Category: Blog

Kirkjufell Mountain – Interesting Facts about Kirkjufell Iceland

Interesting Details about Kirkjufell Mountain

Kirkjufell Mountain is one of the most famous places to visit in Snaefellsnes. When joining one of our whale watching or puffin tours we highly recommend including also a stop at the most photographed mountain in Iceland.

Kirkjufell in the famous Series Game of Thrones

As you might know, part of the popular fantasy TV series Game of Thrones was filmed in Iceland. Kirkjufell famously appears in seasons six and seven when the heroes go to the north of the wall to “Arrowhead Mountain”.

Kirkjufell Games of Thrones

Kirkjufell in Winter

This impressive mountain is worth to visit all year around. In winter, especially the snowy landscape and northern lights provide photographers golden opportunities.

Here is also a beautiful time-lapse from Mount Kirkjufell next to Grundarfjordur. Our guest Richard Lindley took this in February 2019.

How Tall is Kirkjufell Mountain?

Kirkjufell is a 463 m high mountain

Can I Hike Kirkjufell?

Yes, in general, you can hike on top of Kirkjufell but it is extremely dangerous. There were several fatal hiking accidents in the last couple of years. Therefore we highly recommend enjoying Kirkjufell only from the ground. It is often quite windy in this area of Iceland and therefore we recommend looking for other hiking opportunities in Snaefellsnes.

Is Mount Kirkjufell a Volcano?

Kirkjufell Mountain is no volcano but the layers you see at the mountain are results of several volcanic eruptions. The mountain was located between two glaciers that shaped the mountain’s current form in millions of years.

Kirkjufell Pronounciation

The name Kirkjufell is one of the easier Icelandic words. Here you can listen to how to pronounce Kirkjufell. When looking for more challenging words you might want to try Grundarfjörður or Snæfellsjökull.

Things to do around Kirkjufell Mountain

We highly recommend spending some extra time in this area since there is so much to do and see. Join a whale watching tour with Láki Tours, learn more about the best things to do in Grundarfjördur (the town next to Kirkjufell Iceland) or get inspired about Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

March 9, 2020
Top Things to do in Holmavik Iceland – Explore the Westfjords of Iceland

Top Things to do in Holmavik Iceland – Explore the Eastern Westfjords of Iceland

The remote Westfjords of Iceland

The Westfjords area is a large peninsula in northwestern Iceland and the least populated region in Iceland. Only few visitors visit this rough but beautiful area since it is a bit away from the popular ring road. The Westfjords might seem small on a map, but they actually stretch over 22,000 km2. There is so much to see and explore in this unique area of Iceland. This article concentrates on the Eastern Westfjords with its largest municipality Holmavik.

Introduction Holmavik Iceland

Holmavik (or Hólmavík in Icelandic) is a town in the Westfjords of Iceland. Holmavik is the largest town in the area called Strandir with about 375 inhabitants. It is located at the Steingrimsfjordur a fjord which is famous for its calmness. Holmavik is the entrance to the Westfjords when driving anticlockwise around Iceland or the last highlight of the Westfjords when driving clockwise. In this article we want to introduce you the best things to do in Holmavik.

Whale Watching in Holmavik Iceland

Joining a whale watching tour in Holmavik is a very unique and special experience. The fjord is incredibly sheltered from most wind directions meaning the boat ride is usually very smooth and calm and tours rarely have to be canceled. It is probably the only whale watching trip in Iceland where sea-sickness is no issue at all. Therefore this is the perfect trip for travelers who are afraid of getting sea sick. One traveller summarised the trip in a very nice way “Hólmavík may not have [yet] a reputation for whale watching. Fortunately, no one told the whales.”

Another advantage of Holmavik are the rich fish grounds close to town. The whales usually stay very close to the harbor so it takes only a little while to reach them. This makes whale watching from Holmavik very convenient for inpatient children or travellers with limited time since the total duration of the tour is only 2 hours. And last but not least, this whale watching is also the most affordable option in Iceland seeing whales by boat. Learn more about whale watching in Holmavik operated by the tour operator Láki Tours.

Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft in Holmavik

A must see in Holmavik is the museum of Icelandic sorcery and witchcraft. The museum provides a fascinating inside to the witch craze in Iceland from the first witch trial until the last witch burning. It combines historical facts with Icelandic folklore connected to magic and sorcery. The museum also runs a small restaurant where emphasis is placed on seafood.

Things to do in Holmavik – Visit the Local Swimming Pool

The swimming pool of Holmavik is located in the middle of the town. The pool was constructed in 2004 and offers a lovely pool area with a 25-metre swimming pool, hot tubs, a wading pool, and a sauna.

Hiking in Holmavik

When looking for hiking opportunities in Holmavik Iceland, we recommend the hike to Kalfanesborgir that starts at the camping ground. It is a relatively short and easy hike. From the top of the hill you can enjoy the view over the town. If you are really lucky you might also spot a humpback whale in the Steingrímsfjordur fjord. When walking back, you can either follow the same route or you take an extra loop towards the ocean on the other side until you reach the old mainroad. Follow the road back to town.

Go on a Horseback Riding Tour close to Holmavik

Do not miss the chance to go on a great horseback riding tour close to Holmavik. The tour operator Strandahestar offers 1-hour and 3-hour tours in a beautiful surrounding.

Puffin Tour to Grimsey Island from Drangsnes

Grimsey in Steingrimsfjordur is the biggest island of the strandir region. Please do not confound it with the island in the North of Iceland touching the Arctic Circle that has the same name. Grimsey island close to Holmavik is uninhabitated and a heaven for birdlovers. Grímsey has the largest island nesting site for puffins. The estimated quantity is 300.000 birds and there of about 80.000 nesting couples. A guided boat tour is available from Drangsnes located about 30 kilometers away from Holmavik. From there, it takes only 10 minutes by boat to reach this island. It is allowed to enter the island and your guide will walk with you around and will give you an interesting introduction to the local history and the nesting seabirds. Read more about this puffin boat tour to Grimsey Island.

Sheep Farming Museum close to Holmavik Westfjords

The Sheep Farming Museum is a small exhibition about the Icelandic sheep and sheep farming. This museum houses also a little cafe that offers homemade cake. In summer, there are usually also some lambs at the museum where children can help with the feeding.

The Drangsnes Hot Pots

When looking for a unique Icelandic bathing experience the hot pots in Drangsnes are a must visit. The hot pools in Drangsnes are heated up by geothermal hot water and are located right next to the shoreline in the middle of the village. You can easily spot them from the road. The visit is free of charge. Guests are only advised to take a shower before entering the hot tubs.

The Abandoned Herring Factory in Djupavik

It takes a little while to reach Djupavik since you have to follow a bumpy road for about 70 kilometers from Holmavik . But we feel it is absolute worth to include this unique place to your travel itinerary. The herring factory, built in 1935, was at this time the largest factory and also the largest concrete building in Iceland. But it took not long and the herring completely disappeared all around Iceland. Therefore since 1954, this factory is not in use anymore. Luckily, two brave Icelanders bought the whole areal in 1983 and opened up a unique hotel in probably the most remote place of Iceland. Today an exhibition tells the history of the factory and there are guided tours which we highly recommend not to miss when visiting this isolated place.

Krossneslaug Pool at the End of the Road

From Djupavik, it is only a short extra drive to the end of the road where the beautiful Krossneslaug pool is located. The pool was built in 1954 by local farmers right on the beachfront. This is a swimming pool unlike any other with a stunning view of the atlantic.

