Name: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík
SKU: 23031P2
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (491 reviews)

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Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

4.8(491)· Akureyri· By Gentle Giants Whale Watching Watch the video

Free cancellation

From

€149per person

1 to 12 travelers per booking.

Time

1 × Adult × €149€149

Total€149

About the activity

Embark on Iceland's original RIB whale watching tour aboard modern speedboats. Explore a vast area of Skjálfandi Bay with our fast, modern RIB speedboats to maximize your chances of spotting large whales in their natural habitat. Gain insights into Iceland's unique nature and wildlife from our expert guides. Stay comfortable and warm with provided safety overalls from the crew. Choose a genuinely local, family-owned company based in Húsavík.

What's included

✓Professional guide
✓Warm safety overalls (mandatory), and rain jackets if needed
✓Live commentary during the tour
✓Exclusive discounts with select local partners in Húsavík

What is not included

✕Transportation to and from attractions (The tour departs within walking distance of most accommodations in Húsavík).

Activity itinerary

Activity Schedule 2 h Experience the original Big Whale Safari & Puffins tour from Húsavík, renowned as the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Come aboard a RIB speedboat for a 2-hour fully guided adventure in search of the ocean's gentle giants. Your probability of encountering whales is as high as 99%.

Places visited

Gentle Giants Whale Watching

How to use your ticket

Mobile or paper ticket accepted. One per booking

Meeting point and return

Meeting Point: Gentle Giants Ticket Center

Directions: Locate the large blue flags in Húsavík.

Kindly ensure you arrive at least 40 minutes prior to your scheduled departure to reach the Gentle Giants Ticket Center.

Meeting Point: Gentle Giants Ticket Center

Directions: Locate the large blue flags in Húsavík.

Kindly ensure you arrive at least 40 minutes prior to your scheduled departure to reach the Gentle Giants Ticket Center.

Please arrive at the Gentle Giants Ticket Center at least 40 minutes before your scheduled departure. It is easily found in Húsavík; simply look for the prominent blue flags in the town center.

Warm safety overalls will be provided on board the boats. However, it is strongly recommended that passengers bring their own warm, waterproof clothing, footwear, and protective bags for cameras, as conditions at sea can be cold and wet.

The RIB speedboat tour is not permitted for individuals with heart conditions, back problems, or pregnant women. The minimum age is 8 years, and the minimum height is 130 cm.

The puffin season typically runs from approximately April 15th to August 15th.

For your safety and comfort, we reserve the right to alter schedules, even with short notice, should weather or other conditions necessitate it. This may include foregoing a visit to Puffin Island.

Meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Practical information

Public transportation options are conveniently located nearby.
Suitable for individuals of all physical fitness levels.
Dependent on favorable weather conditions. In case of cancellation due to poor weather, you will be offered the choice of an alternative date or a full refund.
Please bring warm and waterproof clothing.
The minimum age requirement is 8 years, and the minimum height is 130 cm.
The puffin season is approximately from April 15th to August 15th. Outside of this period, the tour focuses more on whales. Should weather or sea conditions change unexpectedly, even with short notice, the visit to Puffin Island may be omitted.
A minimum number of participants is required for all our tours. If this minimum is not met, we reserve the right to modify or cancel departures, even with short notice. In such instances, alternative options or a full refund will be offered to customers.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Regrettably, refunds are not provided if no whales or dolphins are sighted during the tour. However, customers may receive a voucher for a complimentary traditional whale watching tour, subject to availability.
Please arrive at the Gentle Giants Ticket Center in Húsavík at least 40 minutes before your scheduled departure.
The RIB speedboat tour is not suitable for passengers with heart or back problems, or for pregnant women.
Not permitted for passengers with heart or back problems or pregnant women.

Activity options

GG2 Big Whale Safari
Experience the Big Whale Safari & Puffins tour from Húsavík aboard a RIB speedboat, offering enhanced opportunities to spot large whales. A visit to Puffin Island is included during the nesting season.

