Seeing the northern lights in iceland travel guide. Reykjavik whale watching in iceland itsallbee travel blog. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Sep 02, 2015 very little fin whale is sold in iceland. Tips for an epic icelandic road trip mapping megan.
Positioned on the edge of the arctic circle, iceland is one of the best places on the planet to see the northern lights. Featured are 23 lifesize models of the species found in icelandic waters. Downloading a weather app may help to gage what sort of day it will be, but you should never rely on what it says. Majestic glaciers grind their way through cracked lava fields, gushing geysers explode with a powerful force, glittering ice caps pierce the. In winter, however, there are a few weeks of almost complete darkness. Research open access finescale foraging movements by. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. All the year around youll be able to see a variety of whales by the coast, from the minke, humpback and killer whales to whitebeaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. How to choose the best whale watching tours in iceland and norway.
With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where. For exclusive tours please send us an inquiry at eldingatelding. At least one of the reykjavik whale watching operators publishes their trip diary on the web, so you can read their trip diary for last september and see just what it was like, how many trips were cancelled due to rough seas, how many whales they saw and of what kind. We spent the first two weeks of september 2018 traveling around icelands ring road in a camper van. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Whale watching around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. The high season for whale watching starts in april and lasts until midoctober. The best time to see humpback whales in costa rica is august and september. It turns out that iceland is a great place to see whales, one of the best destinations in europe in fact. If you are visiting in the summer months, it is a lot easier to take your time seeing everything you want in a day because there are so many hours of daylight. Iceland resumed commercial whaling on 21 october 2006 after icelandic whalers caught a fin whale. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages.
Whales populate the area yearround due to the unique sea conditions. The ultimate guide to graffiti and street art in reykjavik. The ultimate guide to iceland in april guide to iceland. As part of our cost efficiency planning, we are thinking of a camper van rental for the 12 days.
With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like. Lofotenbear islandspitsbergen, antarctic peninsula, antarctica falkland islands south georgia, dvd spitsbergen 09. Self drive vacations in iceland also called fly drive vacations are tailor made to suit your interests. Our first visit in this region is at the interactive lava center in hvolsvollur, where we learn about the geological forces that created the island were exploring. Iceland special tours whale watching and other tours from. And then theres gps navigation we cant live without siri telling us where to go. Its not really cold in iceland at the beginning of october. Iceland has blacksand beaches, natural springs, ice caves, whale watching, and a manmade lagoon that glows blue.
These range from one of the smallest marine mammals, the harbour porpoise, all the way up to the gigantic blue whale. From april to september the boat departs from olafsvik. Or if you prefer to head north and see icelands highlands and snaefellsnes peninsula, read our suggestions on how to make it happen here. We would like to see the western fjords and do the ring road. Whale watching in iceland check out a great resource for finding charters to let you compare what each company offers before you decide which tour to take with photos, videos and maps. Self drive holidays in iceland with tips on what routes to take such as the golden circle if you want to stay southwest of the island and visit sites like gullfoss waterfall and thingvellir national park. In this post, im sharing the pros and cons of 5 different. The first small flocks arrive in april and the last ones leave in september, but the best months to see puffins are from may to august. The success rate of the summer tours is over 95%, in the north, this is even higher at 98%. Whales of iceland is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world. Poised on a hilltop and capped by a glass dome that lets visitors gaze skyward, its most unique feature is the worlds first indoor ice cave, a 100meterlong manmade tunnel created with 380 tons of snow and ice, which is part of the glaciers and ice cave exhibition. Read our comprehensive guide and get to know what the mystical lights really are, what causes them, and where and when is the best to see them. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures.
Whale watching tours are a fun activity that can be enjoyed by travelers of all ages and group sizes. Video footage from our personal graffiti tour with local street artist selur. Sixteen days of driving to new places, exploring cool things, and meeting people from all over the world. On this whale watching excursion you will be able to get up close to some of icelands amazing wildlife. Iceland is close enough to the north pole to have a few months of midnight sun during which the sky is too bright for the northern lights to appear. You can see whales all along the pacific coast of costa rica during those months. As a disclaimer i havent been there myself but i guess it should be ok because its off route 1 which gets plowed year round. You can prepare yourself before visiting exhibition by downloading whales of. Our wallpapers come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and theyre all free to download. Iceland in october the ultimate guide admin september 5, 2019 iceland in october the ultimate guide 20190905t18. Our tour selection combines of whale watching, northern lights by boat, puffin, rib and sea angling tours among other exciting adventures. Inspiring scenery at every turn, extraordinary landscapes, and astounding natural wonders.
