Our fleet

Our RIB boats (Rigid Inflatable Boats) are among the fastest RIB boats available in Iceland. They were specially designed to get you as close as possible to the whales, dolphins and puffins here in Húsavík. Their speed allows us to cover longer distances in search of the whales, which increases your chances of meeting some of the biggest animals in the world. Despite the speed and power of our RIB boats, their noise and impact is minimal. Last summer we had a 99% success of seeing whales on Skjálfandi bay.

We have two RIB boats that seat 12 passengers per boat, each with an expert whale watching guide and captain on board. Our captains have many years of experience sailing on Skjálfandi bay. We focus on small group tours, therefore, there is no competition for the best view on board. Our reputation for a passenger-centered approach precedes us, assuring you with the best possible experience and utmost safety on board.

International regulations state that RIB boats are allowed to have 12 passengers on board each boat, so our boats were specially designed to meet those regulations. We hold the safety of our passengers to the highest of standards, and take every precaution to ensure it.

Safety on board

Our RIB boats, Kría and Kjói, are 12 meter long custom made Marina RIB boats. They were originally designed for the Coast Guard and are therefore very stable and safe in all types of weather. Both of our RIBs are powered by two 315 HP diesel engines and can get up to the speed of 45 sea-miles per hour (81 km/hr).
RIB boats are used for many purposes all around the world, such as by the Coast Guard, Navy and the Police because of their speed, safety and flexibility on the high seas.

International regulations state that RIB boats are allowed to have 12 passengers on board each boat, so our boats were specially designed to meet those regulations. Our RIBs have all the necessary equipment on board. This includes: rescue boats, lifebuoys, rescue throwing line, flares, compasses, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, tool kits, navigation lights, radios, GPS devices, anchors and life jackets for all on board. Our life jackets have automatic gas inflation, so the life jackets inflate automatically should you enter the water wearing one.

Terms and conditions

Our location
Húsavík Adventures is located in Húsavík in the northeastern part of Iceland. Our RIB boats Kría and Kjoi depart from Húsavík Harbour.

Before you go on the tour
Before your tour, you have to come to our ticket office (Garðarsbraut, 640 Húsavík) and collect your boarding card no later than 30 minutes before departure. Please note that we share the building with our parent company North Sailing.

There is limited parking in front of our office, but plenty of other options in town. We recommend parking right behind the Húsavík church or by the harbor.

As soon as you check-in, we will start getting ready in our dressing room. 20 minutes before the tour departure, all the passengers will receive a floatation overall and a life jacket which is supplied by the crew members.

It is the passenger’s responsibility to arrive on time. Otherwise, there is a risk of losing reserved seats.

Clothing
We offer water-resistant overalls and safety vests during the trip. The overalls will keep you warm and dry but it is still recommended to bring your own warm clothes. Gloves and hats are a must.

Cancellations and Changes
Reservations that are canceled more than 24 hours before departure will be fully refunded.
Cancellations less than 24 hours before departure will be charged full price.

For cancellations and changes of reservations please contact Húsavík Adventures on email whales@husavikadventures.is

All tours are dependent on the weather and sea conditions. These can be different every day, therefore we reserve the right to change or cancel scheduled departures. This is for your safety as a passenger. If the weather conditions do not allow us to depart, then we need to cancel or change scheduled departures. All customers will receive a full refund or can book another trip depending on availability.

Light rain is not a reason to cancel a tour. In that case, you will be provided a raincoat and waterproof boots if needed.

Return Ticket
Whale-watching tours depend on the wild nature of Skjálfandi Bay. As we all know, the nature is unpredictable. The chances of seeing whales are overwhelming with up to 99% rate over the last years.

However, if no whales (dolphins included) are seen on the tour, passengers are welcome to join another Húsavík Adventures tour free of charge, depending on availability. We will give you what is called a “Return Ticket” that has no expiration date and it is untransferable.

Please note that we do not refund tickets if no whales and/or dolphins are seen on the tour. This is a fixed rule for all the whale-watching companies in Húsavík.

Health issues
People that have health-related issues such as a weak heart, bad back, epilepsy, or mobility issues should contact us prior to booking and we will be happy to assist you. The same goes for pregnant people. 

It is always the captain’s decision to prevent people from joining the RIB boats or to recommend them to join another tour, based on safety concerns. If you have a medical condition that does not allow you to join a tour and have not contacted us in advance, refunds will not be offered. 

Age restrictions
The minimum age onboard is 8 years old or 130 cm.

Prices
All prices are shown on our website www.husavikadventures.is in icelandic krona for season 2023/2024. Online payments are charged in Icelandic krona.

Contact details
Do you have any questions? You can reach us anytime!
Email:  whales@husavikadventures.is 
Phone no: (+354) 853 4205

Frequently asked questions

Payment & reservation

Where can I find your ticket office?
Our ticket office can be found in the Whale Watching Centre shared with North Sailing just across the street from the unique Húsavík church. You really can’t miss it! When you have checked in at the ticket office you will be directed to the Húsavík Adventures dressing room.

Can I cancel my tour and get a refund?
Reservations that are canceled more than 24 hours before departure will be fully refunded. Cancellations less than 24 hours before departure will be charged half price.
For cancellations and changes of reservations contact Húsavík Adventures via email: whales@husavikadventures.is

All tours are dependent on nature. Weather and sea conditions are different every day, therefore we reserve the right to change or cancel scheduled departures, this is for your safety as a passenger. If the weather causes us to cancel or change scheduled departure all customers receive a full refund or can book another trip depending on availability.

Is it necessary to book in advance?
During high season we highly recommend booking in advance, as we only have 12 seats in each boat. It is possible to book your tour online on this website.

Do you accept foreign currency?
Besides the Icelandic Krona, we accept US dollars and Euros. Price will be calculated according to our price in ISK and the current currency exchange rate.

Whale watching

What’s the best time of the day to go whale watching?
Whales can be spotted equally throughout the day. Although every tour is different from the other, there’s an equal chance for a great show at any given hour.

How about the whales’ behavior?
It ain’t so different between separate parts of the day. After all, they spend their time mostly feeding.

What happens if we don’t see a whale on the tour?
All Whale Watching trips are dependent on the wild nature of Skjálfandi Bay and as we know, nature is unpredictable. The chances of seeing whales are overwhelming with up to 99% rate of seeing whales during trips over the last years.

In the rare cases of no sightings (dolphins included), passengers get a “Return ticket”. That means that customers of the tour can return in the future (even the next tour depending on availability) for a free tour.

We do not refund tickets if no whales and/or dolphins are seen on the tour.

What happens if the weather is bad and we can’t go?
You can either choose to join us in a tour later or get a full refund.

Can you guarantee we will see a whale?
No. We’re dealing with wild nature and it is unpredictable. However we’ve got whale sightings in 99% of our tours in recent years so we can be pretty optimistic each and every time we leave the harbor.

How should I dress for the whale watching tour?
We provide a warm water resistant overall suit and a life vest before going on board. It can be pretty cold in the bay, so wearing warm clothes underneath the suit is necessary. Hats, gloves and good shoes should also be worn.