Snorkeling in Thingvellir National Park and Whale Watching Cruise from Reykjavik
Reykjavik, Iceland
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 8 hours
Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Iceland's Thingvellir National Park and go whale watching on this memorable day trip from Reykjavik. Drive into the stunning park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit Silfra, a natural fissure on a lake where two of the world’s tectonic plates meet underwater. Swim over the tectonic join, and wonder at the extraordinary water clarity and colors. Afterward, drive back to Reykjavik and enjoy a 3-hour cruise to search for minke and humpback whales, porpoises and dolphins in the magnificent setting of Faxaflói Bay.
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Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Iceland's Thingvellir National Park and go whale watching on this memorable day trip from Reykjavik. Drive into the stunning park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit Silfra, a natural fissure on a lake where two of the world’s tectonic plates meet underwater. Swim over the tectonic join, and wonder at the extraordinary water clarity and colors. Afterward, drive back to Reykjavik and enjoy a 3-hour cruise to search for minke and humpback whales, porpoises and dolphins in the magnificent setting of Faxaflói Bay.
Leave your centrally located Reykjavik hotel in a comfortable transfer vehicle and enjoy a scenic drive inland to Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park.
As you drive, learn about the pristine UNESCO-listed park and its Thingvallavtan Lake, the home of the freshwater Silfra ravine — a fissure in the Earth’s crust where the world's continental Eurasian and North American tectonic plates come together.
On arrival, don your supplied dry suit and other snorkel equipment and listen to a comprehensive safety briefing. Then, with a guide leading the way, step into Silfra’s transparent waters.
Marvel at the underwater colors and glacial landscapes and swim through Silfra’s Big Crack, where you can see the almost-touching continental plates. Then, float through what’s known as Silfra Cathedral, Hall and Lagoon. The waters are astonishingly clear, and at one point, you can see about 490 feet (150 meters) ahead, deep into Thingvallavtan Lake.
After around 40 minutes’ snorkeling, return to shore, get changed, and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies before heading back to Reyjavik for your whale watching.
Step onto the whale watching boat, put on your supplied coveralls, and settle on deck or in the cabin for your trip in Faxaflói Bay. If you get peckish on your cruise, you can buy refreshments (own expense) from the onboard cafe when you wish.
Hear fascinating facts about Iceland’s whales, and as you sail, watch for seabirds and the puffins that gather on the local shores.
Look for minke and humpback whales, harbor porpoises and white-beaked dolphins, and keep your camera handy — these trips have an over 90% success rate for sightings! In the unlikely event you don’t see any whales or dolphins, you’ll receive a complimentary ticket for another boat trip.
After your 3-hour cruise, dock at the harbor, and end your day with a hotel drop-off.
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