From Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour

Faxaflói Bay gives you two very different Icelandic shows in one long day: whales in the pale daylight, then the Northern Lights over dark water. The chance to see a humpback close to the boat is the big draw, while the evening cruise gets you away from Reykjavik’s city lights without needing a second booking.

I like the two-part format, which saves time if you have only a few days in Reykjavik. I also like the practical comforts: heated indoor seating, warm overalls, Wi-Fi, and an onboard bar. The main drawback is simple: both wildlife and auroras depend on nature, and the boat ride can be rough or cold.

Key points before you book

• Two boat trips in one day: Spend about three hours whale watching, then return for a separate evening cruise in search of the Northern Lights.
• Faxaflói Bay wildlife: Keep watch for minke whales, humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.
• Strong guide work matters: Guides such as Rebekka have been praised for spotting whale positions quickly and explaining marine life clearly.
• Comfort in changeable weather: Warm overalls, heated indoor seating, and children’s sizes make the outing easier in Iceland’s cold and wet conditions.
• No aurora guarantee: You receive a free ticket to try again if no Northern Lights appear, but you still need time in your schedule for another attempt.
• Plan around a full seven-hour day: You must make your own way to the Special Tours office at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, and parking takes extra time.

A full day on Faxaflói Bay

This tour is best understood as two linked outings rather than one continuous cruise. The daytime whale watch lasts about three hours, and the Northern Lights boat trip takes place later in the evening. Together, the experience lasts around seven hours, with the exact starting time changing by date and season.

That long time commitment can be a good use of a free day in Reykjavik. You get city views, open-water scenery, marine wildlife, and a chance at the aurora without arranging separate transport. Still, you should not treat this as a quick harbor activity. It takes a substantial part of your day, and the weather may affect one or both departures.

You meet at the Special Tours office by the Old Harbour. Look for the large dark-grey building with blue signs and the company name and logo. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the harbor yourself. If you drive, allow an extra 15 minutes to find parking nearby because parking is not available at the office.

The morning cruise toward the whale area

Once the boat leaves Reykjavik, the first 30 to 45 minutes take you toward the main whale-watching area. This travel time is not wasted. You get wide views back toward the city, the surrounding mountains, and Faxaflói Bay, while the guide explains what to look for and where the boat is heading.

On a clear day, the view can reach as far as Snæfells Glacier in western Iceland. That kind of distant view depends entirely on weather, but it gives you a sense of the bay’s scale. The city soon becomes one part of a much larger scene of water, mountains, and open sky.

This is also the time to settle into the boat. You can use the heated indoor seating if the wind turns sharp, then step outside when the crew spots activity. Warm overalls are supplied, including children’s sizes, but I would still wear layers and bring gloves or a hat. The overalls help with cold and spray, but they do not make ordinary clothing unnecessary.

Looking for minke whales, humpbacks, and porpoises

The wildlife list is varied, though no sighting is promised. Minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises may all appear in Faxaflói Bay. The guide helps you scan the water and points out positions, which is useful because a whale can surface only briefly before disappearing again.

Humpbacks are the most dramatic possibility. They are large enough to make even a distant surfacing exciting, and a close approach can become the defining moment of your day. Minke whales can be harder to spot, while dolphins and porpoises may move quickly and vanish before everyone gets a good look.

The quality of the guide makes a real difference here. One guide named Rebekka has been praised for calling out each whale’s position and explaining ocean life clearly. That is exactly what you need on a wildlife cruise. Without good spotting help, you can spend much of the trip staring at empty water and wondering what you missed.

The captain also affects the experience. A responsive captain can adjust the boat’s position as animals move, giving you a better chance to see the action without turning the outing into a rushed chase. The boat has been described as well maintained, which adds confidence during a day spent on open water.

Keep your expectations realistic. You may see several humpbacks, or you may get brief glimpses of smaller wildlife. Nature sets the schedule, not the tour company. A good guide can improve your odds and your understanding, but cannot produce whales on demand.

What the boat ride feels like

Faxaflói Bay can be choppy. One account described the ride as rough, though sea-sickness tablets were offered before departure. If you are sensitive to motion, take that possibility seriously and ask the crew about available tablets before leaving the harbor.

You can move between indoor and outdoor areas, which lets you choose between warmth and a better view. The heated seating is especially useful during quiet stretches, when standing outside in cold wind brings little reward. When an animal appears, you can head outdoors quickly.

The boat also has free Wi-Fi, and drinks are available from the bar throughout the outing. Wi-Fi is a minor detail compared with a whale sighting, but it helps you stay in touch during a long day. The bar gives you a practical way to warm up, though drinks cost extra.

The tour is guided in English. An app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which can give you added help with information during the trip. The live guide itself is in English, so keep that in mind when choosing this experience.

The evening return for Northern Lights

After the daytime whale watch, you return later for the Northern Lights cruise. The boat heads out from Reykjavik again, this time after dark, when the main goal is to get beyond the strongest artificial lights around the city.

