Witness the wonders of Icelandic wildlife
Iceland sits in a unique position in the far north of Planet Earth. At the heart of the North Atlantic Ocean, our island holds some of the richest sealife you can see anywhere. Come and witness the sheer variety of these waters on an Iceland wildlife tour.
Whales are the stars of the show. There’s no doubt that Iceland is one of the best places to see these magnificent creatures anywhere in the world. As many as 23 different species of whale make Iceland’s coasts their home throughout the year, coming here to feed on the immense stocks of fish.
On an Icelandic wildlife tour, you’ll have the chance to see humpbacks, minke whales, orca, and sperm whales. If you’re very lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the mighty blue whale, or even the mysterious white beluga whales that come down to Iceland from the Arctic.
Of course, what you can see might change from day to day or throughout the season. That said, a resident colony of orca lives close to Reykjavík year-round, while humpbacks are frequently seen in the Eyjafjörður, next to Akureyri.
Then, of course, there are the dolphins and seals too. Seals can be seen year-round on the coasts of Iceland, hauled up on the beaches in huge numbers. Look to the waters for dolphins and porpoises. They’re a common fixture in Faxaflói Bay, for example, the area of sea between Reykjanes and Snæfellnes.
Wildlife tours in Iceland are the most reliable way to see all these creatures. At Icelandia, our guides can take you to the areas where they’re most commonly found. You’ll have the chance to get up close and witness their magic for yourself.
Explore our tours below to find out more and book your trip.
FAQ:
A great way to avoid the crowds on an Iceland wildlife trip is to visit in the shoulder months, like May or September, or book a trip for the winter. This is a time when fewer visitors are around and you can see Iceland’s miraculous creatures almost all by yourself.
Alternatively, take a tour on a small boat. Explore our tours to find the right option for you.
There are no bears in Iceland. They’re not a native species. Sometimes, polar bears arrive in Iceland on sea ice from places such as Greenland. However, that happens rarely and they are caught immediately.
The summer months are the best time for whale watching in Iceland, from May to August. This is when most of the species come to Icelandic waters and you’ll have the biggest chance to see them.
However, you can see incredible wildlife throughout the year too. Orca, for example, are known to stay in Icelandic seas year round, even in winter.
There are very few harmful animals in Iceland. The Arctic fox is the largest land predator and there have been very few cases of them being aggressive to humans.
Whichever animals you see on your trip to Iceland, it’s important that you treat them with gentleness, caution, and respect. Even horses and reindeer can be dangerous if they feel threatened.
The best wildlife tours in Iceland are those that take you out to sea to witness the country’s incredible marine life. On boat trips from Reykjavík, Akureyri, and other ports, you’ll see some of the best that Iceland has to offer.
Expect whales, seals, dolphins, and more. And look to the skies and the cliffs for rich birdlife too. Puffins are one of the highlights.
Explore our Icelandic wildlife tours for more.
Probably the most rewarding place to see wildlife in Iceland is at sea. Here, you’ll glimpse the country’s—if not the world’s—most magnificent creatures, including as many as 23 different types of whales.
It’s along Iceland’s coasts where you’ll find most of Iceland’s birdlife too. Puffins, oystercatchers, and Arctic terns all make the coasts their home.
Take a wildlife tour by boat to see this breathtaking variety.
There are no poisonous snakes in Iceland. In fact, there are no snakes at all.
That’s unless you include the legendary Lagarfljót Worm. Said to live in Lagarfljót, a lake to the east of Iceland, the Worm is thought to be a serpent-like creature longer than a bus. It has been spoken of since the fourteenth century, with sightings as recent as 2012.
While it’s unclear what it is precisely, it’s not thought to be poisonous!
Unlike other northern regions of the world, there are no bears that are native to Iceland.
In fact, there is only one native land mammal: the Arctic fox. All other mammals that you can see across Iceland—horses, reindeer, or sheep—have all been brought to the country over the centuries.
Interestingly, though, polar bears are very occasionally seen in Iceland. They sometimes drift here on icebergs from Greenland. We mean very occasionally—there have been fewer than ten sightings this century.
You can see wild animals across Iceland. Arctic foxes, for example, are one of the most marvellous—and elusive—wild creatures to see on land, alongside reindeer and horses that are left to roam free in the summer.
Look to the sea or the air for the main attractions, though. At sea you can witness whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and more. Meanwhile, Iceland has an incredibly rich seabird population, including puffins, terns, gyrfalcons, and golden plovers.
The best place to see wild animals in Iceland is at sea. Iceland’s ocean is full of breathtaking creatures, including whales, sharks, seals, and porpoises. It’s the place to see our rich birdlife too, such as puffins, Arctic terns, and even the gyrfalcon.
There are no native animals that are found only in Iceland.
However, the Icelandic horse is quite particular to our country. It has been bred here since the Nordic people first settled in Iceland, and it is known for its hardiness and strength.
These days, this specific type of horse can only be found in Iceland.
There are no large predators in Iceland, unless you include humans of course!
Rather, the only native land mammal in Iceland is the rather adorable Arctic fox. These rarely grow to more than a half a metre in length, and they feed on things like eggs, small birds, and fish.
If you count sea creatures, one of the biggest predators out there is the orca, otherwise known as the killer whale.
There are very few spiders in Iceland, and none of them are dangerous to humans. The largest spider species is the common garden spider, which can grow up to a not-so-large two centimetres long.
Big spiders are not typically to be found in the northern parts of the world. If you want to see large spiders, the tropics are where you’ll find them.
There are five species in Iceland that can be accurately called sharks: the Greenland shark, the porbeagle, and three species of dogfish. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll manage to see these while you’re visiting.
You might try eating the Greenland shark, though. It’s this enormous creature that Icelanders use to make the infamous traditional dish, kæstur hákarl, or fermented shark.