They recently published their findings in the secular journal geology. The best chances to see whales in iceland are in the summer months, april september, and. Eagerly he organized a team of creationist research scientists. Not everyone is lucky enough to get 12 days in iceland for this itinerary so check out natashas post on her weekend adventures around iceland. Summer tends to start in may and carries on until september, this is when there is the most amount of daylight hours in iceland. Posting your beautiful photos to instagram, keeping people updated with your instastoryadventurers dont quit just because they go on vacation. My partner and i are planning a trip to iceland for 2 weeks starting september 21, 2015. Make the most of your day and check out the various tours you can combine with your whale watching tour. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. If it were me, id probably take the transatlantic in august and save a canadanew england cruise for late september in hopes of a fall foliage experience. We were prepared for cold, wet and windy weather, which we got plenty of, but when the sun was out it was instant happiness. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in.
Dalvik village in north iceland is the best place for whale watching. Actually im also going to iceland next february and thinking of going on a whale watching tour thats how i found that place. Starting in reykjaviks old harbour, your whale watching adventure is located right in the city centre. Its 2016 and everyone still wants to be connected to wifi, even while theyre traveling. Northern lights iceland 2019 travel guide extreme iceland. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. They are still there but the sky is lit up by the sun so we cannot detect the aurora borealis in iceland. Icelandic nationalist discourse and the whaling issue. Property buying transaction costs are very minimal from 2. Beautiful inside passage from seattle with ovation of the seas.
A canadanew england cruise to halifax can be really nice in the late summer. Unsplash has the perfect desktop wallpaper for you. Whale watching tours are often combined with sea angling and puffin watching. Iceland, a major whaling nation since the late 19th century and a founding member of the iwc, did not formally object to the 1982 decision and was thus bound by the ban. Beautiful, free images gifted by the worlds most generous community of photographers. But it is nevertheless quite a lot cooler than in the uk, so we needed to get out some warmer clothes that were lightweight and would pack easily. However, many whales stay in the icelandic waters throughout the year. Its also one of the most accessible places to encounter them.
Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. The whale hunt, or grind as it is known, has been conducted for. Our tours have a 98% success rate for whale sightings thanks to the favorable icelandic waters. Our whale watching grounds include minke whales, whitebeaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and the great humpback whale.
Vacation companies will talk you through the regions you could visit, the time you might like to take it all in, and the type of vehicle you require. Read and watch the latest news, politics, sport, comment, tv and lifestyle from. On this escorted tour of iceland start and end in reykjavik, and witness these natural wonders while enjoying fun and unique experiences. Very unjust usage of the terrorist laws, used against iceland in a situation that has very little to do with terrorism, tv channel 2 reported tonight. Pitkern ailen, officially pitcairn, henderson, ducie and oeno islands, are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern pacific ocean that form the sole british overseas territory in the pacific ocean. Husavik whale museum the home of icelandic whale information is open in june, july and august from 09. Exports to the country from a single season net him around 2. November 18, 20 grapevine posts status in search of the grumpiest person in reykjavik. September 02, 20 grapevine posts article about a man parking his range rover across two spaces reserved for handicapped people. Thats one big whale of a tale, for creationists have been devoting many a printed and web pageand public lecturesto assertively debate the evolutionary whale claim. Iceland is a country known for its natural wonders. Hi, im thinking of visiting iceland in late september. Iceland had been on our mustdo holiday list for a while, but we wanted to do more than just visit the main tourist attractions. Entire family groups of whales, known as pods, are driven ashore and killed using hooks and knives.
Just 10 minutes north of hauganes is the scenic village of dalvik, at the mouth of svarfa. Whale watching in september iceland lonely planet forum. This layer is part of the pisco formation, which varies in thickness from 2001,000 m 6503,300 ft. Find local businesses and nearby restaurants, see local traffic and road conditions. This is when they come to breed and raise their young and is the best time to go on a costa rica whale watching tour. Gems of iceland with whale watching zrs 6 day tour from reykjavik to reykjavik active pace. Tips for an epic icelandic road trip iceland is literally a country which takes your breath away. Visit our website for bookings and further information.
