Best time to visit iceland in 2020 northern lights. The best season for whale watching in most parts of iceland is between april and. It might be pretty cold though but the whale watching tour are going all year. To make the models for the exhibition, we created detailed blueprints based on close study of the 23 species found in icelandic waters. Their arrival time has varied from year to year and we can not guarantee sightings. Arctic adventures northern whale watching tours have a 98% success rate when it comes to whalesightings. By the 16th century, it had risen to be the principal industry in the coastal regions of spain and france. This article helps you evaluating whether whale watching is worth your time and money. Yet another excellent summer for whale watching in husavik. I know you cannot guarantee seeing them but what are the real chances at that time of the year. Whale watching in november reykjavik message board. This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in ice land, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland.
The ultimate guide to iceland in november guide to iceland. The whale was killed in a port in iceland shocking animal activists across the world. From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback whales that are hunting in the fjords rich in fish. We compiled all you need to know about whale watching in iceland right here. 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.
In new zealand and australia the summer is about to start. All the year around youll be able to see a variety of whales by the coast, from the minke, humpback and killer whales to whitebeaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. Whale watching is a popular activity in iceland but that doesnt necessarily mean its for everyone. They have whale watching trips year round but it is a very cold, very wet experience in winter. November is also one of the best times for music festivals, northern lights and much more. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. They have been known to attack other whales, which is why they are commonly referred to as killer whales. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. The whaleplanner august a whale watching infographic. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling.
Whale watching in november reykjavik forum tripadvisor. Tours departing from reykjavik operate all year round while tours from husavik, on the north coast of iceland. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. Whale watching husavik, iceland gentle giants whale. Learn of the creatures lifecycles and habits from the informative onboard commentary. We really want to go whale watching, but is this worth doing at this time of year.
The day begins when we will pick you up at your hotel in the morning and drive with you to the national park thingvellir where you will snorkel silfra. 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. What to do in iceland in november all about iceland. Join us on a icelandic whale watching tour from the old harbor of reykjavik. Most common whales seen around iceland are humpback whales, minke whales, blue whales, pilot whales, dolphins and fin whales. Iceland is a wonderful place to go whale watching and this tour is promising both in summer and also in winter. Iceland resumed largescale trade in whale products under reservation to japan in 2008. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober.
Trying to book a whale watching tour from akureyri they all seem to stop on 31st october and we are there the following week. Whale watching tours in the north of iceland dalvik if youre based in the north of the country, a whale watching trip from dalvik is the ideal option for you. The orca killer whale orcas are the ultimate predators of the oceans. Mar 03, 2016 that would be the answer to many of the questions we have had. Why are there hardly any whale watching tours in iceland during winter.
I have read that iceland only gets 4 to 5 hours of day light this time of year. The cookies used on our website do not collect any personal information about you. Go north to akureyri to improve your chaces of seeing a humpback whale. Hi, my friends and i are going to reykjavik on 5th8th november. Iceland is a lot warmer then a lot of travelers expect due to the warm gulfstreim. A few friends and i set out in the middle of november to explore iceland. Whales of iceland partners with several whale watching companies around iceland. Winter whale watching is a unique experience and a whole other adventure compared to our summer tours.
The peak season for activity is from june to august. The reason is that the whales are busy far away in the caribbean, relaxing and taking care of their newly born offspring. Antarctica australia austria belgium botswana brazil canada chile china costa rica ecuador england finland france germany greece holland iceland india indonesien international ireland italy japan kenya madagascar malaysia mexico morocco namibia nepal new zealand norway peru portugal russia scotland south. Whaling is the hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil which became increasingly important in the industrial revolution.
The appearance of the orca to the shores of iceland is an unpredictable event. Best places for whale watching when to go whale watching. Whales in iceland iceland tour operator and travel holidays. The whales of iceland exhibition, open since 2014, features lifelike fullsized models of the whale species around iceland, an interactive installation, vr and audio guide. Whale watching is a popular activity by visitors, a rare. We are thinking of visting iceland the end of december. Orca watching and northern lights holiday in iceland.
