Gentle Giants Whale Watching

Gentle Giants Whale Watching Welcome to Gentle Giants Whale Watching in Húsavík, Iceland, where unforgettable encounters with majestic marine life await.

Choose a real locally-owned family company with more than 160 years of family history in Skjálfandi Bay. Experience the Gentle Giants of Húsavík – the Whale Watching Capital of Europe. Welcome aboard traditional Icelandic oak boats or modern RIB speedboats in search of the mammals of the ocean. Gentle Giants is a family run company and is proud of its background with 160 years of family history in Skjálfandi Bay.

By now, you’ve likely discovered that our whales are seasonal visitors, arriving in subpolar waters each year to feed. B...
16/07/2025

By now, you’ve likely discovered that our whales are seasonal visitors, arriving in subpolar waters each year to feed. But what makes these regions so ideal for them?
The answer lies in the water itself: only nutrient-rich waters can sustain the abundance of food these gentle giants rely on.

Interestingly, such nutrients are especially plentiful in cold waters — but why is that?

Firstly, glacial melt delivers nutrients into the oceans. These nutrients can trigger blooms of phytoplankton, which form the base of aquatic and marine food chains.

Secondly, when surface waters are cold, it becomes easier for deeper water to rise to the surface—a process known as upwelling. This brings nutrient-rich water back up to sunlit zones where phytoplankton can thrive. In other words, nutrients "fertilize" the surface waters, leading to high biological productivity.
In contrast, when surface waters are warm, the cooler, nutrient-rich water remains trapped below, while surface nutrients sink to the bottom and may eventually be lost.

Areas with concentrated phytoplankton quickly attract the next level of the marine food chain: zooplankton, crustaceans, and small fish.
These are followed by carnivorous fish, such as herring and mackerel. Despite being skilled hunters, these fish are still subject to one of the ocean's simplest rules: big fish eat small fish.
At the top of the marine food chain are the apex predators. This diverse group includes large fish (such as sharks and tuna), cetaceans (like porpoises, dolphins, and whales), certain seabirds, and pinnipeds (such as seals and walruses).

So what makes Skjálfandi Bay such a rich feeding ground for whales in particular?

At the southern end of this beloved bay, two large rivers flow into the sea. One is a freshwater river originating in the Mývatn area. Freshwater plays a crucial role in maintaining the health, productivity, and balance of coastal and marine ecosystems.
The second is a glacial river that begins at Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier. This river delivers vital nutrients into the bay, enriching the marine environment.

As you travel toward Húsavík, you’ve likely stopped to admire this very river as it feeds one of the region’s most iconic waterfalls: Goðafoss!

Photo Credit: Charlie (Guide)

A LEAP OF FAITH AND FEATHERSIf you join a trip during this time of year, chances are you’ll encounter common guillemots ...
13/07/2025

A LEAP OF FAITH AND FEATHERS

If you join a trip during this time of year, chances are you’ll encounter common guillemots (or murres) floating on the water. At first glance, they look like any birds just hanging out—but there’s more to unpack here!

Guillemots breed on high cliffs with narrow edges. Only three weeks after hatching, and before they can fully fly, the chicks have to jump from the edge and make it out into open water. Their fathers are fully responsible for their parental care and will call to them from the water.

After a hazardous, clumsy jump, the chicks spend two months on the water with their dads. They learn how to dive for food, while their father feeds them and looks after them. This way, they can be fed more than if the father were flying back and forth to the nest.

Hence, the chicks we see in the bay are all young guillemots with their fathers! You can recognise the chicks by looking at their cheeks: they have lighter colouring, while their fathers’ cheeks are completely black.

Guide- Louisa Mooij

EVERY MOMENT MATTERS- SO DOES YOUR SAFETYSeeing whales is magical—creating unforgettable memories with family, friends, ...
10/07/2025

EVERY MOMENT MATTERS- SO DOES YOUR SAFETY

Seeing whales is magical—creating unforgettable memories with family, friends, and nature itself. Our staff is always there to add to those moments, sharing their passion and knowledge to make your day even more special.

But while we’re focused on the experience, we’re also deeply committed to something just as important: your safety. That’s why every month, our team takes part in rescue and safety drills—to stay prepared for any situation at sea.

Last month, our guides and captains participated in rescue and emergency response drills on both our traditional oak boats and our RIB boats.

Hallgrímur Guðmundsson, our head captain of the oak boats, guided the crew through the safety features on board Sylvía and Faldur. He demonstrated where to find and how to use essential emergency equipment such as first aid kits, fire extinguishers, life rings, and life rafts.

