Reykjavik: Northern Lights Guided Boat Tour

The best part of this tour is the setting. You leave Reykjavik’s old harbor, pass the city lights, and watch the mountains fade behind you as the boat moves into darker North Atlantic waters. When the aurora appears, you see it with Reykjavik glowing in the distance, a peaceful contrast to the cold, open sea.

I like the heated indoor seating and warm overalls, which matter far more than fancy talk once you have spent an hour outside in Icelandic winter. I also like the free second ticket if the sky stays empty. The main drawback is simple: you cannot control the weather, and a boat trip can feel very cold or rough even when the Northern Lights fail to show.

• 15 to 30 minutes from Reykjavik: The boat reaches a darker viewing area fairly quickly after leaving the old harbor.
• Two boats may operate: You may sail on Rósin or Andrea, both described as comfortable, well-equipped boats.
• Warm refuge onboard: Heated indoor seating, WiFi, warm overalls, hot drinks, and a café help break up the wait.
• A genuine second chance: If the lights are not seen, you receive a complimentary ticket for another cruise.
• A useful weather backup: If the sea is too windy but aurora conditions look good, the operator may offer a small bus hunt instead.
• Photography help: Guides explain what to look for and how to photograph faint aurora, while tour photos are available to download.

Leaving Reykjavik Old Harbour After Dark

The meeting point is Reykjavik Old Harbour, so you will need to make your own way there. Hotel pickup is not included. The harbor is a practical starting point because the tour can move straight from city streets into open water, with no long transfer across Iceland.

Allow the full 2.5 hours advertised, even though the sailing itself is often described as about two hours. The exact departure time changes with availability, so check the schedule when booking. Once aboard, the crew outfits you in warm overalls, including children’s sizes, and points out the heated indoor area.

The boats are Rósin and Andrea. The experience is described as a luxury boat tour, but keep your expectations sensible. This is still an outdoor night excursion in Iceland. The comfort comes from having a warm place to sit, a restroom-style break from the cold, WiFi, and a café area rather than from escaping the elements completely.

The first stretch gives you a pleasant view of Reykjavik’s coastline. City lights remain behind you, while mountains and the dark ocean begin to frame the view. This transition is part of the appeal. You are not simply standing in a parking lot waiting for the sky to change. The ride itself becomes part of the evening.

Reaching Darker Water in 15 to 30 Minutes

The crew generally spends only 15 to 30 minutes reaching a prime viewing area away from the strongest city glow. That is a useful advantage over some land-based outings, where a long drive may be needed before the search really begins.

Still, do not assume the boat will be completely free of light pollution. One experience found the city lights remained bright enough to affect the view, especially when the aurora was faint. A strong display can overcome that problem, but a pale green band may be easier to see with the naked eye after your eyes adjust.

Once the boat reaches its viewing area, the pace changes. You may spend much of the remaining time waiting, scanning the sky, and moving between the outside deck and the heated interior. Guides explain what to watch for, including faint bands that may grow brighter as your eyes adjust.

That waiting is easier when the crew keeps you involved. Guides have shared stories about the Northern Lights from different cultures, explained how to photograph them, and pointed people toward the first signs of color. Guides named in the feedback include Patrick, Hanna, Sarah, and Einar, although the staff member on your sailing will depend on the date.

What the Northern Lights Look Like From the Sea

The aurora does not always arrive as a curtain of bright green light. Sometimes it is a faint dusting or a thin band low on the horizon. On other nights, it can remain visible for much of the trip and appear to move or strengthen as the boat waits.

That distinction matters when deciding if this tour suits you. You may get a dramatic display, but you may also get a few pale streaks, a clear sky full of stars, or no aurora at all. None of those outcomes can be promised, and the crew cannot manufacture better conditions.

The sea adds something special to the view. You may see the glow above, Reykjavik’s lights behind you, and the mountains along the coast. A full moon, shooting stars, and clear night air have also added to the experience on past sailings, even when the aurora itself was modest.

Photography is tricky. A phone may record little or nothing when your eyes can clearly see a weak glow. The onboard photographer has better equipment, and tour photos are offered for free download. One practical note: check for the photo link afterward, since it has not always arrived as expected.

Warm Overalls and the Reality of an Icelandic Night

The supplied overalls are not a gimmick. Several people found them important in cold conditions, including a night near minus 11 degrees Celsius. Wear them, even if the harbor feels mild when you board.

Bring warm clothing underneath, comfortable shoes, and a camera if you want to try night photography. Add gloves and a hat if you have them. The overalls help, but they do not make the outside deck warm. One sailing encountered snow at sea and continued for the scheduled time, so you should be ready for the cold rather than assuming you can retreat immediately.

The heated indoor seating is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You can warm up with a hot drink, take in the view through the windows, and return outside when the guide spots activity. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket, so budget separately if you want café refreshments.

Motion sickness is another consideration. The water can be calm, but at least one person became seasick. If you are prone to it, ask the crew about available seasickness tablets or bring your usual remedy. The boat is a much better choice for you if the journey matters as much as the final sighting, since you may spend a long time moving and waiting before anything appears.

When Weather Cancels the Boat

This tour depends heavily on wind, cloud, and sea conditions. A strong aurora forecast does not help if it is unsafe or unpleasant to sail. If the boat is cancelled, the operator may offer a Northern Lights hunt by small private bus when the forecast still looks promising.

That backup can protect your evening, but it is not the same experience. You booked the boat for the ocean setting, the coastline, and Reykjavik viewed from the water. If the bus option does not appeal to you, you can turn it down and wait for the next available cruise.