February 6, 2020
Top 15 Things to Do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Must See Places in Snaefellsnes Iceland

Top 15 Things to Do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Must Sees in Snaefellsnes Iceland

About Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Snaefellsnes Peninsula located in the West of Iceland is a unique region. It has so many different landscapes and natural highlights to offer and is therefore also called “Iceland in miniature”. But despite that it is a region that many travelers oversee who only have the famous Golden Circle and the South of Iceland on their radar. So if you are looking for a slightly lesser visited region of Iceland that is still easily reachable from Reykjavik and the international airport Keflavik read further and get inspired about the best things to do in Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

1. Gerduberg Basalt Columns

Gerduberg is a really interesting site which has amazingly large and geologically significant basalt columns. Those columns are lined up as a cliff of about a kilometer. It almost looks manmade because of the regularity of the columns.

2. Get Three Wishes on Helgafell

For many Icelanders, Mount Helgafell is a sacred hill. It is located on the way to Stykkisholmur and it only takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the top. From there you have a great view over the area. 3 wishes get fulfilled when you hike to the top of the mountain without looking back and talking a word. The exact rules are described on a board right next to the hill. This is a wonderful little extra stop before visiting Stykkisholmur.

3. Stykkisholmur

Stykkisholmur is a charming fishing town that got famous thanks to the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. We recommend visiting the small lighthouse right next to the harbor and the old colorful houses in the center of the town. If you have a little extra time, the Volcano Museum and the Library of Water are interesting stops as well.

4. Berserkjahraun Lava Field

Berserkjahraun is a picturesque 4,000 years old lava field. The road through this incredible lava field offers stunning views at every stop and from every angle.

5. Grundarfjordur

Grundarfjordur is a charming fishing town in the North of Snaefellsnes and worth to visit. It is also the perfect place for a lunch stop or a short coffee break. The cosy Láki Cafe right next to the harbor offers a variety of food at a reasonable price. For more information about Grundarfjordur we recommend reading this blog.

6. Puffins in Snaefellsnes Peninsula

The cute little puffins are Iceland’s unofficial national bird and Snaefellsnes peninsula is the perfect place to watch them. On the small island Melrakkaey, just outside of Grundarfjördur hundreds of puffins and other seabirds nest during summer. The island is protected but you can visit it on a birdwatching boat tour from Grundarfjordur. Read more about this puffin tour from Grundarfjordur.

7. Whale Watching in Snaefellsnes

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is also a unique place for whale watching in Iceland. It is the best area to see sperm whales and orcas in Iceland. Snaefellsnes is also famous for the impressive amount of whale species that are seen during the year. The 3 hours long boat trips start in winter from Grundarfjordur and in summer from Olafsvik. Do not miss the chance of seeing whales during your holidays in Iceland. Learn more about whale watching in Snaefellsnes.

8. Mount Kirkjufell and the Waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss – Most Famous Landmark on Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Kirkjufell or the “Church Mountain” is a very prominent mountain close to Grundarfjordur. Thanks to its free-standing and unique shape, it became one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. Therefore we highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting Snaefellsnes Peninsula. A popular photo motif is the mountain together with the waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss right next to it.

9. Svörtuloft Lighthouse at the Tip of the Peninsula

On the westernmost point of Snaefellsnes you find Svörtuloft. Extra time is needed to visit the beautiful orange lighthouse since you have to leave the main road and drive along a narrow and bumpy gravel road. From a viewing platform you have a great view on a long cliff where sea birds nest during summer. On the way to the lighthouse we recommend also stopping at Skardvik, one of the few white sand beaches in Iceland.

10. Black Pebble Beach Djúpalón Beach

The Djúpalón Beach is a beautiful and special place in Snaefellsnes. It is a pebble beach and a dramatic place with bizarre lava formations. At the beach you find some pieces of rusted metal from the English trawler Eding which ran aground there in 1948. This place was once home to a fishing village. Fascinating remnants of this period are four lifting stones that you find down on the beach. They were used to test the strength of fishermen.