After the demonstration, the crew took turns throwing life rings and answering questions on how to respond in various emergency situations.

On the RIB boats, Sverrir Yngvi Karlsson, our head captain, led a similar training session on Amma Helga, Jóhanna, Sigga, and Kibba. He reviewed emergency procedures specific to the RIBs, and even gave crew members the chance to practice driving the boats, ensuring everyone is trained and confident in case of an emergency.

This month, our guides, captains, and ticket center staff also completed a first aid course, hosted by Eysteinn Heiðar Kristjánsson, a paramedic in Húsavík with years of experience leading emergency training.

Eysteinn covered the importance of first aid and demonstrated how to handle common emergency scenarios that might occur at sea. At the end of the course, the staff took turns practicing CPR on a training dummy, which was connected to an app that gave real-time scores based on their performance.

Safety is one of our top priorities, and we make sure all of our staff are trained, prepared, and capable—so that when you come whale watching with us, you can relax and enjoy the experience, knowing that you’re in safe hands.

—Nikolina Sokcic, Guide

Surprise, surprise! Do you recognize me my dear friend? You’re not sure, yet?Yes, you saw right! It’s me, a NORTHERN BOT...
06/07/2025

Surprise, surprise! Do you recognize me my dear friend? You’re not sure, yet?

Yes, you saw right! It’s me, a NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE, the largest member of the beaked whale family in the North Atlantic Ocean: I can grow up to 9,8 metres long and weigh between 5 and 7,5 tons.

I am easily distinguished by my brownish appearance and the pale, almost cream coloured bulbous head. Did you know though that we are actually born with a rather dark skin colour that then becomes lighter as we age?
Also, as we grow old, our skin gets more and more streaked with scars. If they’re caused by the teeth of other individuals? No, you silly human. Did you forget that we only have two teeth at the front end of the lower jaw? Additionally, these teeth only erupt in the males, but remain hidden in the gum in the females. No, my dear human, these scars are from either tussles or bites of the cookie-cutter shark – my only natural predator.

If I am alone? Oh no, the rest of my group is hanging out by the mountains on the other side of Skjálfandi Bay. I had a little argument with one of the other males, it happened we became a bit combative and used our heads to hit one another. So here I am, doing my own thing for a little while before joining my group again eventually. My group currently consists of seven individuals, but numbers change from time to time. However, some of us have been around each other for a long while now. We’re a mixed group indeed, but it is not unusual to find groups segregated by s*x, age or life stage.

Oh, I can hear chatter on the radio of some boat having spotted the rest of my group? I hear they’re having fun while jumping and lobtailing. Don’t you even think about it. You’ll never make it. No doubts you know I can hold my breath for up to two hours if I wanted to – and so can they.

Soon enough, it’s time for us to head back out to the open ocean surrounding Iceland, where we can dive to depths of 1.500 metres to find our favourite food, the deepwater squid. Do you want to know a little secret? While my small, pointed flippers are improving my manoeuvrability near or on the surface, I can tuck them away into flipper pockets on the sides of my body, making me even more streamlined while diving.

📷 Dimitra Perari (guide)
🖊 Sarah Arndt (captain / head guide)

A TALE OF FRIENDSHIPSome whales, like orcas, stay together with their family pod their whole lives.Humpback whales, the ...
03/07/2025

A TALE OF FRIENDSHIP

Some whales, like orcas, stay together with their family pod their whole lives.
Humpback whales, the stars of Skjalfandi Bay, have different social preferences. They are solitary animals, and spend most of their time alone.

But did you know that sometimes, humpback whales form friendships between each other?

In feeding grounds, humpback whales sometimes pair up with each other. They can spend hours, days, or sometimes even the whole season together.
Researchers have even found that some ‘whale friendships’ between female humpback whales can last years! In this case, they leave each other during migration and breeding, and find each other again during the feeding season.

In Skjalfandi Bay, we observe this behaviour, too. A notorious example were ‘Dakota’ (right, with the spotted fluke) and ‘Georgina Melasserata’ (left, black fluke), who were seemingly inseparable during the last weeks. They often swam side by side, and at one point, even breached together! Even when not close, they were found in each other’s vicinity. If Dakota was spotted, you could count on Georgina being somewhere close.

We don’t know if their friendship will last a lifetime, or that they have separated already. In fact, we don’t even know if they are both female – and male/female bonds have been found to last only for shorter periods of time.

In any case, it’s fun to recognise the different individuals we can see in our bay, and to study their behaviour.

