Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

A RIB ride changes everything. This Húsavík whale and puffin safari uses a fast, open boat to cover more of Skjálfandi Bay, with Puffin Island on the right dates. It’s built for people who want real wildlife time, not just a long sit-and-wait cruise.

I especially like the small-group vibe (max 12) and the fact that the crew helps you stay warm with mandatory safety overalls plus rain gear if needed. One thing to keep in mind: the sea and weather control the route, and even in puffin season the Puffin Island stop can be skipped if conditions change.

Key Things I’d Focus On

• Skjálfandi Bay coverage in a RIB: faster access to where whales and porpoises surface
• Warm, obligatory survival suits: practical comfort for cold, wet wind on the water
• Puffin Island timing: visit is tied to the April 15 to August 15 season, with flexibility if seas turn
• Expert nature guides on board: live spotting help and species behavior explanations as you cruise
• High sighting odds, not guarantees: you’re promised a search, not a guaranteed whale show
• Photo expectations: the island can be far for phone cameras, but boats stay closer to active water

Húsavík’s Whale-Watching Edge: Why a RIB Safari Works Here

Húsavík is often called the whale-watching capital of Europe for a reason, and Gentle Giants is clearly aiming at that sweet spot: lots of time searching in the right place. The tour runs from the Gentle Giants Husavík Whale Watching ticket center on Garðarsbraut, and you’re in the action fast—no half-day logistics detours.

What I like most is that this isn’t a big slow vessel that covers less water. A RIB speedboat can change positions quickly, and whale watching is a game of timing and tides. If a pod is moving or surfacing in a new spot, speed matters. On calm days, you may even get noticeably close views—close enough to see the texture of a whale’s surfacing behavior rather than just a distant spout.

The second big reason this tour clicks is the guide-led search. The boat is moving, but you’re not just scanning. You get live commentary and help spotting whales, porpoises, and other wildlife signs. That turns your time on the water from passive watching into active learning.

The 2-Hour Flow: What You’ll Do on the Water (and What Can Change)

This is a 2-hour, fully guided wildlife safari by RIB, with a single main stop: gentle giants whale watching. In the puffin season window, the tour also visits Puffin Island during breeding time—when puffins are actively nesting and more visible from the water.

Here’s the key thing for planning: the puffin stop is seasonal and also weather-dependent. In practice, that means:

• Outside the April 15 to August 15 puffin season, the tour focuses more on whales.
• If sea conditions shift with short notice, you may skip the Puffin Island visit even if you booked during peak season.

So you should treat Puffin Island like a bonus that’s likely when conditions cooperate, not a separate promise that’s immune to reality. The upside is that even when puffins are missed, the boat still prioritizes whales and porpoises.

The tour ends back where it starts, so you don’t need to rearrange your evening plans around a complicated return schedule. It’s also designed to be easy to slot into a day in Húsavík: most accommodations are close enough that you can walk to the meeting point.

Who’s Driving the Search: Guides, Crew, and the Gear That Makes It Bearable

This kind of tour lives or dies on execution. Gentle Giants keeps the crew focus tight, with professional guidance and a captain who’s doing navigation and positioning in real ocean conditions. The reviews you can read on this experience repeatedly circle the same themes: friendly staff, competent boat handling, and a guide who knows what to look for and how to explain it while you’re moving.

You’ll also notice that the company puts real emphasis on the cold-water reality. Warm safety overalls are required, and rain jackets are provided if needed. You’re not left to guess how to dress like a hero. If the weather is biting, you’ll still be able to stay outside and look around instead of retreating from the wind.

A practical detail worth knowing: the RIB setup uses individual seats, similar to a snowmobile or motorcycle seating feel. That matters because standing at the right moments can reduce jolts when the boat hits waves. If you feel safe doing it, it can make a big difference to comfort on choppy water. You won’t be forced to do anything, but knowing this helps you avoid thinking the ride is “wrong”—it’s just the RIB style.

Puffin Island vs. Whale Watching: How to Set Your Expectations

This tour’s name puts puffins next to whales, so it’s natural to wonder what you’ll actually spend your time on. Here’s how to think about it.

During puffin season (roughly April 15 to August 15), Puffin Island is a major draw. You may see puffins flying, resting on the sea, and nesting around the island area. But there’s a detail that can catch people off guard: not every bird will be close enough for tight phone photos. Some parts of the island can be farther out, so you might get better results with a zoom camera if you’re serious about shots.

Outside that season, you should expect fewer puffin moments and more emphasis on whales. That also means the crew’s effort is concentrated on animal behavior, surfacing areas, and where whales and porpoises are most likely to appear as the boat moves through Skjálfandi Bay.

Most of the time, the big win here isn’t just the number of species. It’s the feeling of being guided to sightings. When you’re watching whales and you understand what you’re seeing—blow timing, surfacing patterns, and how the animals react—you get a lot more out of the moment.

Wildlife Sightings: Why the “Up to 99%” Claim Matters (and How to Read It)

The tour advertises up to 99% chances of whale sightings, which is a strong promise. But the more honest way to plan is to treat this as “you’re likely to see something”—not that you’ll always see whales on every trip.

