What to wear for a whale watching tour (and in Iceland in general)

Very often, when it comes to the question of what to wear to go whale watching in the North Atlantic Ocean in Iceland, people still have many doubts. Even in winter, temperatures here in Reykjavik never drop as low as they do in Canada or Russia, but it is important to remember that Iceland is an island located just below the Arctic Circle and exposed to every possible ocean current imaginable. This means that even if the climate is mild, you will often have to deal with wind, which increases the sensation of cold, especially at sea. However, there is an Icelandic expression saying: if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and you’ll see, precisely because the Icelandic weather is often described as unstable and unpredictable. Consequently, it is important to come prepared, and the best way to do this is to dress in layers, so that you can add layers if you feel cold, or remove them if the sun suddenly comes out and starts to warm up. But what layers are we talking about?

1. Thermal clothing This should be worn as a first layer over underwear (underwear and socks).

2. Technical fleece

3. Thick sweaters or jumpers Best if it’s 100% wool. The advice is always to have a woollen jumper on or in your backpack, regardless of whether it’s summer or winter.

4. Hiking trousers Lined trousers are preferred for the winter.

5. Down jacket

6. Waterproof and overtrousers This layer is of fundamental importance. If it is only raining and the sea is calm, whale watching activities are not cancelled. That is why it is necessary to always have a good rain jacket and a pair of shell trousers to wear over your hiking trousers. In Iceland, it can rain continuously for an entire day, and you can get seriously wet. In addition, umbrellas are useless here because of the wind.

7. Gorotex hiking shoes Comfortable and waterproof shoes WHEREVER you go in Iceland 😉

8. Accessorizes

You can opt for woolly hats, sports sunglasses to protect you from the wind, Gorotex gloves (preferably mittens so your fingers stay warmer together). Neck warmers are also preferred to scarves for practical reasons, so you can avoid getting tangled up.

And with that, I conclude the long list of clothing layers. Obviously, this should be adjusted according to individual needs, as we are all different when it comes to perceiving temperatures.

Isabella