Come join us on a tour and spot the different humpback whales yourself!

Text & Photos: Louisa Mooij (guide)

In the blink of an eye, another month has flown by! While June's weather hasn't exactly been our favorite, it's been a f...
30/06/2025

In the blink of an eye, another month has flown by! While June's weather hasn't exactly been our favorite, it's been a fantastic month for whale sightings!

Daily sightings have been incredible these last weeks as we observed playful dolphins, hungry humpback whales, minkes and the majesty of the sea: the blue whale!

Some days, it was impossible to tell how many humpback whales were actually roaming the bay in search for food and oftentimes, we'd see several of them feeding either together or in the same area! Sometimes, whichever direction one looked, their spouts were shooting up from the surface, near and far!

As July begins, we once more add more daily departures to our schedule! Check the timetable on our website (link in bio) to learn more and book your tour with us today!

See you onboard!

Photo Credit:

Photo 1-4: Charlie (guide)
Photo 5-7: Joséphine (captain / head guide)
Photo 8-10: Louisa (guide)
Photo 11: Fiona (shift manager / guide)

As weeks pass by and the season proceeds, more and more humpback whale individuals pass by. Some stay just shortly, come...
22/06/2025

As weeks pass by and the season proceeds, more and more humpback whale individuals pass by. Some stay just shortly, come and go, others stick around for a while, even for weeks.

Some of these individuals are known from previous years, while others are newbies in the bay.

How do we know? Humpback whales can be identified as individuals by the unique black and white patterns on the underside of their flukes (tails).

While we know humpback whales migrate vast distances between their feeding grounds here and their breeding grounds in (sub-)tropical waters, for the majority of individuals coming into our bay, we don't know where exactly they have been the last months.

Therefore, it is extremely exciting when it is possible to match photos of flukes taken around Iceland with others from far away places.

Recently, two such matches could be made thanks to the platform Happywhale.

One of them is Marí / Asclepius who was first sighted around Iceland in 2019. Between then and 2022 it has shown up in various areas around our country. Then, in 2022 it ventured even further north to Sermersooq, Greenland.
The last sighting of Marí was in late January 2024 - around the British Virgin Islands! What do you think, will Marí be back here this summer?

Another individual is Love. Love first appeared around Iceland in 2016, and returned for two consecutive years. While not having shown up in 2019, Love was then sighted completely elsewhere in late January 2020: Guadalupe! And while we still don't know where Marí will venture after its journey to the British Virgin Islands, Love has returned to Skjálfandi Bay (Húsavík) earlier this month!

If you are curious to find out which humpback whale individuals you saw on your tour with us, upload your flukes shots on happywhale.com and learn more about who you spotted!

Source: happywhale.com
Recent photo of Love in Skjálfandi Bay: Joséphine Aussage (captain / head guide) .jo

ÞJÓÐHÁTIÐARDAGURINNToday, 17th of June, is Iceland's National Day. It commemorates the foundation of The Republic of Ic...
17/06/2025

ÞJÓÐHÁTIÐARDAGURINN

Today, 17th of June, is Iceland's National Day. It commemorates the foundation of The Republic of Iceland on 17th of June 1944 and, therewith, celebrates the declaration of independence from Denmark. The date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a major figure of Icelandic culture and the leader of the 19th-century Icelandic independence movement.

And since we live on an island surrounded by the beautiful and wild North Atlantic, what place could be more fitting to celebrate this day than out at sea on Skjálfandi Bay, surrounded by whales, other wildlife, and the pristine beauty of Iceland's incredible nature?

Are you joining in?

📷 Charlie (guide)

FROM WHALE TAILS TO FOREST TRAILS: DICOVERING LAKE BOTNSVATNYou’ve just finished your amazing whale watching tour—maybe ...
16/06/2025

FROM WHALE TAILS TO FOREST TRAILS: DICOVERING LAKE BOTNSVATN
You’ve just finished your amazing whale watching tour—maybe you saw a humpback breach or caught a tail slap on camera. The sea gave you unforgettable memories. But now what?

What else is there to see in Húsavík?

Just a few minutes from the harbour lies a hidden gem: Lake Botnsvatn. Surrounded by peaceful nature, Botnsvatn has it all—waterfalls, birds, forest trails, and stunning views of the majestic Kinnarfjöll mountains (known as the Cheek Mountains in English).

