Two-In-One: Whale & Puffin Watching Tours from Reykjavik

What makes this tour really interesting is the split format. You start with a puffin cruise around Lundey, then shift gears to a longer whale watching run from Faxafloi Bay. It is a packed half-day that helps you cover two wildlife targets instead of crossing your fingers on just one.

I love the practical touch points, especially the heated indoor saloon with big windows and the protective clothing you can use to stay comfortable. I also like the live onboard narration, because the guides point out what to look for and where, so your time scanning the water feels less random.

The main thing to consider is that you are watching wild animals at sea level. Puffins can be small and fast, and a few seats on the smaller boat may not give everyone the same view, so you should set your expectations for spotting and photo odds, not guaranteed close views.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Two separate cruises, two different boats: a smaller boat for puffins (about 1 hour) and a larger one for whales (about 3 hours).
• Warmth is built in: you can use protective gear plus a heated indoor area with large viewing windows.
• Binoculars are provided: they help a lot with puffins and distant surfacing blows.
• A whale sighting guarantee: if you do not see cetaceans, you can try again another day for free.
• Wildlife education included: you get access to a wildlife exhibition and you hear live commentary in English.
• Most departures are capped: the tour has a maximum of 30 travelers.

A Two-In-One Boat Day in Reykjavik: Puffins First, Whales Later

This is the kind of Reykjavik experience you book when you want wildlife, not just views. Instead of one long outing where you hope for one species, you get a rhythm: puffins on a shorter loop, a land break in the Old Harbour area, then whales out in Faxafloi Bay.

The value shows up in how the day is structured. Puffins are a different kind of viewing than whales. Puffins are quick, often farther out, and you spot them as they pop up, fly through, and skim the water. Whales, on the other hand, can be missed if you blink, but the larger boat and longer search time raise your odds, especially when the operator offers a sighting guarantee.

One more smart detail: English commentary is built into the experience. That matters because Iceland’s coast is full of birds, sea conditions change fast, and the guide’s tips help you focus on the moments that actually produce sightings.

Price and What Makes It Feel Worth It

At $140 per person for a 4 to 6 hour day, this is not the cheapest thing you can do in Reykjavik. But it is also not trying to sell you a vague experience. You are paying for two timed cruises, heated shelter, protective gear, binocular use, and a promise that you can re-try the whale portion if whales do not show.

Here is how I’d think about the math. A whale watch is often the hardest to predict. This tour reduces that risk with the free re-try guarantee. If you were planning to book a puffin cruise anyway, bundling the puffins into the same day turns the cost from a gamble into a more confident use of your limited time in Iceland.

You do still have to accept the basic truth of wildlife: weather and animal behavior decide what you actually see. But the tour is set up so that even if sightings are brief, you are not sitting outside freezing, bored, or totally lost on what to look for.

Meeting at Elding and the Smooth Way the Day Flows

You meet at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, and the activity ends back at the same point. There is no pickup or dropoff included, so plan on arriving on foot or public transit, since the meeting spot is near public transportation.

The day is designed to move efficiently. The puffin portion is short, about an hour, then you get time on land in between. Expect a free break that is long enough for lunch and wandering around the Old Harbour area, and short enough that you are back on time for the next departure. That pacing is good if you get sea-sick easily, since you have a breather before the longer whale search.

Group size is also worth noting. With a maximum of 30 travelers, it is not a cattle-call situation. Still, the smaller puffin boat can feel tight depending on where you are seated, so if you hate cramped spaces, arrive with that in mind.

Staying Warm: Protective Gear, Heated Rooms, and Real Viewing Comfort

On the water, comfort is not a luxury here. It is the difference between watching for five minutes and actually tracking wildlife for the full outing.

This tour provides protective clothing and includes a heated indoor saloon with large viewing windows. That means you can keep your eyes on the action without spending the entire time outdoors. It is also helpful when the wind rises or spray hits, because you can rotate in and out of warmth while staying ready.

They also provide binoculars, and if you want to go a step further with photos, a zoom lens is a practical tool. The puffins you are aiming for can be small in the frame and quick in motion. Even when you see plenty, getting a sharp photo takes some patience and decent reach.

