Special Tours

Special Tours Wildlife Adventures – Whale Watching and Other Sea Tours!

Special Tours was founded in 1996 as an operator for puffin watching tours for tourists, and for scientific trips for school children. The company has since steadily branched out by offering whale watching, sea angling, northern lights by boat, Reykjavík by sea and numerous incentive & group tours.

Whale Watching

Join Special Tours for an informative and exciting whale watching tour! Our boats are located very close to the city centre in Reykjavík‘s famous Old Harbour. The most commonly spotted whales in Faxaflói Bay are minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, humpback whales and harbour porpoises. An experienced guide will share their extensive knowledge and fun facts about the wildlife we encounter at sea. While searching for the whales, enjoy the beautiful scenery all around you on our way out and back.

Special Tours is proud to offer three types of whale watching tours!

CLASSIC Whale Watching (3-3.5 hours) – Hop on board Andrea, one of the largest whale watching boats in Iceland, with plenty of space to view the whales both inside and outside! This tour operates year-round, and we are happy to be able to offer German guiding during the summer season. There is a special educational and interactive focus on board, with whale bones, teeth and baleen plates for passengers to see and touch. A cafe, souvenir shop and restrooms are all on board. Free Wi-Fi and warm overalls are also provided for everyone!

EXPRESS Whale Watching (2-2.5 hours) – Offered from May – September, this express tour goes on a smaller and faster boat. It is perfect for those looking for a bit of adventure, or simply trying to fit in as much as possible during their vacation! In only 20-30 minutes you will have reached the feeding grounds, spending less time waiting. A snack bar and restrooms are on the boat, and free Wi-Fi and warm overalls are provided for everyone!

RIB EXPRESS Whale Watching (2 hours) – We have two powerful RIB boats that allows us to get extra close to the whales in a way that is safe for both the animals and our lovely passengers. Available from April 15 – October 31st, this exciting express tour is extra-fast and has built in shock absorbing seats to make it more comfortable. During the summer months we also visit the islands that the puffins nest on during our way out to the feeding grounds. We provide warm overalls, life jackets, gloves and goggles for all passengers!

Please note that these tours are weather dependant and sightings of wildlife cannot be guaranteed. If you are not able to see the whales on your tour you will get a complimentary ticket to try again on the next available day!

Puffin Express (1 hour) – During the summer Special Tours offers a quick 1 hour tour to see the famous puffins! The puffins are in Iceland for their nesting season (around May 1st – August 20th), and have breeding grounds on islands just off the coast of Reykjavík. In only 15 minutes you will be out watching these adorable little birds while getting amazing views of Reykjavík and the surrounding mountains. Our boats can get you extra close to the islands! We provide binoculars on board and recomend a good camera lens for close-up pictures.

Puffin Express by RIB Speedboat (1 hour) – The Puffin Express by RIB Speedboat is the perfect option for an exciting, fast tour that presents the opportunity to get really close to the birds! The adventure starts at the Old Harbour of Reykjavík and only takes one hour.

Sea Angling (2.5-3 hours) – Enjoy a real fishing experience and a BBQ on board during this sea angling tour, available from May 1st – September 15th. This tour is great for all ages and levels of experience, as our expert crew is happy to assist anyone who is not familiar with fishing. All necessary fishing equipment and protective clothing is provided. The catch is grilled on board for an exceptionally delicious fresh taste straight from the ocean!

Northern Lights by Boat (2-3 hours) – Watching the northern lights from the ocean is an amazing experience you will not want to miss! Join us in search for the northern lights at sea, escaping the light pollution from the city. There is plenty of space on the outer viewing decks, and warm overalls are provided! There are also heated indoor seating areas, a special northern lights video and refreshments for sale. Your guide will explain the science behind the lights and share facts, stories and myths about the lights from cultures around the world. Please note that this tour is weather dependant and sightings of naturally occurring phenemona cannot be guaranteed. If you are not able to see the lights on your tour you will get a complimentary ticket to try again on the next available day!

Northern Lights by Boat with a Backup Plan (NON-REFUNDABLE)

This Northern Lights by Boat with a Backup Plan tour is a great choice for people who want a guaranteed adventure, even if the weather does not agree with us! If the Northern Lights tour is confirmed to sail, you will join the regularly scheduled tour. If the Northern Lights tour is not able to sail due to weather or cloud coverage you are automatically placed on another tour that has been set up in partnership with the Whales of Iceland museum. Enjoy a tour of the museum, a special Northern Lights video and a Q&A session with one of our expert Northern Lights guides and a complimentary drink! You will also receive a ticket to join the Northern Lights by Boat tour on the next available day.

All of our boats are very comfortable and have great viewing areas. Our three largest boats, Andrea, Lilja and Rósin, have free wireless internet on board. Warm overalls are provided for all whale watching and northern lights tours, and protective clothing is provided for all sea angling tours. Andrea has a cafeteria and souvenir ship, three different indoor saloons and six restrooms. The outside view over the ocean is beautiful, with room for all – very family friendly! Our regular express boats have a snack bar, modern and comfortable indoor seating areas, restrooms and great viewing platforms outside. Our RIB express boat is fitted with comfortable shock absorbing seats and all necessary safety gear provided – a fun and exciting tour for all!

Safety is Special Tours‘ number 1 priority and we follow IceWhale‘s code of conduct for responsible and sustainable whale watching. Special Tours also has an extensive environmental policy, and we are proud to be a certified gold member of Vakinn – Quality & Environmental Label of the Icelandic Tourist board, and to carry the Blue Flag since 2011. In 2016 Special Tours received the environmental awared of Faxaflóahafnir, Associated Icelandic Ports.

Special Tours is conveniently located in Reykjavík‘s Old Harbour, only a 5 minute walk from the city center. Pick-up & drop-off services are offered for an additional fee from all hotels and guesthouses (or designated pick-up zones) in the greater Reykjavík area.

“WE GO THE EXTRA MILE”