If you're looking for a gentle adventure, just follow the trail marked by the Lake Botnsvatn sign. Prefer to drive? There's also a car route that brings you close to the lake. Once there, you can enjoy a beautiful hike around its perimeter. Along the way, you’ll cross charming little bridges, hear the sound of babbling streams, and discover hidden waterfalls tucked into the landscape.

It’s peaceful, scenic, and full of that quiet Icelandic magic.

Bird lovers—bring your binoculars! Around the lake, you might spot species like the snipe, redwing, red-necked phalarope, whooper swan, and the rock ptarmigan (rjúpa in Icelandic). The area is a paradise for birdwatching, especially in late spring and summer.

Want to go even further? There are side trails that lead into the nearby forest, connecting with the Húsavíkurfjall hiking path—that’s the local mountain above the town. It’s perfect for those looking to stretch their legs a little longer and enjoy more elevated views.

So if you’ve got some time to spare in Húsavík and you’re craving a bit more Icelandic nature, go visit the beautiful Lake Botnsvatn. You won’t regret it.

—Nikolina Sokcic, Guide
📸:
📸:.sokcic

THE HIDDEN HAIRS OF THE HUMPBACK WHALEWhen we picture whales, we don’t usually think of hair. But what if I told you tha...
12/06/2025

THE HIDDEN HAIRS OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE

When we picture whales, we don’t usually think of hair. But what if I told you that our beautiful humpbacks still carry tiny reminders of their land-dwelling past—right on their heads.

Humpback whales are part of the baleen whale group, known scientifically as Mysticetes. One of the biggest differences between baleen whales and their toothed cousins (Odontocetes) is, as the name suggests—they don’t have any teeth! Instead, they have baleen plates hanging from the upper jaw, which they use to filter microscopic organisms like krill and small fish (like anchovies) out of the water. (Want to know more about baleen? Click here to read another article!)

But this brings us to the question:
If baleen whales can’t echolocate like toothed whales do... how do they find their food?

The answer might surprise you: hairs!

If you’ve ever seen a humpback whale surface up close, you might have noticed a series of small, round bumps on the top of its head. These bumps are called tubercles, and inside each one is a hair follicle—yes, actual hair! These tiny hairs are sensitive to movement in the water, and scientists believe they help whales detect swarms of prey by picking up vibrations.

Even though not every bump is easily visible, these hair follicles are present and play a sensory role. Toothed whales also have hairs—but usually only around their mouths at birth, and most species lose them shortly after. Baleen whales like humpbacks, on the other hand, keep theirs for life, using them to sense movement in the water. And here’s an evolutionary fact: whales still have these hairs today as a leftover trait from their ancient ancestors who once lived on land.

So next time you join us on a whale watching tour, keep an eye out for those iconic bumps—and remember, there’s a lot more going on under the surface than meets the eye!

—Nikolina Sokcic, Guide
📸:.jo
📸:.sokcic

OF NEST DUTY AND SNACK RUNSAs spring gives way to early summer in the North Atlantic, a remarkable event is quietly unfo...
08/06/2025

OF NEST DUTY AND SNACK RUNS

As spring gives way to early summer in the North Atlantic, a remarkable event is quietly unfolding on Puffin Island:

Our beloved puffins, known for their colourful beaks and comical waddles, have officially clocked in for their most important job of the year—egg-sitting!

Each puffin couple lays ONE (yes, just one!) egg and then takes turns babysitting like the responsible seabirds they are.

They nest in cozy, self-built burrows, safe from nosy neighbours and seagull drama.
Meanwhile, mom and dad are taking turns between nest duty and snack runs from the ocean.

Puffin eggs are surprisingly large for the bird’s size and are pear-shaped to help prevent them from rolling out of the burrow or off the slopes!

Soon, a puffling will hatch. Then, the co-parenting parents rotate between guarding the young and heading out at sea, securing a 24/7 fish delivery for their offspring.

But for now, it’s all about naps, snacks, and protecting the egg like it's the last cookie on Earth.

Text & Photos: Sarah Arndt (captain / head guide)

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Húsavík

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Monday 07:30 - 22:00
Tuesday 07:30 - 22:00
Wednesday 07:30 - 22:00
Thursday 07:30 - 22:00
Friday 07:30 - 22:00
Saturday 07:30 - 22:00
Sunday 07:30 - 22:00

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Welcome aboard!

Gentle Giants offers whale watching on traditional Icelandic oak boats and modern RIB speedboats, as well as other exciting seafaring adventures like sea-angling, bird watching and island excursions. We operate from Húsavík, ”the Whale Capital of Iceland”, in the north east and have more than 150 years of family history in the bay.