On days without fog, we get really nice views of the mountains around Skjálfandi Bay. The tops of the Cheek Mountains are covered with ice all year, but the colors of the mountains change a lot depending on the weather, sometimes white, brown, green, and even a bit red.
As the countdown to the start of the season ticked away, one question rose above the rest: Which species would we see first? Yesterday, we got our answer—and it was anything but expected. Our first sighting of the season came in with a burst of energy: 4 to 5 orcas, spread out across the water near Flatey Island, travelling with purpose and foraging as they moved.
Today, April 1st, our 2026 whale-watching season finally began. The day started off windy—especially at sea—so we had to delay our departures until the early afternoon. At last, it was time for our boats to head out for the first time this year and to mark the beginning of the company’s 25th year of whale-watching tours in Skjálfandi Bay.
Ready, set, go… in just a few days, we’ll be heading into Skjálfandi Bay again to explore the magic of this beautiful bay and its amazing inhabitants! Still thinking about joining? We’ll bet there’s one big question on your mind: Which tour is right for you? Here are our two most popular tours: GG1 Whale Watching – a classic whale watching tour on our traditional Icelandic oak boats GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins – an exciting adventure on our modern RIB speedboats Both tours offer excellent whale watching opportunities, and our experienced crew ensures a safe and memorable experience on either option.
Our season start is only a week away: on 1st of April, our boats will finally head back out at sea to commence our 25th year of whale watching. Are you planning on travelling to Iceland this season?Have you booked your tour yet? Here are some useful tips to make your experience even better.
Soon we will be sailing out from Húsavík harbour into the beautiful waters of Skjálfandi Bay again: In just half a month, on April 1st, our whale watching season begins — and we couldn’t be more excited! This year is especially meaningful for us as we celebrate our 25th year of offering whale watching tours from Húsavík, with daily departures running until November 30th.
Today, 8th of March, we celebrate the 115th International Women’s Day and this year’s powerful theme “Give to Gain.” As a female Head Guide and Captain at Gentle Giants Whale Watching, International Women’s Day is a good opportunity to reflect on the people I work with every day and the roles women play in the team.
Yesterday morning, we had the pleasure of welcoming students from Borgarhólsskóli (Húsavík’s elementary school) to our pier in Húsavík for a special outdoor learning session on board one of our oak boats, Sylvía.
We are incredibly proud to share some wonderful news: Fish & Chips Lake Mývatn has won International Fish and Chip Operator of the Year 2026 at the prestigious National Fish & Chip Awards, held yesterday in London.
Today we celebrate the incredible women who turn curiosity into knowledge – and knowledge into inspiration. At Gentle Giants, the majority of our guides and two captains are women from all over the world.
