You can walk to this boat from almost anywhere in Akureyri. Soon after casting off from the pier by Hof, you are in Eyjafjörður with Súlur mountain behind you and the island of Hrísey somewhere up ahead, looking for a spout.

Elding Adventure at Sea runs this classic whale watching tour from Akureyri on a fast whale watching ship, with a marine biologist naturalist on board to explain what you are seeing.

What you'll see whale watching in Akureyri

The fjord is known for its humpback whales, which the operator calls the Eyjafjord Humpbacks, famous for breaching and tail slapping. Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are also frequently spotted, along with plenty of birdlife. None of this is on a schedule, which is why the wildlife guarantee below matters.

On board you can sit in the heated saloon behind big windows, visit the bar and café, or pull on a complimentary overall and head out to the viewing platform at the front of the ship.

What's included

• A whale watching tour of about 2.5 to 3 hours
• Warm overalls and blankets
• Live narration in English
• Free Wi-Fi, heated indoor saloon and large viewing windows
• Photos taken by the crew, if any
• Wildlife guarantee: if no whales or dolphins appear, you get a free ticket to try again within 2 years

Good to know before you go

Check in at the ticket office at the harbour at least 15 minutes before departure, then board from the floating pier in front of Hof Cultural and Conference Centre. There is plenty of parking. Daily departures run in summer, in June and July. There is no pickup or drop-off for this tour, and refreshments are sold on board. Depending on conditions and bookings, one of three different-sized boats may be used, and the captain can change or cancel the trip at short notice for safety.

Pro tip: even in June, dress for the fjord, with wool or fleece, a hat and gloves. The overalls help, but the viewing platform at speed is colder than the town.