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Private Yacht Charters from Reykjavik Old Harbour across Faxafloi Bay and the North Atlantic Coast
Iceland Yacht Charters: North Atlantic Whales, Puffins, and the Midnight Sun
An Iceland yacht charter is a fully crewed private boat rental departing from the Reykjavik Old Harbour on Faxafloi Bay that gives your group exclusive access to the dramatic North Atlantic coast of Iceland, including the whale grounds of Faxafloi Bay, the puffin colonies of islands such as Lundey and Akurey, the Snaefellsnes peninsula crowned by its glacier, the basalt sea cliffs and stacks, and the long golden light of the midnight sun, aboard a comfortable, heated, weatherproof vessel with an experienced captain and crew.
Iceland is a North Atlantic island nation sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, covering about 103,000 square kilometers with a population of around 390,000, a land of glaciers, volcanoes, geothermal springs, and some of the most dramatic coastline on earth. A yacht charter here is an expedition into scenery and wildlife rather than a tropical beach holiday: the cool, clean North Atlantic teems with whales and seabirds, and the coast is lined with towering basalt cliffs, sea stacks, and quiet fjords. The capital Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of any nation, is the base, and its Old Harbour is the main departure point for charters and whale watching. Day Yacht Charters builds every charter around your group, with local captains who know the bay, the coast, and the wildlife intimately.
Below you will find our featured Iceland fleet, followed by a complete guide to cruising the coast: the harbour and gateway, whale watching in Faxafloi Bay, the puffin colonies, the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords, the sea cliffs and the midnight sun, sample itineraries, onboard comfort, and full logistics for getting to Iceland. For more cool-water and Nordic cruising, see our Norway Fjords, Maine, and New England pages.
Please note that the yachts shown on our website may not always reflect the most current availability, as we do not have a dedicated web designer to update the listings. Some yachts may be unavailable for reasons such as being sold by the owner, undergoing maintenance, relocated, or already booked by another client. To see a complete and up-to-date list of yachts available for rent in Iceland, we recommend contacting us directly. We can provide detailed information, including photos, pricing for day trips, and confirm the availability of any specific yacht.
Experience the Luxury of Iceland Yacht Charters - Private Charters Available across Faxafloi Bay and the North Atlantic Coast
Iceland yacht charters are private, crewed boat cruises exploring the dramatic North Atlantic coast of Iceland, departing primarily from the Reykjavik Old Harbour on Faxafloi Bay, the main base for charters and whale watching in the country. Iceland is a North Atlantic island nation sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, covering about 103,000 square kilometers with a population of around 390,000, a land shaped by glaciers, volcanoes, and geothermal heat, with some of the most spectacular coastline on earth. Unlike a tropical charter, an Iceland cruise is an expedition into scenery and wildlife: the cool, clean, nutrient-rich water teems with whales and seabirds, and the coast is lined with towering basalt cliffs, sea stacks, quiet fjords, and glacier-crowned peninsulas. The Icelandic krona is the currency, Icelandic and English are both widely spoken, and the prime charter season runs roughly May through September, when the daylight is long, the whales and puffins are present, and the famous midnight sun keeps the northern sky glowing through the night. Day Yacht Charters operates a fully crewed fleet from the Reykjavik Old Harbour with comfortable, heated, weatherproof vessels and local captains who know the bay, the coast, and the wildlife intimately: the whale grounds of Faxafloi Bay, home to humpback, minke, and orca with blue whales sometimes seen offshore in summer; the puffin colonies of islands such as Lundey and Akurey; the glacier-crowned Snaefellsnes peninsula; the remote Westfjords; and the vast seabird cliffs of the Westman Islands. Charter guests arrive through Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about a 45 minute drive from Reykjavik, the country's main gateway. Because the water is cool, swimming is a brief, refreshing dip for the bold, while the warmth of the day comes from the heated vessel, the wildlife, the scenery, and the celebrated geothermal pools and hot springs ashore. The combination of world-class whale watching, vast seabird colonies, glaciers, basalt sea cliffs, and the midnight sun makes Iceland one of the great expedition charter destinations on earth.
