Algengar spurningar

Við mælum með að þú bókir í gegn um heimasíðu okkar, þar sem þú getur séð ferðaáætlun og miðaframboð í rauntíma, og getur tryggt þér pláss í þá ferð sem þú óskar þér, sérstaklega á hánnatíma. Athugið að í sumum ferðum lokast fyrir bókanir á netinu 30-60 mín. fyrir brottför, en í flestum tilfellum er áfram hægt að kaupa miða í miðasölu okkar á höfninni, þar til á síðustu mínútu.

Já, á vefsíðu okkar geturðu valið úr fjölbreyttu úrvali ferða, sett þær í körfuna og gengið frá þeim samtímis. Við bjóðum einnig upp á samsettar ferðir sem teymið okkar hefur sett saman - þar sameinum við vinsælustu ferðirnar okkar í hentuga pakka. Fyrir frekari upplýsingar eða til að sérsníða ferðina þína, endilega hafðu samband við okkur beint í gegnum netfangið elding@elding.is og við aðstoðum þig.

Þegar greiðsla hefur verið afgreidd færðu staðfestingarpóst með öllum upplýsingum um ferðina þína, þar á meðal dagsetningu, tíma og upphafsstað. Vinsamlegast gakktu úr skugga um að setja inn réttar upplýsingar í bókunarferlinu til að forðast tafir á samskiptum - sérstaklega ef við þurfum að láta þig vita af mikilvægum breytingum eða uppfærslum á ferðinni.

Ef þú færð ekki staðfestingarpóstinn innan örfárra mínútna frá bókun, vinsamlegast athugaðu ruslpóstmöppuna. Ef hann er ekki þar, hafðu þá beint samband við okkur á elding@elding.is með nafni þínu og bókunarupplýsingum svo við getum aðstoðað þið snöggt og örugglega.

Að sjálfsögðu. Þú getur breytt bókuninni þinni allt að 24-48 klst. fyrir brottför, að því gefnu að það sé nóg framboð í ferðinni sem þú vilt fara í. Vinsamlegast hafðu samband við okkur sem fyrst svo við getum orðið að óskum þínum.

Já, við bjóðum upp á allskyns ferðir fyrir hópa - stóra og smáa! Sérferðir eru í boði fyrir þá sem vilja persónulegri upplifun, hvort sem það er hvalaskoðun, lundaskoðun, sjóstangveiði, brúðkaup, Viðey eða hvað sem ykkur dettur í hug. Slíkar ferðir eru mjög sveigjanlegar og eru aðlagaðar að þörfum hvers og eins hóps. Fyrir nánari upplýsingar um verð og framboð, vinsamlegast hafið samband við okkur í gegnum netfangið sales@elding.is.

Já, gjafabréf Eldingar eru tilvalin gjöf fyrir vini og fjölskyldu sem vilja upplifa ekta íslensk ævintýri. Til að kaupa gjafabréf getur þú heimsótt vefsíðuna okkar eða haft samband við okkur á tölvupósti á elding@elding.is.

Það kemur fyrir að við bjóðum upp á afslætti eða sértilboð, svo fylgstu endilega með á samfélagsmiðlum okkar svo þú missir ekki af neinu! Til að sjá núverandi verð, þar með talið sérkjör fyrir börn, vinsamlegast skoðaðu verðlistann okkar. Fyrir hópa 10 eða fleiri, ekki hika við að hafa samband við söluteymið okkar á sales@elding.is og við útbúum tilboð fyrir hópinn þinn.

Þessari spurningu er ekki svo auðvelt að svara, þar sem hvalir og höfrungar halda sig við Íslandsstrendur allt árið um kring, svo engin árstíð er í raun betri en önnur.

Með yfir 20 ára reynslu af hvalaskoðun frá Reykjavík, höfum við nokkuð góða hugmynd um hvaða tegundir við erum líkleg til að sjá hverju sinni, en gott er að hafa í huga að þetta eru villt dýr, og því er ekki hægt að ábyrgjast að við sjáum hvali eða höfrunga í hverri ferð.

Sumarið er sá tími ársins sem býður upp á fjölbreyttast dýralíf, en einnig erum við með töluvert fleiri brottfarir yfir daginn, sem gefur okkur fleiri tækifæri til að sigla út í flóann og fylgjast með dýrunum. Þó er veturinn ekkert síðri, en síðastliðin ár hefur árangur okkar í hvalaskoðun yfir árið verið um 90% allt árið um kring!

Þar sem við siglum svo reglulega yfir sumarmánuðina, höfum við fengið tækifæri til að rannsaka hegðun hvala og höfrunga og tíðni þeirra á mismunandi tímum dags síðastliðna tvo áratugi. Hingað til höfum við ekki fundið neinb ákveðinn tíma dags þar sem þau eru virkust.

