Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. The supporters of this campaign would like iceland to understand that the public will not support icelands whale sighting tourism while the country slaughters whales. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. A minke whale swims near a whale watching boat off reykjavik in this file photo. Reykjavik whale watching in iceland itsallbee travel blog.
All the year around youll be able to see a variety of whales by the coast, from the minke, humpback and killer whales to whitebeaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Winter is a great time to see orcas in iceland with. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you. Tips for animallovers visiting iceland in winter whats on in iceland. Whale watching hauganes in north iceland whale watching. You can find the exhibition in reykjavik, icelands capital city. The seas can be very rough in january, i guess thats why many dont go out especially in smaller boats. You can prepare yourself before visiting exhibition by downloading whales of. After selecting a departure time to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whalewatching destination on the icy ocean. A number of countries, but not iceland, objected to this decision. Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. Its really special experience to head out to see a whale move greacefully through gentle fjord waters or out across a bay, relatively close to the shore.
Ten days of winter whale watching in tromso, far beyond the arctic circle. This is the original whale watching tour from reykjavik and one of the most popular attractions in iceland. Whales of iceland opened its doors for wdc and erich hoyt who held an impressive lecture to celebrate 25 years of whale watching in iceland. Whale watching in reykjavik iceland on the go tours us. Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. Iceland whale watching in january orcas in snaefellsnes jan. Why are there hardly any whale watching tours in iceland during winter. About whales of iceland open since 2014 lifesized models. The most recent icelandic hvalreki event happened on 26 november 2015, when a beached whale appeared at seltjarnarnes, a lovely peninsula on the. Whales in iceland got a reprieve from hunters last year.
These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. Plus, snaefellsnes is a wonderful region for winter whale watching in iceland. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. Oct 11, 2017 by far the best time of year for whale watching in iceland is during the summer months, from april through september, when over 20 species of cetaceaincluding the orca, minke, humpback, and blue whalecan be seen in the north atlantic and arctic oceans on either side of the island. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like.
Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. Icelandic goats, whales, sheep, cats, horses, reindeer, the list of animals to be found in and around iceland is definitely not endless, but the country is home to. Realize your dreams of watching humpback whales and orcas in their natural environment on a 3hour original whale watching tour from husavik, capital of whale watching in iceland. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik.
Whale watching tour from reykjavik must see in iceland. Would love to do whale watching in reykjavik in march. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. In this article we want to share with you a few photos from our whale watching tour on january 24, 2019. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year.
When and where to see whales in iceland iceland rovers. Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. Whale watching tour from reykjavik experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales.
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. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. Im planning a trip to iceland within the next two months and whale watching is pretty high on my list of awesome things to do. Incredible blue whales are, also, far more prevalent in the waters around north iceland. Whale watching in iceland is a responsible and highly profitable alternative to the whaling industry, and is growing in popularity as people visit iceland to see these majestic marine mammals. During summer, chances to see orcas are good as well but not as regularly as during. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and. Whale watching iceland january orcas in snaefellsnes. After selecting a departure time to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whalewatching destination on the icy. Whale watching in december iceland forum tripadvisor.
Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Best value whale watching trip from reykjavik guide to iceland. I have read a couple of posts on iceland, i never knew about the whale watching aspects until now. Iceland, with such amazing sites, is indeed the place to be, thanks for writing about the whale watching in iceland and also on what to wear to get the best of the moments. Stocks in and around iceland are up from their preiwc moratorium numbers, despite icelandic fin whale harvests over the past few years and no, they dont mix. The blue whale calves, for instance, weigh about 2,5 tons approx. Theres also some places for opportunistic whale watching while doing a regular nature tour, i. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic. Iceland, a major whaling nation since the late 19th century and a founding member of the iwc, did not formally object to the 1982 decision and was thus bound by the ban.
How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. Iceland whale watching in january orcas in snaefellsnes. 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. This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in iceland, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. 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.
Our skilled whale watching guides will introduce the whales in general, describe the whale species we encounter, and tell us interesting stories about them. Of the 23 different species of whale found in iceland s waters, eight are frequently spotted on whale watching excursions. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. With the support of wellknown travel websites, such as, the campaign aims to put an. Team of iceland unlimited recommends all travelers and especially families to visit this spectacular museum iceland unlimited team visited whales of iceland museum in reykjavik, the largest whale exhibition in europe. Starting in reykjaviks old harbour, your whale watching adventure is located right in the city centre. It is amazing though that even though they go far away, we see the same whales in our bay again every spring, so when they arrive it feels like they. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. I am more so drawn to the misconception among iceland tourists that whale meat described as steak with a fishlike flavor is a local specialty worth trying.
