Reykjavik Premium Puffin tour | Close Up and Personal

Puffins meet speedboat adventure. The Reykjavik Premium Puffin tour takes you across the bay by rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, toward Lundey, one of the small islands where puffins gather during nesting season. I like the way the tour combines a short time commitment with a genuinely exciting ride, and I also like the small group limit of 12, which gives the guide room to answer questions and point out birds.

The biggest consideration is distance. The boat gets as close as it responsibly can, but you stay aboard and the puffins remain on the island or in the water. That means binoculars help, and phone photos can be hit or miss. The tour earns a strong 4.6 rating, with 92 percent of customers recommending it, but your experience will depend on sea conditions, bird activity, and your expectations about the meaning of close up.

The essentials at a glance

• Lundey is the main wildlife stop: You spend about 40 minutes near the island, watching puffins in their natural setting.
• The RIB gets close without landing: You stay on the boat, since the nesting areas must not be disturbed.
• A small group keeps it personal: The maximum is 12 people, rather than a large sightseeing boat.
• Warm gear is included: You receive a flotation suit and the required safety equipment. Hats, gloves, and goggles have also been provided on some departures.
• Bring better binoculars if you have them: Loan binoculars are available, but several people found them less useful than their own.
• It fits neatly into a Reykjavik day: The full outing lasts about one hour and returns to the same meeting point.

Why the RIB makes a difference near Reykjavik

The main reason to choose this tour over a standard boat trip is the vessel itself. A RIB is smaller and more nimble than a large whale-watching boat, so it can approach the islands more closely. The ride also adds some fun of its own. On calm water, you get a brisk run across the bay. In rougher conditions, the same boat can feel lively.

That trade-off matters. This is not a quiet cruise where you sit back in a sheltered cabin. You are exposed to wind, spray, and the movement of the sea, though the flotation suit helps keep you warm. The seats have cushioning and handles on the seat in front, which help you brace yourself. One person found the seating less comfortable because shorter legs dangled, but the height requirement exists for safety reasons.

The crew takes safety seriously. The boat feels stable to many people, but a RIB still responds to waves more sharply than a larger vessel. If you are prone to seasickness, take that into account. The ride has been described as both smooth and rough, which tells you the sea, not the tour company, will have the final word.

Meeting the puffins at Lundey

The journey from the harbor to the puffin area takes roughly 10 minutes, according to the details provided by people who took the trip. You then spend about 40 minutes around Lundey and nearby viewing areas, with the remaining time used for the ride out and back.

Lundey is not a stop where you walk ashore. The puffins nest on the island, and the boat keeps a respectful distance from the cliffs and nesting grounds. That may disappoint anyone picturing a bird landing on their shoulder, but it is the right approach. The birds are wild, and protecting the colony matters more than getting one extra close photograph.

At the island, look for puffins flying low over the water, floating beside the boat, and returning with small fish in their bills. Large groups have been seen resting on the water, and some departures have produced hundreds or even thousands of birds. Other seabirds may appear as well, and the crew explains what you are seeing rather than treating the puffins as the only subject.

Bird activity is not guaranteed. One departure produced no puffins and felt like little more than a fast harbor ride. That seems to be an uncommon outcome given the strong overall rating, but it is an important reminder that wildlife tours deal with living animals, not a scheduled show.

What the guide adds to the hour

The live commentary is one of the strongest parts of this outing. The guides explain puffin behavior and identify other seabirds, adding useful detail to what could otherwise become a quick boat ride and a blur of small black-and-white birds.

Names mentioned by people on different departures include Knute, Adam, Naina, Tarzan, and Andy. The quality of the individual guide will always vary, but the consistent theme is clear: the crew does more than point toward the cliffs. They share bird facts, explain the route, and help you understand why the boat cannot approach too closely.

Some guides also take photographs with a larger camera and share them at the end. That is a welcome touch because puffins are small, fast, and difficult to frame from a moving boat. You may come home with better memories than photographs if you rely only on a phone.

Warm suits, binoculars, and what to wear

Elding supplies a warm flotation suit and the necessary safety equipment. Reports also describe hats, gloves, and goggles being available, which is useful if you arrive without full cold-weather gear. Still, I would dress in warm layers beneath the suit. The water and wind can make Reykjavik feel colder than the harbor suggests.

The supplied binoculars are a mixed point. They are useful in principle, but some people found them poor enough that details on the cliffs were hard to see. If you own compact binoculars, bring them. This is one of those small pieces of gear that can change the outing from spotting dark shapes to seeing orange bills, white faces, and fish carried back to the colony.

