MAIN Travel Tourist Attractions Iceland Whale Watching

The northern bottlenose whale, sperm whale, long-finned pilot whales, Orcas or killer whales, harbor porpoises, humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, sei whales, blue whales and white-sided dolphins all swim in the waters off the coast of Iceland. The northern right whale and grey whale once were among this group, but hunting has exterminated the northern right whale and eliminated the grey whale from the North Atlantic

The people of Iceland have traditionally hunted whales as a food source as well as for other by-products. On an glacial island where fresh meat can be difficult to find and the growing season for grains and vegetables is harshly short, seals and whales were an important part of the Icelanders' diet. As it became easier to import other foods and the whale populations began to suffer from overharvesting, the practice of hunting whales declined.

Today more people hunt whales with cameras than with harpoons. The whale population is beginning to recover from the slaughter as more nations ban whaling — especially of species like the blue whale which are endangered. With such a large number of whales the chances of sighting one from a tour boat are excellent.

Finding a whale watching expedition in Iceland is easy. Many charters offer a guarantee that you'll see whales or get another trip for free. Dress warm, the waters are chilly even in the summer months, and make sure to bring plenty of film or enough storage for lots of digital pictures. Catching a good picture of a moving whale from a boat can be a bit tricky and you'll want to make sure you have the shots you want when you get home.

In addition to the whale sightings, you may get to see the midnight sun over the ocean and there are plenty of sea birds to keep your camera busy in between whale sightings.

The cost of the charters are quite reasonable and there are many to choose from. One in three visitors to Iceland goes whale watching while they're there. Make sure you add an exciting whale watching cruise to your itinerary when you make your Icelandic vacation plans.

Whale watching in Iceland - Icelandic whale watching centers - A good resource with most of the charters represented to let you compare what each company offers before you decide which tour to take. You'll also find information on the whale watching centers...

Húsavík Whale Museum - The home of Icelandic whale information is open in June, July and August from 09:00 - 19:00 and in May and September from 10:00 - 17:00. Tours can be arranged at other times on request. The ongoing and special exhibitions are a must see if you plan a trip to Iceland.

Iceland Whales - A brief introduction to the history of whales around Iceland. Details on each species and links to more resources.

Iceland's hydrogen ship heralds fossil-free future - Eco-tourism on a carbon free ship? Iceland plans to run hydrogen fueled ships for whale watcher to enjoy the benefits of going green first hand.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - The global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment. Although they do have a section on whale watching, the site is mainly a really good information and conservation resource.