Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

GYG

Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

★ 4.6(803 reviews)

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

from $195

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

A two-hour chase across Faxaflói Bay

This tour leaves from Reykjavik’s old harbour and runs for two hours in a rigid inflatable boat, the kind of craft that skims rather than plows. You head out into Faxaflói Bay, the wide stretch of water that fronts the city, in search of the whales and dolphins that feed there. The RIB is the point: it is faster and lower to the water than the converted fishing boats used on most whale-watching trips, so you cover more ground in less time and feel the sea properly. It is a tour for people who want the wildlife without spending half a day at it. The operator runs it in English, and the guide’s commentary is part of the deal. You meet in Reykjavik and return there. If you are the sort who prefers a stable deck and a slower pace, this is not the one; if two hours on a fast boat sounds right, it is worth a look.

Photographs from the operator Sea trips Reykjavik. They show the listing, not your day.

What the fare covers and what it does not

The entry price is from 195 USD, which puts this tour at the upper end of Reykjavik’s whale-watching market. For that you get the boat trip, the guide, and the two hours on the water. The operator is clear that hotel pickup is not part of the deal, so you make your own way to the harbour. Free cancellation is offered, though no deadline is given. The tour is not suitable for wheelchairs, per the operator. No other costs are listed: none of the places on the route charges admission or parking, since you are out on open water the whole time. The only thing you might add is a warm layer, but that is on you, not the operator. At the current exchange rate, 195 USD comes to roughly 23,600 ISK, which gives you a sense of the local cost.

What 803 ratings actually tell you

The score is 4.6 out of 5, drawn from 803 reviews. That is a solid number of ratings, not a token sample, and it puts this tour fifth out of 36 whale-watching listings in Reykjavik when ranked by volume of feedback. What the score does not tell you is that this is a niche product: a fast boat with a higher price tag will always draw fewer people than the standard three-hour cruises. The four comparable tours in this category all have more reviews, with the biggest at over 11,000, and all of them cost less. So the 4.6 is real, but it comes from a smaller, more self-selected group who chose the RIB experience. The rank by evidence is respectable, but it is not the same as being the most-reviewed or the cheapest. Take the score as a sign of consistency from a smaller crowd, not as a verdict from the whole market.

When the bay gives up its whales

Reykjavik’s temperatures peak in July at 15 degrees and bottom out in January at 3. The bay does not freeze, but the difference between summer and winter is mostly about daylight and wind, not heat. In the cold months, a two-hour RIB ride at high speed means wind chill that the air temperature does not capture. June through August is the comfortable window, with highs of 13 to 15 and the long evenings that let a late departure still come home in light. May and September are workable, with highs around 10 to 11, but you will want real layers. From October to April, the highs sit between 3 and 8, and the shorter days mean the trip runs in the middle of the day or not at all. The time of day matters less than the season: the whales are not on a schedule, but your comfort on an open boat very much is.

At the harbour

The meeting point is the old harbour in central Reykjavik, a short walk from the main shopping street. There is no gate and no ticket booth in the usual sense; you check in with the operator’s staff at the dock and get fitted with a flotation suit. The suit is essential, because the boat is open and the spray comes over the bow. The guide will brief you on holding on and leaning into turns before you leave the harbour. Once out on the bay, the plan depends entirely on the weather. If the wind is up, the ride gets rougher and the guide may shorten the distance covered or adjust the route. The operator does not run in conditions that are genuinely unsafe, but a choppy sea is part of the deal on a RIB. There is no indoor space on the boat, so you stay in the open air for the full two hours. Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, and you will be fine.

Who should book this, and who should not

This tour is for the traveller who wants whale watching but is short on time or impatient with slow boats. It suits people who enjoy speed and do not mind getting wet. It is not for anyone with limited mobility, since getting in and out of a RIB requires stepping across a gap and sitting on a tube. It is also not for small children or anyone prone to seasickness on fast, bouncing craft. If you want a steadier experience, the three-hour whale watching cruise on the Amelia Rose yacht is the obvious alternative: it costs less, runs longer, and offers a larger, more stable vessel. That tour has over 3,000 reviews and a 4.5 score, so it is a proven choice for those who prefer comfort over thrill. If you are after the speed and the shorter commitment, this RIB trip is the one. If you want to relax and watch the horizon from a deck, book the yacht instead.

GYG

Reykjavik: Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $195

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