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Gentle Giants Whale Watching

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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.

10/09/2024

WHERE ARE ALL THE SHEEP? - OR: WHAT OUR TEAM DOES ON A STORMY DAY!

If you travelled around Iceland during the summer months, you sure noticed all the sheep roaming around freely around the country.

Each year, after lambing season finishes in spring, farmers let their sheep out of the stables and fields to roam freely over the highlands for the following months.

However, as autumn approaches, the farmers venture out for the so-called "göngur" to gather their roaming sheep back together and herd them back home. The search can take days as the sheep spreads out widely. Traditionally, part of the search party goes on horseback while the rest of the group walks. Nowadays, also ATVs are used and even helicopter companies offer their help in search for the animals.

After days of scouting the grazeland, all sheep are gathered for the so-called "réttir", the sheep round-up.

"Réttir" is an old Icelandic tradition and annual event that draws families, friends and on-watchers together as sheep have to be separated, sorted and brought to the farms they belong to.

After the gathering, the sheep is collected on a big field and as the "réttir" begins, they're let into an enclosure with several spokes surrounding that one central pen. The participants of the "réttir" are now making their way through the crowd of sheep trying to find their own by the number on the ear tag.

The event normally takes a few hours, depending on the size of the "réttir". Once all sheep are sorted, the farmers herd them back to their farms where they will stay inside their stables through the winter months.

WHY I AM TELLING YOU ALL THIS?

As yet another storm is forcing us to cancel our tours, part of our team took the chance and joined the Hraunsrétt, the largest sheep round-up in the Northeast of Iceland, to help our captain Guðni's family to sort their sheep. While catching and dragging sheep to the right gate is sure exhausting, the event is still a fun activity and great opportunity to get involved in Icelandic traditions and local life. Thanking us for our help, Guðni's family even invited our team home after the round-up was complete and we got to try "Hangikjöt" (smoked lamb meat), a meal traditionally eaten on the day of "réttir".

08/09/2024

Safety onboard is a very important subject and we take it seriously! 🧐 Every month our team has a rescue drill where we learn about the safety equipment and we recreate emergency scenarios so that our crew has all the tools needed if needed to act immediately.

06/09/2024

Humpback whales are known for many reasons, for being beautiful, for being one of the most studied species of whales and for their beautiful vocalizations!

They do something different, something special, something that can arouse emotions in humans. These whales create and repeat different sounds with a specific structure and this in human language is what we call a song.

Roger Payne was a biologist who dedicated his life to studying humpback whale vocalizations. Thanks to these gentlemen, people got to know how beautifully these animals sound! In 1970 Roger published an album with humpback whale songs that he recorded during his studies, rapidly becoming one of the bestselling albums.

Find more about this subject on our news on our website!

The photos are frames of an underwater video that I made when I was working in a breeding ground (Whale Watch Cabo - Baja California Sur). The video was taken from the boat respecting all of the rules of code of conduct.

- Sara

03/09/2024

How life has been lately in Gentle Giants! ☀️

We are part of a big family, our guides, captains and passengers are such a huge of part of us! We love to celebrate them 💙

Here is just a small part of our family! In the photos are our captain Sarah, Captain Halli, and the guides Rui, Fiona, Wit and Antoine.

Photographs from and

29/08/2024

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Up to date, we know fairly little about our oceans – even though they cover over 70 percent of Earth’s surface. In fact, more than 80 percent of the oceans have not been mapped, explored, or even been seen by humans. Despite their size and importance to all life on our planet, they remain a mystery and constantly surprise us with their secrets.

But what about our dear whales?

Although whales are very much loved and admired animals nowadays, and nearly worldwide boats are heading out for whale watching daily, we know just as little about them or their doings.

In fact, whale watching is a considerably new activity as for centuries whales were just seen as a target for hunting all around the globe.

The first organized whale watching took place in 1950 when the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego was declared a public venue for watching the migration of grey whales along the coastline of the US. The event attracted 10’000 visitors that year. Only five years later, the first water-based whale watching took place in the same area. Back then, customers were charged $1 per trip to watch the whales from up close.

From then on, over the following decade, whale watching as a recreational activity spread throughout the western coast of the US and eventually other parts of the world as well. Here in Iceland, the first organised whale watching trip took place in 1991.

