• Through our website

• Send us an e-mail to [email protected]

• Call us +354 464 1500

• Visit our Ticket Center in Húsavík – look for our big white house and blue flags in the center of town

Gentle Giants is located in Húsavík, northeast Iceland. Our Ticket Center is conveniently located in Húsavík. All our boat tours depart from Húsavík harbour right beneath our Ticket Center.

We offer daily departures for our two favourite whale watching excursions:

GG1 Whale Watching on our traditional oak boats.

GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins on our RIB speedboats.

In addition, we offer the following private tours upon request:

• Flatey Island Tours
• Sea Angling
• Tailormade Tours

An overview of all our tours can be found here.

We offer daily departures from 1st of April until the 30th of November. The peak season for whales is May to September. However, in recent years we have seen whales almost daily even in April, October and November.

Our whale watching tours take place in wild nature, which is very unpredictable. The chances of seeing whales are very high, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. If no whales (dolphins included) are seen on the tour, passengers are welcome to join a GG1 Whale Watching tour free of charge, depending on availability. Passengers can get a voucher for a free GG1 Whale Watching tour that is valid for the passengers of the original booking. The voucher is valid on tours where availability and bookings in advance cannot be made. The voucher is valid unlimited. We do not refund tickets if no whales (dolphins included) are seen on the tour.

Generally May to September are our most successful months. However, in recent years, April, October and November have also been successful with whale sightings.

There is no time of the day when we are more likely to see the whales. They come and go and the situation in the bay can change very fast. Sometimes we see many whales, sometimes few. Nature is unpredictable and no two tours are exactly the same – every trip is a new adventure.

The most common whale species are harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, humpback whale and blue whale.

The crew of Gentle Giants is trained to follow the Code of Conduct for responsible whale watching set by IceWhale, the Icelandic Whale Watching Association:

"We have to remember that these are wild animals and to enjoy them for the future we need to show them patience and respect. We will try to get you close but how close we get is always on the animal’s terms as we aim to minimize disturbance."

Sometimes, whales approach our boats by their own means, other times they prefer to stay a bit further away. This is wild and unpredictable nature in which the animals are the directors of the show!

Yes, dolphins are in fact part of the whale family:
All whales, dolphins and porpoises are classified as cetacean species. Cetacea derives from the Greek word for whale, ketos. Within the order of the Cetacea are two suborders: baleen whales and toothed whales.

Dolphins belong to the toothed whales.

The puffin season is from April 15th – August 15th approximately. During that period, our GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins stops by Puffin Island (Lundey) to observe the so-called "Clowns of the Sea".

Outside puffin season, the tour focuses on more whale watching instead.

Puffin Island is one of the largest puffin colonies around Iceland. Annually, about 100.000 individuals come here for their nesting season.

While of course this is wild nature and wildlife, it is quite certain to see puffins on and around the island during puffin season between April 15th and August 15th on our GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins.

For the safety and comfort of our passengers, captains might decide to not visit the island on days with challenging sea conditions, due to the island's position in the bay. While we aim on notifying our customers about changes in the tour itinerary before check-in, this can not be guaranteed in all situations.

Our GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins on our modern RIB speedboats includes a stop at Puffin Island during puffin season (April 15th – August 15th).

Alternatively, it is possible to book a private tour on our modern RIB speedboats, the GG6 Puffins Exclusive, to visit Puffin Island.
Please note, this is not a scheduled tour, but a private boat rental instead. The tour duration is approximately 1 hour and can only be booked on request.

It is not possible to enter Puffin Island as it is privately owned. All observations are made from our boats, which can easily navigate around the island for some great looks of the puffins.

Another great option, especially for bird lovers, is a tour to Flatey Island, which is not only home to several puffin colonies, but also many other migratory bird species during the summer months.

Click on the button below to learn more about the tour options with us to visit this incredible bird paradise:

GG4 Flatey Island

The water around Puffin Island is very shallow and vegetated with kelp. Therefore, our boats can not sail all the way up close to the island. While you will still be able to spot the puffins on land, the tour focuses on the puffins on the water and around the island instead.

It is possible to make a tour without booking in advance. However, we do recommend booking before, especially during the high season from June to August. For booking:

• Book online

• Book through e-mail to [email protected]

• Call us +354 464 1500

• Visit our Ticket Center in Húsavík – look for our big white house and blue flags in the center of town

All prices are shown on our website in ISK and include all taxes. In our Ticket Center we accept all major cards and currencies, based on the current currency exchange rate.

Online paid reservations which are cancelled more than 24 hours before departure will be fully refunded. Cancellations received less than 24 hours before departure will be charged full price.

Reservations can be changed depending on availability on tours, without any extra cost.

For cancellations and changes, visit My Booking or contact us directly!

We understand that travel plans may change. You can manage and change your tour date at any time online:

My Booking

For further assistance, you are welcome to send us an email on [email protected] or call +354 464 1500.

If you have booked through a travel agency, please contact the agency to change your booking.

Tours are dependent on weather and sea conditions. For your safety and comfort, we reserve the right to change or cancel departures, even with short notice, should weather or other conditions change.

Please note, if weather or sea conditions are unfavourable, captains may set limitations in age or exclude children or elderly people from a tour, for their own safety.

In case of cancellations due to weather, customers can either receive a full refund or change their departure depending on availability.

If you have booked through a travel agency or booking platform, refunds are administered by the respective seller.

The tours on our RIB speedboats are not allowed for passengers with heart– or back problems or pregnant women.

The minimum age limit for children on the RIB speedboats is 8 years and a minimum of 130 cm in height are required for safety reasons.

It is the customer's responsibility to ensure that every passenger in the booking meets these criteria.

