Reykjavik: 2-Hour Northern Lights by Boat with Backup Plan

The best part of this outing is the change of scene: you leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and search for the aurora borealis from Faxaflói Bay, away from much of the city glow. I like the warm all-in-one overalls and the café, since northern-lights watching can involve a long, cold wait. I also like the practical backup plan, which gives you a real activity instead of a simple cancellation.

The main catch is that nature still calls the shots. Clouds can cancel the boat, and even a clear sailing may produce no lights. The two-hour cruise is a good value if you enjoy the night on the water, but less so if you want a guaranteed aurora show.

Key points to know

• Sail from Old Harbor: The boat leaves from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, about 15 minutes from the city center.
• Warm gear is supplied: You can borrow warm overalls, including children’s sizes, and use the onboard café and restroom during the wait.
• The guide adds real context: Expect explanations of aurora science, local stories, myths, and answers to your questions.
• A failed sighting is not the end: If you do not see the lights, you receive a ticket to try the boat tour again on the next available date.
• Bad weather brings a museum visit: If cloud cover cancels the sailing, you get a private Whales of Iceland tour, a complimentary drink, and a short photography workshop.
• The tour is wheelchair accessible: English is the tour language, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Leaving Reykjavík for Faxaflói Bay

This is a simple outing to fit into a Reykjavík evening. The meeting point is the Old Harbor, and the boat heads into Faxaflói Bay soon after departure. You are only about 15 minutes from the harbor when the city begins to feel less central, which helps make the night feel like an actual excursion rather than a quick lookout stop.

From the water, your view is not blocked by buildings, and the open horizon gives you a wider chance to spot a glow in the sky. That does not mean the lights will appear. It means the boat puts you in a sensible position to search, provided the clouds cooperate.

I like the fact that the tour does not pretend to control the aurora. The guide explains that sightings are never guaranteed, and the experience is built around watching, waiting, and learning. That honest approach matters in Iceland, where even a strong forecast can change before you reach the bay.

The boat trip lasts two hours. Some of that time may feel quiet, especially if you are waiting for a faint green arc to appear. The onboard guide helps fill the gaps with information about how the lights form, along with stories and myths connected to them. One guide named Annika received special praise for giving clear information during a first attempt, and the guide’s ability to keep the group interested can make a real difference on a slow night.

The onboard setup makes the cold easier

Northern-lights tours are often less glamorous than the photographs suggest. You may spend a long time looking at a dark sky before anything happens. Here, the boat has several small comforts that help you stay out longer.

You receive warm overalls, with children’s sizes available. Wear warm clothing underneath anyway, along with comfortable shoes. The overalls are useful protection, but they are not a substitute for a hat, gloves, and layers if you are sensitive to cold.

There is also a café, Wi-Fi, and a restroom onboard. Those details sound ordinary until you are standing outside on a cold evening with nowhere to warm up. You can step inside, get a break from the wind, and return to the viewing area when conditions look promising.

A northern-lights video is also available onboard. This gives you something useful to watch while the boat is in position, and it may help you understand what to look for. The guide can answer questions in English, explain the science in plain terms, and add the old stories that make the aurora part of Icelandic culture as well as natural science.

The tradeoff is that the best viewing may require patience outdoors. The café and indoor areas are helpful, but you should not book this expecting a quick show followed by an immediate return. A strong night can bring a memorable display, while another night may bring only a glimpse or nothing at all.

What happens if the lights appear

If the sky clears and the aurora begins to show, the boat gives you a broad view across the bay. The darkness of the water can make a faint glow easier to notice than it would be in central Reykjavík, though the exact quality of the view depends entirely on cloud cover and aurora activity.

You can watch with your eyes, ask the guide questions, and take photographs. A short photography workshop is specifically available as part of the backup museum program, but you should still prepare your camera before departure if taking pictures is important to you. Keep your battery warm when possible, and do not count on a phone automatically producing good night-sky images.

The best part of a successful sailing is the setting. You are not simply standing on land, checking the sky between buildings. You are on the water, with the city behind you and a wide horizon ahead. One January outing produced a particularly good show after a long, cold wait, which is a fair picture of the bargain you are making: patience can pay off, but the waiting is part of the deal.

Another outing later in the week gave a late glimpse of the lights after an earlier attempt had failed. That is why the return-ticket policy can be valuable. You may not get the conditions you hoped for on the first night, but you have another chance at the next available boat tour.

When clouds cancel the sailing

The backup plan is one of the strongest reasons to consider this particular excursion. If the boat tour is canceled because of cloud cover, you do not simply lose the evening. You go to the Whales of Iceland Exhibition, located just minutes from the harbor, for a private guided visit.