11. Saxholl Crater

It is not without reason that Snaefellsnes Peninsula is called Iceland in miniature since you can basically find everything on this peninsula Iceland is famous for. For visiting a volcanic crater in Iceland we recommend stoping at Saxholl Crater. A well made metal sturdy staircase brings you to the top. Once up there, the view over the peninsula is great.

12. Snaefellsjökull National Park with the Snaefellsjökull Glacier

Snaefellsjökull is a snow-capped glacier that covers a volcano. It is part of the Snaefellsjökull National Park which was established in 2001. Snaefellsjökull became famous thanks to Jule Verne who wrote the classic science fiction novel in 1864 about the journey to the center of the Earth that started from the Icelandic volcano Snaefellsjökull. This area is a paradise for photographers and the glacier provides breathtaking views over Snaefellsnes peninsula. Some people believe the glacier is surrounded by a unique energy field and is one of the seven energy centres in the world.

13. Cliffs in Arnarstapi

The impressive cliffs in Arnarstapi are another must see in Snaefellsnes. During summer, hundreds of sea birds nest at these cliffs and the noise of the birds is quite impressive. We recommend parking at the old harbor in Arnarstapi which we feel is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in Iceland. From there, you should follow the small walking path along the ocean. The most famous formation in this area is Gatklettur, a cliff with a circular arch. Close to the cliffs you can also find a huge stone sculpture of Bardur Snaefellsas created by the artist Ragnar Kjartansson. If you have some extra time, we recommend following the popular hiking path between Arnarstapi and Hellnar. It is an approximately one hour long hike along the coast with awesome views.

14. The Black Church Budir

The black church of Budir is a very picturesque spot. It is a two minute drive off the main road and we highly recommend not to miss it. The stark blackness and its isolation is the main attraction of the place. We also highly recommend to follow the small path to the ocean where you find one of the rare white sand beaches of Iceland with black lava.

15. Observe Seals at Ytri Tunga Beach

The beach near the old farm Ytri Tunga is known for its seal colony. The best time to see seals is during low tide when they usually relax on the stones. But also be always on the look out for seals in the water since they spend the majority of time swimming. But even without seals, Ytri Tunga is a nice place to stop since it is one of the few golden sand beaches in Iceland.

How Long Does it Take to Drive Around Snaefellsnes Iceland?

According to google maps, the drive from Reykjavik around Snaefellsnes and back to town is approximately 475 kilometers (about 295 miles). Many travellers visit this area of Iceland in only one day and there are also several guided day tours available from Reykjavik. While this is doable (in summer), you should be aware that you would need for the driving and sightseeing at least 12 hours. Please also have in mind that there will be not enough time to visit all mentioned places described in this article. Therefore, we highly recommend spending more time in this unique and beautiful region.

Stay Overnight in Snaefellsnes

As you can see there is so much to see and explore in Snaefellsnes. Therefore we highly recommend visiting this area not only for a day tour from Reykjavik but staying for at least one night in the area. Especially if you are planning to join one of the mentioned tours, extra time is definitely needed. The Grundarfjordur Bed and Breakfast is the perfect place to stay in Snaefellsnes. This small guesthouse offers 8 comfortable rooms for up to 3 persons and also has 2 great apartments.

When is the Best Time to Visit Snaefellsnes Peninsula?

Snaefellsnes Peninsula is always worth to visit and we highly recommend including in to your travel itinerary. As you can see on the photos in this article the peninsula looks quite different during summer and winter. In summer, all mentioned places are easily reachable and no special 4×4 vehicle would be needed. In winter, the weather might be a bit more challenging and you have to be prepared for snow, icy roads, wind and sometimes also closed roads.