The Reykjavik Old Harbour is the primary departure point for Iceland yacht charters and the historic heart of the capital's relationship with the sea. Set in the center of Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of any nation, the Old Harbour is a working harbour turned lively waterfront, lined with seafood restaurants, cafes, and the boats of the whale-watching and fishing fleets, with the snow-capped Mount Esja rising across the bay. It is the main base for charters and whale watching, offering sheltered berths, marine services, and easy access to the city, and from the harbour a yacht is out into Faxafloi Bay and among the wildlife within minutes. Faxafloi Bay, the broad bay on which Reykjavik sits, is the immediate cruising ground and one of the finest whale-watching areas in Europe. Within the bay lie the puffin islands of Lundey and Akurey, the whale grounds where humpback and minke feed through the summer, and views back to the city and out to the mountains and the Snaefellsnes peninsula on the northern horizon. A half-day or full-day charter can explore the bay for whales and puffins and cruise the dramatic nearby coast, while longer voyages head north along the coast to Snaefellsnes and the Westfjords or south to the Westman Islands. Most Iceland charter guests arrive through Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 50 km and a 45 minute drive southwest of Reykjavik, the country's main international gateway. KEF receives direct flights from across North America, including New York, Boston, and many other cities (a flight of roughly 5 to 6 hours from the United States east coast, making Iceland the closest European destination to North America), as well as from London, Copenhagen, and cities across Europe. From the airport, Reykjavik and the Old Harbour are an easy drive, and many guests combine a charter with the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon, which lies between the airport and the city. The combination of a lively historic harbour in the heart of the capital, excellent transatlantic air access, and immediate cruising into one of Europe's finest whale grounds makes the Reykjavik Old Harbour the natural base for Iceland yacht charters.
Whale watching is the headline experience of an Iceland yacht charter, and the cool, nutrient-rich North Atlantic water around Iceland supports an extraordinary abundance of marine mammals through the summer. Faxafloi Bay, right on Reykjavik's doorstep, is one of the most reliable whale-watching grounds in Europe, and a private yacht offers the finest way to experience it, with the freedom to follow the wildlife at a respectful distance, to cut the engine and drift while a whale feeds, and to linger long after the day boats have turned for home. The most frequently seen of the great whales are the minke whale, abundant and curious, and the humpback whale, which often delights guests by breaching clear of the water, slapping its long pectoral fins, and raising its great tail flukes as it dives. Pods of white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are common, and orca are seen along the coast, hunting in family pods. In the deeper water offshore, especially off the north coast and in early summer, the blue whale, the largest animal that has ever lived, reaching up to around 30 meters in length, is sometimes encountered, an unforgettable sight. Grey and harbour seals haul out on the skerries and rocky shores throughout the cruising ground. A private charter with a knowledgeable local captain greatly improves the experience, since the captain reads the daily conditions, the feeding patterns, and the movements of the wildlife to find the best encounters, while keeping a respectful distance that protects the animals. The long summer daylight, with the sun barely setting around the solstice, means there is ample time to roam the bay, and evening and midnight-sun cruises can be especially rewarding as the low golden light catches the spouts and the surfacing whales. Whale watching combines naturally with the puffin colonies and the dramatic coastline for a full day of North Atlantic wildlife and scenery.