In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. An average of 700 pilot whales and dolphins or more are slaughtered in the faroe islands every year. It takes planning, understanding, patience, monitoring of the conditions, and, of course, luck. Whale watching in septemberoctober iceland message board. The focus is naturally on the giants of the sea and we hope to see minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked. Despite a history that dates back thousands of years, graffiti in its modern form originated on the streets of philadelphia and new york in the late 1960s, when local gangs would tag subway carts with district news and territorial markings but as with most things, the rebel art form only started to root in the then. Oct 11, 2017 by far the best time of year for whale watching in iceland is during the summer months, from april through september, when over 20 species of cetaceaincluding the orca, minke, humpback, and blue whalecan be seen in the north atlantic and arctic oceans on either side of the island. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. Ultimate guide to reykjavik capital of iceland extreme.
Iceland has an exemption to the moratorium through the reservation made in 2002. All you need to know about whale watching in iceland. We spent 12 days in iceland in midoctober, the weather wasnt perfect for the majority of the trip but it was still stunning. Last year we visited iceland in the period 1730 september. Its really special experience to head out to see a whale move greacefully through gentle fjord waters or out across a bay, relatively close to the shore. Other mapping programs have a better process for getting offline data. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others.
We were thinking of 12 days of sightseeing on the road followed by 2 days in reykjavik. Both fishing villages are located on the north side of sn. In iceland today, the main political pressure point is from the whale. The capital of iceland is a vibrant nordic metropolis with colorful houses and interesting streets, where impressive. In the winter months, and even as early as september, the most magical displays of auroras will often appear in the skies of iceland.
Videos sailing ship tours with rolf stange spitsbergen. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. Iceland orca whale watching on snaefellsnes killer whales west. Whale watching in reykjavik iceland on the go tours us. Does whale watching from reykjavik make sense at this time. One stop guide to the best things to do in reykjavik. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. Seattle, juneau, inside passage, skagway, vancouver, bc. How to go whale watching in iceland whats on in iceland. Of the 23 different species of whale found in iceland s waters, eight are frequently spotted on whale watching excursions. Whale watching cruise if you find yourself in iceland in the summer months then one of the best things to do in reykjavik is to check out a whale watching cruise. We often see other beautiful marine creatures such as. Catching the northern lights is, however, a gift that is not given to everyone who visits iceland. The best time to watch whales in iceland is from april until september, when over 20 species of cetacea can be observed.
Iceland was absolutely stunning and im already dying to go back. We were staying for 3 nights in iceland, and flying with only hand luggage. Does anyone know how good the whale watching is out of reykjavik at that time of year. At the time of settlement, there were probably more whale species in the ocean around the country than nowadays. What we packed october weekend away in iceland what to. In the summer of 2014, i saw the minke whale feeding off the coast. Cruises from seattle 20202021 save up to 39% dreamlines. The perlan pearl in english was an instant hit with reykjavik visitors when it opened in 2017. It seems to have the highest chance of encountering whales in winter.
It wasnt until my trip to reykjavik, iceland that this dream came true. Twentyfive nations delivered a formal diplomatic protest called a demarche to the icelandic government on 1 november 2006 concerning resumed commercial whaling. The official humpback season in costa rica is december to march and. The four islandspitcairn proper, henderson, ducie and oenoare scattered across several hundred miles of ocean and have a. From iceland christmas time with the grumpiest man in. In 1982, the international whaling commission iwc imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling, effective from 1986. Top 10 apps for travelling in iceland guide to iceland. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Special tours offers amazing sea adventures from reykjavik, iceland. Michael dobbs was interviewed on sky news by adam boulton where the use of terrorist laws against iceland and icelandic companies was discussed amongst other topics. If your cruise is for august, keep in mind that summer storms can influence the weather in the north atlantic. Whale watching, held in taiwan in september, 2004 and though not represented at the. Whales are mentioned in the oldest documented sources and beached whales have always been considered a great perquisite, especially when times were hard. The buyer shoulders all costs when buying property, which include real estate agents fee, stamp duty, and registration fee.
Use this map type to plan a road trip and to get driving directions in iceland. Dtags were deployed during august and september 20092012 in the coastal waters of northeastern vancouver island and the. Although in most cases, the cars are four wheel drive 4x4. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them. Are different whales sighted or do certain types have more likelihood of sightings during different times of year.