Complimentary WiFi onboard is another small but real bonus. It is handy for checking weather, messaging family, or simply passing the time while you wait for the next wildlife alert.

Stop 1: Lundey Puffin Watching on a Smaller Boat (What You Can Expect)

The puffin portion is the classic Iceland moment, but it is not a birding bus tour where you hop off and wander. You sail to one of three island areas home to thousands of puffins during breeding season, and you watch them from the water.

This part lasts about 1 hour, and you get the chance to borrow binoculars on board. If you bring a zoom camera, this is the segment where it earns its keep. Puffins are fast, they pop up and vanish quickly, and they can appear at a distance depending on where the boat positions itself.

A key expectation check: you are not landing on the nesting islands. You are viewing from the sea. That can be disappointing if your mental image is closer, on-foot viewing. On the water, even when the puffins are active, they are still small subjects in the frame.

There is also a practical comfort consideration. On the smaller boat, some seats may be indoors without windows, and getting to upper decks can involve climbing a ladder. If you want maximum viewing flexibility, it helps to be ready to move where you can see best as the guide spots activity.

If the wind is strong, this segment can be impacted too. In one case, the wind prevented the excursion, and the operator communicated quickly. So if you are traveling in a tight weather window, consider building in a bit of slack.

The Old Harbour Break: Use It Like a Local Instead of Wasting It

Between the puffin cruise and the whale cruise, you get a break of about a couple of hours and you are back in the Reykjavik area. The Old Harbour area is where you can reset and eat, and it is also a convenient spot to stretch your legs without losing time.

This is a smart window. If you do feel any motion in your stomach from the boat ride, land time helps. If you are hungry, you can handle lunch on your schedule instead of waiting until the later outing.

It is also a nice way to avoid the classic trap of going straight from sea to sea, with no chance to breathe, check messages, and plan what you want to see next in town.

Stop 2: Faxafloi Bay Whale Watching and the Sighting Guarantee

Now for the main event. The whale watching cruise heads out into Faxaflói Bay, described as the biggest bay in Iceland. Your target animals can include minke whales, humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins.

This segment runs about 3 hours. That extra time matters because whales do not follow a schedule. A longer search window gives the crew more chances to find active feeding or social areas where sightings happen.

The big confidence builder is the sighting guarantee. If you do not see cetaceans during the tour, you can try again another day free of charge. That is rare in a lot of wildlife tours, and it is one of the reasons I consider this combo day good value even though the price is not low.

Also note how the tour handles comfort at sea. You still have the heated indoor space on board, plus protective clothing. You can stay warm while watching for a surfacing that might last seconds.

One reality check based on experiences people shared: whales can show up quickly. You might get a mother and calf moment that feels incredibly close, or you might see a blow and a quick follow before the animal moves on. Either way, the guide’s job is to keep you positioned and looking in the right direction.

If conditions are rough, you might find that the crew helps with seasickness. For example, one review mentioned seasickness tablets being available ahead of time when the afternoon seas were rough. You should still dress for wind and spray, but it is reassuring that they think about comfort before you are miserable.

Wildlife Viewing Odds: Why the Live Commentary Changes Everything

This tour’s strongest ingredient is not just the boats. It is the live onboard commentary and the crew’s focus on what to look for.

When you are out at sea, you can waste time scanning random directions. A good guide tells you where to look, what behaviors to track, and what signals often come before a sighting. You also learn the difference between birds that are just flying through and birds that are reacting to feeding.

Another detail that adds credibility: the crew approach is wildlife-friendly. In experiences people reported, the operation tried to be respectful and not push closeness in a way that disrupts natural behavior. That matters. It helps your experience feel more ethical, and it tends to improve the odds that animals keep moving normally instead of disappearing into stress.

And yes, sometimes you get those headline moments. A review mentioned a humpback whale swimming under the boat and another described a humpback mother and baby that came very close. Those moments stand out because they are exactly what a well-run crew is trying to line you up for.