Iceland is one of the great seabird destinations of the world, and its colonies are best seen from the water on a yacht charter. The star is the Atlantic puffin, the small, clown-faced seabird with its bright orange-and-striped bill and comical upright stance, which returns each summer to breed in vast numbers on grassy islands and clifftops around the coast. Iceland hosts a large share of the world's Atlantic puffins, and a charter can cruise close to the colonies as thousands of birds whir over the water on fast-beating wings, bob in rafts on the surface, and carry beakfuls of small fish back to their burrows. Just off Reykjavik in Faxafloi Bay lie the puffin islands of Lundey, whose name means Puffin Island, and Akurey, both home to thousands of breeding puffins through the summer along with arctic terns and eider ducks, and both easily reached on a half-day charter from the Old Harbour. Farther afield, the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) off the south coast host one of the largest Atlantic puffin colonies in the world, with the steep green slopes and towering cliffs of the islands alive with birds. Beyond the puffins, Iceland's sea cliffs throng with seabirds: guillemots and razorbills packed onto narrow ledges, fulmars gliding stiff-winged along the cliff faces, kittiwakes nesting in noisy colonies, northern gannets diving for fish, and arctic terns wheeling overhead. The great bird cliffs are among the most spectacular wildlife sights in Europe, and from a yacht your group can cruise beneath them as the birds wheel in their thousands and the swell surges against the black basalt below. The puffin season runs roughly from May to August, when the birds are ashore to breed, making early and high summer the prime time to combine the puffins, the whales, and the dramatic coast on a single charter.
For multi-day charters, Iceland's western coast offers two of the most magnificent cruising grounds in the North Atlantic, the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the remote Westfjords. The Snaefellsnes peninsula, a long arm of land reaching west into the Atlantic north of Faxafloi Bay, is sometimes called Iceland in miniature for the variety of its scenery, and it is crowned at its tip by the Snaefellsjokull, a glacier-capped volcano that rises directly from the sea and was made famous as the entrance to the center of the earth in the novel by Jules Verne. A charter cruising the peninsula passes black basalt sea cliffs, the dramatic Lon drangar sea stacks rising from the surf, golden and black beaches, fishing villages, and bird cliffs, all beneath the glistening glacier. Beyond Snaefellsnes lies the Westfjords, the remote and sparsely populated northwestern corner of Iceland, a maze of long, deep fjords carved between flat-topped mountains, with some of the most majestic and least-visited coastline in the country. The Westfjords are home to the towering Latrabjarg bird cliff, one of the largest in Europe and the western edge of the country, where millions of seabirds nest, and to quiet fjords, waterfalls tumbling to the sea, and an abundance of wildlife including seals, white-tailed sea eagles, and arctic foxes ashore. The remoteness and grandeur of the Westfjords make them a true expedition cruising ground for those with time to explore. A multi-day charter along the western coast combines the glacier and sea stacks of Snaefellsnes with the fjords and bird cliffs of the Westfjords, anchoring each night in a sheltered fjord or harbour, with whale and seabird watching along the way and the long northern daylight giving endless hours to explore. These voyages reach scenery and wildlife that no day trip from Reykjavik can touch, and a warm, weatherproof, comfortable yacht makes the expedition a pleasure even in the cool North Atlantic air.
Iceland's coastline is a masterpiece of volcanic rock, and a yacht charter is the ideal way to appreciate it. The coast is sculpted from black basalt into sheer cliffs, sea stacks, arches, caves, and the famous hexagonal columns that form where lava cooled slowly, and from the water a charter can cruise beneath these formations where the North Atlantic swell surges against the rock and seabirds nest on every ledge. The contrast of black basalt, green clifftops, white surf, and the blue-grey sea is endlessly dramatic. Off the south coast lie the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), a young volcanic archipelago of steep green islands and towering cliffs that is one of the highlights of an Iceland charter. The main island, Heimaey, is famous for the 1973 eruption that buried part of the town and added new land to the island, and the whole archipelago is alive with one of the largest puffin and seabird populations in the world. Cruising among the Westman Islands, with their sea caves, stacks, and bird cliffs, and the volcanic cones rising from the sea, is a remarkable experience, and the sheltered harbour of Heimaey makes a fine base. Overarching it all in high summer is the midnight sun. Around the summer solstice in June, the sun barely sets in Iceland, and for weeks on either side the nights are filled with a long, soft, golden twilight that never fully darkens. This extraordinary light transforms a charter: the low sun gilds the cliffs and the spouting whales, the colors deepen and glow, and there is time to cruise late into the evening and even at midnight under a luminous sky. A midnight-sun cruise in Faxafloi Bay or among the Westman Islands, with the golden light on the water and the wildlife active in the cool air, is one of the most magical experiences a charter coast can offer, unique to the high latitudes of the North Atlantic summer.