You think 1950 is a long time ago?

In comparison, the first land-based safari took place in 1836 when the British amateur naturalist William Cornwallis Harris led an expedition to observe and record wildlife in South Africa. However, safaris, as we know them today, commenced later on in the 19th century in Kenya – and it was only then that the word appeared in a dictionary for the first time.

(Fun fact: “Safari” is Swahili and means “journey / trip”.)

Where else around the world have you been whale watching?

Text & Photo: Sarah Arndt (captain/guide)

25/08/2024

It may have already crossed your mind if a whale could eat a human. I am here to reassure you: that is something quite impossible to happen. 🧐

Yes, we could fit inside the whale's mouth, especially the whales with baleen plates, but their throat is very narrow, so no human will be able to fit there!

Did you want to know more about it?
Go to the news on our website and check the full story!
https://www.gentlegiants.is/news/2024/08/25/would-you-fit-in-a-whales-mouth/

23/08/2024

HVALREKI

Hvalreki is an Icelandic word that refers to a whale stranding, which means that a whale or a group of whales end up alive and trapped on land.

It is something that has been recorded for many years all around the world. Here in Iceland, there are few records of mass strandings, mostly of long-finned pilot whale.

Some of the cases reported are the one of 1983 where 30 pilot whales stranded on Snæfellsnes and the one of 1986, the biggest stranding record in Iceland where 148 pilot whales died at Þorlákshöfn. In the year of 2019 two mass strandings were reported, one in Snæfellsnes where 50 pilot whales were stranded and one in Langanes peninsula where 30 pilot whales were stranded.

Sometimes when these events are noticed right after they happened, several efforts are made to take the animals back to sea. Unfortunately, here in Iceland many of the areas where these events happen are very difficult to access, making the act of helping them almost an impossible task.

Pilot whales are normally known for mass stranding due to their tight social connections an for never leaving a member of their pod alone. Pilot whales always move in pods, that can vary from 10 to more than 100 animals, and the pods are normally led by an individual which is their matriarch.

But why do they strand? What leads them to this unfair end?

The causes are still a bit of a mystery for the scientific community but it is believed that can be a result of navigation errors which lead pods to abruptly shallow areas, geomagnetic anomalies that disrupt orientation, and distress caused by human interference. (Xuereb et al., 2023).

Another cause that can lead these animals to shore is if they are sick or hurt, disabling them from properly swimming and not being able to go against currents.

- Sara

20/08/2024

LOVE IS IN THE AIR 💕

Sometimes we receive requests that are very close to our hearts!

A week ago we had the pleasure of celebrating one important moment onboard, the promise of love between two souls.

Our captain and CEO Stéfan received a request from an old friend, that he could not refuse!

It all started as a normal whale-watching tour, where a gentleman from Husavik brought his loved ones from Norway to see the wonders of Skjálfandi Bay.

Not very long after the tour started, the first cue of life was spotted, a shadow of a body in the distance which led us into a friendly group of white-beaked dolphins. They joined us, swam around the boat and escorted us towards the mountains. It was a wonderful moment!

It almost seemed like the dolphins knew somehow, that our goal was to get closer to the mountains. We kept searching but always getting closer and closer to the mountains. Then we reached a little bay which is protected from winds and surrounded by beautiful cliffs, called Naustavík.

Here the surprise was unleashed! Engines were off, everyone admiring the landscape and the captain went to meet the couple that was sitting in the front. All the other guests were looking surprised not knowing what was happening. In a moment it was announced that we were all there to celebrate the union of two souls. Words of love and respect were uttered, and we could see a tear on everyone's face. A truly memorable experience for everyone present!

Returning to the harbour we still saw a beautiful humpback whale. The perfect way to finish this incredible tour!

- Sara

18/08/2024

TALES OF A HUMPBACK WHALE

Humpback whales are our most common sight in Skjálfandi Bay.
That being said, did you know the following facts about these gentle giants?

1. Humpback whales are the 6th largest whale species of all, reaching a length of around 15m.

2. The tail patterns of humpback whales are unique - just as our fingerprints! Scienties use these unique black and white patterns on the undersides of the whales' flukes to identify individuals.

