Watching an animal in its natural habitat is a fascinating, and even magical experience. Whale watching is particularly popular, but unfortunately, it’s not exactly an eco-friendly activity. Fuel-based boats produce dioxide emissions, and the noise of the engine can be disrupting to the ecosystems, and the whales themselves. The family-owned Icelandic company North Sailing has the answer—their electric and silent boats allow tourists to appreciate the giant creatures from up-close without causing any environmental harm.
North Sailing was founded in 1995 in Húsavík, a town located on the northern coast of Iceland. While the company has always been environmentally conscious, it set out to create its first eclectic silent boat six years ago.
Iceland is known to have a history of whale hunting. North Sailing was one of the first to offer whale watching tours in Iceland, shifting the focus to appreciating these animals as friends, rather than food. If you decide to take one of their whale watching tours in Skjálfandi Bay, you may spot blue, fin, humpback, and minke whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins. We can confidently state that their mission is a success—about 100,000 tourists visit Húsavík each year to see these incredible sea creatures.