Photos of the Snaefellsnes peninsula landscape – Oliver Degener
Photos of the whales, puffins, and guesthouse – Láki Tours Crew
Text – Christina Degener

February 5, 2020
Video: Whale Watching in the Westfjords – A Unique Encounter in November

Unique Humpback Whale Watching in the Westfjords of Iceland

Nature is unpredictable and whales, too. This video is about a unique humpback whale watching in the Westfjords of Iceland on November 1, 2019. At this time of the year, almost no tourists are travelling in this region of Iceland because of the risk of ice, heavy snow and closed roads. Normally, also most of the baleen whales are traveling already South to their breeding grounds. But everything was a bit different in the beginning of November 2019.

Our captain Gísli and guide Karl did not have the intention to go whale watching on this day. BUT….they could not resist when they say plenty of humpback whales from land. Watch and enjoy this video about a special whale encounter from Holmavik in the Westfjords.

Migrating Humpback Whales

Most of the humpback whales do only stay in Iceland during the summer months. Between March/April and September/October they feed on krill, cod, sardines, and other schooling fish in the cold Icelandic waters. They need an immense amount of food and on average, an adult humpback whale can eat up to 1.5 tons of food a day.

After a long summer of feeding, most of the humpback whales start their journey to the Caribbean waters for mating and calving. They swim for about 7,000 km (4,600 miles) twice per year and their annual migration is one of the longest recorded journeys of all mammals. When they are in the tropics, they do not feed much but live off their layer of blubber (fat). On top of that, the females have to take care of their young calves that feed on mothers’ milk.

Why are so many Humpback Whales in the Westfjords still in November?

There is so much still unknown about the migration of humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean. What is already clear is that quite a few humpbacks do not leave Iceland at all during the winter and instead choose to continue feeding in the nutrient-rich waters around our island. Scientists believe that these whales are either too young or too old for breeding. Sometimes, female whales take a year break after giving birth to a calf for recreation and sometimes, a whale simply did not feed enough during summer and is therefore not well enough prepared for the long journey. We do not offer any whale watching from the Westfjords in winter but on our winter tour from Grundarfjordur we regularly see humpback whales.

Whale Watching in the Westfjords in Summer

As mentioned before, unfortunately there is no whale watching available in the Westfjords in November. But if you are travelling in Iceland between June and September we would love to welcome you on our whale watching tour from Holmavik.

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[mk_fancy_title size=”40″ color=”#2daec0″ font_weight=”bold” font_family=”Lobster+Two” font_type=”google” margin_top=”0″]Whale Watching in the Westfjords[/mk_fancy_title]

Hólmavík means whale watching in the remote and unspoiled Westfjords of Iceland. The most common whales in the fjord are humpback whales. The fjord is incredibly sheltered from most wind directions meaning tours rarely have to be canceled. The 2-hour tour with almost 100% sighting guarantee is one of the shortest & most affordable whale watching options in Iceland.

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November 11, 2019
Icelandic Orca Facts – Orca Guardians Answers Questions about Orcas in Iceland
Láki Tours works closely with Orca Guardians, an independent nonprofit organisation dedicated to the protection of orcas in Iceland. Our guide Marie, the founder of Orca Guardians, always collects photos and data on our whale watching tours to learn more about the orcas in Iceland. Láki Tours is very proud of this wonderful and important cooperation.

Recently, Orca Guardians asked its facebook followers about their most burning questions on the orcas in Iceland and their research and conservation work. There was a lot of feedback and the Orca Guardians founder Marie and Orca Guardians volunteer Karl answered the most interesting questions in 4 short videos. Here are the first 2 videos with very interesting orca facts:

Episode 1 – On the Boat – Day to Day Experiences on the Sea

In this episode, the following questions about orcas were answered.

Have you ever had any memorable experiences with the Icelandic orcas?

What is your favorite part of the job?

What is your dog’s reaction to the orcas? Can she smell them before you see them?

Are there better times of the year to see orcas in Iceland?

Where can I get Karl’s awesome orca T’shirt?
2. Episode – Icelandic Orca Migration and Identification

Orca Guardians answers the following questions about orcas in this episode:

Are the Icelandic orcas staying local to Iceland all year around or are they migratory?