3. Humpback whales have the longest pectoral fins of all whales (in relation to body length) and can efficiently use them for navigation and even while feeding. Their latin name Megaptera novaeangliae refers to these flippers, "megaptera" meaning "big-winged."

4."They have one of the longest migrations among all animals on our planet, travelling up to 8000km annually!

BUT: The population residing in the Arabian Sea is the only one known to not migrate. Therefore, they're genetically most distinct from other humpbacks and scientists assume they've been isolated from other populations for over 70'000 years.

5. Male humpback whales are known for singing songs in their breeding grounds, which can last for hours and hours at a time. These songs are made up of a series of complex calls that are shared by all males of a population, regardless of the distance between them. It appears those songs change gradually over time, but all members of that same population will adapt and switch to the new song.

6. Even though being solitary animals, humpback whales are known to socialise. Additionally, they are known to group up for feeding, working together as a well organised team.
In recent years, humpback whales have been observed intervening in killer whale attacks on other marine mammals - probably as an attempt to intimidate the orcas in order to protect their own species and offsprings.

7. Humpback whales are filter feeders (having baleen plates instead of teeth) and therefore able to feed on over a ton per day while in their feeding grounds.

Want to learn more about this magnificent species?
Join us on our tours onto Skjálfandi Bay and be amazed by these incredible animals while learning lots of interesting facts from our guides on board!

BOOK YOUR TOUR NOW: https://gentlegiants.is/tours-and-bookings/

Text & Photos: Sarah Arndt (captain / guide)

16/08/2024

FAREWELL PUFFINS OF LUNDEY - UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

In light of the small number of puffins that still rests around Lundey (Puffin Island) at this point, we have decided to finish the puffin season as of today, 16th of August.

From now on, our "GG2 Big Whale Safari and Puffins" will no longer stop by the island to observe the "Clowns of the Sea", but focus on more whale watching instead.

Puffins are pelagic birds and therefore spend most of their life and time out on the open ocean. Their annual nesting season, which starts in early April, is the only time of the year these birds touch land. Therefore, throughout the last months, we were able to watch them go about their daily life by Puffin Island. Depending on the colony, puffins then return to the open sea sometime between mid and end of August - that is once the so-called pufflings (their offsprings) have flegded.

Even though it's always sad seeing all these adorable puffins disappear from Lundey, let's take it as a good sign: their nesting was seemingly successful!

And while they have now left the island behind, there's still a great chance you might spot some floating on the waters of Skjálfandi Bay to the end of the month. So keep your eyes open while sailing out in search for whales!

Farewell until we meet again next spring, little puffins!

📷 .ar

15/08/2024

UNICORN DREAMS: KIDS SHINE AT GENTLE GIANTS-SPONSORED HORSE EVENT

Few things are more iconic in Iceland than our world-famous horses (and the whales of course). Gentle Giants is proud to sponsor the equestrian tournament held last weekend at the Þjálfi horse club’s oval track near Húsavík.

As part of the event, a riding course for kids was skilfully led by Oddný Lára, daughter of our captain Guðni. Among the young riders was Luna, the six-year-old daughter of our assistant manager, Daniel. She beamed of pride when showing tölt – a unique gait of the Icelandic horse – during the tournament, on the back of a hornless unicorn called Boggi.

Supporting our local community is something Gentle Giants holds close to heart. Contributing to this weekend’s equestrian event was an honour – especially when witnessing the joy and excitement in the eyes of the young riders.

Interested in riding an Icelandic horse yourself? Explore the combo tour on our website (link in bio) for an unforgettable experience with both whales and horses.

Text & Photos: Alexia Annisius Askelöf

13/08/2024

THEY GROW UP SO FAST

These are our last couple of days of going to Lundey (Puffin Island) during our "GG2 Big Whale Safari and Puffins" tour on our RIB speed boats. Since several days already these cute little birds have started to take off, leaving their summer breeding grounds behind to spend the upcoming months out at sea - far from any land. Very soon Puffin Island will be empty until it's time for the so-called "Clowns of the Sea" to return again next April.

