Every summer, hundreds of visitors flock the Old Harbor in Reykjavik to fill well-stocked boats headed out to catch a glimpse of the giants of the ocean. Organized whale watching tours can easily be booked by the harbor or reserved ahead of time. An experienced guide will fill you in on the history of the whales of island, once of the most hunted beasts in the Faxafloi Bay. Careful preservation and activism is what allows us today to see the aquiline grace of the White-beaked Dolphins dashing past or the force of 30,000 kilos of nature cutting through choppy, grey waters. With a 9 in 10 chance of being able to sight the whales, do keep a lookout for the tell-tale geyser of water against the snow-capped mountain ranges beyond. You might also come across porpoises and the Minke, just 4 of over 20 odd marine mammals that populate the bay area.

If the cold proves to be unbearable, most boats do offer an indoor café space with various souvenirs on offer. That said, you wouldn’t want to miss a second away from the rails. Moving, breathing wonders of nature, the whales of Iceland are truly a force to be reckoned with.