The water changes character at night. During the day, you are scanning for movement on the surface. In the evening, you are looking upward, waiting for a pale green arc or a sudden sweep of color. The boat gives you a broad view of the sky and removes some of the city glare, though cloud cover and aurora activity remain out of anyone’s control.

The Northern Lights can appear during the winter months and sometimes as early as September. Seeing them requires the right mix of darkness, clear skies, and solar activity. Even on a clear evening, the lights may be faint or absent.

This is where the free return ticket has real value. If no Northern Lights appear, you can try again without paying for another ticket. You still need a suitable evening and enough time in your itinerary, so this benefit works best if you are staying in Reykjavik for more than one night.

A bad-weather cancellation can also disrupt the plan. One reported outing had the Northern Lights cruise cancelled because of weather, and a rescheduled trip did not fit the person’s schedule. That is a useful warning: if seeing the aurora is your main goal, do not place this activity on the last possible night unless you have no alternative.

How to dress and manage the weather

I would dress for a cold, wet, windy boat ride, even if Reykjavik feels mild when you leave the hotel. Wear warm layers, waterproof outer clothing if you have it, and shoes that can handle a damp deck.

The supplied overalls are useful, especially for children, but they are not a complete weather plan. You will spend time moving between heated indoor seating and outdoor viewing areas. A hat, gloves, and warm socks can make the difference between enjoying the search and retreating inside too soon.

A little patience also helps. Whale watching can involve long quiet spells, and the Northern Lights may not appear until late in the evening. Bring a camera if you like, but keep your eyes on the water and sky too. In dark conditions, a phone may capture less than you see in person.

Is $182 a fair price?

At $182 per person, this is not a cheap Reykjavik activity. The price is easier to justify if you want both experiences and would otherwise book two separate tours. You are paying for two boat departures, guides on both outings, warm overalls, heated seating, Wi-Fi, and a free chance to try the aurora cruise again if the lights fail to appear.

The value is weaker if you mainly want one specific sighting. If whales are your priority, a dedicated whale-watching trip gives you a shorter, more focused day. If the Northern Lights are your only goal, a land-based aurora outing may provide a different format and avoid spending hours at sea.

Still, the combined plan makes practical sense for a first visit with limited time. It puts two of Iceland’s most famous natural attractions into one booking and keeps you near Reykjavik rather than sending you far from the capital. The main risk is that weather can affect the value of one part of the package.

The free retry helps soften the risk of a disappointing aurora night, but it does not solve a scheduling problem. Before booking, check how many evenings you have available in Reykjavik. The more flexible your stay, the more useful that benefit becomes.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a full day at sea, enjoy changing scenery, and like the idea of combining two uncertain natural events. It suits couples, families, and first-time visitors who would rather arrange one substantial activity than coordinate separate trips.

Families benefit from children’s overalls, indoor seating, and the chance to move around the boat. The long day may still be tiring for young children, especially if the water is rough or the evening cruise runs late.

Photography fans will appreciate the changing conditions, from city and mountain views in daylight to dark water and sky at night. Just remember that wildlife and auroras are unpredictable subjects. You are buying access and guidance, not a guaranteed photograph.

This is less suitable if you dislike boats, suffer badly from sea sickness, or have only one free evening and must see the Northern Lights on a strict schedule. It is also a poor fit if you want hotel pickup, since you must reach the Old Harbour independently.

Practical booking advice

Cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is helpful when your Iceland plans depend on weather.

Check the starting time carefully because it changes with availability and season. You need to arrive at the Special Tours office by the Old Harbour, and drivers should allow extra time for nearby parking.

The activity ends back at the same meeting point. Plan your evening around the full seven-hour duration, and avoid booking a tight dinner reservation or another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a convenient two-for-one day and can accept that whales and Northern Lights are never guaranteed. Its strongest points are the capable spotting help, the chance of close humpback encounters, the comfortable boat setup, and the free aurora retry.

Skip it if you want a short outing, dislike rough water, or have only one narrow window for the Northern Lights. For most visitors with a flexible Reykjavik schedule, though, this is a sensible way to put two major Iceland experiences on the same day, with enough practical support to make the uncertainty worthwhile.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

You meet at the Special Tours office by Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The building is large and dark grey, with blue signs and the company name and logo.

Does the tour provide hotel pickup?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach the Old Harbour meeting point yourself.

How long does the combined activity last?

The complete experience lasts about seven hours. The daytime whale-watching cruise lasts approximately three hours, followed by the evening Northern Lights cruise.

What animals might I see?

You might see minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises in Faxaflói Bay.

When does the whale-watching cruise take place?

The whale-watching portion takes place during the day. The boat reaches the whale-watching area after about 30 to 45 minutes.

When can the Northern Lights be seen?

The Northern Lights may be visible during the winter months and sometimes as early as September. Sightings depend on weather and natural conditions.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to try the Northern Lights cruise again if no lights are seen on your tour.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. The boat also has heated indoor seating, but you should still dress warmly for cold and wet conditions.

Is Wi-Fi available on the boat?

Yes. Free onboard Wi-Fi is included.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English. An app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.