Their chicks, also called pufflings, have grown big and strong enough to now be on their own. Since earlier this month we are able to see them float on the water around the island from time to time.
They'll now follow their parents' path to the open ocean and are likely to stay there for the next few years.
Unlike their parents, they won't return in time for the next nesting season as they only reach maturity at the age of 4 or 5 years.
Some juveniles follow the adults back to their birth place at some point and can be seen floating on the water nearby the colony. They're often darker, more grey than white and have a less colourful beak than the "grown-ups".
Only once they reach maturity, they'll get just as pretty as their parents and find themselves a lifetime mate. From then on, we'll be able to see them year after year returning to their birth place for nesting.

Are you passing by these days? Don't miss out on your last chance of seeing these adorable birds before they all have left their summer homes behind!

📷 .ar

11/08/2024

Humpback whales attract a lot of attention due to their array of acrobatic displays, mainly seen on their breeding grounds. Despite their big size and heavy weight (humpback whales are capable of reaching 18 meters in length and weighing up to 40 tons) they are still capable of launching their body out of the water!

And how is this possible? Why do other whales are not as gracious when they want to take themselves out of the water?

We do believe that a very important factor is the whale's big flippers. Actually, the humpbacks have the longest flippers of all whales. It can be up to a third of their body size, so for some of these animals it could easily reach 4 or 5 meters in length.

It allows them to manoeuvre its body more efficiently and to increase their speed, creating momentum and propelling their body out of the ocean.

In the photographs we can see examples of their beautiful big flippers.

You may notice something different in the second photo. Here the flipper of this humpback whale is mostly black on the upperside, something that is unusual of the humpbacks here in the bay.

First photograph was taken by our guide Rui Duarte
Second photograph was taken by one of our clients Fabius Linder .lin

08/08/2024

First days of August have been already very busy with our normal GG1 and GG2 tours going out to observe whales 🤓🐋🐬 But our boat Aþena has also been busy! Going out for tours of sea angling and special tours.

Yesterday, AÞena went out with our team and the crew from Strýtan Divecenter. They were responsible for all the diving and the mission was to photograph puffins underwater and on Flatey's land.

Situated in the Northwest part of Skjálfandi Bay, Flatey island is the fifth biggest of Iceland and it's home to a big bird biodiversity 🐧🐦

07/08/2024

The beauty of a calm sea and a whale showing its fluke 😇

Not every day is like this here in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland enjoys changing the weather very often 🌪 but we are in for all of it since whales don't care much about it 😜

If you joined us in a tour and you were lucky enough to experience this weather, hope you enjoyed every minute of it! Tell us about the best moment that you had at sea in the comments 😊

In these photographs you have the perspective from the boat of a GG2 tour and you can see the boat from a GG1 tour!

📷

04/08/2024

HÚSAVÍK OUR HOMETOWN

Most visitors to Húsavík stay in our small Icelandic town (18th most populous) for one or two days at the most.
They come to see the whales, to go on a cruise. If they have the time and inclination, they will visit the magnificent "Whale Museum" (https://www.hvalasafn.is/en/) and warm themselves in the thermal pools at "GeoSea" (https://www.geosea.is/en) while enjoying the panoramic view of the bay with the Cheek Mountains in the background.

But let us pause for a moment - at least with our thoughts - in Husavik.

The first whale observation expeditions took place in 1995, but the town itself has existed since 870 AD. Its name means "Bay of Houses", because that's what the Swede Gardar Svavarsson, one of the first discoverers of Iceland, called it. This is quite a long history for the European capital of whale watching.
After the Swedes, the Norwegians came and established the first ski school on the island. Centuries ago. Well, maybe not giant slalom yet, but at least a new way of getting around in the Icelandic snow.

Centuries have passed and Husavik still has an interesting history. Once upon a time it was almost inhabited by crocodiles, and in 1969 American astronauts came here.
Skjálfandi is a trembling bay and the ground beneath it is constantly moving due to the motion of the tectonic plates. If we asked scientists, they would look at the seismographs and confirm it.
In Husavik, apart from the thermal baths, is also a hot lake - so hot that it was planned to have crocodiles live there.
And astronauts? Even Neil Armstrong trained here in 1969 before his expedition to the moon. In fact, twelve of the men who set foot on the moon made their first landing in Husavik. Some time later, the famous Icelandic liquorice delicacies Appolo (yes, it's not a mistake, it was supposed to be Apollo, but the producer apparently made a punctuation mistake) were created. And Armstrong tried fishing in the nearby river. It went so badly that the local boy had to give him his rod and teach him.
And finally "Husavik, my hometown". The famous song from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Why am I writing about all this? Well, apparently a lot of people wondered during Eurovision whether the "Bay of Houses" really existed. Yes, it does!

