Iceland, with such amazing sites, is indeed the place to be, thanks for writing about the whale watching in iceland and also on what to wear to get the best of the moments. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. I was hit with 2 snow storms during my 3 week trip during octobernovember. March is a very popular month to go skiing in iceland and many like to travel up into the northern part of iceland to find even better slopes and great powdery snow. The reason is that most of the baleen whales are during this time of the. Whale watching in reykjavik iceland on the go tours us. A unique experience and a show rare to be seen is the scene of killer whales coming to coastal waters to find some food. While it is claimed that 42 of those 50 whales died instantly defined by the iwc as within 10 seconds of being shot, the remaining eight whales were not killed and. Iceland has blacksand beaches, natural springs, ice caves, whale watching, and a manmade lagoon that glows blue. March is one of the best months to see orcas in iceland so we have plenty of passengers.
How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. A good time for orcas would be from november to april around snaefellsnes, humpbacks are mostly seen in november december and then again from february around akureyri and husavik. Unfortunately due to bad weather last saturday, we had to cancel the whale watching tour. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. You can also download the printfriendly, pdf version here.
Akureyri is famous for being a skiing town and its hills of hlidarfjall are excellent. Id recommend to anyone, especially if you love hiking on volcanoes and glaciers, bathing in natural hot springs, renewable energy, geography, good music, wool. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. Aug 22, 2017 this is a part of our journey to iceland contains shots from the whale watching tour organized by arctic sea tours from dalvik. In the summertime, you might also see cute puffins, regal whitetailed eagles, and other arctic seabirds, framed by some absolutely incredible icelandic scenery, including mt. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. At this time of the year we regular see these impressive whales on our winter whale. This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in iceland, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. Whale watching in march iceland message board tripadvisor.
With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Every year tons of unprepared tourists get stuck or slide off the road due to iceland s winter driving conditions. After a twoyear break, whale hunting conducted by hvalur hf. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. On this whale watching excursion you will be able to get up close to some of icelands amazing wildlife. In march 2010, environmental organizations accused iceland of illegally exporting whale meat to denmark and latvia. While on the cliffside, be careful not to venture too close to the edge as puffins burrow in the cliffs, making the ground quite unstable. Apr 14, 2017 after all, whalewatching is only one great way to spend your time in iceland, and if youre keen to get out on the water, theres more than one way to make it happen. By continuing on this site you agree to our use of cookies.
The whaleplanner march a whale watching infographic. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. In march the weather is hopefully getting a little better and you will enjoy more daylight than in the previous months. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. Here are some ideas for what to do in iceland in march. A part of the exhibition focuses on conservation where the multiple threats and their solutions that whales face in the ocean today are showcased. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. So the best time for whale watching is usually from march september simply because of the weather. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. Gems of iceland with whale watching zrs 6 day tour from reykjavik to reykjavik active pace. Mar 03, 2016 the ocean around iceland is cold during winter time and thats when the whales go south to warmer waters, to the caribbean wouldnt we all.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, and sperm whales. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like. And since iceland is a bit far from the centre of the activity, and is a cloudy place, even going to iceland for a week even in winter you wont have a terribly good chance of seeing them. The weather in iceland in march is most commonly somewhere around 0c. Iceland whale watching in march orcas in snaefellsnes.
Whale watching iceland holidays discover the world. I have been looking at some whale watching sites to compare prices and some of them dont list march. Whale watching iceland march iceland orca watching with laki. Also, the lighting for photography is spectacular in iceland in march. Whale tours can best be taken starting at husavik or the snaefellsnes peninsula, but tours are also offered starting from the capital reykjavik or from akureyri close to husavik. The ultimate guide to iceland in march guide to iceland. At this time of the year, chances are very good to see orcas in snaefellsnes.
Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. It is the whale watching capital of iceland after all. We got this wonderful video from one of our guest that came with us on a whale watching tour on march 19th 2016. The ultimate guide to iceland in april guide to iceland. As with whale watching, a wealth of tour operators. Probably no one will take you hiking on a glacier outside summer, and you shouldnt attempt it yourself in winter unless you are a fully equipped and. Iceland in march sees average low temperatures of 2. Many travelers use this opportunity and add a whale watching tour from grundarfjordur to their itinerary. The farther north you go the rain might switch out for snow. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland.
Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. In march, snowdrop flowers will show themselves, and at the beginning of april. Even in the depths of winter, you can often spot pods of whitebeaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. During march you are likely to experience all sorts of weather. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback. Tours departing from reykjavik operate all year round while tours from husavik, on the north coast of iceland, only operate from the end of march to november. You should definitely stop by husavik, the whale watching capital of iceland. Even in december, the whale spotting has never been this successful. Reykjavik whale watching in iceland itsallbee travel blog. This website uses cookies to provide the services and features offered, and to improve our user experience. Iceland, dalvik watching crazy humpback whale from the rhib.
Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. On march 10, 2019 we were lucky to see far ahead of the boat. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. Ttd data from the 2014 fin whale hunt was reported by iceland s fisheries directorate in march 2015.
Knowing what to pack for iceland can be a challenge, because its cold, windy, and. Get as close to the whales, puffins and wildlife as possible without disturbing them see the puffins from approximately the 1st of may 20th of august. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. From iceland whale hunting to begin again in iceland. Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. During winter whale watching in iceland focuses on the snaefellsnes peninsula in the west of the country where orcas gather to feed on large shoals of herring, typically between january and march.
Prepare for some rain and wind and dress warmly since the average temperature is between 2 c about 28 fahrenheit and 3. We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whale watching. It seems all tours run at 1pm is there any which go later as flight doesnt land till 11am and think im cutting it fine. The whale watching begins march 1, so its a perfect timing. In the period from january to march they invade waters around snaefelsnes peninsula, bringing other colourful water life with them. We downloaded the free whale museum tour app and were able to listen and learn about each. Traveling to iceland in march is one of the best times to go if you want to see snow, hike. At least one of the reykjavik whale watching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind. March is one of the best months to watch orcas in iceland. I have read a couple of posts on iceland, i never knew about the whale watching aspects until now. The orcas are apex predators, which mean that no other animal feeds on them, while the majestic sperm whale is the worlds largest predatory animal. Starting in reykjaviks old harbour, your whale watching adventure is located right in the city centre.
Of the 23 different species of whale found in iceland s waters, eight are frequently spotted on whale watching excursions. Genetic material from a large whale killed off the coast of iceland has confirmed the creature was a rare hybrid. Whale watching tours are ideal for anyone who loves wildlife. In march great whales start to come back into icelandic waters and on top. Whale watching in march reykjavik forum tripadvisor. The icelandic government later stated several shipments of fish meat were incorrectly labeled as whale meat. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. Mbl reports that the company has been granted a quota of 161 fin whales to hunt this summer, up from the 155 fin whales they were allowed to hunt the last time they went whaling, in 2015. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. Orca watching iceland in march report from march 26, 2019. The tour companies and tourist info websites obviously claim that there is a good chance of seeing whales in the winter, but i cant seem to find any impartial information on whether theres actually any chance of this happening. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours.
Im planning a trip to iceland within the next two months and whale watching is pretty high on my list of awesome things to do. Whale watching on the snaefellsnes peninsula guide to iceland. Were off for a 4 night break in reykjavik in early march. The laugavegur hiking trail already sold out the entire summer of 20. Whale watching is a great yearround activity in iceland. The blue whale calves, for instance, weigh about 2,5 tons approx. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it be the best spots for whale watching.