Hvalir og höfrungar eru villt dýr og geta ferðast mjög hratt, þannig að ekki er hægt að vita með vissu hvenær eða hvar við munum sjá þau - eða hvort við sjáum þau yfir höfuð. Þar sem þau eru spendýr þurfa þau reglulega að koma upp á yfirborðið til að anda, sem gefur okkur tækifæri til að sjá þau. Því er enginn tími dags betri en annar þegar kemur að því að upplifa dýralífið í Faxaflóa!

Í Faxaflóa er reglulega hægt að sjá fjórar tegundir sjávarspendýra: hnúfubaka, hrefnur, hnýðinga og hnísur. Við höfum þó einnig séð háhyrninga, langreyðar, grindhvali og jafnvel risavaxna beinhákarla í gegn um tíðina, svo fátt eitt sé nefnt. Sérhver ferð er tækifæri til að upplifa eitthvað sérstakt!

Það er líf og fjör í flóanum allt árið um kring - þar má meðal annars sjá sjófulga eins og glæsilegan súlu og kröftuga kríu, en á hlýrri mánuðum (maí til ágúst) er ekki óalgengt að við sjáum lunda! Landslagið sem umlykur flóann er svo sannarlega stórbrotið - en að sjá Reykjavík frá sjónum er alveeg einstakt. Á heiðskírum degi má jafnvel sjá til Snæfellsness í norðri og Reykjaness í suðri!

Klassíska hvalaskoðunaferðin okkar fer fram á stórum báti með allt að 196 farþegum um borð og tekur u.þ.b. 3 klst. frá byrjun til enda. Um borð finnur þú upphitaðan sal með sætum og borðum, kaffiteríu þar sem hæg er að versla léttar veitingar, frítt internet og hlífðarfatnað til láns. Siglt er um sunnanverðan Faxaflóa, nálægt Reykjavík, en við sérstakar aðstæður gæti verið siglt frá öðrum höfnum, eins og t.d. Hafnarfirði.

Premium hvalaskoðunarferðin okkar fer fram á opnum RIB bát og er talsvert persónulegri, en aðeins 12 manns geta verið um borð á sama tíma. Farþegar þurfa að hafa náð 145 cm. hæð en vega undir 140 kg. og ekki glíma við heilsufarsvandamál svo sem bak- eða hnémeiðsli. Til að tryggja þægindi og öryggi um borð verða allir farþegar að klæðast heilgalla og björgunarvesti á meðan á ferð stendur. Þessi ferð fer á svipuð mið og Klassíska ferðin, en kemst þangað hraðar, sem þýðir að minni tími fer í siglingar og meiri tími til skoðunar. Yfir sumarmánuðina stoppar þessi ferð einnig hjá lundanýlendunum.

Skoðaðu hvalaskoðunarferðirnar okkar hér til að bera saman ferðir, verð og áætlun.

Finding the animals is a team effort between the crew and passengers. We look out for indicators like splashes, a blow from the whales, black backs or dorsal fins or flock of feeding birds. No sonars are used finding the whales as it can be harmful to them, besides it can affect their echolocation system. We also work closely with boats and different operators in the area by notifying each other of whale sightings and then take turns watching them - no boat should stay more than 20-30 min. with the same cetacean.

It is entirely up to the whales how close we get. We abide by a code of conduct for responsible whale watching to make sure we do not disturb any natural behaviour. Whales are curious animals and therefore it is not uncommon that the whales swim up to our boats and spy on us and dolphins are often seen bow riding and jumping out of the water next to our boats.

If you're traveling between May and August, there's a good chance you'll spot puffins on our Classic tour. While we don’t stop directly at their nesting grounds, you'll often see them flying, swimming, or hunting for food at sea. On our Premium tour, we do make a stop at the island, either before or after whale watching. If your main interest is birdwatching, we also offer dedicated  puffin watching tours for a closer look at these fascinating birds.

We are an eco-friendly company and prefer that you avoid printing your ticket, in fact, we encourage you to show them on your mobile device instead. This helps us reduce paper waste while making check-in simple and convenient.

Our tours are always conducted in English. For large groups, other languages such as German, Icelandic, Spanish, and French can be requested in advance. During some summers, we may also offer tours in Dutch, Italian, and other languages. Please contact us ahead of time if you require a specific language for your group.

All our boats (except RIB's) feature an onboard café where you can purchase light refreshments during the tour, along with a heated indoor saloon with ample seating, and basic restroom facilities. Most of our vessels also offer free use of warm overalls and blankets, and complimentary Wi-Fi so you can stay connected during the tour, share your experiences in real-time, or simply browse the web while enjoying the scenery.

For our Classic tours, we strongly advise dressing warmly, as it's often chillier out on the water than on land. For added comfort, we offer complimentary warm, floatable overalls, raincoats, and blankets - these are completely optional, but highly recommended. It’s also a good idea to bring sunglasses, sturdy shoes, gloves, and a hat.

