Hólmavík Whale Watching Tour

About 2 hoursGroup: Small groupEasyBoatAll agesMay–September

Passenger watching a whale surface beside the boat

A whale watching tour from Hólmavík, a small town in the Westfjords on Steingrímsfjörður. The fjord is sheltered and quiet, with a strong record for humpback whales, and you will usually be the only boat out looking.

Hólmavík harbourSteingrímsfjörður

A quiet, sheltered fjord in the Westfjords, away from the bigger whale watching crowds
Good chances of humpback whales; minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and pilot whales also seen
Puffins possible in June and early August
Usually the only boat on the water
Rarely cancelled because the fjord stays calm even when the open sea doesn't

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Meet at Hólmavík harbourCheck in at the harbour before boarding.

Safety briefingA short introduction to the boat and what you might see.

A short introduction before you leave the harbour: your guide runs through the safety rules and what to look out for in the fjord. Warm overalls are provided, but bring a hat, gloves and a scarf.

SteingrímsfjörðurCruising the fjord looking for whales, dolphins and seabirds.

The boat moves slowly through the sheltered fjord, watching for whale activity. Humpback whales are the most regular sighting, and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, pilot whales and seals are also seen, with puffins possible in June and early August. The fjord is more protected than the open coast, so the water tends to be calm, and you are usually the only boat out.

Look for · humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, sealsPuffins · possible June to early August

4Back to HólmavíkReturn to the harbour.

About the Hólmavík whale watching

Hólmavík is a small fishing town in the Westfjords, on the sheltered Steingrímsfjörður. Because the fjord is more protected than the open coast, trips here are cancelled far less often for weather, and the water tends to be calmer than on a typical whale watching boat further south.

Humpback whales are the most common sighting, with minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, pilot whales and, less often, orcas, fin whales or blue whales also possible. Because so few boats operate in this fjord, when whales are around you often have them largely to yourselves rather than sharing the view with several other vessels.

The season runs from May to the end of September, with two daily departures in the middle of summer (mid-June to the end of August) and one departure a day either side of that. This is an outdoor boat trip on open water, so dress warmly regardless of how the weather looks on land; conditions on the fjord are colder than you expect.

Included

Guided whale watching boat trip
Warm overalls
A free ticket to try again if no whales or dolphins are seen

Not included

Transport to Hólmavík
Food and drinks

What to bring

Warm, windproof layers
Hat and gloves
Camera
Motion sickness tablets if needed

Good to know

Season runs 1 May to 30 September
Departures between 10:00 and 17:00; the booking calendar shows the times for your date
Arrive at Hólmavík harbour 30 minutes before departure
Warm overalls are provided, but bring a hat, gloves and a scarf
If the weather stops the tour, you are told by email on the day, so check your inbox
Tours can be cancelled if the minimum number of bookings isn't reached

Questions people ask

Is Hólmavík whale watching different from the boats in Reykjavík or Húsavík?

Yes. It's a much smaller, quieter fjord with far fewer boats, so sightings tend to feel more personal, though the towns themselves are further to reach.

What will we see?

Mostly humpback whales, along with minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and seals. Puffins are possible in June and early August.

Do I need warm clothing?

Warm overalls are provided. Bring a hat, gloves and a scarf as well.

How do I get to Hólmavík?

There's no pick-up included; you'll need to arrive at the harbour yourself, so plan your own transport to the Westfjords.

What if we don't see any whales?

If there are no whale or dolphin sightings, you get a free ticket to try again on another trip.

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From13,500 ISKPer person