How many pods are there of Icelandic orcas?

How many animals are in the largest orca pods in Iceland?

Orcas in Scotland are often infertile and a likely to die out due to Chemicals. Do the Icelandic orcas have similar problems?
Episode 3 Interesting Orca Facts – Species Interaction

In episode 3, the following questions are answered by our guides Marie and Karl:

The whales in British Columbia seem to be struggling to find food. Is this something you see in Iceland, too?

Why are orcas so scared of pilot whales? Could you please tell us more about the encounters you witnessed with the pilot whales chasing the orcas?
Episode 4 – Orca Conservation

In the last episode, the following questions were answered:

How do whale watching tours and tourism contribute to the protection of orcas and the ocean they live in?

What are some of the project you are working in

What are your long term goals for Orca Guardians?

How can we support Orca Guardians to protect the orcas in Iceland?

Can we volunteer with Orca Guardians?
October 14, 2019
Laki Tours TripAdvisor Reviews

Team Láki Tours is always doing its very best to prepare our guests a wonderful time on our boat tours in Snaefellsnes and the Westfjords. We love our work and it makes us happy when we can show our guests the amazing wildlife of Iceland. We are also extremely thankful for the amazing feedback we regularly get from our guests on TripAdvisor. This clearly shows us that our hard work is appreciated by our guests.

Please feel free to have a look at our three Laki Tours TripAdvisor profiles in order to get a better idea what to expect on our boat tours. By clicking one of the pictures you can directly reach the specific TripAdvisor page.

Láki Tours Tripadvisor Grundarfjordur

From Grundarfjordur, we operate our whale watching tours during winter. In summer, we offer a bird watching tour to Melrakkaey and a sea-angling and puffin tour from this small town. Grundarfjörður is situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland.

Láki Tours Olafsvik

Olafsvik is our port for our summer whale watching tours. Olafsvik is a town on the northern side of Snaefellsnes peninsula, close to the magnificent glacier, Snaefellsjokull.

Láki Tours Holmavik

From Holmavik, we offer whale watching tours from June to September. Holmavik is a lovely town on the east coast of the Westfjords of Iceland and the largest town in the area called Strandir.

In order to reflect our three different locations, we recently opened separate Laki Tours TripAdvisor profiles for our locations in Olafsvik and Holmavik. Therefore, the number of reviews is not as high yet as for our headquarter in Grundarfjordur.

Láki Tours does not only offer wildlife tours but we also have a cosy café in Grundarfjordur. You also find reviews about this place on Tripadvisor.

Láki Café / Hafnarkaffii Grundarfjordur

Láki Café is located downtown Grundarfjordur, serving light refreshments, such as quality coffee, cakes, soups, lunch, pizza, panini and more.

October 10, 2019
Best Grundarfjordur Shore Excursions
Grundarfjordur is a charming fishing town, situated in the West of Iceland. Many travellers in Iceland visit this place because of the famous Mt. Kirkjufell located on the west side of the town. Kirkjufell is probably the most photographed mountain in Iceland and not the only highlight to explore in and around Grundarfjordur. Since a few years, several cruise ships stop here during summer for a few hours. Normally the cruise ships offer guided day tours on board for the whole day. But we know there are many travellers who prefer organising their stay individually. In this article, we would like to introduce some interesting Grundarfjordur shore excursions.

Grundarfjordur Shore Excursions by Boat

The most authentic way of exploring a little fishing town is by boat. We offer two interesting tours directly from Grundarfjordur harbour in a traditional oak fishing boat. Our charming Láki SH55 boat is perfect to explore the suroundings of Grundarfjordur. This boat is excellent for our sea angling and birdwatching tours with its slow rocking motion and open deck. Both tours are ideal if you also want to spend some free time in Grundarfjordur to explore the town itself, the surounding mountains, the harbor or a nice café.