You can find the exhibition in reykjavik, icelands capital city. Watch icelands vast array of whales breach from the ocean and our lovely puffins swoop down from the cliffs. 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. Whales and dolphins are at their greatest numbers during the summer months between april and october when the marine beasts come to feed on the plankton that thrives on the nutrientrich deposits of iceland s bays. Whale watching in november iceland forum tripadvisor. We had such a good tour today in our whale watching tour here in eyjafjor. And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial.
Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. 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. If the weather gets to be too chilly you can always jump in for a hot cocoa or a warm cup of tea. Vanessa williamsgrey, whale watching programmes manager at the whale and dolphin conservation society, encourages us to see the great mammals of seas but she acknowledges that in. We rented an apartment right by the seafront in laekir and a short walk to harpa concert hall and the marina where the majority of iceland whale watching tours leave from. The best time to see whales in iceland and success rates. The average temperature is about 4 c or about 40 f and is pretty steady throughout the month. We are going to iceland early november this year, can you please advise if it is worth doing the whale watching tours.
Marine biologists have cataloged around 400 unique individuals in iceland s waters, although it is possible that many more migrate during the warmer season. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter. The best time of year to spot the northern lights in iceland is between november and march image. There is something so magical about seeing a whale in the wild. Each year continues to surprise us with the wildlife it offers. Embark on an incredible and affordable whale watching excursion from reykjavik. Get a boat and sail into this new exciting adventure. Iceland november 2018 land of fire and ice youtube. Although the whale watching season in husavik is soon coming to an end the whales are not going anywhere. Experience the gentle giants of husavik the whale capital of iceland. This is something you need to keep in mind when you are planning your travels to iceland in november. They migrate from the south and are best seen from march to november, but should be visible all year.
Be prepared to capture a photo of the giant whales of iceland. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. The atlantic ocean, surrounding iceland, is a popular destination of whales in various shapes and sizes. Swim with killer whales in iceland or norway or watch them from a ship in canada. So i would only recommend going whale watching if you know youll enjoy being out on the water regardless what happens, and if no.
It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales. These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. We specialize in meticulously handcrafted travel packages that vary from selfdrive tours to privately guided experiences in iceland, greenland, and the faroe islands. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik. Best whale watching in reykjavik gray line iceland. Iceland is a great place to observe whales, as they enjoy the cold waters and abundant feeding grounds. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. Discover the best time to see orcas with some of the best killer whale watching holidays available provided by natural world safaris.
Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. Award winning iceland travel agency in reykjavik iceland. You could go whale watching and you might see whales but you may not like rough seas and being cold and wet. Knowing this wasnt a regular time of year to visit iceland, we did everything we could to. So i would definitely recommend you to go on the whale watching tour in november. If the orca are not in the region at the time of your visit, alternative non whale watching arrangements may be made. The 1986 hvalur sinkings occurred in icelands reykjavik harbour in november 1986, when antiwhaling activists. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Species visiting the island include the orca, minke, humpback and blue whale. November whale watching iceland message board tripadvisor. After november, you can get private tours for groups. This ocean adventure grants you a fantastic opportunity to see a wealth of marine and bird life, without taking considerable time away from your holiday. My husband and i are planning our 10 year anniversary trip and have decided to go to monterey to see the aquarium and san francisco, but trying to figure out where we should go to see whales while we are out there. Team of iceland unlimited recommends all travelers and especially families to visit this spectacular museum iceland unlimited team visited whales of iceland museum in reykjavik, the largest whale exhibition in europe.
Iceland is a country known for its natural wonders. Iceland unlimited is a wellestablished independent travel company and tour operator in iceland. In husavik bay october and november are great for whale watching. The hotel posts daily if and when they are going out with the boat. The combination of snorkeling through the famous silfra fissure followed by whale watching is a great way to get to know the many forms of one of iceland s most prominent elements.