Want to know more? Visit "Visit Husavik" (http://www.visithusavik.com) and the "Eurovision Museum" (https://eurovisionhusavik.com).

✒️ Witold "Wit" Rajchert (guide)
📷 Sarah Arndt (captain / guide)

31/07/2024

THE NEWBIES OF LUNDEY

As July is about to end, the pufflings at Lundey (Puffin Island) are about a month old by now. Fed with huge amounts of fish daily since weeks, they have grown big and strong and it won’t take long anymore until they will be old enough to venture out at sea.

For now, one after the other is making the first steps outside the protective burrow they were born in – never moving too far from its entrance, though, as after all, it remains a good hideout for another two or three weeks.

And while the parents continue to take care of them for a little while longer, it is not too long anymore until these cute little birds will fledge and leave their home behind – at least for a while.

Very soon, we might be lucky to spot some pufflings on the water around the island when stopping by during our “GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins”.
Keep your eyes open for them – you will be surprised how differently they look from their parents!

📷 Sarah Arndt (captain / guide)

27/07/2024

Let's remember the sighting that we had just two days ago of two beautiful orcas 😍
This is one kind of sighting that the guides wait all season for!

There were only 2 individuals, one of them was an adult male since its dorsal fin was very high, something that can be used to distinguish adult males from adult females.

These animals are very social and live in pods, so we would imagine that the rest of the group wouldn't be too far away.

Orcas can be sighted regularly in Iceland, it only depends a little bit on where you are. For example, Snaefellsnes (west of Iceland) tends to be the place in Iceland where the chances of spotting these animals are higher.

In Skjálfandi Bay, the sighting of these animals may happen 3 or 4 times in a season, if we are lucky. Hopefully, we will see them again before the season ends 🤞

Photographs belong to one of our guides, Rui Duarte

- Sara

23/07/2024

Today is celebrated the World Whale and Dolphin day!

Whales and dolphins have been facing multiple threats throughout time, with whaling being one of the main threats that drove most of the species to the brink of extinction.

To help reverse this situation, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was created and established in 1946, as the global body responsible for the management of whaling and the conservation of whales.

In 1982, on the 23rd of July, IWC decided there should be a pause in commercial whaling. 4 years later this day was declared to be the World Whale and Dolphin Day.

The implementation of rules and quotas created through IWC resulted in a positive impact on multiple whale population species allowing the numbers to rise worldwide.

Photographs were taken by our guide Rui Duarte

21/07/2024

It's pufflings time! As the puffins' nesting season proceeds, a busy time has started for the parents. The chicks, or so-called pufflings, have hatched and are a few weeks old already, demanding lots of fresh fish day by day. Thus, the adults continously venture out in search for food. Puffins feed on small fish such as herring, hake, sand eel or capelin, which they bring as a whole to their offsprings to feed on. Whilst they might fly up to 10 miles away to find enough prey, puffins are able to collect the fish in their beak, which means they don't have to fly back and forth for every single fish they catch. Instead, they stack the prey crosswise inside the beak and use their strong tongue to push the fish against the upper jaw. The jaw in turn is textured with "spines" and ensures that the food doesn't fall back out as the bird opens the beak to add another fish. In average, a puffin brings about 10 fish back to its burrow at once, but the record stands at 62 fish by a puffin in Britain.

If you were hoping for that iconic shot of a puffin with a beak full of fish - now is your chance!

Join our "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins" and get to observe one of the largest puffin colonies around the country!
ar

20/07/2024

OF GOLDEN SPOUTS AND FLUKES

Until the end of this month, we continue to offer our late night "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins" tour on our RIB speedboats, which is scheduled to depart daily at 09:30pm.

What could possibly be more marvellous than watching humpback whales in the light of the setting sun, the last sunrays of the day lightening up their spouts and bodies, turning them all golden. At the same time, the sky is glooming in all colours, from a bright yellow to dark orange and pink.

Are you up for a very unique adventure? Come and join us on a sunny evening before it's too late!

