Húsavík makes whale watching feel personal. You’re out on a traditional Icelandic oak boat with Gentle Giants, cruising Skjálfandi Bay while your guide talks you through what’s happening in the water. It’s wild nature, so you’re not stuck watching from a screen—you’re watching for real.
I especially like the practical comfort: warm safety overalls and rain gear mean you can actually enjoy the ride instead of shivering through it. I also like how the live commentary helps you make sense of whale and dolphin behavior as you search, with guides such as Matteo and Rui mentioned by name in feedback.
The one real consideration is sea conditions. Even with the right clothing, the ocean can be rough, and if you’re prone to motion sickness, plan for that.
In This Review
- Key things that make this tour work
- Where Húsavík starts your whale hunt
- The traditional oak boat: comfort, safety, and real visibility
- Skjálfandi Bay: the whale-rich waters you’re actually cruising
- How the guide helps you spot whales faster
- What you might see: humpbacks, blue whales, and more
- The 3-hour timing: long enough to matter, not so long you lose it
- Itinerary flow: what happens during those stops
- Weather, seasickness, and staying comfortable in the North
- Price and value: is $91 a fair deal?
- Who should book this (and who might think twice)
- Should you book Gentle Giants in Húsavík?
- FAQ
- How long is the whale watching tour?
- Where do I meet the tour?
- Where does the tour end?
- What is included in the tour price?
- Is hotel pickup included?
- What language is the live guide in?
- What should I bring?
- What happens if no whales are seen?
- Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Key things that make this tour work
- Traditional oak boat: more old-school, more intimate, and built for visibility while you scan the water.
- Skjálfandi Bay focus: you’re not just riding around—you’re sailing in whale country.
- Warm overalls and rain jackets: you stay comfortable enough to stay alert for sightings.
- Guides with real marine know-how: you’ll get on-the-spot explanations and spot-specific tips.
- High-energy search style: guides and captains keep working the area when they’re looking for whales.
Where Húsavík starts your whale hunt
Your tour meets at the Gentle Giants ticket center in central Húsavík—look for the big blue flags. From the start, the whole setup feels built for an easy transition from town life to open water. There’s no hotel pickup, so you’ll want to arrive with enough time to check in and get geared up.
This matters more than you might think. Whale watching is time-sensitive. You want to be ready early so you don’t rush coats, gloves, and footwear right at departure.
You can also read our reviews of more whale watching tours in Husavik
The traditional oak boat: comfort, safety, and real visibility
The boat is a traditional Icelandic oak craft, and that choice shapes your experience. Traditional boats tend to keep you feeling connected to the water—less like you’re sealed inside a modern shell, more like you’re part of the search.
Before you go far, you’ll get a safety demonstration. It’s brief, but it sets expectations and helps you move around confidently. Then the work starts: scanning horizons, watching for blow patterns, and listening as your guide narrates what you’re likely to see.
The best comfort upgrade is the gear. You’re provided warm safety overalls, and rain jackets are included if needed. People mention staying warm even when conditions aren’t friendly, which is huge here because north Iceland weather can change fast. I’d treat those overalls like a main character of the trip—don’t under-estimate how much warmth helps your focus.
Skjálfandi Bay: the whale-rich waters you’re actually cruising
Most of your time is spent on the water in Skjálfandi Bay, on a 3-hour whale-watching cruise. This is the heart of why the tour exists: whales here aren’t a “maybe someday” concept. The bay is known for rich wildlife, and your guide will feed you live commentary about the sights as you search.
You’ll also do dolphin watching and general marine life viewing along the way. That’s a practical point: even when whales don’t surface at the perfect moment, you’re still learning how to read the sea.
How the guide helps you spot whales faster
The thing I love about good whale guides is that they don’t just point and hope. The best ones help you understand what you’re seeing—and the guides on this tour do that with live commentary.
In feedback, guides like Matteo and Nicoliene get singled out for being interactive and funny while staying focused on the wildlife. You’re not stuck with a long lecture. Instead, you get instruction in real time—how to watch, what behavior means, and what to keep an eye on as you move.
This is also why people report different outcomes depending on the day. If one boat wastes time chasing faraway sightings, you feel it. If the guide finds the right area quickly, your odds improve—and your experience feels smoother.
What you might see: humpbacks, blue whales, and more
The tour is designed around the chance to see big whales in their natural environment. You’ll be keeping lookout for humpback whales and blue whales, plus dolphins are included in the sighting promise.
And it’s not only mammals. Many people also mention seeing seabirds such as puffins flying past. That adds variety to your scanning routine and keeps you engaged even before the first big surfacing moment.
A few pattern examples from feedback:
- People have reported multiple humpback whales in one outing.
- Some mention seeing blue whales too, which is the kind of sight that makes a trip feel legendary.
