Two wildlife tours for the price of one boat ride. North Sailing's Whales and Puffins trip heads out of Húsavík harbour looking for whales, then swings round Puffin Island, home to thousands of puffins nesting, flying about and diving for food. Puffins are terrible at landing and very good at being watched.

You sail on a traditional Icelandic oak ship, which is slower than a speedboat but smooth and steady. That makes this tour a good pick for families and anyone who isn't sure about their sea legs.

What you'll do on this Húsavík whale watching tour

The trip lasts about three and a half hours on Skjálfandi Bay. Your guide looks for whales in their natural habitat and talks you through what you're seeing, in English. Then it's over to Puffin Island for the birds. Whales are wild animals and keep their own schedule, so no two trips are the same.

On the way back to Húsavík, there's hot cocoa and cinnamon buns. After a few hours on the open bay, this is not a minor detail.

What's included

• Professional whale watching guide
• Guiding in English
• Warm overalls and raincoats if needed
• Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns

Good to know before you go

The tour starts at the harbour in Húsavík. North Sailing's ticket centre is above the harbour, across the street from the church, so check in there first. Bring warm clothes even though overalls are provided; it's colder on the water than it looks from the quay.

Pro tip: layer up under the overalls with a hat and gloves. Standing still on deck while you wait for a whale to resurface is when the chill finds you.