📷 .ar

16/07/2024

MEETING THE ELUSIVE BASKING SHARK

Skjálfandi Bay is home to a variety of animals, both above and below the surface. Mostly of course, we become aware of the whales and dolphins, seals and all kinds of birds that we encounter on our tours.

In the meantime, the huge world beneath the surface mostly goes unnoticed - regardless of how unique and fascinating it is.

Just really rarely we get a glimpse of that world, that while at sea is so close, yet still so far:

One of these rare moments occurred yesterday when a BASKING SHARK made its appearance next to some of our boats.

With an average length of 8 metres (max. 12m), basking sharks are the second largest shark after the whale shark, usually greyish-brown in colour, a mottled skin and the inside of their mouth being white.

Little is known about these elusive sharks, but here are some facts:

1. Basking sharks undertake huge migrations, spending a lot of time in the deep sea offshore. They can be found worldwide both in tropical and temperature waters.

2. They're one of three plankton-feeding shark species (and hence no danger to us or the boats). As filter feeders, they spend a lot of time slowly swimming forward with their huge mouths widely open, filtering up to 1.800.000 litres of water every hour for their preferred prey. In fact, their mouth can be up to 1 metre wide. Oftentimes, they feed on the surface, but they might just as well leave for a feeding-dive.

3. Their brain merely weighs anything and is just 10cm small - most probably an evolution due to the lack of requirement for active and strategic hunting. Instead, the nerval mass for smell is much larger and hence likely has a greater importance when it comes to locating prey.

4. Despite their otherwise slow movements, basking sharks can fully leap out of the water.

5. Their gestation period probably lasts 3-4 years. The offsprings are live born at a size of 1.5m-2m.

6. Their liver accounts for 25-30% of their body weight.

Were you one of the lucky ones yesterday to encounter this elusive animal?

📷 Reynir Hilmarsson (captain)

14/07/2024

Whales are the most wanted species in our tours, although there is another species that is also frequently requested by our spectators.

The beautiful dolphins! When we can lay an eye on them in our tours, you will surely see a smile on every human face.

Here in the bay, we have the white beaked dolphins, a species that is mostly commonly sighted around cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

They can be very energetic, playful, and very curious with boats. If you would race against them for sure they will beat you as they can easily reach 45 km/h.

Like every being on this planet, they also can be in a low mood energy, hence seeing them in a more calm and relaxed behaviour, not really engaging with the boat. But it will always be a wonderful moment!

The photographs were taken by our guide Rui Duarte

- Sara

11/07/2024

Kinnarfjoll mountains, the incredible mountains we have as a background in our tours

They play a very important role, actively contributing to the input of nutrients in Skjálfandi Bay. These nutrients are precious for the presence of life around the bay, attracting from the smallest to the largest animals on the planet.

Visit the news on our website to find out more.

Photographs were taken by our guide Rui

Address

Harbour Side
Húsavík
640

Opening Hours

Monday	07:30 - 17:00
Tuesday	07:30 - 17:00
Wednesday	07:30 - 17:00
Thursday	07:30 - 17:00
Friday	07:30 - 17:00
Saturday	07:30 - 17:00
Sunday	07:30 - 17:00

Website

https://www.gentlegiants.is/

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Videos

In the blink of an eye another month passed and as August is ending, we're excited about the autumn months ahead of us! While the last month has had its ups and downs in terms of weather, we still look back at many fantastic moments out at sea and sure made memories for a lifetime while around our beloved whales and dolphins!

These days are our last days of the evening "GG2 Big Whale Safari". Don't miss out on the chance of heading out onto the bay during golden hour, watching whales as the sun kisses the sea, turning your surroundings into a sparkling set of colours right before disappearing below the horizon. Are you ready? Come join us! *The evening "GG2 Big Whale Safari" continues until the 31st of August. (For more information follow the link in our bio.)

