Meet The Ocean’s Big Five
Anyone who has met them will agree that whales are amazing animals—especially seen close up. Whether they be orcas, humpbacks, minke or pilot whales—or dolphins, for that matter, meeting them is a real experience.
Basking in the Bay
Grundarfjörður and Ólafsvík lie on the mystical Breiðafjörður Bay—a fantasy world of countless islands, birds, fish, dolphins and whales. They are sighted almost daily through the year here. Recently, for instance, 100 pilot whales put on a show for visitors aboard Láki’s boat. Such a high rate of sighting a range of these maritime creatures makes this area tops for both experience and photo opportunities. The tour to the whales leaves from Ólafsvík.
Fins and Feathers
While the whales are very popular, the tour to the islands to see the birdlife and to catch some fish, is not to be missed. Láki Tours is launching their brand new Puffin Tour which goes out to the protected island of Melrakkaey, which hundreds of puffins have claimed as their breeding ground. Getting up as close as possible to the cliffs of this island, you are exposed to a myriad of seabirds that inhabit the island, with the elusive puffin taking pride of place as they line up along the cliff tops staring back at you on the boat, Láki. This is an hour-long trip and makes a perfect family outing as well as being a photographer‘s delight. The evening trip has an added romanticism about it, with the fading light casting a special glow over you, the mountains and the ocean.
Stay by the Bay
Tours on the Láki are not all that this area has to offer. It is very popular for hikers, photographers, bird watchers and horse riders, as all these activities are available—not to mention tours up onto the famous Snæfells glacier. No one has yet replicated Jules Verne’s ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ but the glacier is spectacular. There is wildlife in the area that you won’t want to miss from killer whales and diving gannets to the fox and the white-tailed eagle.
Staying at the Hotel Framnes, situated right by the bay, is a very good choice, as it is perfectly located for whale watching. It is a comfortable, homely hotel that provides very friendly and personal service. You can watch the sky changing over the bay in the evening as you relax in the hot tub. Its restaurant offers delicious freshly-caught fish on its gourmet menu.
Open all year round, the hotel makes a very good base for all your activities on and around the peninsula.
Láki Tours
Nesvegi 6 • 350 Grundarfjörður
+354 438 6893
framnes@hotelframnes.is
www.lakitours.com