A phone can capture birds on the water when the boat is steady. It is less reliable for puffins perched on cliffs or flying past at speed. If photography matters most to you, bring a camera with a useful zoom, but remember that the boat moves and the birds do too.

A small group, with a short schedule

The maximum group size is 12. That is a real advantage here. On a small RIB, a crowded load would make it harder to see past other people and harder for the guide to speak with everyone. A group of this size also keeps the experience from feeling like a mass departure.

The one-hour duration is another strength. You can fit it before or after other sightseeing in Reykjavik without giving up most of your day. It also works well if you are in the city briefly, including a cruise stop, since the activity begins and ends at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the harbor yourself. The meeting point is near public transportation. Someone who needed special transport from a cruise ship received help from the office, including assistance from Sara, but you should arrange any special transport needs in advance rather than assume it is part of the standard service.

The mobile ticket makes arrival simple. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is offered in English.

Is $85 a fair price?

At $85 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see birds around Reykjavik. The value comes from the combination of a small boat, a small group, warm safety gear, live guiding, and a route designed to get closer to the islands than a larger vessel can.

You are also paying for time. A one-hour tour leaves room for museums, food, a city walk, or another excursion. If you have only one day in Reykjavik, that short format can be worth more than a longer bird trip that takes up half the day.

The price is less convincing if you mainly want perfect photographs. The boat moves, the puffins are small, and the supplied binoculars may not satisfy serious birdwatchers. In that case, the tour is better understood as a close wildlife encounter with a fast ride, not a dedicated photography workshop.

The strongest value comes when you want three things at once: a good chance to see puffins, an outdoor activity that feels lively, and a tour that does not swallow your schedule.

How rough is the ride?

There is no single answer. Some people found the RIB comfortable and less rough than expected. Others described the ride out as quite rough and noted seasickness caused by wind and waves.

The boat’s cushioned seats and handholds help, and the flotation suit adds confidence. But you should still expect movement. If you need a calm, gentle outing, Elding’s classic puffin tour may be a better fit according to the company’s own response to one unhappy customer. The Premium tour is aimed at getting closer and uses a faster, more agile boat.

Good weather is required. If conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Who should book this puffin trip?

I would choose this tour if you are short on time, curious about seabirds, and comfortable with a fast boat on open water. It also suits families with older children, provided each child is at least 10 years old or 145 centimeters tall.

The tour works well for:

• People who want a quick wildlife outing from central Reykjavik
• First-time visitors who want live explanations rather than a self-guided boat ride
• Small groups who prefer a maximum of 12 people
• Anyone who wants to see puffins without spending a full day at sea
• Visitors who enjoy a little speed and movement

I would think twice if you dislike boats that bounce, have serious seasickness concerns, or need guaranteed close-up photographs. The experience is also a poor fit if you expect to land on the island. You do not get off the boat.

Moderate physical fitness is advised. You need to manage the boat setting and wear the flotation suit, though the outing is not described as highly strenuous. One person who expected a demanding physical activity found it easier than expected.

Planning your best possible outing

Book with the season in mind. Puffins are present around Iceland during their nesting season, not all year. The exact dates are not supplied here, so check the current operating calendar before building your plans around puffins.

Arrive ready for cold and wind, even if Reykjavik feels mild. Wear layers and shoes that work with the boat environment. Bring your own binoculars if you have them, and keep camera expectations realistic.

Listen to the guide’s instructions near the island. The best view may not be the closest possible approach. The boat must balance your view with the welfare of the birds, and that respectful distance is part of responsible wildlife watching.

Should you book the Premium Puffin tour?

Book it if you want the closest practical look at Reykjavik’s puffins, a lively RIB ride, and an hour that fits easily into a busy day. The small group, warm gear, capable crew, and frequent sightings give it strong value at $85.

Skip it if your priority is a completely calm boat, a long birdwatching session, or guaranteed perfect photographs. For most people who understand the limits, this is a compact and exciting way to see puffins in the wild. Bring binoculars, dress warmly, and think of close up as close by boat, not close enough to touch.

FAQ

Where does the Reykjavik Premium Puffin tour begin?

It begins at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Where does the tour end?

The activity returns to the same meeting point at Elding Whale Watching.

How long does the puffin tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour.

Which island does the tour visit?

The main wildlife stop is Lundey, where you can watch puffins in their natural habitat.

Can I get off the boat on Lundey?

No. You remain on the RIB and watch the puffins from the water.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 12 people.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 10 years, or a minimum height of 145 centimeters.

Is safety equipment included?

Yes. The tour includes a warm flotation suit and the necessary safety equipment.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is near public transportation.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered another date or a full refund if the tour is canceled because of poor weather.