A half-day Iceland yacht charter from the Reykjavik Old Harbour typically runs 3 to 4 hours and focuses on the wildlife and scenery of Faxafloi Bay. Departing the harbour, the route heads out into the bay to watch for humpback and minke whales and dolphins, cruises close to the puffin islands of Lundey and Akurey to see the seabird colonies, and takes in the views of the coast and mountains, with hot drinks served in the warm saloon, before returning to Reykjavik. The half-day cruise is the classic introduction to the North Atlantic wildlife on the capital's doorstep. A full-day charter extends the range along the dramatic coast, combining whale and puffin watching with a cruise beneath the basalt sea cliffs and a visit to a quiet bay or fishing village, with a long lunch of fresh Icelandic seafood served on board. Under the long summer daylight, full-day and evening cruises can run late into a golden midnight-sun night. A multi-day expedition charter is the headline Iceland experience. A voyage of 3 to 7 days can cruise north to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, beneath its glacier and past its sea stacks and bird cliffs, and on into the remote fjords and the great Latrabjarg cliff of the Westfjords, or south to the Westman Islands and their seabird colonies, anchoring each night in a sheltered fjord or harbour. These expeditions reach scenery and wildlife far beyond the day-trip coast, with whale and seabird watching, dramatic cliffs, and the midnight sun throughout. Throughout, comfort is central to an Iceland charter. Our vessels feature heated, weatherproof saloons with panoramic windows, warm cabins, sheltered deck space, and warm blankets and hot drinks, so guests enjoy the spectacle of the cool North Atlantic in full comfort. We provide guidance on warm layers and windproof clothing, and many guests combine their cruise with the geothermal pools and hot springs that Iceland is famous for ashore. We offer flexible packages, some include open bar, some allow BYOB, and some add premium catering with fresh Icelandic seafood and warming dishes served on board.
Iceland is reached by air through Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 50 km and a 45 minute drive southwest of Reykjavik, the country's main international gateway and one of the best-connected airports in the North Atlantic. KEF receives direct flights from across North America, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and many other cities, with a flight of roughly 5 to 6 hours from the United States east coast that makes Iceland the closest European destination to North America, as well as direct flights from London, Copenhagen, Paris, Frankfurt, and cities across Europe. From the airport, Reykjavik and the Old Harbour are an easy 45 minute drive, and the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon lies conveniently between the airport and the city for guests who wish to bathe on arrival or departure. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so travelers from within Schengen need no border formalities, and visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within any 180 day period, with a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure. The Icelandic krona is the currency, though card payments are accepted virtually everywhere, even for small purchases, Icelandic and English are both widely spoken, and Iceland uses 230 volts at 50 Hz with the Type C and Type F plug. Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time year round and does not observe daylight saving. Reykjavik offers a wide range of lodging, from design hotels and boutique guesthouses in the city center near the Old Harbour to country hotels along the coast, and many guests pair a private charter with the famous sights ashore, the geothermal pools and the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle of waterfalls and geysers, and the city's celebrated food and music scene. The best Iceland charter season runs roughly May through September, when the daylight is long, the whales and puffins are present, and the famous midnight sun glows through the short nights of June and July; the puffins are ashore from May to August, and whales are seen throughout the season. The water is cool year round, so swimming is a brief refreshing dip for the bold, while the comfort comes from the warm vessel, the wildlife, the scenery, and the geothermal bathing for which Iceland is famous. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 for current pricing and availability.