Two practical points help you stay grounded:

• Whales and dolphins are wild animals. They move, and they don’t follow your schedule.
• The tour does not offer refunds if no whales or dolphins are sighted on your trip. Instead, you may receive a voucher to join a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, depending on availability.

That sounds strict, but it’s also the reality of wildlife tourism. What you can control is your preparation: pick the right season for puffins, dress for the cold, and arrive early so you can get kitted out quickly. When you do those things, your experience stays focused on the search, not on being unprepared for the weather.

If you want the biggest odds of seeing multiple species, puffin season is a fun bet, but whales are the main event almost year-round. Even in off-puffin months, your time is still optimized for gentle-giant hunting.

Photos, Phones, and Comfort: Tips That Actually Help

If you’re the type who brings a camera specifically for wildlife, you’ll be glad this tour encourages real viewing time. One useful tip from experience: leaving your phone in a pocket can help you pay attention when the boat positions for a sighting. It’s easier to react fast when you aren’t fumbling for your screen.

For photos:

• Phone cameras can struggle when puffins are farther from the boat, especially if you’re trying to zoom digitally.
• A zoom camera helps when the island is at a distance or when birds are moving quickly.
• For whales, image quality improves when you’re ready before the action, since surfacing can be sudden and brief.

Comfort is mostly about layering and mindset. Bring warm and waterproof clothing even though you’ll get overalls and possible rain jackets. Cold wind hits harder on the water, and being too warm or too bulky isn’t as comfortable as being properly layered. Your overalls will do a lot, but your base layers still matter.

Price and Value: Is $180.27 a Fair Trade?

At $180.27 per person, this isn’t a cheap activity. So the real question is value: what are you buying?

You’re paying for:

• A RIB speedboat that can reach more of the search area and reposition quickly
• Professional guide-led spotting with live commentary
• Mandatory warm safety overalls and rain jackets if needed
• A small maximum group size (max 12), which usually improves the feeling of personal attention
• A practical, walking-distance departure in Húsavík
• Even some exclusive discounts with selected local partners in the area

When I compare that to typical “one big boat, one long cruise” whale watching, the RIB format is a key part of the value story. Speed and positioning aren’t marketing fluff in a whale tour—they affect how often you can stay on a sighting before it moves away.

Also, the feedback score is hard to ignore: this tour is rated 4.8 with 417 reviews, and it’s recommended by 94%. A high score doesn’t guarantee your exact whale moment, but it does suggest consistent operations and a crew that’s good at keeping people safe and engaged.

One final value note: it’s booked about 50 days in advance on average, so if your travel dates are fixed, you’ll want to lock in early rather than gamble on last-minute availability.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Should Skip It)

This is a strong fit if you want:

• Fast, active whale watching from Húsavík
• A guided search with live commentary while you’re on the water
• Puffin Island during the April 15 to August 15 season
• A smaller group experience rather than a cattle-car vibe

It may not be the best match if you:

• Have heart- or back problems, or are pregnant (these passengers are not allowed on this tour)
• Hate being outdoors in cold wind, even with proper winter gear (you will be on the water and exposed to weather)

The minimum age (8 years) and minimum height (130 cm) also means it can work for older kids who can handle the cold and the RIB ride. If you’re traveling with a child, plan on a full adult companion presence as required.

If you’re short on time in North Iceland, this also works because it’s only about two hours and it doesn’t require long transfers.

Should You Book Gentle Giants’ Big Whale Safari & Puffins?

If you’re choosing between “generic whale watching” and a RIB-style, guided search, I’d lean toward this. You’re getting the right combination for Húsavík: speed to chase movement, guides who help you spot and understand wildlife, and warm overalls so you can focus instead of shivering.

Book it if:

• You want a lively RIB experience rather than a slow cruise
• You’re visiting during puffin season and want Puffin Island as part of the day
• You care about small-group feel and strong crew execution

Skip or reconsider if:

• You need puffin island to be guaranteed no matter what (it can be skipped if sea conditions change)
• You’d be deeply disappointed without whales or dolphins (this tour doesn’t refund in that specific scenario, though you may get a voucher option depending on availability)

FAQ

How long is the Big Whale Safari & Puffins speedboat tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Gentle Giants – Husavík Whale Watching at Garðarsbraut, 640 Húsavík, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is the Puffin Island visit included year-round?

Puffin Island is visited during the puffin breeding season, roughly April 15 to August 15. Outside that period, the focus is more on whales.

What happens if the sea conditions change during the tour?

If weather or sea conditions change, even with short notice, the Puffin Island visit may be skipped.

What wildlife might I see?

You go searching for whales and porpoises with the help of nature guides. During puffin season, you also visit Puffin Island to look for puffins.

What should I wear?

Bring warm and waterproof clothing. Warm safety overalls are mandatory, and rain jackets are provided if needed.

What is the minimum age and height?

Minimum age is 8 years, and minimum height is 130 cm.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Will I get a refund if no whales or dolphins are sighted?

No refunds are permitted if no whales or dolphins are sighted. You may be offered a voucher to join a traditional whale watching tour free of charge, depending on availability.

What if the tour is cancelled due to poor weather?

If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered an alternative date or a full refund.