- Several mention dolphins alongside whale sightings.
Just remember the main truth of wild whale watching: nature doesn’t follow schedules. Your guide will keep searching, but the ocean still has the final say.
The 3-hour timing: long enough to matter, not so long you lose it
The duration is 3 hours, and that length tends to hit a sweet spot. You get enough time for the slow, real process of scanning and repositioning without turning the outing into a full-day ordeal.
Feedback also supports this. People who aren’t used to the sea mention being glad to return after the 3-hour mark, and others describe long stretches of continuous searching as exciting rather than exhausting. In other words, it’s long enough to feel like a proper whale hunt, and short enough to stay comfortable.
Itinerary flow: what happens during those stops
Here’s the practical rhythm of the experience, in plain English:
Stop 1: Gentle Giants ticket center (central Húsavík).
This is where you meet and settle in before departure. It’s also where you can ask any last-minute questions, especially if you want to confirm what to wear and how to handle weather changes.
Stop 2: Safety briefing before you sail.
You’ll get a safety demonstration and guidance for being on board. This is useful when the sea is moving and you’ll be stepping, shifting, and watching for whale blows.
Stop 3: Skjálfandi Bay cruising and wildlife watching (about 3 hours total).
This is where the guided tour, sightseeing, and whale watching happen. Your guide provides live commentary and keeps an eye out for whales and dolphins, with plenty of time for marine life viewing.
Stop 4: Return to the same meeting point (Gentle Giants).
The activity ends back where you started. No complicated transfers needed—just a return to the harbor area.
If you like your travel experiences organized and low-stress, this simple out-and-back flow is a plus.
Weather, seasickness, and staying comfortable in the North
Weather is the biggest wildcard. The tour runs subject to favourable conditions, and if bad weather forces a cancellation, you’ll have the option of another date or a full refund. That helps protect you from paying for a day that becomes a bust.
But there’s still a second reality: even when the tour runs, the sea can be rough. People mention getting seasick, so it’s wise to take the motion seriously. The good news is that the provided overalls and rain gear can make you more comfortable physically, which helps you endure the ride and keep your attention on the water.
If you’re the type who gets motion sickness easily, you may want to plan your day so you’re not stuck rushing right after the tour.
Price and value: is $91 a fair deal?
At $91 per person for a 3-hour tour, this sits in the middle of what whale watching costs in Iceland. The key question is what you’re buying besides the boat ride.
You’re also getting:
- a specialized guide with live commentary,
- a true on-water hunt in a known wildlife area,
- and warm safety overalls (plus rain jackets if needed).
That last part is real value. Icelandic weather doesn’t care about your budget, and the tour’s gear helps you actually enjoy the outdoors rather than cutting your time short because you’re freezing. Add the local-family angle—this is a locally owned company in Húsavík—and the price starts to feel more like paying for an operation that has to get it right, day after day.
If whales are your priority, you’re paying for time on the water with the right people doing the right search work.
Who should book this (and who might think twice)
I think this tour is a great match if:
- you’re visiting Húsavík specifically for whale watching,
- you want a guide-led experience instead of a silent boat ride,
- you’d rather dress for the weather once and stop worrying,
- and you like getting explanations as you look, not after the fact.
It might be less ideal if:
- you know you get very seasick in open water,
- or you’re only interested in a guarantee of specific sightings (because the tour is still subject to wild conditions).
That said, the tour includes a safety net for the outcome. If no whales are seen (and dolphins are included in that condition), you’ll be offered a voucher for a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, though no refund is given.
Should you book Gentle Giants in Húsavík?
If you’re in northeastern Iceland and want your best shot at seeing whales in the North Atlantic, I’d book this. The combination of warm provided gear, a traditional oak boat, and guides who explain what you’re seeing makes the outing feel like more than a lottery ticket.
Just go in with the right mindset: wild whales are unpredictable, but this is set up for persistent searching in the right place. If you dress warm, stay flexible with weather, and keep your eyes on the water, you’re set up for a memorable day on Skjálfandi Bay.
FAQ
How long is the whale watching tour?
The tour lasts 3 hours.
Where do I meet the tour?
Meet at the Gentle Giants ticket center in central Húsavík. Look for the big blue flags.
Where does the tour end?
The activity ends back at the meeting point.
What is included in the tour price?
You get the whale watching cruise, a specialized guide with live commentary, and warm safety overalls (and rain jackets if needed).
Is hotel pickup included?
No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.
What language is the live guide in?
The live tour guide speaks English.
What should I bring?
Bring comfortable shoes and warm outdoor clothing (warm and waterproof clothing is strongly recommended).
What happens if no whales are seen?
If no whales are seen on the tour (dolphins included), you’ll be offered a voucher for a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, but no refund is given.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Contact the tour operator prior to arrival.