Pure perfection. 📷 Wit (guide) @wayfarers.ow

AS THE SUN GOES DOWN The days of the midnight sun are over and since earlier this month already, the sun is setting again in the late evening. As days continously get shorter now, only for a few more days - to the end of this month - we are offering our late evening "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins" tour, which departs at 21:30 (09:30pm) on our modern RIB speed boats. Don't miss out on your very last chance to join us on a very unique experience: imagine the silence out at sea at the end of the day when there are no other boats around and the town is slowly going to sleep. All there is that's you on a boat somewhere on the waters of Skjálfandi Bay, and while you admire a gentle humpback whale surfacing and diving around the vessel, the setting sun is illuminating the sea and mountains in the background. Sunsets at this time of the year can be so marvellous and we believe they're best enjoyed from sea! You're not making it to Húsavík these days, but really want to experience a sunset at sea while out whale watching? No worries, we've got you covered: While our 21:30 (09:30pm) departure will stop at the end of this month, we continue to sail at 19:00 (07:00pm) daily throughout August! Book your adventure now!

MEETING THE ELUSIVE BASKING SHARK Skjálfandi Bay is home to a variety of animals, both above and below the surface. Mostly of course, we become aware of the whales and dolphins, seals and all kinds of birds that we encounter on our tours. In the meantime, the huge world beneath the surface mostly goes unnoticed - regardless of how unique and fascinating it is. Just really rarely we get a glimpse of that world, that while at sea is so close, yet still so far: One of these rare moments occurred yesterday when a BASKING SHARK made its appearance next to some of our boats. With an average length of 8 metres (max. 12m), basking sharks are the second largest shark after the whale shark, usually greyish-brown in colour, a mottled skin and the inside of their mouth being white. Little is known about these elusive sharks, but here are some facts: 1. Basking sharks undertake huge migrations, spending a lot of time in the deep sea offshore. They can be found worldwide both in tropical and temperature waters. 2. They're one of three plankton-feeding shark species (and hence no danger to us or the boats). As filter feeders, they spend a lot of time slowly swimming forward with their huge mouths widely open, filtering up to 1.800.000 litres of water every hour for their preferred prey. In fact, their mouth can be up to 1 metre wide. Oftentimes, they feed on the surface, but they might just as well leave for a feeding-dive. 3. Their brain merely weighs anything and is just 10cm small - most probably an evolution due to the lack of requirement for active and strategic hunting. Instead, the nerval mass for smell is much larger and hence likely has a greater importance when it comes to locating prey. 4. Despite their otherwise slow movements, basking sharks can fully leap out of the water. 5. Their gestation period probably lasts 3-4 years. The offsprings are live born at a size of 1.5m-2m. 6. Their liver accounts for 25-30% of their body weight. Were you one of the l

SUMMER SOLSTICE The 21st of June is known for the summer solstice - or also, the longest day of the year. During summer solstice, which is as well called midsummer, either of Earth's poles - in this case the north pole - has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. Strictly speaking, this does not always happen exactly on the 21st, but sometime between the 20th and 22nd of June. During summer solstice , Earth's axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44° and the Sun is at its highest position in the sky. Since earlier this month we've been enjoying the beauty and magic of the midnight sun and if the weather conditions allow, we will continue to do so for a little while longer. Did you know: here in Húsavík the sun hasn't set since the 11th of June and it will only do so again on the 1st of July! Until then, we are able to enjoy endless days and the sun around the clock! While the days remain long still for a while, we offer two evening departures for our "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins" on our RIB speed boats, enabling you to experience the endless sun out at sea while watching whales in the pristine wild of Skjálfandi Bay. We depart at 7:00pm and 9:30pm daily and welcome you on a truly memorable voyage on the waters just outside Húsavík - a journey that guarantees memories for a lifetime. - Sarah

If you were following our recent stories, you might have read about our dear old friend who came by on its annual visit to Skjálfandi Bay the other day: THE HYBRID! For many years now this special animal keeps visiting our bay. While it was first sighted and documented in 2007, in 2014 researchers verified that our by then well-known friend was indeed a hybrid between the two largest animals on Earth: a blue and a fin whale! It is unsure why hybrids exist, but in recent years more blue-fin hybrids have been identified, among those even 2nd generation hybrids. A not so unlikely possible reason might be that blue whales are still an endangered species and might therefore be unable to find mates of their own. In case of this hybrid, DNA samples have shown his mother is a blue, the father a fin whale. On the video, one can see the hybrid closest to the boat and a blue whale surfacing right next to it. Hopefully, the hybrid's brief visit the other day was not the only one this season! 📷 @barbarinisky #gentlegiantswhalewatching #whalewatching #visithusavik #arcticcoastway #visiticeland #boatlife #guidelife #roadtrip #ig_iceland #aroundiceland #largestanimalonearth #blueplanet #blueocean #bluewhalewatching #finwhale #hybrid #specialguest #wildandfree #wildlifephotography #wildlifesafari #safari #marinewildlife #atlanticocean #whalesofinstagram #wanderlust #summervacation #summervibes

What better way could there be than to celebrate Iceland's National Day surrounded by whales and dolphins? HAPPY 80TH NATIONAL DAY, ICELAND!