A useful example is a night when a boat cancellation led to a bus trip that did not produce the lights, followed by a later boat trip that succeeded. This shows both the strength and weakness of the backup plan. It gives you another way to search, but it does not improve the odds by magic.

You should check the weather on the day of departure and watch for a cancellation message. The operator contacts you if conditions change, but a last check is wise, especially if you have arranged dinner or another evening activity around the sailing.

The Free Second Trip Policy

If you do not see the Northern Lights, the operator offers a complimentary ticket for another attempt. This is one of the most important details in the $106 price.

The policy also appears to apply when you see only a weak display that the captain or crew considers an unsuccessful sighting. In practice, this can give you a valuable second chance if your schedule allows. Some people have returned the following night and seen a much stronger show.

The benefit is limited by your itinerary. If this is your final night in Reykjavik, a free ticket may be impossible to use. One person faced a mechanical problem and was offered a later sailing the same night, while another option was to reschedule for the next day. If your trip is short, book this tour early enough to leave room for a repeat.

The repeat policy also makes the tour less risky than a one-shot aurora hunt. You are still paying for time, cold, and transport on the first attempt, but you are not simply left with nothing if the sky stays dark.

Is $106 a Fair Price?

At $106 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for a boat, crew, heated seating, warm overalls, a guide, WiFi, and the chance to return free if the first trip fails.

The price makes more sense if you value the setting. A bus or minibus can move farther inland and may escape city light more completely, but this cruise gives you mountains, coastline, Reykjavik’s glow, and open ocean in one view. The sailing also saves you from spending the entire night in a vehicle.

The value drops if your only goal is the strongest possible chance of seeing the lights. A boat cannot chase every clear patch of sky, and the city glow may remain visible. You also need to pay for drinks or snacks onboard, and there is no hotel pickup.

I would consider the ticket fair for someone who wants a comfortable night outing with a built-in retry. I would be more cautious if you have one night only, dislike cold or motion on water, or need a guarantee of a bright aurora. Nature does not offer one.

Families and Wheelchair Access

The tour can work well for families. Children’s overalls are available, and the crew has stored a stroller and provided a life jacket for a three-year-old. Staff have also been described as friendly and attentive with young children.

You should still prepare carefully. A small child may find the cold, late hour, and waiting difficult, even with warm clothing. The heated interior gives you a useful escape, but you should not expect a nonstop show.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, though access may not be equal across every part of the boat. One wheelchair user could not reach the upper deck but was offered a view through a side door. Contact the operator before booking if reaching the best outdoor viewing area is essential for you.

How This Compares With a Land Search

A land-based Northern Lights tour gives the driver more freedom to change location. If clouds settle over Reykjavik, a bus may search for clearer conditions inland. The tradeoff is time spent on roads, with less of the sea, mountains, and city lights together.

This boat tour is a good match if you want the outing itself to feel special even when the aurora is weak. You can enjoy the coastline, night sky, onboard commentary, and heated café. One person even combined the cruise with whale watching on the same evening, though that should not be treated as a standard feature of this tour.

The boat is less suited to anyone who wants a quick, highly focused chase. You travel to one viewing area, wait, and return according to the sailing schedule. The reward is a calm, memorable setting when the sky cooperates.

Who Should Book This Reykjavik Cruise?

I would choose this tour if you want more than a basic aurora hunt. It suits couples, families who appreciate onboard comforts, photographers who want free tour images as a backup, and anyone who likes the idea of seeing Reykjavik from the water at night.

I would also book it early in a multi-night Iceland stay. That gives you a chance to use the free repeat ticket and avoids placing all your hopes on one departure.

You may prefer a land tour if you are very prone to seasickness, have only one evening available, or care more about chasing clear skies than about the ocean setting. You should also think twice if the cold will prevent you from spending time outside, since the best views may be on deck.

The overall rating is 3.9 from 202 reviews, which fits the nature of the experience. The crew receives strong praise for friendly service, useful explanations, warm gear, and persistence. The mixed result comes from the aurora itself, not from a promise that can be guaranteed.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights boat tour leave from?

The tour departs from Reykjavik Old Harbour. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The activity is listed as 2.5 hours. The sailing itself is described as taking about two hours, with the boat reaching a viewing area roughly 15 to 30 minutes after leaving the harbor.

Which boats are used?

The tour uses either Rósin or Andrea, depending on the sailing arrangements.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a complimentary ticket for another Northern Lights cruise. A repeat trip depends on available dates and your remaining time in Iceland.

Can the boat tour be cancelled?

Yes. The trip may be cancelled if wind or other weather conditions make sailing unsuitable. If the aurora forecast is good but the sea is too rough, a small private bus tour may be offered instead.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. You should still bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes, since the outside deck can be very cold.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the ticket. Hot drinks and other refreshments may be available onboard, and the boat has heated indoor seating.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Access to every area may differ, since one wheelchair user could not reach the upper deck but was able to view outside through a side door.

Should You Book It?

Book this cruise if you want the Northern Lights with an ocean setting, heated shelter, warm overalls, and a fair second-chance policy. The crew’s calm explanations and willingness to keep searching add real value, especially on a night when the aurora is faint.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed spectacle or have only one short evening in Reykjavik. If you do book, choose an early night in your stay, check the forecast, wear the supplied overalls, and keep the next evening flexible. That is the best way to make the $106 ticket work in your favor.