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Ísafjörður

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Hornbjargsviti

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Whale Watching in Ísafjarðardjúp

A boat trip into the stunning Ísafjarðardjúp, in search of whales and other wildlife.

Set sail into the pristine waters of the Westfjords, where majestic giants of the sea await. Led by expert guides, our excursion promises thrilling encounters with humpback and minke whales, as well as dolphins and porpoises and more, amidst breathtaking coastal scenery. Immerse yourself in the wonders of Iceland’s rich marine life and create lifelong memories on this exhilarating experience with Borea Adventures.

Contents of this tour

Tour overview

Description

Join us on our fully fitted boat, where we depart from Ísafjörður and journey out into the surrounding Ísafjarðardjúp fjord. Here we will look out for the blows of distant whales, and our expert captain will take you as close as possible without causing any disturbance. The fjord is bursting with life, and there is the possibility of seeing humpback and minke whales, as well as dolphins and porpoises.
We will search for the humpback, as they are one of the few species of whale which flashes you their tail on a dive, an incredible sight to see! You are also likely to see the many puffins in the water which nest on nearby Vigur and Æðey islands.
On very rare occasions, orcas will also pass through the area. On our trip will be our experienced boat crew, and a guide to share with you their extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and area.
 
We will use our trips as an opportunity to add to the ongoing research on the whale population in the area, and guests are therefore encouraged to contribute to this by taking photos of the whales flukes (tails) for identification. 
 

We have a very high rate of sightings within the area, however, as we are observing wild animals, we cannot guarantee we will see whales on every tour.

Meeting point: Our Service Center (white container), Ísafjörður harbour.

Departure: 10:00 AM. Be there half an hour before departure time.

Minimum age: 4 years.

Group size: We need a minimum number of 15 participants to operate the tour. Maximum group size is 40.

Trip Difficulty: Easy

Duration of trip: 2.5 hours.

Photos

Itinerary

The journey begins at our boat, located opposite our gear storage on Mávagarður, where you will find our Borea logo and guide waiting to greet you. We board the boat, and enjoy approximately 2 hours in Ísafjarðardjúp, looking for whales, birds, and enjoying our time at sea. We will then return back to our base in Ísafjörður. 

What to bring

We do not supply overalls or extra clothing for this trip, so please come equipped for cold Icelandic weather with the following:
  • Warm outdoor clothing. Our boats, Sif and Íris, are fully fitted, and have a warm interior. However, the best place for spotting whales will be standing outside, and therefore we suggest to bring layers to keep you warm!
  • Waterproof jacket, and trousers if you have them.
  • Hat and gloves.
  • Sun glasses.
  • Sunscreen. 
  • Don’t forget your camera!

FAQ

No, Borea does not supply any clothing on this tour.
Yes, the age limit is 4 years as Borea does not have life jackets for infants.
Whale sitings are very common in the area although this is a wild environment so we can never give guarantees.
No, we do not have wheelchair access on our boats. We can accommodate people with limited mobility if they are able to go up and down 2-3 steps.

Map

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