Iceland Wildlife and Nature Holidays

Wildlife and nature form an integral part of the many of holidays to Iceland, where rugged natural beauty is complemented by wonderful bird watching and whale watching opportunities. You’ll find plenty of wildlife along Iceland’s 5,000km of coastline.

From May to mid-July its distinctive cliffs are stacked with nesting sea birds. In the West Fjords the towering cliffs of Latrabjarg, which are almost 14km in length, are home to Iceland’s largest concentration of sea birds including puffins and kittiwakes. Seals haul out on rocky islets and if you’re lucky, you might spot a whale or two from the shore. For the best chances, sign up for whale watching boat trip to look for minke and humpback whales as they gather to feed in the fjords.

The island’s unpolluted rivers and lakes are a magnet for abundant wildfowl. Lake Myvatn, with its sensational summer bird watching, boasts rarities such as Barrow’s goldeneye, harlequin duck and great northern diver.

Husavik is known as the ‘whale watching capital of Europe’ while the Snaefellsnes Peninsula offers the chance to combine orca watching with searching for the northern lights.

We offer a selection of wildlife and nature holidays with a specific focus on wildlife encounters, or we can tailor make a wildlife and nature holiday entirely around your interests. Whether you join an escorted tour accompanied by an expert guide, or explore on your own self drive adventure, we’ve got the perfect holiday to tempt the nature lover in you.

Speak to a specialist
Our first whale watching trip was magical and we were so fortunate as all the conditions were in our favour and we had 90 minutes of whale watching.
Jan Cumming, Orcas and Aurora

Wildlife Holidays in Iceland

Orcas and Aurora

from £1,866
excluding flights
4 nights Feb-Mar
Combine the excitement of seeing orca and the northern lights on this guided short break.
  • Wildlife
  • Winter Break
  • Northern Lights
  • Escorted
  • Short Break
  • Whale Watching

Best seller

Winter Wildlife and Aurora Self Drive

from £722
excluding flights
5 nights Feb-Mar
Combine orca and aurora watching with a stay in Reykjavik on this winter self drive holiday
  • Wildlife
  • Northern Lights
  • Self Drive
  • Whale Watching

Into the Blue – Whale Watching in Iceland

from £3,200
excluding flights
8 nights Jun
This 9-day small-group holiday is led by whale expert, Abbi Björgvinsson, and combines spectacular landscapes with three whale watching hot spots.
  • Wildlife
  • Escorted
  • Whale Watching

Iceland Circumnavigation

from £7,895
excluding flights
10 nights Jun
Explore Iceland from a new perspective on this comprehensive expedition voyage, following the country’s spectacular coastline in search of whales, puffins and other wildlife.
  • Wildlife
  • Small Ship Cruise

New!