The exhibition uses full-sized whale models, which give you a clear sense of the scale of these animals. The visit also includes interactive technology, so it is not just a room of static displays. A guide leads you through the exhibit and provides context as you move from one model to the next.

The museum visit includes a fascinating 25-minute video. You also have access to a 10-minute northern-lights photography workshop onsite. That is a useful touch because it turns a weather problem into practical preparation for another attempt.

At the end, you receive a complimentary drink, described as a Northern Lights-themed cocktail with a twist on the house. The exact drink choice is not specified, so consider it a small included treat rather than a full meal or evening out. Meals and other drinks are not included.

You also receive a ticket to try the Northern Lights Boat Tour again on the next available date. This is different from simply failing to see the lights during a sailing. If the boat goes out but the aurora does not appear, you receive a complimentary retry ticket. If the weather cancels the boat before departure, the museum visit becomes your main activity and you still receive another boat opportunity.

Value at $82 per person

At $82 per person, this is not the cheapest way to hope for northern lights. You are paying for a two-hour boat trip, a guide, warm overalls, onboard facilities, and a weather backup that includes museum entry and a drink. The value improves if you place a high price on comfort and on having a useful plan when clouds spoil the sailing.

The return opportunity also changes the calculation. A single failed aurora outing can feel expensive, especially when you have only a short stay in Iceland. Here, you have a second chance if you do not see the lights. You still need time in your schedule for that next available boat tour, however, so the ticket is most useful if you are staying in Reykjavík for more than one night.

The museum backup is particularly helpful for families or anyone who does not want to spend an entire evening waiting in poor conditions. You get whale exhibits, a video, a photography lesson, a drink, and another boat ticket rather than a wasted night.

If you already plan to visit Whales of Iceland, this package may also fit neatly into your plans, though the museum access rules are important. Once you join the boat tour, that ticket has been used and cannot later be used for entry to the exhibition. The museum visit is the weather-cancellation alternative, not an extra admission you can add after a completed sailing.

Who will enjoy this boat tour most

I would choose this for you if you want a northern-lights outing with some comfort and a clear fallback. It suits couples, families, and first-time visitors who would rather have a guided search than rent a car and guess where to go.

It is also a good match if you like learning while you wait. The guide covers science, myths, and practical questions, so the night has more to offer than a silent check of the sky. The onboard café, Wi-Fi, restroom, and warm overalls are meaningful advantages for children and anyone who dislikes standing outside for long periods.

The tour is less suited to you if your schedule is packed and you cannot return for another sailing. It is also not ideal if you need certainty. No boat tour can promise the aurora, and this one does not try to. You may see a dramatic display, a brief glimpse, or nothing during the two hours.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a practical option for many visitors who need accessible arrangements. Since the provided details do not describe every part of the boat or boarding process, contact the operator if you need specific accessibility information beyond the stated access.

Timing, clothing, and small practical choices

Check the available starting times when you book, since the exact departure time is not fixed in the information provided. A nighttime sailing needs to fit around dinner and any other evening plan, and the two-hour duration does not include extra time you may need to reach the harbor.

Wear warm layers and comfortable shoes. Choose clothing that lets you move easily under the supplied overalls. Gloves, a hat, and warm socks are sensible additions, even with indoor areas and a café onboard.

Bring a phone or camera if you want to record the night, but keep your expectations realistic. The lights may be faint, and cold can drain a battery quickly. The photography workshop is included only with the museum backup plan, so do not assume you will receive a separate camera lesson during every boat departure.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging an Iceland itinerary. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure. Once you join the boat tour, the ticket has been fully used, and the museum cannot be substituted afterward.

My take: book it if you value a solid backup

I would book this tour if you want to search for the northern lights from the water and prefer a plan that still gives you something worthwhile when clouds intervene. The combination of warm gear, a café, an English-speaking guide, and the Whales of Iceland backup makes the $82 price easier to justify.

I would skip it if you need a guaranteed sighting or cannot fit a second boat attempt into your schedule. For everyone else, this is a sensible Reykjavík option: the aurora remains unpredictable, but the evening does not have to be a total loss.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights boat tour leave from?

The boat leaves from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, about 15 minutes from the city center.

How long does the boat tour last?

The boat tour lasts two hours.

Are the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, and a sighting is never guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see the lights?

You receive a complimentary ticket to try the Northern Lights Boat Tour again on the next available date.

What happens if the boat is canceled because of clouds?

You visit the Whales of Iceland Exhibition instead. This includes a private guided tour, full-sized whale models, interactive technology, a 25-minute video, a 10-minute northern-lights photography workshop, a complimentary drink, and another boat-tour ticket.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. You should still wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes.

Is food included?

Meals are not included. The boat has a café, and the Whales of Iceland backup visit includes a complimentary drink.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. The live guide speaks English.