For our Premium tours, wearing weather-proof suits is mandatory to ensure comfort and safety in all conditions. These suits, along with additional safety equipment and goggles, are provided as part of the tour experience.

You’re welcome to bring your own refreshments on board, but we kindly ask that you do so in moderation. Small snacks or beverages are perfectly fine, but we discourage bringing large meals or alcoholic drinks to ensure comfort for all passengers.

All our boats that feature an onboard café will have light refreshments for sale. You can heat up with a warm beverage in hand, enjoy a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, or grab a candy bar for a snack. It's a great way to stay cozy and comfortable while taking in the incredible views!

We’re committed to making reusing rewarding! Bring your own tumbler or cup, and enjoy a discount on your next hot drink!

Our onboard café offers vegetarian options, and we also aim to provide some vegan-friendly snacks. While the selection may be limited, we recommend asking our staff onboard for available options. If you have specific dietary requirements, feel free to bring your own snacks as well.

While most of our boats are somewhat accessible, there are limitations. Each boat has multiple levels connected by steep stairs, and high thresholds between indoor and outdoor areas, which means access to indoor cabins and toilet facilities is limited. We recommend contacting us before your arrival if you are a wheelchair user, so our crew can assist you on board and offer support during the tour. 

Please note that due to the intensity of the Premium tour, it is not recommended for anyone with reduced mobility.

We welcome hard of hearing and deaf guests on our tours, and we can even provide an information leaflet with all the important details to enhance your experience. Please contact us in advance, and we will have this ready for your arrival to ensure you have all the necessary information during the tour. If you're bringing an assistant with you, make sure to let us know in advance so we can ensure they receive a reduced ticket price.

We welcome blind and visually impaired guests on our tours, and our crew is more than happy to assist you during the trip to ensure your safety and comfort. We recommend contacting us in advance to let us know about any specific needs you may have, so we can provide additional support throughout the experience. If you're bringing an assistant with you, make sure to let us know in advance so we can ensure they receive a reduced ticket price.

Service dogs are welcome on our Classic tours under specific conditions. We kindly ask that you contact us in advance so we can ensure proper arrangements are made for your journey.

While pets are not allowed on our tours, they are welcome on the ferry to Viðey island. Note that pets should be kept on a leash at all times to protect the island’s delicate vegetation and nesting birds.

Yes, you can join our Classic tour, but we recommend checking the weather and sea conditions beforehand, as pregnancy can sometimes increase sensitivity to motion sickness. For the Premium tour, we advise consulting your healthcare provider prior to booking, especially after the first trimester.

It's entirely up to you. Sea conditions can vary, so we recommend checking the weather forecast and following our Whale Diary for the latest updates. You can also visit our ticket office on the day of your tour, and we’ll be happy to provide advice. If necessary, we can help adjust your travel plans to ensure you join us on a calmer day.

To minimize seasickness, we suggest staying at the back of the boat where the movement is less intense, facing the waves as if you're riding them, and keeping your eyes on the horizon to steady your balance. Be sure to eat a light meal beforehand, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If you’re prone to motion sickness, taking seasickness medication before boarding can also help. We offer free antiemetics (Postafen) as well ginger tablets that are recommended during pregnancy as well as for young children.

Yes, we offer a discount for caretakers of individuals with special needs. Please contact us directly and our team will be happy to assist you in planning your trip.

If there are no whales or dolphins / northern lights seen on your tour, we do not refund the tour price, but rather give you a complimentary ticket to try again another day. The voucher is valid on a future Classic tour for at least 2 years and for returning passengers only. The tickets are also non-transferrable, meaning they cannot be changed to a different service other than the one it states on the ticket. We recommend trying to schedule your tour in early during your holiday so you have the option to go again another day if sightings fail.

When a tour is cancelled due to unfavourable conditions, we will contact you using the information provided in your booking as soon as possible. However, due to unpredictable weather conditions, cancellations can sometimes happen up to 2 hours before departure.

If you're able to reschedule, we will be happy to assist you in finding a new departure time. Alternatively, we can switch your booking to a different experience or offer you a full refund. Please contact our team via email at elding@elding.is or via tel +3545195000 for further assistance.

Individual bookings can be cancelled without penalty up to 24 hours before departure. However, we kindly ask that groups of 10 or more provide at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations made with less notice will not qualify for a refund. If we must cancel a tour due to weather, force majeure, or other unforeseen circumstances, you will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.

For combo tours, if one portion is canceled, the remaining segments of the tour will still be confirmed. You can then reschedule the cancelled tour or receive a partial refund upon request.

If your booking involves a partner-operated tour, or was booked through a third party, please note that other cancellation policies may apply.