Birdwatching Tour from Grundarfjordur

Our birdwatching tour is one of the most popular tours for travellers looking for a shore excursion in Grundarfjordur. You sail to the protected island Melrakkaey where hundreds of puffins nest during summer. Sail around the island and have a close look at these cute little birds that nest in borrows. The puffin, Iceland’s unofficial national bird, is not very shy and therefore great to watch. The birds often fly all around the island, sit on the water and also in front of their borrows on the island itself. But the puffin is not the only bird you can enjoy on our birdwatching tour from Grundarfjordur. Other birds that nest there include shags, cormorants, guillemots, and kittiwakes. On top of that, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the fjord which includes Mount Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Please book your birdwatching tour from Grundarfjordur by clicking this LINK.

Sea Angling & Birdwatching Tour from Grundarfjordur

Another authentic shore excursion from Grundarfjordur is our sea-angling and birdwatching tour. As on our birdwatching tour described above, you will sail to the protected island Melrakkaey, to enjoy puffins and other sea birds. The second highlight of this 2 hours tour is our fun sea angling experience. The water around Grundarfjordur is famous for its richness in fish and it is great fun to spend some time fishing out at sea. This fishing tour is suitable both for beginners but also for more experienced anglers. You receive all necessary fishing equipment from us. You can book this fishing tour under the following LINK.
Explore Grundarfjordur by Foot

After joining one of our boat tours, there will be definitely also some free time to explore Grundarfjordur on your own. Everything is in walking distance and this useful map provided by the town’s information center shows the most interesting places to explore and eat.
October 5, 2019
A Huge Blow in the Distance

Summer Whale Watching in Breiðafjörður

Summer whale watching in Breiðafjörður is always pretty incredible. From the end of April, we start to see familiar, tall, dark fins appear on the horizon as the high killer whale season begins. Then, come June, we head out to the deep water to find the elusive sperm whale bulls that come here (we presume) to take advantage of the huge cod that call the fjord home. By the middle of July, we expect some of the killer whales to disappear as they make way for the boisterous pilot whales that chase them away from feeding patches (something I witnessed for the first time this year!). Then begins the minke whale season to carry us through to the autumn.

This year was different though.

The sperm whales were only around for about a week before they disappeared completely, and the killer whales were coming and going unexpectedly. We had to come up with a new plan.

Exciting News from a Local Fisherman

We’d heard from a local fisherman that there were some bigger blows appearing in the north of the fjord, HUMPBACKS we thought. A curious or surface-active humpback is one of the most awesome whale watching experiences. But it was a LONG way to go if we went there and didn’t find what we were looking for then we’d have no time to look anywhere else. It was risky.

When you’re the only whale watching boat in the area you have to take chances sometimes. You can never just head to where the other boats are. Of course, it makes for a much better experience when we do find something and photos look a whole lot better without 6 other boats in the background. It keeps it fun for us too. For incredible spotters like Marie and Captain Gisli, being the first to see a fin or a blow becomes a sport. So off we went North, into the unknown, with nothing but the word of a fisherman.

After nearly an hour and a half of searching and searching further and further north, in excellent visibility, we had seen NOTHING. We’re very proud of our success rate here at Láki Tours, but every now and then we do have a no-show tour… this was looking like it might be one of those tours.

A Huge Blow in the Distance

Suddenly a blow on the horizon filled the boat with relief, it was the tall round blow of a humpback just as we thought, then another blow, and another… we were seeing blows all along the horizon. It looked like 12 to 15 humpbacks. Then WOOOOSH a blow taller than any I’d seen before. My heart was already in my throat when our captain Gísli told me that this was a BLUE WHALE.

Blue Whales in Iceland – Blue Whales in Breiðafjörður!

In the history of Láki tours we’d seen around seven blue whales, some years one, some two, but often none. But this year we had 5, at the same time, including a mother/calf pair, surrounded by lunge feeding humpbacks and even the odd minke getting in on the action. It was also the first time I’d seen blue whales in Iceland, I think my excitement was pretty obvious.