Charter pricing in Iceland reflects the premium quality of the experience and varies based on vessel size, duration, and group size. Our team works with each client individually to build a charter package that delivers real value and the attention to detail that defines a Day Yacht Charters experience. Call +1 (305) 515-4735 or email info@DayYachtCharters.com for current pricing and availability.
With Day Yacht Charters Iceland, you will have an experienced professional crew, thoughtful service, and a day on the water designed entirely around what your group wants. Contact us today and let us help you build the perfect North Atlantic itinerary.
A VIP private charter in Iceland combines the raw, dramatic scenery of the North Atlantic with the personalized luxury and warmth that define a private yacht charter. From the moment you board at the Reykjavik Old Harbour, every element is curated. A private chef joins your vessel with menus built around fresh Icelandic seafood, the day's catch, and the pure ingredients of the island, from langoustine and arctic char to lamb and skyr. Hot drinks, fine wines, and warm blankets wait on deck, and the heated saloon offers a snug refuge with panoramic windows. The captain guides the vessel to the whales feeding in Faxafloi Bay, the puffins wheeling around their island colonies, and the basalt cliffs glowing in the low northern light. Under the midnight sun of high summer, the light lingers golden for hours, and your group is on deck wrapped against the cool air with a hot drink in hand. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 to design your perfect Iceland VIP charter.
The signature experience of an Iceland yacht charter is whale watching, and Faxafloi Bay, the broad bay on which Reykjavik sits, is one of the finest whale-watching grounds in Europe. The cool, nutrient-rich North Atlantic water draws an abundance of marine life through the summer, and from a private yacht your group can watch for whales away from the crowded day boats, lingering when an animal appears. The bay and the wider coast are home to humpback whales, which often breach and slap their great tails, the smaller and abundant minke whales, pods of white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, and orca, while in the deeper water offshore the largest animal ever to live, the blue whale, is sometimes seen in summer. The cool water also supports white-sided dolphins and grey and harbour seals hauled out on the skerries. A private charter gives the flexibility to follow the wildlife at a respectful distance, to cut the engine and drift while a humpback feeds, and to combine the whales with the seabirds and the scenery. The captain reads the daily conditions and the movements of the wildlife to find the best encounters, and the long summer daylight means there is time to roam the bay in search of the whales.
Beyond the whales, Iceland's coast is a wonderland of seabirds and dramatic rock, best seen from the water. The Atlantic puffin, the beloved clown-faced seabird with its bright striped bill, nests in great colonies on grassy islands and cliff tops around the coast through the summer, and a yacht can cruise close to the colonies on islands such as Lundey, meaning Puffin Island, and Akurey, just off Reykjavik in Faxafloi Bay, where thousands of puffins whir over the water and bob on the surface. The larger Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) off the south coast host one of the largest puffin colonies in the world, along with vast numbers of guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, and gannets that wheel around the towering cliffs. The coastline itself is sculpted from black basalt into sheer cliffs, sea stacks, arches, and columns, the legacy of Iceland's volcanic origins, and a charter can cruise beneath these formations where the swell surges against the rock and the seabirds nest on every ledge. The combination of whales, vast seabird colonies, and dramatic volcanic coastline, all under the long light of the northern summer, makes the wildlife and scenery of Iceland among the most spectacular on any charter coast.
Iceland is one of the most distinctive yacht charter destinations in the world, a cool-water expedition coast of scenery and wildlife. The combination of world-class whale watching, puffin colonies and seabird cliffs, the glacier-crowned Snaefellsnes peninsula, the remote Westfjords, black basalt sea cliffs, and the midnight sun creates a charter destination unlike any other. Our local team has years of experience on these waters and builds every charter around the group's interests, the seasonal conditions and the wildlife on the day, and the specific bays, colonies, and coastlines each guest most wants to include, all aboard warm, comfortable, weatherproof vessels.
Discover more cool-water and northern charter destinations with Day Yacht Charters. Explore our Norway Fjords yacht charters for the Nordic fjords, or browse our Maine yacht charters and New England yacht charters for more scenic northern cruising.
