Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes

by Whale Watching Hauganes · Whale watching · Puffins · Reykjavík

4.70· 1,254 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own
Eco-certified
Self-guided

from €95 per person

Next departure: Wed 2 Jun

Book Wed 2 Jun · €95 Other dates

Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes — Whale Watching Hauganes

Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes, photo 2

Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes, photo 3

Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes, photo 4

Whale Watching & Puffin Tour from Hauganes, photo 5

1 / 5

Duration
3 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
May – Sep
Starts in
Hauganes
Pickup
Meet at the start point
Starts at
Whale Watching Hauganes
Hafnargata 2, Hauganes
Departs
09:00, 12:00, 13:30, 14:00 …
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

In the far north of Iceland, where snow-capped peaks meet the deep blue waters of Eyjafjörður, nature reveals itself in its purest form. Just 30 minutes from Akureyri, the charming harbor village of Hauganes offers front-row access to one of the country’s most spectacular wildlife experiences. This unforgettable 2–3 hour Whale & Puffin Tour combines dramatic fjord scenery with close encounters of Iceland’s most beloved marine life and seabirds. Operated by Whale Watching Hauganes — Iceland’s oldest whale watching company, established in 1993 — this tour blends decades of expertise with authentic adventure.

Set sail from the peaceful harbor of Hauganes aboard The Puffin, a modern vessel purpose-built for comfort, stability, and exceptional wildlife viewing. As you glide into the calm, sheltered waters of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland, towering mountains frame the horizon while seabirds circle overhead — a dramatic backdrop for the adventure ahead.

Eyjafjörður is renowned for its rich feeding grounds, making it one of Iceland’s most reliable whale watching destinations. Humpback whales are the true stars of the fjord, frequently spotted breaching, tail-slapping, or gracefully diving beneath the surface. In addition, sightings often include minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, and occasionally other visiting species. With experienced local captains and knowledgeable guides on board, guests gain fascinating insight into the behavior, ecology, and conservation of these magnificent marine mammals.

The journey also includes a scenic 20-minute sail to Hrísey, a picturesque island known for its vibrant puffin colonies during nesting season. Watching these charming seabirds — often called the “clowns of the sea” — as they nest along grassy cliffs and dart across the water is a highlight for photographers and nature lovers alike.

Owned and operated by Whale Watching Hauganes, proudly leading whale watching in Iceland since 1993, this tour reflects decades of maritime expertise and deep respect for the surrounding environment. Combining comfort, authenticity, and outstanding wildlife encounters, the Whale & Puffin Tour from Hauganes offers an intimate and memorable way to experience North Iceland’s extraordinary coastal wonders.

Description from the operator, Whale Watching Hauganes . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Light refreshments
Local guide
Live commentary on board
Coveralls

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure; in winter this happens often. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

1Whale Watching Hauganes decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Sailing with Giants: Whale Watching from Reykjavik from Your Friend in Reykjavik is €79 — €16 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Whale Watching Hauganes · €95	Your Friend in Reykjavik · €79
How long it runs	3 hours	3.5 hours

On everything we can measure, the Your Friend in Reykjavik tour is the better buy. The €16 is not buying anything we can point to, so unless you want this operator in particular, take the cheaper one.

Who this is not for

Not available in winter; the operator runs it roughly May to September.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Whale Watching Hauganes is one of 207 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Whale Watching Hauganes

Read all 1,254 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Tim Orel
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
Well organized tour company to go watch whales. Two ships to share spotting information and we saw three Humpback whales close up and two or three Minke whales from a distance. The information narrative had good stuff about the whales identification as well. They also had hot cocoa and coffee and some cookies after the whale excitement died down.
Ave Summerfield
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
Wow! Just had the most amazing afternoon with these guys! Lovely boat, fantastic staff and just overall an not to be missed experience! We got to see 2 humpbacks whales, which was amazing! The captain knew all the best spots and there was just so much to see! We was travelling with a 2 & 4 year old was no problem at all, was every easy to keep them safe and they got to enjoy a hot chocolate and a lovely cinnamon biscuit! Thank you, we had the best time!
Julia L
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
Amazing Tour for whale watching. We booked really spontaneously, because we had to cancel the tour we booked first due to a snow storm. They were super nice and helpful, cancellation was possible until a day before the trip. Two days later we made it to the north and had a great time. Before the tour everyone received a warm overall. The tour guide was very nice, we saw a humpback whale. The provided hot chocolate/ hot coffee made the trip perfect!
Dominic Chung
★★★★★ · 9 months ago
The whales here seem wonderfully unafraid of people, often surfacing so close to the boat that you feel you could almost reach. Before you head out, the crew bundle you up in thick, insulated flotation suit that keeps you warm and safe throughout the trip. On board, you can wrap your hands around a cup of hot chocolate and nibble on freshly baked homemade cookies as you watch these giants glide past.

Reviews from Google · updated 23 Oct 2026

Read before you book

What to do on your arrival afternoon in ReykjavíkFood walk, whale watching or bed on the afternoon you land — which one survives a red-eye, which one wastes the day, and the combo we'd actually book.
Puffin tours from Reykjavík: May to AugustWhere the puffin boats from the Old Harbour actually go, when the birds are there, what you see from the deck, and which one-hour tour to book.

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Whale watching — questions people ask

When is the best time for whale watching in Iceland?

April to October, with June to August the most reliable. Humpbacks and minke whales feed in Faxaflói off Reykjavík and in the northern fjords all summer, and white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises turn up on most trips. Winter boats still sail from Reykjavík, but sightings drop and the sea is rougher. If whales are the point of your trip, come in summer and book an early departure; seas are usually calmer in the morning.

Can you see whales from Reykjavík in December?

Sometimes. Boats run from the Old Harbour all year, and winter trips do find whales, mostly humpbacks and the occasional orca. But December means short daylight, cold wind and a higher chance the operator cancels for weather. Sightings are noticeably less frequent than in summer. If you are here in winter, go anyway, but treat it as a sea trip with a chance of whales rather than a whale trip. Most operators offer a free second trip if nothing shows.

Is Húsavík or Reykjavík better for whale watching?

Húsavík, if you can get there. Skjálfandi Bay in the north sees humpbacks close to shore from May to September, and the small family-run boats like Friends of Moby Dick (/experience/752602/) keep group sizes down. Reykjavík is more convenient: boats leave the Old Harbour five minutes from most hotels and run all year. Akureyri and Dalvík in Eyjafjörður are also strong. If you are only in Reykjavík, go from Reykjavík and do not feel short-changed.

Will I get seasick on a whale watching tour?

You might. Faxaflói is open sea and the boats roll, especially in wind. Take a tablet an hour before departure, stay on deck in fresh air and watch the horizon rather than your phone. Morning trips tend to be calmer than afternoon ones. If you know you suffer badly, a two-hour RIB trip (/experience/155331/) is faster and bumpier but shorter, or pick a northern fjord like Eyjafjörður, which is more sheltered than the bay off Reykjavík.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

Places to stay near Dalvík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in North Iceland →

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from

€95 per person

Whale Watching Hauganes 's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs09:0012:0013:3014:0014:3016:00

Dalvík: light 02:26–23:57, 21 h 31 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Whale Watching Hauganes cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Whale Watching Hauganes 's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €6 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.