Dalvík is a small fishing town on the western shore of Eyjafjörður, a short drive north of Akureyri, and it's one of the better places in the north to go looking for whales. Arctic Sea Tours sails from the harbour here into the fjord, with the mountains of Tröllaskagi rising on one side and the Arctic Circle not far off to the north.

Whale watching from Dalvík: what you might see

The operator reports a 99% sighting success rate on this tour from 2011 to 2026, which is about as good a track record as whale watching gets. The species seen most often are:

• Humpback whales
• White-beaked dolphins
• Minke whales
• Harbour porpoises

On special occasions, blue whales, fin whales and orcas turn up too, but those are a bonus, not a plan. Bird watching is part of the trip as well.

And if you see no whales or dolphins at all, which the operator says happens very rarely, you get a complimentary return ticket to try again.

What's included

• A three-hour whale watching tour
• Bird watching along the way
• A hot drink and an Icelandic refreshment
• Flotation overalls from Regatta

Good to know before you go

Even with overalls on, it gets cold out on the fjord, so bring warm clothes, a hat and gloves. The operator also asks you to bring your smile, which costs nothing and helps when the wind is up. The tour is rated very easy, and it pairs neatly with a stay in Akureyri.

Pro tip: if your schedule is flexible, book early in your North Iceland stay. That way, if you do land the rare whale-free trip, you still have days left to use the free return ticket.