The boat eases out of the Old Harbour, Harpa and the city skyline slide behind you, and within minutes everyone is out on deck looking for the first dark back breaking the surface of Faxaflói Bay.

Special Tours runs whale watching from Reykjavík's Old Harbour. The wildlife you can expect to spot includes minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, all in their natural habitat. As with any wild animals, what turns up on the day is up to them.

Whale watching in Reykjavík: Classic or Express

Special Tours offers two versions. Check which one you are booking.

Whale Watching Classic runs all year and takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It sails on Andrea, the company's largest and most comfortable vessel, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space and onboard displays of whale bones, baleen plates and teeth. It is family-friendly and guided in English all year, with German guiding from 1 May to 30 September. Departures are at 13:00 all year, 09:00 from 1 March to 15 November, and 17:00 from 15 May to 30 September.

Whale Watching Express runs from 1 June to 30 September and takes 2 to 2.5 hours on Lilja, a high-speed boat that reaches the whale area faster. It is guided in English, with Spanish guiding on the 10:00 departure on Fridays. Departures are at 10:00 and 14:00, plus a 21:00 sailing from 15 June to 31 July.

What's included

• An indoor seat for every passenger
• Professional guides and crew
• Warm overalls, including children's sizes
• Free WiFi on board
• A snack bar on board (food and drink cost extra)

Hotel transfers can be added for a fee, except on the 21:00 departure, which has no transfer option.

Pro tip: Dress warmly and wear sturdy shoes even on a sunny summer day. It is always colder out on the bay than in the harbour, and the overalls go over your clothes, not instead of them.