OVERVIEW
Take an exhilarating ride into the nutrient-rich waters off Akureyri and look for whales, dolphins and porpoises that feed there in abundance. After suiting up in a thermal floatation suit, gloves and goggles, you will board a rigid inflatable boat, commonly known as a RIB, and speed off into Eyjafjörður, Iceland’s longest fjord. Framed by glacier-carved mountains, this narrow deep fjord is a stunning setting, made even more spectacular if you spot a whale breaching the water’s surface. RIBs allow you to get closer to the whales than any other type of boat because of their size and maneuverability. There is no way to predict what marine life you will see, but humpbacks, blue fin, minke and sei whales are often spotted in the fjord. Occasionally, a blue whale – the world’s largest animal – will surface to exhale. It will be quite the spectacle as the spray from their blowholes shoots about 30 feet into the air.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Cruise into Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland, in an open-air rigid inflatable boat.
• Look for whales feeding to fatten up for their winter migration south.
• Be awed if you spot whales breaching the water’s surface, a common sight.
• Keep an eye out for white-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises as well.
HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.