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. I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. Nowadays, every so often news reports will carry stories about a beached whale. Multiple tours are still running, some of which are best in the depths of winter. Later the boat was used for trawling, net and line fishing all the way up to 1990 when it was decommissioned. The whales of iceland exhibition, open since 2014, features lifelike fullsized models of the whale species around iceland, an interactive installation, vr and audio guide. The ultimate guide to iceland in january guide to iceland. And then theres gps navigation we cant live without siri telling us where to go. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic whaletrips. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%.
Its 2016 and everyone still wants to be connected to wifi, even while theyre traveling. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling. Within a few minutes i spot minke whale on a restaurant menu next to a selection of puffin tapas.
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. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. When visiting iceland in january you have to be prepared for rough weather since it is not only the coldest but also one of the darkest months of the year. Baleen whales are a migratory species, and most travel long distances to tropical waters in winter and back to polar regions in summer. See more ideas about whale watching, whale and iceland. In this post, im sharing the pros and cons of 5 different. Whales of iceland uses cookies to give you the best experience when you visit our website, whalesoficeland. Embark on an incredible and affordable whale watching excursion from reykjavik. Mar 03, 2016 the ocean around iceland is cold during winter time and thats when the whales go south to warmer waters, to the caribbean wouldnt we all. But it is not all bad and in between some stormy periods, we also get perfect sunny days. If there are no sightings on the tour, you can use your ticket number to reschedule your reservation and join another tour for free.
Iceland is cold, snowy, and dark in january, but theres still a wealth of things to do. If you need it warm and cozy during winter, just follow the gray whales and go to. Minke whales, harbor porpoises, whitebeaked dolphins and humpback whales are the most commonly spotted sea creatures on. Whale watching 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. A beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. Hjalteyri whale watching 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. Report about orcas in snaefellsnes on january 24, 2019. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours.
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. Whales in iceland got a reprieve from hunters last year the. Northern norway is one of the best places to see northern lights and whales. There are probably no more than 50,000 to 100,000 fin whales in the north atlantic ocean, so it is remarkable they are sighted as frequently as they are.
Elding participates and support marine biologists research. Over 20 species of whales inhabit the waters around iceland, appearing during different seasons of the year and at varying levels of frequency. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often. If youre visiting iceland during the winter months, you can keep warm with the warm overalls provided. Iceland joined cites in 2000, and immediately took reservations to the listing of several species of whales, including fin and minke whales, on appendix i. During winter, whitebeaked dolphins are also regular guests in this area.
Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. The reason is that the whales are busy far away in the caribbean, relaxing and taking care of their newly born offspring. This region of iceland is very quiet during winter and you can experience iceland in a very authentic way. In 1982, the commission took a decision, which came into force for the 1986 and 198586 seasons, that catch limits for all commercial whaling would be set to zero i. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland.
And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial. Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. So remember the sea can be rough, it will be very very cold and damp. With luck, marvel at the majestic mammals as they dive and plunge before your eyes. Whale watching iceland january orcas in snaefellsnes laki tours. The tour companies and tourist info websites obviously claim that there is a good chance of seeing whales in the winter, but i cant seem to find any impartial information on whether theres actually any chance of this happening. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales.
The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. Companies follow a protocol so as not to disturb them any more than than necessary, turning off their motors. On this whale watching excursion you will be able to get up close to some of icelands amazing wildlife.
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. As long as you make the most of the light hours, you wont find yourself short of exciting experiences. Commercial trade in parts and products from species listed on appendix i is prohibited. Were the oldest whale watching company in iceland, since 1993. Another advantage is fin whales are often spotted on whale watching boat trips from north iceland. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where.
We are thinking of visting iceland the end of december. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. When you go whale watching in iceland, rest assured that the whale watching companies iceland conduct their activities with respect for the gentle giants. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often painting the sky bright orange or pink. Whales and dolphins are at their greatest numbers during the summer months between april and october when the marine beasts come to feed on the plankton that thrives on the nutrientrich deposits of icelands bays. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around icelands coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland.
Mar 01, 2018 a beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. Surround yourself in history and visit the old village of hjalteyri, which has a population of 43 inhabitants. 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. Rib express whale wathing this is a once in a lifetime boat experience. 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. Whale tours can best be taken starting at husavik or the snaefellsnes peninsula, but tours are also offered starting from the capital reykjavik or from akureyri close to husavik. This ocean adventure grants you a fantastic opportunity to see a wealth of marine and bird life, without taking considerable time away from your holiday. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of faxafloi bay. Winter whale watching is a unique experience and a whole other adventure compared to our summer tours. A minke whale swims near a whalewatching boat off reykjavik on april 23.
The focus is naturally on the giants of the sea and we hope to see minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked. Great video from an iceland winter whale watching in snaefellsnes with orcas also called killer whales. Each year continues to surprise us with the wildlife it offers. In 1982, the international whaling commission iwc imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling, effective from 1986. Iceland resumed largescale trade in whale products under reservation to japan in 2008. Please be at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure.
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