From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

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★ 4.7(124 reviews)

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From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 2 hours

from $188

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A two-hour hunt from the old harbour

This tour leaves from Reykjavik and spends two hours on the water in search of whales. You travel by speedboat, not by the larger vessels used on most whale watching trips from the city. The boat runs in English and Icelandic, with an English-speaking guide on board. At 193 USD, it sits at the higher end of what whale watching costs in the capital, and the speedboat format is the reason. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, so keep that in mind if mobility is a concern. It suits travellers who want a shorter trip with a faster boat rather than a half-day on a slow-moving deck.

Photographs from Katla Whale Watching's listing. They show the tour, not necessarily your day.

What the price covers

The listed price of 193 USD covers the two-hour speedboat ride and the guide who points out the wildlife. No admission fees or parking charges apply at any point on the itinerary, so the price you see is what you pay. The operator offers free cancellation, though no deadline is given for how close to departure you can cancel without penalty. The tour stops at Reykjavik and Vík í Mýrdal, and neither location charges an entry fee. There are no official surcharges added on the day. What you are not told is whether any gear is provided beyond the basics, so if you need waterproof layers or binoculars, plan to bring your own.

What 124 reviews tell you

The rating stands at 4.7 out of 5, drawn from 124 reviews. That is a solid score, but the review count is modest compared with the larger whale watching operators in Reykjavik. The three-hour cruises in the same category each have thousands of ratings, with scores between 4.3 and 4.5. This speedboat tour has fewer than 150 reviews, so the 4.7 reflects a smaller sample and should be read with that in mind. Within the 36 whale watching listings in this directory, it ranks 17th by number of reviews, which puts it in the middle of the pack for how much feedback exists. The score itself is among the higher ones in the group, but the thin base of ratings means the figure could shift more noticeably as new reviews come in. If you want a statistically safer bet, the three-hour cruise with over 11,000 reviews offers a more settled picture, though it costs less than half as much.

When the two hours work best

The boat runs from Reykjavik, where the monthly highs climb from 3 degrees in January to 15 degrees in July. The summer months of June, July and August bring highs of 13 to 15 degrees, which is when the sea is most comfortable for a speedboat ride. The tour lasts only two hours, so you are not exposed to the cold for long, but in winter the highs stay at 3 to 4 degrees and the wind on a fast boat will cut through any jacket. May and September offer a compromise: highs of 10 to 11 degrees and longer daylight than the deep winter months. The time of day matters less than the season here. A midday departure in summer gives you the warmest air and the best light for spotting whales, while a winter departure means you may be hunting in twilight even at noon. If you are visiting between November and February, the short daylight hours mean the two-hour window is best taken early in the day.

Getting on the water

You meet the boat in Reykjavik, where the crew gets you aboard and the guide runs through the plan. The itinerary takes in Reykjavik and Vík í Mýrdal, which means you cover a fair stretch of coastline in the two hours. The speedboat moves faster than the standard whale watching vessels, so the ride itself is part of the experience. The weather will decide how close you get to the whales. The guide watches for blows and directs the boat toward them, but rough seas can make the animals harder to spot and the ride less comfortable. There is no set opening hour for the tour itself; the departure time is what the operator schedules for the day. Dress for the wind, because the speed of the boat creates its own chill even when the air temperature is mild.

Who should take this boat

This tour is for travellers who want a shorter whale watching trip and do not mind paying more for a faster vessel. The two-hour length suits those who are short on time or prone to seasickness on longer cruises. It is not the best choice if you are watching your budget. The three-hour Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise costs from 97 USD and has over 11,000 reviews behind it, making it the cheaper and better-documented option. The speedboat also does not suit anyone who needs wheelchair access, as the operator states the tour is not accessible. If you want a middle ground on price and duration, the Whale Watching Cruise on the Amelia Rose Yacht runs three hours from 113 USD. The speedboat is the premium pick for those who value a quick, focused outing over the broader experience of a longer cruise.

★★★★★

GetYourGuide

From Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by Speedboat

★ 4.7 · 124 reviews

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the partner catalogue as exported in August 2026.

from $188

Check availabilityFree cancellation