Scan Magazine | Attraction of the Month | Iceland
Attraction of the Month, Iceland
Iceland’s premier whale watching company places sustainable development at its heart Offering marine wildlife tours and sailing adventures in northern Iceland and beyond, North Sailing always keeps respect for the environment at the core of its company ethos. Embark on one of their environmentally friendly ships, and you will get up close to nature without disturbing the wildlife. By Stephanie Lovell | Photos: North Sailing
When plastic and steel became the materials of choice for Icelandic fishing vessels, traditional oak ships were destined for nothing but the scrap heap. Determined to save these pieces of cultural heritage, two brothers from Húsavík endeavoured to restore an old oak ship and discover a new purpose for it. In no time, they were using it to take tourists around Skjálfandi Bay where, more often than not, they would spot a whale or two along the way. Experience the natural wonders of the north Over the 20 years since it was founded, North Sailing has firmly established itself as Iceland’s premier whale watching company, offering a variety of breath-taking tours throughout the year. “Húsavík is one of the best places to go whale watching, because you can spot so 90 | Issue 85 | February 2016
many different species in Skjálfandi Bay,” says Guðbjartur Ellert Jónsson, managing director at North Sailing. Many of North Sailing’s trips combine whale watching with on-land activities, such as horse riding and skiing. “You can even venture beyond Iceland on our sailing expedition of Greenland, which is a fantastic opportunity to experience incredible natural beauty in remote surroundings,” says Jónsson. On these once-in-a-lifetime trips, which take place between July and September, up to 12 passengers embark on a traditionally rigged sailing ship and spend seven days sailing around the stunning Scoresby Sund fjord. Carbon-free whale watching North Sailing’s environmental policy, based on sustainable development, has
not only brought the company numerous awards, such as the Environmental Award from the Icelandic Tourist Board twice, but is also having a positive impact on the local community. The company works closely with the University of Iceland Húsavík Research Centre and the Húsavík Whale Museum, as well as a local land conservation society. “From the outset, we have striven to make our equipment as environmentally friendly as possible,” says Jónsson. “Since 2012, we have been working towards running our ships on electricity from renewable energy instead of fossil fuel, which enables us to sail without making any noise or sending vibrations into the whales’ habitat, so we disturb them as little as possible.”
For more information, please visit: www.northsailing.is