a humpback surface beside a small boat.

FAQ

Where does the whale watching tour start and finish?

The tour starts at Ægisgarður 5d in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and ends at the same meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours, including the puffin stop, the whale search in Faxaflói Bay, and the return along Reykjavik’s shoreline.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

Yes, but puffin visits take place during the season from early May through the end of August. The boat visits Akurey, Engey, or Lundey for about five to ten minutes.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a professional marine biologist guide, protective coveralls, and all necessary safety equipment. Food, drinks, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be over 10 years old and taller than 145 centimeters. The activity is not recommended for young children.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. If there are no wildlife sightings, you receive a ticket for an alternative tour.