Duration

2 h

How to prepare for your experience

Dress in warm layers, as conditions at sea can be chilly.
Waterproof clothing and footwear are highly recommended.
Bring a camera to capture the incredible wildlife sightings.
Arrive at the meeting point at least 40 minutes before departure.
Check the puffin season dates if seeing puffins is a priority.

Embark on an exhilarating whale watching adventure from Húsavík, the whale watching capital of Europe, aboard a high-speed RIB boat.

Cancellation conditions

For a full refund, please ensure cancellation at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Any questions?

Product code: 23031P2

Activity offered by Gentle Giants Whale Watching via Viator.

Who is this activity suitable for?

Adventurers
Nature enthusiasts
Families (with children aged 8+)
Couples

Activity essentials

Experience Iceland's original RIB whale watching tour.
High chances of spotting large whales in Skjálfandi Bay.
Expert guides providing insights into local wildlife.
Modern speedboats for an exhilarating adventure.
Family-owned company with a local touch.

Akureyri: good to know

Population: 20,050 (2025)
Elevation: 40 m
Currency: Icelandic króna
Official language: Icelandic
Driving: on the right
Power plugs: C, F · 230 V
Emergency number: 112
Capital city: Reykjavík

Average temperatures

-7°Jan
-6°Feb
-6°Mar
-3°Apr
-1°May
5°Jun
7°Jul
6°Aug
3°Sept
-2°Oct
-5°Nov
-7°Dec

Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.

Frequently asked questions

What is the duration of the Big Whale Safari & Puffins tour?

The tour lasts for 2 hours.

What is the minimum age for this tour?

The minimum age is 8 years old, and the minimum height is 130 cm.

What should I bring on the tour?

While warm safety overalls are provided, it is highly recommended to bring your own warm and waterproof clothing, footwear, and protective bags for cameras.

What happens if whales or dolphins are not sighted?

If no whales or dolphins are sighted, refunds are not permitted. However, customers can receive a voucher for a traditional whale watching tour, subject to availability.

When is the puffin season?

The puffin season is approximately from April 15th to August 15th.

Reviews

4.84.8(491)

5 stars

437

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Reviews provided by Viator, written by travellers on Viator and Tripadvisor.