For more details, please refer to our full terms and conditions here.

We are committed to staying on schedule, so we kindly ask that all passengers arrive 15-30 minutes before scheduled departure to help ensure a smooth check-in process and enjoyable experience.

If you miss your tour for any reason, we regret that no refund can be offered. However, we will do our best to accommodate you on the next available tour or assist with rescheduling, subject to availability.

In the event of unexpected situations, such as accidents or medical emergencies, please contact us as soon as possible with any supporting documentation. Otherwise, we recommend referring to your travel insurance policy to see if your circumstances are covered.

We have two locations in Iceland. Our main office is at the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík, located at Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík. We also operate from Oddeyrarbót harbour in Akureyri, in North Iceland. Both locations are easily accessible by car, foot, or public transportation. If you're driving, parking is available nearby at both harbours. Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour departure. Feel free to contact us for specific directions or more information on either location.

Reykjavík's Old Harbour is a compact sector with very limited parking and it is forbidden to park on the street or next to our boats. Keep in mind that Elding does not assume responsibility for any parking fines caused by illegal parking, so make sure to respect the signs at the harbour. We recommend using the designated parking lots or houses in the nearby area that have hourly rates. Check our location's 'how to get here' to see more parking options.

Akureyri Harbour is conveniently located in the city centre, within walking distance of most major hotels. There is free parking available at the lot next to our ticket office, with no need for a parking clock, and you can park there all day. However, please note that camper vans are not allowed to stay overnight in the parking lot.

Yes, although we do recommend walking if you are staying within the city centre. We offer pick up and drop off at bus stops near hotels and guesthouses in the greater Reykjavík area for an additional charge. Check our current price list and pick up locations.

During pick up / drop off, it is important that all passengers wear seat belts as required by law. All children under 18 kg. need to wear appropriate car seats while travelling, which we can provide upon request. Please be sure to contact our office via email at elding@elding.is no later than 24 hrs. before departure so we can do our best to accommodate. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide transfers from outside the greater Reykjavík area. If you're staying outside of this zone, driving directly to our location is the most convenient option. Our ticket office is easy to find, and parking is available nearby.

We welcome guests of all ages, including babies and toddlers. Our larger boats, used for the Classic tours, have plenty of indoor seating, restrooms, and space for families to comfortably enjoy the experience. We provide life vests for all children, and there is also an onboard café offering snacks and refreshments.

For very young children, we recommend dressing them warmly, as it can get cold out on the water. If you're bringing a stroller, please note that we ask you to leave it in our office during the tour due to limited space on board.

Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to board our boats without supervision, unless we receive explicit authorisation from a parent or legal guardian. For safety reasons, children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on Elding premises, and are required by law to wear life vests for the entire duration of the tour. We take these precautions seriously to provide a secure and enjoyable experience for everyone on board.

Certainly! Feel free to leave your bags in our office throughout the duration of the tour. Although we don't have a locked storage facility, rest assured that our office is continuously staffed, ensuring that your belongings will be under constant supervision and won't be subject to any unauthorised access or disturbance.

Our guides carry DSLR cameras and typically capture photos throughout the tour, allowing you to relax and fully enjoy the experience without missing any encounters. After the tour, we’ll share these photos with passengers free of charge, providing you with beautiful memories of your journey.

You’re also welcome to bring your own equipment to capture the experience from your unique perspective. However, please be mindful that all personal equipment is carried at your own risk.

Due to the negative impact drone flying has on other passengers, and the elaborate UAV regulations in general, we have decided to prohibit drones on our scheduled tours.

In order to operate your drone at sea, you will need to get prior consent from Elding in addition to booking a private tour to accommodate your flight. You may also need to register your drone and apply for a permit from the Icelandic Transport Authority. Note that you are solely responsible for complying with the UAV regulations as well as being liable for your own equipment and any damage caused by your drone during flight.

Keep in mind that:

• It is forbidden to fly drones over crowds of people
• You cannot fly over 120 metres above ground or sea
• Disrupting air traffic or flying over vehicles or ships is prohibited

Please notify a crew member immediately if you you've lost something on board. Although our team regularly checks the boats and pockets of overalls, the sooner we are informed of a lost item, the better the chances of recovering it. Any misplaced items found at the end of the day will be placed in our "lost & found" box for safekeeping. You can visit our office or contact us via email to inquire about lost belongings, and we’ll do our best to help you retrieve them.

Smoking of any kind, including e-cigarettes and vaping, is strictly prohibited on all our premises, both onboard and at our facilities. This policy is in place to ensure the well-being, comfort, and safety of all passengers and crew, as smoke and vapour can be disruptive in shared spaces and pose potential health and safety risks.

We kindly ask that if you wish to smoke, please wait until you’re back on land, where designated smoking areas are available. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a pleasant and safe environment for everyone.