Iceland review - 2015, Blaðsíða 107

ICELAND REVIEW 105
Often ranked among the best whale watching destinations in Eu-
rope, the small town of Húsavík, located in the breathtaking,
mountain-encircled Skjálfandi Bay, offers whale and bird watchers a
wealth of opportunities to get right up close to nature. With so many
tour operators to choose from, what sets the family-run Salka Whale
Watching company apart is its ‘less is more’ approach: a dedication
to providing each and every guest with an intimate and comfortable
whale-watching experience that they will remember for a lifetime.
THE BEST VIEWS
Salka operates a single whale watching vessel, a charming oak fishing
boat named Fanney which was built by fishermen in the nearby town
of Akureyri in 1975. Salka never overbooks its tours, thereby ensuring
that the boat is never overcrowded, so guests have plenty of room to
move around and get the best views. And everyone onboard is pro-
vided with thick waterproof overalls; so whatever the weather, you’ll
be warm and cozy on deck.
Skjálfandi Bay is rich with diverse whale and bird species, all attract-
ed by the waters’ ample fish and marine life. Accompanied by sea-
birds flying above, whale watchers are most likely to see minke and
humpback whales on their three-hour expeditions, as well as harbor
porpoises and white beaked dolphins. Visitors on the extended whale
and puffin tour will sail to Lundey, or Puffin Island, only four miles from
the harbor, where they will not only have the chance to see as many as
200,000 nesting puffins, but also black guillemots, fulmar and Arctic
terns.
Of course, nature can be unpredictable and whale sightings cannot
be guaranteed, but Salka’s guests have enjoyed a remarkable success
rate. Over the course of 300 tours last season, visitors sighted whales
98 percent of the time.
DELICIOUS MEAL
In addition to its whale watching tours, Salka has also run its own
restaurant since 2000. With a focus on the finest ingredients—lo-
cal whenever possible—Salka is based in one of the oldest build-
ings in Húsavík and serves fresh seafood, high quality steaks, light
entrées and pizzas, year-round. For a delicious Iceland-inspired
nightcap, try a glass of locally-made Haustsól (‘Autumn Sun’),
a rich amber herbal liqueur flavored with Icelandic ingredients,
such as Angelica and birch. Salka’s nearby coffeehouse doubles
as its ticket office, where you can sample desserts, snacks and
light meals. And during the summer, the Salka bistro has a great
terrace where you can sit and enjoy the midnight sun, long after
an unforgettable day at sea.
salkawhalewatching.is
LESS IS MORE
Salka Whale Watching offers an
intimate and unforgettable
experience.
WHALE WATCHINGSPECIAL PROMOTION