We arrived at Reykjavík's Old Harbour on a late September afternoon, ready for something a little different.
We were going on a Whale Safari — not on one of the larger whale-watching boats, but on a fast RIB that would take us straight out onto the ocean.
From the moment we arrived, the staff were friendly and welcoming. We were given warm protective suits to put on, with protective glasses available as well. Once we were suited up, we headed outside, where we were fitted with life jackets before walking down towards the harbour.
And then we saw our boat.
A RIB. A proper speedboat.
Oh yes. This was going to be fun.
起价
ISK 24,900
Leaving Reykjavík's Old Harbour
We climbed aboard, got settled and slowly made our way out of the harbour.
That calm pace didn't last very long.
Once we were clear of the harbour, the boat opened up and suddenly we were speeding across the water, leaving Reykjavík behind us.
This was already becoming much more than a normal sightseeing cruise. Being so close to the water in a small RIB makes you feel every turn and every wave, and there is a real sense that you're heading out to sea to search for wildlife rather than simply waiting for it to appear.
We passed Grótta and continued farther out into Faxaflói Bay.
Now the search really began.
Looking for Whales
Our guide explained what we should be looking for.
It wasn't simply a case of staring at the water hoping a whale would suddenly appear. We learned to watch the behaviour of seabirds as well. When large numbers of birds gather over one area, it can indicate feeding activity below the surface — and where there is food, there can also be larger marine life nearby.
Before long, the crew spotted something in the distance.
A fin.
Something was moving through the water.
We headed closer and discovered dolphins in the distance. They weren't particularly interested in us that afternoon, and our guide joked that sometimes they simply aren't in the mood to come and say hello.
Fair enough.
This is wildlife, after all. Nothing is staged and nothing is guaranteed.
So we continued searching.
And Then We Found Them
A little farther out, suddenly there it was.
A whale.
And then another.
Two whales.
This was exactly what we had come hoping to see.
Our skipper carefully positioned the RIB so we could get remarkably close while we watched them surface. Cameras came out immediately, but there were also moments when you simply wanted to put the phone down and watch.
Seeing a whale from a distance is one thing.
Being down at water level in a small RIB as one surfaces nearby is something completely different.
We stayed for a while, watching them come to the surface several times and trying to capture a few photographs before the crew decided it was time to continue.
And they weren't finished yet.
One More Whale — Even Closer
The crew found another whale.
This time it came incredibly close to the boat.
That was probably the moment that really sold the RIB experience for us.
You're not standing several metres above the water on the deck of a large ship. You're sitting almost at sea level, right in the environment you're exploring.
When a whale surfaces nearby, you feel genuinely close to it.
It was fantastic.
Why We'd Choose the RIB Again
After doing whale watching this way, I would choose a RIB safari again without hesitation.
Large whale-watching boats absolutely have their place, but for us, the small RIB made the experience much more exciting and personal. You can cover distance quickly when the crew spots activity elsewhere, and when wildlife appears, you're right down at water level.
Of course, these are wild animals. No crew can decide where the whales will be or what they will do on a particular day.
That uncertainty is part of the experience.
You're actually searching for them.
Our Verdict
We went out from Reykjavík hoping to see whales.
We came back having raced across Faxaflói Bay in a RIB, spotted dolphins, watched multiple whales surface and had one come remarkably close to our boat.
But what made the experience work wasn't only the wildlife.
The Whale Safari crew were friendly from the moment we arrived, explained what we should be looking for and clearly knew how to search the bay without making the experience feel rushed.
For us, the combination of the speedboat, the small group and the close-to-the-water perspective made this far more exciting than simply watching from the deck of a large vessel.
