Thingvellir: Silfra Snorkeling & Whale Watching

The summer season in Iceland gives you the opportunity to truly make the most out of one day. The combination of snorkeling in Silfra followed by whale watching is a great way to get to know the many forms of one of Iceland’s most prominent element: water.

The day begins on a whale watching boat for an unforgettable trip into the world of whales and sea birds with our trusted whale watching partner, Elding adventure at sea. As this is a self drive tour, you will make your way to Elding's office at the old Reykjavik harbor.

The various types of whales commonly sighted include minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises and the popular humpback whales. You will be accompanied by sea birds such as gannets, guillemots, cormorants, kittiwakes, arctic terns, and many more. The trip also takes you past several islands inhabited by colonies of puffins, which provides a great photo opportunity!

The Whale watching tour lasts till around 12.00 noon, so you will have time for a quick bite before your 1 hour drive to the National Park Thingvellir where you will snorkel Silfra. You can meet us directly at the Silfra meeting point in Thingvellir National Park.

Silfra is a crack in the earth between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This remarkable fissure is filled with the glacial water and with over 100 meters visibility underwater, it is among the clearest bodies of water on our planet.

On the snorkeling tour we will guide you through the four parts of the Silfra fissure. Floating through Silfra's crystal clear water is an otherworldly experience; the near-freezing water, astonishing colors, and sensation of flying provide a very unique environment for liquid meditation that you will never forget.

After the snorkeling tour you can enjoy some time at Thingvellir national park before headgin back to Reykjavik.

Whale watching

You will arrive at Reykjavik Harbor and go to Elding Whale watching, from where they will take you in the ocean and show off the whales and dolphins.

Snorkeling in Silfra

At your arrival at SIlfra, we will welcome you and give you a detailed briefing of the snorkeling tour. Here you will also get dressed into our top quality snorkeling gear.

We have a heated changing van, but it's best if you wear your long thermal underwear before coming to the National Park.

After gearing up, we will take a short walk over to the Silfra entry platform from where the activity starts.

The exit point is at another platform in the Silfra Lagoon. The time spent in the water is approx. 35 minutes.

After the snorkeling tour we will warm you up with hot cocoa and cookies.

Participants must:

• have read, signed, and followed directions on the Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement

• sign our liability release form at the start of the tour

• be between 150cm and 200cm in height

• be between 45kg and 120kg in weight

• fit within our dry suit size chart

• be minimum 12 years of age on the year

• be comfortable in the water and be able to swim

• be physically fit

• be ready to wear a sometimes tight and constricting dry suit

• be able to communicate in English or have a translator available at all times during the tour

• not be pregnant

Please note

Participants are not allowed on tour without signing the Snorkeling Silfra Medical Statement and, if necessary, a physician’s approval which can be found on the second page of the Medical Statement document. Please read the Diving Silfra Medical Statement prior to booking to make sure that you are eligible for the tour. Each participant must sign our liability release form at the start of the tour.