It was hard to choose a highlight from this summer, between socializing orcas, breaching minke whales, pilot whale, and killer whale conflict and bow-riding dolphins in glassy water, but just the sight of the biggest animal to EVER live on earth, the sound of the blow… that made my summer.

Summer whale watching in Breiðafjörður is always pretty incredible. But this one was special.

Video Blue Whales in Iceland

Text: Karl O’Neill
Photos and Video: Karl O’Neill

October 3, 2019
Whale Watching in Snaefellsnes
Láki Tours is the only tour operator that offers whale watching tours in Snaefellsnes. In winter, we operate our tours from Grundarfjordur – in summer our tours start from Olafsvik. In this blog, we want to describe the unique features of our whale watching tours in comparison to other locations in Iceland. Read more about the reasons to go whale watching in Snaefellsnes.

Whale species around Snaefellsnes

Watching Orcas in Iceland

Snaefellsnes is the only area in Iceland where orcas are seen on a regularly base. If seeing orcas in the wild nature is on your bucket list you should add a whale watching tour in Snaefellsnes to your holiday in Iceland.

In the last couple of years, the best months to see orcas were December, March, April, May, and June. However, this all can change in the future. Therefore we recommend to regularly check our facebook page or whale diaries where we share photos of our whale sightings.

Watching Sperm Whales in Iceland

Another unique species around Snaefellsnes are sperm whales. Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales in the world and one of the deepest diving whales. The best time for sperm whales seems to be late spring and early summer, around April to June, but they have been seen late winter and in July sometimes also. There is no other place around Iceland where sperm whales are seen.

Many more Whale Spezies

Apart from orcas and sperm whales, a variety of other whale species is regularly seen around Snaefellsnes. Often we see humpback whales, minke whales, and dolphins. Rarely also blue whales and pilot whales are seen. It regularly happens that we see 3 or even more species on one tour. This makes whale watching in Snaefellsnes so special since we never know in advance what we can expect.

Whale Watching in Snaefellsnes with Láki Tours

We are sure most travelers have heard of Husavík who advertises itself as the most famous place for whale watching in Iceland. But this also means there are plenty of boats in the bay. It rarely happens that only one boat is watching a whale. Currently, 4 companies offer whale watching tours from Husavik and all of them have several boats. In contrast, there is Láki Tours, the only whale watching company around Snaefellsnes. We work only with very experienced guides on our boats and we always do our very best to offer a very unique experience for our guests. We are also proud about our cooperation with Orca Guardians, an independent conservation nonprofit dedicated to the protection of orcas in Iceland.

For us, it is very essential that our guests do not experience only a unique whale watching tour but that they also learn something about these impressive animals.

Our Whale Watching Location

Snaefellsnes is only a short drive away from Reykjavik (you need approximately 2.5 hours to reach Grundarfjordur or 3 hours to reach Olafsvik). Therefore, we have many guests coming by rental car to our place. Even if you are staying only a few days in Reykjavik it is worth to leave town for a unique whale watching tour. Plus, Snaefellsnes has so many impressive natural sights to offer that it is absolutely worth to spend at least one night in the area. Why not check if our cozy guesthouse in Grundarfjordur still has availability for your travel dates? In case you spend more than a day on Snaefellsnes we highly recommend to schedule your whale watching tour on the first day. In case of unpleasant weather where we might have to cancel our tour, you would be able to easily reschedule it to the next day.

Summary

So here is a quick summary of why Snaefellsnes is THE place for whale watching in Iceland

Best place to see orcas in Iceland

The only place in Iceland where sperm whales are seen

Three or more species are regularly seen on only one tour

No other boats in the area

Very experienced guides on our boats

By clicking the buttons below you can learn more about our whale watching tours from Olafsvik (summer) and Grundarfjordur (winter).
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Whale Watching Ólafsvík

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October 3, 2019