YES! Children of all ages are welcome to join our GG1 Whale Watching on our traditional oak boats. This tour is a wonderful family friendly experience and fun for all ages.

It is especially important to dress children very warmly and to bring extra layers should they still get cold during the tour. Woolen layers, including woolen socks, are highly recommended. Remember to bring along a hat and gloves for them.

While we do have children sized overalls, they might not fit perfectly and require to be folded by the arms and legs.
Our smallest overall size is 128.

The GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins can be joined by children that are at least 8 years old and 130 cm in height.

Please note, if weather or sea conditions are unfavourable, captains may set limitations in age or exclude children entirely from a tour, even with short notice, for their own safety.

People with mobility issues, please contact us prior to booking and we will be happy to assist you.

A minimum number of passengers is required for all our tours. If the minimum number is not reached, we reserve the right to change or cancel departures, even with short notice.
In such cases, customers are offered alternative options.

We provide warm safety overalls (obligatory for everyone on our RIB speedboat tours) as well as rain jackets if needed.
The extra clothing provided by us is included in the ticket.

We highly recommend that passengers bring their own warm and waterproof clothes and footwear as well as hat, scarf and gloves.

It is especially important to dress children very warmly and to bring extra layers should they still get cold during the tour. Woolen layers, including woolen socks, are highly recommended. Remember to also bring along a hat and gloves for them.

It is advisable to bring protective bags for cameras as it can be cold and wet out at sea.

GG1 Whale Watching

Our overall sizes range up to 3XL.

Overalls are not obligatory on our oak boat tours, unless the captain decides differently due to weather or sea conditions.

GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins

Our overall sizes range up to 2XL.

Overalls are obligatory on our RIB speedboat tours. People must fit in an overall, with the zippers closed, to join the tours on our RIB speedboats.

If you are concerned the overall might not fit you, we recommend to book on our website and choose the option "pay on arrival". You are welcome to arrive a bit earlier at our Ticket Center to try on an overall in privacy. If it does not fit, you can reschedule free of charge to a GG1 Whale Watching, depending on availability.

GG1 Whale Watching

It is not required to wear a life jacket on our oak boats, however, there are plenty on board the vessels.
In the beginning of the tour, the crew demonstrates where to locate and how to make use of these life jackets in case of an emergency.

Young children are required to wear life jackets at all times. Life jackets for children are handed out by the crew when boarding for the tour.

For everyone's safety, we use flotation overalls on board all our boats.

If you wish to wear a life jacket regardless, you are welcome to address this to the crew.

GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins

Life jackets are obligatory for everyone on board our RIB speedboats.

For GG1 Whale Watching on board the oak boats there is a toilet on board.
However, we recommend to make use of the toilets on land (by the Ticket Center or the RIB Center) before boarding for the tour.

For GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins on board the RIB speedboats there is no toilet on board.

There are bathrooms for our customers by the Ticket Center as well as by the RIB Center by the harbour.

No, we do not serve any food or drinks on board our boats.

However, you are welcome to take your own drinks (non-alcoholic) and snacks with you if you like.

If you know you are prone to motion sickness, it is advisable to take precautions and follow general prevention tips.

Generally, the RIB speedboats are a lot more stable on the water, which reduces the chances of getting seasick.

If you are concerned, you're always welcome to contact us for updates on sea conditions or further questions.

Gentle Giants does not give out seasickness medication. If you wish to take preventive medication, a pharmacy is located across the road from our Ticket Center.

No, smoking is not allowed on our boats or premises, including the smoking of electronic cigarettes.

Space on board is limited so we recommend that bigger bags and backpacks are not brought with.

Small bags, including camera bags, can be brought on board if necessary.

We are not able to provide any secure luggage storage or lockers (neither on land nor on board).
No responsibility is taken for personal belongings brought on board or left behind in our RIB Center.

The departure time stated on the booking confirmation is when the boat is scheduled to depart from the harbour.

Please arrive at the Gentle Giants Ticket Center latest 40 minutes before departure time.

Every passenger must check-in and sign a passenger list at the Ticket Center – also those who have prepaid or hold a voucher.

Boarding and dress-up into overalls starts 25 minutes before departure time.

Note: Toilets are located by the Ticket Center, by the RIB Center and on the oak boats only.

1. Behind the church:
   (66.046130, -17.340700 / 66°02'46.1"N 17°20'26.5"W)
   
   
2. By the beach close to the harbour:
   (66.043710, -17.342700 / 66°02'37.4"N 17°20'33.7"W)

Please leave larger bags behind due to limited space on board and no secure luggage storage on site.

You are welcome to bring your phone and camera with on the tour – on your own responsibility.

The boats slow down / stop once with a whale or around dolphins so that everyone can enjoy the sightings and take great photos.

Protective / waterproof bags for phones and cameras are advisable as it can be wet out at sea.

Please note that no responsibility is taken for cameras and phones.

If you would like to get some close-up shots of the whales, a zoom lens can get you some great results.

On the other hand, a regular lens or phone camera enable you to also capture the beautiful surrounding that the whale is swimming in. Skjálfandi Bay is truly picturesque.

In the end, it depends on your preferences and what type of photos you'd like to shoot.

We never know how close we will get to the whales. On some tours they might surface close to the boats or approach us, on other tours they decide to stay further away.

When approaching wildlife, we follow the Code of Conduct issued by IceWhale.

"We have to remember that these are wild animals and to enjoy them for the future we need to show them patience and respect. We will try to get you close but how close we get is always on the animal’s terms as we aim to minimize disturbance."

No, drones are not allowed on our scheduled tours.

In accordance with regulation no. 990 / 2017 on the operation of unmanned aircrafts (UAV), flight safety and the safety and rights of citizens and the protection of wildlife, we cannot allow drones to be flown from and around our vessels while at sea.