Iceland yacht charters depart from the Reykjavik Old Harbour, reached through Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 50 km and a 45 minute drive southwest of Reykjavik. KEF is one of the best-connected airports in the North Atlantic, with direct flights from across North America, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto (roughly 5 to 6 hours from the United States east coast, making Iceland the closest European destination to North America), as well as direct flights from London, Copenhagen, Paris, and cities across Europe. From the airport, Reykjavik and the Old Harbour are an easy drive, and the geothermal Blue Lagoon lies conveniently along the way. Call +1 (305) 515-4735 to coordinate your arrival.
Most Iceland yacht charters depart from the Reykjavik Old Harbour, the historic waterfront in the center of the capital and the main base for charters and whale watching in the country. The Old Harbour is a lively working harbour lined with seafood restaurants and the whale-watching fleet, with the snow-capped Mount Esja rising across the bay, and it offers sheltered berths, marine services, and easy access to the city. From the harbour a yacht is out into Faxafloi Bay, one of the finest whale grounds in Europe, and among the puffin islands within minutes. Longer voyages head north to the Snaefellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords or south to the Westman Islands. The harbour is a 45 minute drive from Keflavik International Airport.
Yes, whale watching is the headline experience. The cool, nutrient-rich North Atlantic water around Iceland supports an abundance of whales through the summer, and Faxafloi Bay on Reykjavik's doorstep is one of the most reliable whale-watching grounds in Europe. You are likely to see minke whales, which are abundant and curious, and humpback whales, which often breach and slap their tails, along with white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises; orca are seen along the coast, and the blue whale, the largest animal ever to live, is sometimes encountered in deeper water offshore in summer. A private charter lets you follow the wildlife at a respectful distance and linger after the day boats leave. Seals are also commonly seen on the skerries. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735.
Atlantic puffins are ashore to breed in Iceland from roughly May to August, making late spring and summer the time to see them. Iceland hosts a large share of the world's Atlantic puffins, and a charter can cruise close to the colonies on islands such as Lundey, meaning Puffin Island, and Akurey, just off Reykjavik in Faxafloi Bay, where thousands of puffins whir over the water and bob on the surface. The Westman Islands off the south coast host one of the largest puffin colonies in the world. Along with puffins, Iceland's sea cliffs throng with guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and arctic terns. Combining the puffins with whale watching and the dramatic coast makes a wonderful summer charter. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735.
The prime Iceland charter season runs roughly May through September, when the daylight is long, the whales and puffins are present, and the famous midnight sun glows through the short nights of June and July. Puffins are ashore from May to August, and whales are seen throughout the season. June and July offer the longest daylight and the midnight sun, while May and September are quieter shoulder months with good wildlife and fewer visitors. The water is cool year round, so an Iceland charter is about scenery and wildlife rather than swimming, and our vessels are warm and weatherproof for comfort. We recommend warm layers even in summer. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 to choose the best dates for your group.
Iceland has a cool maritime climate, and even in summer temperatures on the water are brisk, so warm layers are essential year round. We recommend a warm base layer, a fleece or sweater, a windproof and waterproof jacket, a hat, gloves, and sturdy shoes, even on a sunny summer day, because the wind on the open water makes it feel cooler. Our vessels are built for the climate, with heated, weatherproof saloons with panoramic windows, warm cabins, sheltered deck space, and warm blankets and hot drinks on board, so guests stay comfortable while enjoying the spectacle of the North Atlantic. Many guests combine a cruise with Iceland's famous geothermal pools and hot springs ashore for warmth and relaxation. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 with any questions.