Whale watching iceland march 5, 2019 for most whale watching companies in iceland march is low season. Its really special experience to head out to see a whale move greacefully through gentle fjord waters or out across a bay, relatively close to the shore. The reason is that most of the baleen whales are during this time of the year in the southern part of the world. Icelandic whalers have slaughtered more than 1,700 whales fin, minke and sei whales since the global ban on commercial whaling came into force in 1986. The whale watching begins march 1, so its a perfect timing the day is getting longer, the snow is slowly disappearing, and the whales are reappearing in larger numbers than ever before. The ocean around iceland is cold during winter time and thats when the whales go south to warmer waters, to the caribbean wouldnt we all. Iceland refuses to recognise the ban and currently allocates its whalers a quota to kill endangered fin whales the second largest creature on earth as well as minke whales. The whale watching season in iceland is really on year round although trips in the winter are more likely to be delayed or cancelled due to bad weather. Whale watching from husavik began back in 1995 when north sailing launched its first whale watching boat. Whales of iceland reykjavik all you need to know before you. Better to do something else in iceland in february and march then go whale watching so many other interesting thing to do tours to take.
The day is getting longer, the snow is slowly disappearing, and the whales are reappearing in larger numbers than ever before. March is the last month that you should see a decent amount of snow but like with anything weather related in iceland you simply never know. From november to march the tour starts from grundarfjor. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. Oct 11, 2017 iceland, with such amazing sites, is indeed the place to be, thanks for writing about the whale watching in iceland and also on what to wear to get the best of the moments. Is it possible to go whale watching in iceland in march. From april to september the boat departs from olafsvik. You can prepare yourself before visiting exhibition by downloading whales of. The road to latrabjarg is bumpy and takes you across steep mountains. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Since then, whale watching from husavik has become one of the most popular activities of visitors to iceland increasing year by year.
Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. The whales of iceland exhibition showcases 23 lifesize whale models with a lot of indepth information, interactive experiences and underwater footage of whales shown on a 8 meter long screen. From reykjavik the humpbacks are seen from february march when the capelin arrives. Iceland unlimited offers private day tours, guided group tours and highquality selfdrive tours around iceland.
Would love to do whale watching in reykjavik in march. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. According to the whale and dolphin conservation wdc, iceland. The aim of the hunt is to develop nutritional supplements for the anemic from the meat, to make gelatin from the. Exhibition whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. Wed love to go whale watching, but neither of us are brilliant in very rough seas, so wed prefer not to book too far in advance.
In addition, we offer four destinations in greenland with round trip flights from reykjavik. We also offer accessible day tours for disabled travelers from reykjavik and akureyri. Iceland is a country known for its natural wonders. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. Iceland unlimited also offers selfdrive tours around the beautiful faroe islands. The focus is naturally on the giants of the sea and we hope to see minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked. As a disclaimer i havent been there myself but i guess it should be ok because its off route 1 which gets plowed year round. Wheres the best place to see northern light and puffin in. March in iceland the best way to do iceland in march. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen.
Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. Visit the whales of iceland exhibition with lifesized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience. Whales of iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. In winter, iceland is one of the best places in the world to observe whales, too. If you plan to travel to iceland in march, it is essential that you are aware of a few critical things to make your trip as comfortable and safe as possible. There is a pretty good chance that you will see a humpback whale on any whale watching tour in iceland, especially in north and west iceland. See all 6 whales of iceland tickets and tours on tripadvisor. However, in march, the great whales begin to return from their summer breeding grounds. Commercial whale hunting in iceland resumed in 2006 after a break of several years. March can be a bit rainy so prepare by bringing a waterproof jacket. On a whale watching tour from reykjavik with special tours wildlife adventures you will be able to experience some of icelands rich and thriving bird life, as well as visit our large variety of sealife, including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked dolphins among other whale species. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback whales that are hunting in the fjords rich in fish.
Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in 1986, and that still. Visiting iceland in march everything you need to know. In the more southerly coastal waters, you can spot whales year round, with excursions operating from reykjavik harbour. You have a great chance of encountering the rare and magnificent orcas and sperm whales. Theres also some places for opportunistic whale watching while doing a regular nature tour, i. May 19, 2020 whales of iceland is largest whale exhibition in europe, located in reykjaviks harbour area. Hi im looking for recommendations for whale watching tour company from the harbour please.
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