From november until march its particularly orcas and humpback. 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. 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. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland. 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. Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. 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. Is it possible to see the humpback whales and where would it be the best spots for whale watching. From april to october, the city of husavik turns into heaven for whale loversthe coastal area is so full of them. Whales of iceland uses cookies to give you the best experience when you visit our website, whalesoficeland. Whale watching in the offseason can be very cold and rough, plus its a gamble whether or not youll see anything and for how long. Whale watching in december iceland forum tripadvisor. Late this november, husavik has once again proofed that it is the whale capital of iceland, with humpback whales in numbers rarely seen before at this time of the year.
When you think of whale watching in iceland, what place comes to mind. I had just two days to see reykjavik the capital city of iceland and ive tried to whale watching in atlantic ocean. If the weather is to bad they will cancel the tour and then you will be able to either get a refund or go on another day. The weather in november in iceland ranges from 3039 fahrenheit. Whale watching 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. Whale watching and puffin tours allow you to adventure into the worlds of some of the most magnificent creatures. Please could you tell me, do the watch watching tours still run this time of year. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer.
The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. Fascinating facts about whales fri, november 10, 2017. Maybe its the fact that we feel so small next to them blue whales can weigh an astounding 300,000 pounds or that for most of us, whales arent animals that we get the chance to see every day. We are planning a 7 days trip to iceland in mid october and are very interested in whale watching. About whales of iceland open since 2014 lifesized models. Whether youre spotting one from the deck of a whale watching cruise or from the shores of a national park, whales are some of nature.
See more ideas about whale watching, whale and iceland. In winter, iceland is one of the best places in the world to observe whales, too. And it is always hard to say about the weather in iceland. Top 10 iceland tours in november 2020 new flexible. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often. We couldnt find many whale watching tours in the eastfjords of iceland but hotel hildibrand in neskaupssta. Calculations of sunrise and sunset in reykjavik iceland for november 2020. Gems of iceland with whale watching zrs 6 day tour from reykjavik to reykjavik active pace. Commercial trade in parts and products from species listed on appendix i is prohibited. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often painting the sky bright orange or pink. Daylight changes a lot during november, the 1st of november has about 8 hours of daylight but the 30th only about 5 hours. No wonder people say that husavik is the whale watching capital of iceland.
Why you should visit incredible iceland in november 2020. Reykjavik whale watching in iceland itsallbee travel blog. During whale watching tour from reykjavik, you get the chance to see whales in their natural environment, which is an unforgettable experience. It might be colder but it is the perfect month to skip the high season crowds and see the beautiful colorful northern lights and see some of the greatest music acts iceland has. It was practiced as an organized industry as early as 875 ad. The best time for spotting whales around iceland is the summer. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. If you dont see a whale, usually the tours will give you a chance to come back on. Whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in europe. Whales are drawn by fish and so every selfrespecting tourist is there to see the miracle.
Before or after the cruise, visit the whales of iceland exhibition at your leisure and admire lifesize models of icelands native whale species. Generic astronomy calculator to calculate times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset for many cities, with daylight saving time and time zones taken in account. The whaleplanner november a whale watching infographic. How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway. 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. Breaching humpback whales, playful dolphins, the mighty blue whales and even killer whales. Whale watching tour from reykjavik, iceland arctic adventures. Oct 11, 2017 we were going to visit and explore reykjavik for a few days before leaving to explore iceland in a campervan. Iceland joined cites in 2000, and immediately took reservations to the listing of several species of whales, including fin and minke whales, on appendix i. Watch the waves for graceful minke and humpback whales, and curious porpoises and dolphins. A good time for orcas would be from november to april around snaefellsnes, humpbacks are mostly seen in november december and then again from. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. Best value whale watching trip from reykjavik guide to iceland.
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