A standard Iceland yacht charter includes the vessel with its heated, weatherproof saloon, fuel for the planned itinerary, an experienced licensed captain, professional crew, all safety equipment, basic provisions including water and hot drinks, warm blankets, and tender service. Customization options include onboard private chef service with fresh Icelandic cuisine (langoustine, arctic char, cod, Icelandic lamb, and skyr), fine wines, and warming dishes, along with wildlife guiding for the whales and seabirds. We offer flexible packages, some include open bar, some allow BYOB. We provide guidance on warm clothing, and we can help arrange geothermal bathing and sightseeing ashore. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 to arrange catering and amenities for your charter.
Group sizes range from 2 to 25 guests depending on the vessel selected. Smaller cabin cruisers from 32 to 50 feet are ideal for couples and intimate groups of up to 12 guests for whale-watching and Faxafloi Bay cruises. Mid-size motor yachts and catamarans from 50 to 70 feet, with heated saloons, accommodate groups of 12 to 18 comfortably for full-day coastal cruises. Larger expedition and crewed yachts handle groups of up to 25 for celebrations and multi-day voyages to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, the Westfjords, and the Westman Islands. The sweet spot for most Iceland charters is 4 to 12 guests, which suits the wildlife cruising and allows for personalized crew service and comfortable warm interiors during the cool North Atlantic days.
Yes, and multi-day voyages reach the most magnificent scenery and wildlife. A 3 to 7 day expedition charter can cruise north to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, beneath its glacier-capped volcano Snaefellsjokull and past its black basalt sea stacks and bird cliffs, and on into the remote Westfjords, a maze of deep fjords with the towering Latrabjarg bird cliff and abundant wildlife, or south to the Westman Islands with their volcanic cones and vast seabird colonies. These voyages anchor each night in a sheltered fjord or harbour, with whale and seabird watching, dramatic cliffs, and the long northern daylight throughout. Our vessels offer warm cabins and weatherproof comfort for the cool North Atlantic. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 to plan a multi-day Iceland expedition.
The North Atlantic water around Iceland is cool year round, so swimming is a brief, refreshing dip for the bold rather than a tropical swim, and an Iceland charter is built around scenery and wildlife instead. The real warmth and relaxation come from the heated, weatherproof vessel and, ashore, from Iceland's celebrated geothermal pools and hot springs, including the famous Blue Lagoon near the airport and the many natural and heated pools across the country, which our team can help you combine with a charter. On board, guests enjoy the whales, puffins, sea cliffs, and midnight sun from warm saloons and sheltered decks with hot drinks and blankets. For those who wish, a quick cold-water dip is invigorating and memorable. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735.
An Iceland charter is a cool-water expedition focused on dramatic scenery and abundant wildlife rather than warm-water swimming and beaches. Instead of snorkeling coral reefs, you watch humpback and minke whales feed in Faxafloi Bay, cruise close to puffin colonies and towering seabird cliffs, pass beneath black basalt sea stacks and a glacier-capped volcano, and enjoy the magical light of the midnight sun. The vessels are warm, heated, and weatherproof rather than open tropical boats, and the comfort comes from the snug saloon, fine Icelandic seafood, and the geothermal pools ashore. It is one of the most spectacular and distinctive charter experiences on earth, ideal for nature lovers, photographers, and travelers seeking something beyond the tropics. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735.
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Iceland: A Premier Destination for North Atlantic Expedition Cruising
Iceland occupies a unique place in yacht charter, a cool-water expedition destination of extraordinary scenery and wildlife rather than a tropical beach escape. The combination of world-class whale watching in Faxafloi Bay, the puffin colonies and vast seabird cliffs, the glacier-crowned Snaefellsnes peninsula, the remote and majestic Westfjords, the black basalt sea cliffs and stacks, and the long golden light of the midnight sun makes Iceland one of the most dramatic charter destinations on earth. Day Yacht Charters has built our Iceland operation around guests who appreciate this raw beauty and want comfort and operational excellence to match. Our captains know the bay, the coast, and the wildlife intimately, the chefs work with the freshest Icelandic seafood, and our vessels are warm and weatherproof, so guests enjoy the spectacle of the North Atlantic in full comfort.
