Birdwatching · ICELAND BIRDWATCHING TOURS

The 15 Best Birdwatching Tours in Iceland

25 tours  ·  from $60 a head

Thirteen weeks of puffins, plus eiders, arctic terns and the odd white-tailed eagle. The 15 below cover the harbour boats, the whale combos and the cliff walks, with sailing times, prices and the season each depends on.

Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat - The 40-minute start in Húsavík
Birdwatching Tours, Iceland Birdwatching Tours, Puffin Tours, Puffin Tours in Iceland, Safari, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

1.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,221 reviews · 2 hours · from $175Our pick

Join Gentle Giants in Húsavík for a two-hour RIB safari across Skjálfandi Bay. A guide such as Matteo or Carla may lead you to puffins, dolphins, humpbacks, or blue whales. The boat carries up to 12 people, moves quickly between sightings, and includes warm safety overalls.

“It was PERFECT! Thank you for everything . We had a lucky to see a biggest whale in the world - BLUE whale! I recommend this tour to everyone”

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Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour - Lundey and Akurey, two close-up bird-watching stops
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Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

2.Puffin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,052 reviews · 1 hour · from $64

Join Special Tours Iceland at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a one-hour ride aboard the wooden Puffin Express, Old Skuli. Cruise to Lundey and Akurey with an English-speaking guide, binoculars, and a stated 100% puffin-sighting guarantee. Guides such as Patrick and Joe add humor and bird facts.

“Our trip was excellent - our guide Vera was very informative and interesting. Andreas our Captain was very knowledgeable and helped me onto and off the boat very carefully and attentively for which I was very grateful as I have accessible problems. A great experience thank you so much.”

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Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour - From Hafnarstétt 11 to the open bay
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Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

3.Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Join a guide and captain aboard a 12-seat RIB for two hours on Skjálfandi Bay. From April 15 to August 20, the route includes Lundey, or Puffin Island. Guides such as Austin, Iñaki, and Ignacio add wildlife insight, while the fast boat helps you reach whale sightings quickly.

“Amazing tour with very knowledgable staff! I remember Robert the boat drivers name but spacing the tall guides name from spain- both were AMAZING. Made sure we saw some whales and were equally as excited about it. Amazing guide!! Im sorry i dont remember your name but you were awesome!!❤️❤️”

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Puffin and Volcano Tour with Ebbi - Sprangan and the island’s old way of life
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Puffin and Volcano Tour with Ebbi

4.Puffin and Volcano Tour with Ebbi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 731 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $114Top rated

Join local guide Ebbi for a two-hour minicoach tour of Heimaey Island. Visit Viking Town, Eldfell’s crater, Stórhöfði’s puffin colony, Elephant Rock, and Herjólfsdalur, with frequent short walks and stories about island life.

“Ebbi was so knowledgeable about the island. One of the best tour guides I’ve had on a vacation! Highly recommend this tour!”

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Puffin Cruise with Expert Tour Guide from Reykjavik - Guides who make the hour count
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Puffin Cruise with Expert Tour Guide from Reykjavik

5.Puffin Cruise with Expert Tour Guide from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 636 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $63

Take a one-hour express boat from Reykjavik to Akurey Island, where guides such as Patrick, Peter, and Joe share facts about puffins and seabirds. You will circle the island, use onboard binoculars, and watch for nesting birds, seals, fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots.

“Great tour. We did see the puffins. Wish we could have seen them closer but we did see them. Glad we got to see them before they leave the area.”

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Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour - Puffin watching from Old Skúli
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Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

6.Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 552 reviews · 4 hours · from $153

From Reykjavik’s Old Harbor, you take two separate cruises: a shallow-draft boat to puffin islands and a larger vessel into Faxaflói Bay for whales. Guides such as Patrick, Alex, and Oscar bring useful facts and humor. Choose classic or express whale watching, and borrow binoculars for the birds.

“Great day. Trip was well paced and all the landmarks we visited were we'll worth seeing”

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Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík - Puffin Island and the summer bird season
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Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

7.Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $203

Set out from Húsavík Adventures in a RIB boat carrying no more than 12 people. A captain and wildlife guide search Skjálfandi Bay for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal puffins. Warm overalls and life jackets are supplied, but bring gloves and a hat.

“They take you on the water, stop to see the puffins home and provide you with some informative information. Then we had a chance to see a couple families of white nosed dolphins, and 4 whales on the trip! One of the best tours I have ever done!”

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Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour - Crossing Skjálfandi Bay while the guide reads the water
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Húsavík: Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

8.Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 444 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

Join North Sailing from Húsavík for a 3 to 3.5-hour cruise across Skjálfandi Bay. A live English-speaking guide points out whales, dolphins, puffins, and seabirds from a traditional oak boat. Warm overalls, hot cocoa, and a cinnamon bun help take the edge off the cold.

