About whales of iceland open since 2014 lifesized models. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Whales in iceland got a reprieve from hunters last year the. The minke whale hunting season came to an end in late august when only 6 minke whales had been caught. We have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954. The whale watching begins march 1, so its a perfect timing the day is getting longer, the snow is slowly disappearing, and the whales are reappearing in larger numbers than ever before. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. With some luck you can see orca whales killer whales and blue whales. The north, east and interior experience colder winter temperatures but warmer summers, and noticeably less snow and rain. Best whale watching in iceland season, cheap tours. The much anticipated 2016 whale watching season commences in may 15th, just short of two weeks from today. This is the time when the minke whales are at their most abundant, along with the whitebeaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and humpback whales, giving us the chance to enjoy and understand them in their natural environment. The cruising speed is up to 24 knots which allows you to get out to the whale watching area in half the time only 1520 minutes.
Weather at sea is always colder than on land and therefore we recommend dressing appropriately, by wearing warm clothing and good sturdy shoes. Whalers cut open a 35ton fin whale in 2009, one of two caught by a hvalur crew off the coast of hvalfjsrour, north of reykjavik, on the western coast of iceland. With our speedboats we can offer our passengers more area to cover in search for the gentle giants. Japan hunts whales, but claims it does so for scientific research purposes, although a large share of the whale meat ends up being consumed. Iceland cancels whale hunting season this 2020 jan cortes. Keep in mind that whales are lurking in the deep throughout the year.
It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in some parts of the country. Complete guide to icelands golden circle stops with map. Whale watching season is from april to midoctober with a peak in june. An objection to an international ban on commercial whaling allows the country to hunt minke and endangered fin whales. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. This was impossible before with popcorn time, because many torrents contain unstreamable video formats.
Tour operators from northern towns, such as akureyri and. For the first time one can play and stream almost every video format, smoothly and with stunning quality. Jun 29, 2015 for 2015, icelands fisheries ministry has given the whalers a quota of 154 fin whales the second largest mammal after the blue whale and 229 minke whales. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. Theres also some places for opportunistic whale watching while doing a regular nature tour, i. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. Get app whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. A part of the exhibition focuses on conservation where the multiple threats and their solutions that whales face in the ocean today are showcased. Nowadays, every so often news reports will carry stories about a beached whale. The best season for whale watching in most parts of iceland is therefore between april and october. North sailing was the first company in iceland to start scheduled whale watching tours. The most recent icelandic hvalreki event happened on 26 november 2015, when a beached whale appeared at seltjarnarnes, a lovely peninsula on the. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. Weve been preparing our two boats, niels jonsson and sandvikin, the last couple of weeks after the now finished winter fishing season.
Between december and february, our whale watching tour is operated from grundarfjordur. The best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Several tour operators in iceland offer excursions on the water, from fishing trips and harbour excursions to puffin watching, some of which are shorter and less expensive than whalewatching. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species.
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. Whale watching tours can be enjoyed throughout the year, but the season in which you embark on one will entirely shape your experience. One of iceland s top whaling companies says it has stopped hunting minke whales this year, in response to a new government regulation that enlarged the protected area for baleen whales. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. For most travellers on a short trip to iceland, after spending a day or two in reykjavik and soaking in the blue lagoon, their last day is spent touring the famous golden circle, easily accessible as a day trip from reykjavik. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Iceland s most influencing weather element is the wind. But this week the icelandic government announced it will allow up to 2,000 whales to be killed in the next five years. Summer is the peak season for whale watching, as it is the prime feeding time for the whales and migratory seabirds such as puffins can be seen. 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.
The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. Iceland does not have a rainy season, but precipitation peaks in october to february, with the southern and western parts receiving the most rainfall. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. Whale watching tour from reykjavik arctic sea tours. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. If you dont see a whale, you have the option to take the tour again for free. Iceland will not hunt any whales this summer the reykjavik. What is the best season for whale watching in iceland.
In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. North sailing also offers the most ecofriendly whale watching tours in iceland, on iceland s only electric whale watching boats. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland. 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. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. It also features a whale museum and a civic museum for culture and biology. This orca whale watching tour is operated by one of our reliable partners. Whale watching season whale watching iceland tours. On this combo tour of whales and puffins, we experience amazing wildlife directly from reykjaviks charming old harbour.
A total of 146 fin whales were caught during the 98 day long hunting season. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. At least one of the reykjavik whale watching 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. 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. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. This small town of 2,000 inhabitants is possibly the best place to go whale watching in iceland.
Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling. The whales of iceland exhibition is wheelchair accessible. The old harbor is conveniently located in the city center, with various cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the area. The best whale spotting opportunities occur from midjune to august, which coincides with iceland s peak tourist season. Other species can be sighted too, for example the whitebeaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and basking sharks. 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. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you. 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. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. They are lurking around all year round though, i would very much like to point that out. We always see humpback whales in our tours but also minke whales, harbour porpoises and dolphins. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year.
Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic whaletrips. Mar 01, 2018 a beached whale was, in hard times, and there were often hard times in iceland, equivalent to a major lottery win. But with almost everything else in the animal kingdom, there are seasons for everything and your best chances to get a glimpse on these majestic animals is from april to october. After a twoyear break, whale hunting conducted by hvalur hf. Jul 15, 2014 whale watching on a tour with gentle giants out of husavik in iceland. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. Whale watching from reykjavik whale watching iceland. 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. Optimal time for whale watching the best time to watch whales in iceland is from april until september, when over 20 species of cetacea can be observed. Watch the giant sperm whales in the deep waters off the spectacular coast of kaikoura. And the norwegian and icelandic fjords are full of whales, too. Apr 14, 2017 the colorful whalewatching town of husavik winter is generally the worst season to go whale watching.
You should definitely stop by husavik, the whale watching capital of iceland. Whalers haul a dead whale on a fishing boat off the west coast of iceland. Cetaceans often sighted are minke whales, humpback. Best time of year for whale watching in iceland while summer months of june, july, august and september is the best time to spot minke, humpback, blue whales and whitebeaked dolphins. You can also borrow one of our warm blankets and overalls. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Midatlantic offers a great platform for travel industry professionals from around the world to meet, work together and exchange ideas, in iceland a hub between europe and. There are two types of boat trips offered, the classic whale watching tour or express rib boat tour. Ocras and sperm whales though can be spotted in summer months, these are also found in winter from december to march and also in early summer of april and may. This is the original whale watching tour from reykjavik and one of the most popular attractions in iceland. See all 6 whales of iceland tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Jump on a boating adventure to see some of the most fascinating animals in the entire world, including adorable puffins, iceland s favorite bird, and the worlds largest mammals, the majestic whale. Arrests made in shooting death of black man in georgia.
Popcorn time online is one of the first users of the revolutionary torrents time technology. Found in skjalfandi bay in north iceland, husavik is known as the whale watching capital of the world. Join us for a chance to encounter the incredible whales and dolphins of faxafloi bay. 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. The current selfallocated quota for minke whales is 217, but unlike icelands fin whaling, the minke whale tally has always been far below quota and the number of companies and vessels operating has declined steadily in recent years. Best value whale watching trip from reykjavik guide to iceland. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. A rib is faster than the wind and makes it therefore more likely for us to find the big whales. Whale watching in iceland ultimate guide extreme iceland. Iceland sets target of 191 kills as country resumes whaling. Iceland will not have commercial whale hunting for the first time in nearly 20 years getty images the last summer that iceland went without a commercial hunt was in 2003, when it limited hunting. Whale watching tours are available from reykjaviks old harbour every day. We will restore gunnar fully during this winter and have him ready for our next season alongside our every trusty oak boat niels jonsson ea 106.
Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. Whale watching hauganes is icelands oldest whale watching tour operator, based in the heart ofeyjafjor. Mbl reports that the company has been granted a quota of 161 fin whales to hunt this summer, up from the 155 fin whales they were allowed to hunt the last time they went whaling, in 2015. The annual icelandair midatlantic tradeshow was held in reykjavik last week and gentle giants took an active part as usual. A ministry of fisheries and agriculture statement released tuesday said a maximum of 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be killed each year between 2018 and 2025. The whales of iceland exhibition showcases 23 lifesize whale models with a lot of indepth information, interactive experiences and underwater footage of whales shown on a 8 meter long screen. So, you can be 99% sure that youll see some whales. The lack of any real market for whale meat has prompted icelands whalers to forego the hunt this season, for the first time since 2003. The high season for whale watching tours is from april to midoctober. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed. Seeing these majestic giants of the deep in the flesh, as they play amongst the waves, is one of the finest experiences that iceland has to offer and a worthy.
Oct 26, 2016 we have added a new whale watching boat to our fleet, gunnar hamundarson gk 357, a beautiful oak boat built in iceland in 1954. 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. 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. Apr 05, 2019 the best time for whale watching in iceland is the summer june, july, and august when the wildlife is at its peak and when whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Summer season is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at its highest peak. The official northern lights season in iceland is from october till march. Grundarfjordur, snaefellsnes iceland orca watching in winter december and march have proven to be the best months for watching orcas in iceland during winter. 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. We zoomed around on a speedboat to get close to the whales and at one point we were surrounded by humpback whales that were. Please be aware that due to environmental reasons during certain times of the year our trips may be delivered on a shared boat with one of our partners.
The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. Whales of iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. There will be no whaling season for us, the captain of whaling ship hvalur 9 olafur olafsson told sto. Whale watching husavik, iceland gentle giants whale. Orcas in iceland orca whale watching iceland killer. It is possible to see some species of whales and dolphins at other times of the year as migratory patterns vary between the species so winter sailings are still an option in. From iceland no fin whaling in iceland this summer. Iceland stops hunting minke whales but only for this season. The aim of the hunt is to develop nutritional supplements for the anemic from the meat, to make gelatin from the.
Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. That being said, the winter months still regularly yield excellent results. The countrys two commercial whaling companies opted to skip the hunting season. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. From iceland whale hunting to begin again in iceland. While many tour operators stick to the four most popular golden circle stops, there are a number of spectacular additional stops possible if you selfdrive the golden. Year round whale watching tours from reykjavik iceland.
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