Iceland Yacht Charters
Discover the Best Places and Things to Do in Iceland by Yacht
Private Chef Excellence
Fresh Icelandic cuisine is the heart of onboard dining on a Day Yacht Charters Iceland cruise. A private chef on your charter prepares regional specialties: fresh North Atlantic seafood including langoustine (the prized Icelandic langoustine), arctic char, cod, haddock, and blue mussels, alongside tender Icelandic lamb raised on wild herbs, creamy skyr, rye bread baked in geothermal heat, and warming soups, paired with fine wines and warming hot drinks. The pure, cold water and clean ingredients of Iceland make for exceptional flavor. Call us at +1 (305) 515-4735 to arrange a chef.
Photo and Video Services
Iceland is one of the most dramatic yacht charter destinations on earth for photography and film. Humpback whales breaching in Faxafloi Bay, puffins wheeling around their island colonies, towering basalt sea cliffs and stacks, the glacier of Snaefellsjokull crowning its peninsula, and the long golden light of the midnight sun all provide extraordinary backdrops. Wildlife and landscape photography, drone footage of yachts beneath the cliffs, and full-charter cinematic films are all available, and the lingering northern light gives hours of golden-hour conditions. Contact us when booking.
Decorations and Add-Ons
Celebrate your milestone on the North Atlantic coast of Iceland. Custom arrangements, anniversary and birthday packages with a private chef Icelandic seafood tasting menu, celebrations under the midnight sun from a quiet anchorage, honeymoon arrangements combining a cruise with geothermal bathing ashore, and small-group styling are all available. The combination of whales, dramatic coastline, and the magical northern light makes every Iceland celebration unforgettable, and our warm, weatherproof vessels keep guests comfortable throughout. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735.
Whales, Puffins, and the Snaefellsnes Coast
Whales, puffins, and the Snaefellsnes coast together represent the most distinctive Iceland yacht charter experience. The Reykjavik Old Harbour, on Faxafloi Bay, serves as the main departure point and the heart of Icelandic whale watching. Faxafloi Bay is one of the finest whale grounds in Europe, home to humpback, minke, and orca, with blue whales sometimes seen offshore in summer, while the islands of Lundey and Akurey just offshore host thousands of puffins. To the north, the Snaefellsnes peninsula is crowned by the Snaefellsjokull glacier, and the remote Westfjords and the Westman Islands offer dramatic basalt cliffs and vast seabird colonies. The combination of wildlife, glaciers, sea cliffs, and the midnight sun makes Iceland an iconic North Atlantic charter destination.
Iceland Yacht Charters, Private Boat Rentals across the North Atlantic
Planning Your Iceland Yacht Charter
Planning an Iceland yacht charter typically begins 3 to 9 months before the charter date, since the prime season is the short, busy summer from roughly May to September, when the daylight is long and the whales and puffins are present, and demand is high. Our team works with each client to understand the group composition, the preferred dates, whether whales and puffins or scenery and the Snaefellsnes and Westfjords coast are the priority, and the home base for lodging in Reykjavik, and we then propose vessel options and recommended itineraries, with a deposit securing the date and the vessel. The balance is due on the charter day. Crew gratuity, typically 15 to 20 percent of the charter fee, is customarily paid at the end of the charter and is separate from the charter price. We recommend warm layers, a windproof jacket, and a hat even in summer, and our vessels provide warm interiors and blankets.
Payment options include credit card, PayPal, Zelle, and bank wire. Charter durations in Iceland typically run from 3 hour whale-watching and Faxafloi Bay cruises up to multi-day expedition voyages along the Snaefellsnes peninsula, into the Westfjords, or out to the Westman Islands. Most Iceland bookings are half-day and full-day cruises from Reykjavik combining whales, puffins, and the coast, with multi-day expeditions as the headline experience. The long summer daylight allows for late-evening and midnight-sun cruises. Contact us at +1 (305) 515-4735 or info@DayYachtCharters.com to check availability and begin planning.