“We found whales in the third hour of the trip, so we spent only half to an hour with whales, was a pity. We would rather join tours that only go for whales and skip the puffins, the puffins were pretty far away and we had better look at puffins onshore at other places. The guides were OK, but wasn’t very enthusiastic or excited. The full body jumpsuits provided were amazing, kept us dry and warm.”

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Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík - Riding the RIB across Skjálfandi Bay
Birdwatching Tours, Iceland Birdwatching Tours, Puffin Tours, Puffin Tours in Iceland, Safari, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

9.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 417 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180

Join Gentle Giants in Húsavík for a two-hour RIB safari through Skjálfandi Bay. Guides such as Clara, Mario, Miro, and Victoria share sharp wildlife commentary while the captain searches for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and seasonal puffins near Lundey, or Puffin Island.

“So it was early in the season, so we were a bit worried if we would see anything. Lets just saw we walked away stunned. Saw a couple of humpback whales within the first 20 mins, and then found a blue whale. The tour guide went speechless for about a min, she was just as amazed as we were. We tracked it for about 30 mins. The boat and captain were great, saw the larger boats in the distance, but they could not pivot quickly enough to catch it like we did. Probably one of the biggest highlights of the trip.”

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Reykjavik: 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour - Choosing among Akurey, Engey, and Lundey
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Reykjavik: 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour

10.1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 305 reviews · 1 hour · from $66

Sail from Ægisgarður 5 with Elding Adventure at Sea to Akurey, Engey, or Lundey. A naturalist guide, free binoculars, warm overalls, rain gear, and blankets help you watch puffins and seabirds without disturbing them. Guides such as Frida and Olivia have added lively stories and bird photos.

“This was a nice tour but I wish there were some binoculars offered because it was difficult to see morale than just blobs given that the birds aren’t very big.”

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Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour - Puffin islands and the first wildlife search
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Reykjavik: Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

11.Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 293 reviews · 2 hours · from $200

Join a small group of up to 12 at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a two-hour RIB ride with a trained guide, often a marine biologist. Visit puffin islands, search for whales and dolphins, and return past Harpa and Sun Voyager. Warm suits, gloves, and goggles are provided.

“Everything was fantastic, the guide was knowledgeable and the whole experience well organised and very enjoyable, and a bonus we saw hump back whales and the Puffins!”

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Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour - Puffins, Fishing, and the Right Season
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Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

12.Puffin Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 277 reviews · 1 hour · from $101

Meet your captain and English-speaking guide at Reykjavik Old Harbour for a one-hour RIB ride to nearby puffin colonies. Guides such as Anna and Maria explain puffin behavior while you watch hundreds of birds on the water, cliffs, and in flight. Coveralls, safety gear, and binoculars are provided.

“Fantastic. Guide and operator were excellent. Tour was informative and we were able to see Puffins in their natural habitat.”

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Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík - Three islands, one protected bird habitat
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Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík

13.Classic Puffin Watching Cruise from Downtown Reykjavík

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 276 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60Best value

From Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, Elding takes you by small boat to Engey, Akurey, or Lundey, where puffins breed each summer. The one-hour cruise includes binoculars, raincoats, live English guidance, and city views of Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja. Bring warm layers and a zoom lens.

“It was an excellent experience and very informative. We saw many more puffins that expected! We would definitely do again.”

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Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching tour from Reykjavík - The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay
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Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching tour from Reykjavík

14.Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching tour from Reykjavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 124 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $105

From Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, you’ll ride a fast RIB boat toward two or three puffin-nesting islands in Faxaflói Bay. Guides such as Maja, Alex, Alma, and Ricardo share bird facts while the captain quietly approaches the colonies. Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and binoculars are included.

“Great tour!! Saw sooooo many puffin. Small group is the way to go so you can get close to the islands where the puffins are. Very knowledgeable guide Alex. Highly recommend”

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Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port - A scenic ride through East Iceland
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Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port

15.Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 114 reviews · 5 hours · from $213

From Seyðisfjörður, ride to Hafnarhólmi for close views of nesting puffins, explore Borgarfjörður Eystri and Lindarbakki turf house, then stop at Gufufoss. English-speaking guides such as Anna, Berglind, Eva, and Petra have been praised for lively local stories, while the scenic drive takes much of the day.

“The guide was very knowledgable and had lots of interesting stories and folklore. I wasn’t aware that it was going to take so long to get to where the puffins were.”

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New in Iceland Birdwatching Tours

★ 4.0Puffin Watching and Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from SeydisfjordurFrom $21452 reviews
★ 4.0Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing CruiseFrom $6356 reviews
★ 5.0Volcanic Vistas & Puffin Paradise ATV TourFrom $21655 reviews
★ 4.5Two-In-One: Whale & Puffin Watching Tours from ReykjavikFrom $14059 reviews

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