BUDDIES - while humpback whales are generally solitary animals, on and off they socialise and spend some time side by side, surfacing and diving simultaneously. While already seeing one of these gentle giants is truly a magical experience, seeing two or more in one area - or even together - is like the icing on the cake! Come and join us on one of our tours - and be captivated by these magnificent animals, which call Skjálfandi Bay their summer residence! 📷 @vsevolodgavrilov @altertraveltours Thanks for sharing your experience with us all!

Have you been at sea with us this month? The bay has been full of life and we got to encounter many different species throughout the last weeks - but see for yourself! 📷 Videos by guides / captains: @wayfarers.ow @fio116 @thesmartface @latitude.jo @sarinha.ar

Posted @withregram • @wayfarers.ow Reviewing the last days in Húsavík... and this is just a beginning 🐳🇮🇸🐳 #gentlegiantswhalewatching #whalewatching #whalewatchingcapital #whalesofinstagram #whalesoficeland #boatlife #guidelife #todaysoffice #ig_iceland #visiticeland #visithusavik #roadtrip #arcticcoastway #traveliceland #travel #nature #naturephotography #sea #wildlife #whale #whalesnation #bluewhalewatching #humpbackwhale #humpback #wildlifephotography #wildlifesafari

"Where great whales come sailing by, Sail and sail, with unshut eye, Round the world for ever and aye." ~ Matthew Arnold 📷 @wayfarers.ow

The month literally passes by and while it remains quite winterly in the bay, it has become more lively recently, especially with the arrival of the puffins at Lundey (Puffin Island). In the meantime, the frosty and snowy winter landscapes keep amazing us every single day while scouting the bay for whales.

April surely has its charm: sunshine, snowfall, ice-blue water, frozen seas, mystical landscape, imposing mountains - and all that within hours! Come and sail with us to disover the magic of winterly Skjálfandi Bay! 📷 @sarinha.ar

THE COUNTDOWN HAS STARTED Only one week until we will finally sail out into Skjálfandi Bay again! Whilst all of us are waiting in excitement for the moment that we leave Húsavík harbour again on the 1st of April, preparations are still in full swing and everything is finally getting ready for our season start next week as well as the months to come. Whilst we, as usual during the winter months, haven't operated any tours lately, our team has worked hard to complete all kinds of maintenance work and improvements around the boats and facilities as well as on our services – so that we can provide for an even better experience this season! Have you already booked your whale watching adventure with us? Starting from 1st of April we will offer daily departures for our bestseller whale watching tours, the "GG1 Whale Watching" and the "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins". Did we pique your interest? Book your own whale watching experience here: https://gentlegiants.is/tours-and-bookings/ We are looking forward to welcoming you on board very soon! 📷 Sarah Arndt

Have you booked your whale watching tour in Iceland, yet? Why not join us this season on one of our our "GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins" on our modern RIB speed boats? Many thanks @voigttravel for letting us share this wonderful footage! Video credit: @voigttravel

As news spread the other day that another volcanic eruption had started on the Reykjanes Peninsula, some of you might have started to wonder whether it is safe to travel to Iceland at the moment... The short answer is: YES! And here is why... SOME KEY FACTS: 1. Due to its geological position along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (the plate boundary of the Eurasian and the North American plate), Iceland regularly experiences seismic and volcanic activity. 2. The current eruption is confined to a small area on the Reykjanes Pensinsula with road closures in place around the affected area. Please respect those closures. 3. The nature of the eruption poses no threat to travellers or their health. 4. Air traffic to and from Iceland is operating normally, and Iceland remains a safe destination. 5. All services around Iceland are operating as usual. For more details and information on the current eruption as well as interesting facts and insights into volcanic activity in Iceland visit: www.visiticeland.com

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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.