What Is Included, and What You Should Plan to Pay For

Here is the practical breakdown of what you get:

Included

• Two tours: about 3 hours whale watching plus about 1 hour puffin watching
• Use of protective clothing and binoculars
• Heated indoor saloon with large viewing windows
• Complimentary WiFi onboard
• Whale sighting guarantee, with free re-try if cetaceans are not seen
• Excellent live commentary in English
• Access to a wildlife exhibition

Not included

• Food and drinks, available to purchase on board
• Pickup and dropoff (you can arrange for a fee)

So plan your day like this: eat before you go if you can, especially because the on-board options are there for purchase, not for a full pre-planned meal. If you want hot drinks, you can usually grab coffee or hot chocolate for warming up while you wait for spotting alerts.

Also, if you want the best photos of puffins, bring the right gear. A phone can work, but puffins are fast and small in the frame. A zoom camera gives you more margin, and binoculars can help you track the birds before you start shooting.

Boat Size, Seating, and Comfort Trade-Offs

The combo format is efficient, but it creates a trade-off you should know.

The puffin tour is on a smaller boat. That can mean you get closer to the viewing area, but seating can also feel more constrained. Some seats may be inside without windows, which makes it harder to watch actively when birds are right at your level. Also, if you want to go to an upper deck, you may need to climb a ladder, which is awkward if you do not love climbing or you travel with someone who has mobility concerns.

The whale portion is on a larger boat, and that tends to feel more spacious. People also described the whale boat as comfortable, which makes sense for a longer 3-hour ride. If you are sensitive to motion, plan to choose warm layers, stay hydrated, and use the heated indoor area when needed.

Either way, protective clothing plus warm indoor windows can make this day feel more like a wildlife outing than a cold endurance test.

Who Should Book This Combo Tour (and Who Might Prefer a Different Plan)

This tour fits best if you want:

• A balanced wildlife day with both puffins and whales
• A warm, structured boat experience rather than long exposure in cold weather
• Better odds for whales thanks to the free re-try guarantee
• English commentary that helps you interpret what you are seeing

It might not fit as well if your priorities are:

• Guaranteed close-up puffin views, because you are watching from the boat and puffins can be small and fast
• Maximum comfort and easy deck access on the smaller boat, since seating and vertical access can be tight

If you already know you care mostly about whales, you may feel the puffin segment is the shorter, more variable part of the day. Still, if you are visiting Iceland in summer and have a limited window, the value comes from stacking experiences in one organized outing.

Quick Practical Tips Before Your Day on the Water

• Dress for wind. Even with protective gear, you want layers that handle spray.
• Bring your best camera or at least a lens with reach if you want puffin photos.
• Stay flexible during spotting. Some sightings are quick, and the guide will move you to where action is happening.
• If you are prone to sea-sickness, ask about what comfort options exist before you depart and keep a warm layer ready for the heated viewing area.

Should You Book This Whale and Puffin Combo Tour?

If you want one good bet to cover puffins plus whales in a half-day format, I think this is a strong choice. The big reasons are the heated viewing comfort, the provided gear, and especially the whale sighting guarantee that reduces one of the biggest risks in wildlife tours.

I would only hesitate if you are arriving with ultra-specific expectations for puffins. This is a from-the-water experience, and the birds may be distant or brief in view, depending on timing and conditions. If you can accept that wildlife is unpredictable, this combo day gives you a lot of value for the time you spend in Reykjavik.

FAQ

Do I get to see whales and puffins in one day?

Yes. The tour combines a puffin watching trip of about 1 hour and a whale watching trip of about 3 hours, plus a break in Reykjavik between them.

How long is the full experience?

It is about 4 to 6 hours total.

What does the tour include?

It includes two tours, use of protective clothing and binoculars, a heated indoor saloon with large viewing windows, complimentary WiFi onboard, live commentary in English, access to a wildlife exhibition, and a whale sighting guarantee.

Where do I meet and where does it end?

You meet at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are available to purchase on board.

Can I use binoculars during the trip?

Yes. Binoculars are included for you to use during the tour.

What if you do not see whales?

The whale watching portion has a sighting guarantee. If you do not see cetaceans on the tour, you can try again another day free of charge.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Are there any requirements for children?

Children under 13 are required by law to wear life-vests for the duration of the tour.

What happens if weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes. The tour has a maximum of 30 travelers.