★★★★★Tripadvisor review
National Geographic whale show
grantmX8453PV, October 2026
Guide Miro was 10/10. Safety focused and knowledgable. It was like National Geographic. Great show
Response from the operator · Daniel Annisius
Hello there! Thanks for your fantastic feedback! We’re so happy Miro made your speedboat adventure feel like a National Geographic documentary. Safety and sharing our knowledge about whales are always priorities for our team. Greetings from Gentle Giants Team in Húsavík, Fabio
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Just excellent!
A983QEelenak, September 2026
It was an incredible experience which I will never forget. Our guide Dimitra was absolutely fantastic and made the whole trip even more special. Her passion for the whales and Icelandic wildlife were contagious from the very beginning. I liked also her good humor and laugh :)
Response from the operator · Daniel Annisius
Thank you so much for your lovely words! We’re super happy to hear that Dimitra made your trip extra special with her passion, knowledge, and wonderful sense of humour. It’s fantastic to know her enthusiasm for Icelandic wildlife came through so clearly. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her! All the best. Fabio.
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
BAD EXPERIENCE GIANT GIANTLES - WHALE WATCHING
luisfelipeg338, September 2026
Worst experience in Iceland, mainly because of a staff member named “Nana,” who provided the worst customer service possible. She was extremely rude, to the point that her behavior was bordering on prejudice. I am surprised that the company supports having someone with this kind of attitude working in tourism. We did not see any whales during our tour, which is 100% understandable and simply part of nature. However, after a lot of insistence, we were given a voucher, which is advertised as a customer entitlement, but absolutely no explanation was provided about how the voucher works or how to use it. There was no attempt whatsoever to make up for what happened or to provide any kind of assistance. In addition, the boarding process was poorly organized. I recommend choosing any other whale-watching company rather than this one.
Response from the operator · Daniel Annisius
Dear Luis, Thank you for your honest feedback. We are sorry to hear that you left with such a negative impression of your experience with Gentle Giants. Our tours operate in wild nature, which is indeed unpredictable. As you experienced on your tour with no whale sightings, customers are offered a free return voucher for the GG1 Whale Watching tour. The voucher is valid indefinitely and can be used depending on availability; advance bookings cannot be made. This information is stated in our terms and conditions when booking on our website, in information e-mails sent to customers, and is also provided in the Ticket Center upon check-in. We take comments regarding our team seriously and have reviewed the situation. Based on the information available to us, our staff member was providing instructions after the tour regarding the procedures in the event of no whale sightings. We regret that the communication and misunderstanding resulted in such a negative experience. We are very proud of our international team, representing many different nationalities and backgrounds. Clear communication and respectful interaction, both from our staff and towards our staff, are very important to us. All the best from Húsavík, Daniel Annisius – Assistant Manager
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
5 Stars Whales or Not
laurengP6053WH, September 2026
Did we see whales? Eh, kinda, we saw one but really had trouble keeping eyes on it! Nevertheless, it’s never a guarantee and we still had just a fabulous star and it was still a five star experience. Our guide Clara was so sweet and enthusiastic. The rib boat was awesome and added to the adventure of it all. Lastly, the ride showcased such a beautiful view of the bay and the mountains. We had a great time!
Response from the operator · Daniel Annisius
Hello Lauren, thanks for taking the time to write to us again! We’re glad you enjoyed the RIB adventure, Clara’s enthusiasm and the beautiful views of Skjálfandi Bay, even with only a brief whale encounter. We really appreciate your understanding that whale watching is never guaranteed and that you still had a five star experience. All the best, Fabio
★★★★★Tripadvisor review
Wonderful whales!
laurapN1692CY, September 2026
Unique experience! We saw the humpback whale that greeted us several times!
Response from the operator · Daniel Annisius
Hello Laura, thank you for your lovely words! We’re super happy you had such a special experience on the RIB and got to see a humpback surfacing several times. Those moments can be incredibly memorable, and we’re glad the whale gave you such a wonderful greeting! Safe travels from Gentle Giants team in Húsavík, Fabio.

5 activities · Iceland

Akureyri, Iceland, has 5 activities, tours and experiences to book.

01Activities to book

The best experiences in Akureyri

5 in the catalogue

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Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

from €86★ 4.6

Free cancellation

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

from €149★ 4.8

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Big Whales & Puffins RIB Boat Tour from Húsavík

from €150★ 4.9

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Lake Myvatn Day Tour and Godafoss Waterfall for Cruise Ships from Akureyri Port

from €170★ 4.5

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Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri

from €104★ 4.6

All activities · Akureyri · 5

02On the water

Boats & cruises in Akureyri

1 activity

Free cancellation

Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

from €86★ 4.6

03Categories

Nature & wildlife in Akureyri

5 activities

Free cancellation

Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik

from €86★ 4.6

Free cancellation

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

from €149★ 4.8

Top pick

Big Whales & Puffins RIB Boat Tour from Húsavík

from €150★ 4.9

Frequently asked questions about Akureyri

What is there to do in Akureyri?

Akureyri has 5 activities, tours and day trips you can book online. Among the most booked: « Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik », « Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík », « Big Whales & Puffins RIB Boat Tour from Húsavík ».

What are the top-rated activities in Akureyri?

According to traveller reviews: « Big Whales & Puffins RIB Boat Tour from Húsavík » (4.9/5, 527 reviews) ; « Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík » (4.8/5, 493 reviews) ; « Whale Watching from Downtown Akureyri » (4.6/5, 1,100 reviews).