Reykjavik: Northern Lights Yacht Tour

The best part of this northern lights trip is the setting. You leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbor by yacht, pass small islands and the coast, then move away from the city glow for a darker view of the sky. I like the three viewing decks and the fact that you can retreat to a warm lounge instead of standing outside for two straight hours.

I also like the helpful guides, who point out faint auroras, explain why the lights appear in waves, and help you adjust your phone camera. The main drawback is simple: the aurora is wild weather, not a scheduled show. Cloud cover can spoil the view, and even a clear night may produce only a faint glow.

Key points

• A yacht rather than a standard coach tour: Sail through Faxaflói Bay and along the Reykjavik coast before heading into darker water.
• Three places to watch: Use the open upper deck or one of the lower panoramic decks, then move inside when the wind gets fierce.
• A proper bar and lounge: Hot chocolate, coffee, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, and snacks are available to buy.
• Guides who help with photos: Guides including Maria, Brianta, Julian, and Lucky have helped passengers spot the aurora and set up phone cameras.
• Two hours is a sensible length: It gives you time to reach darker water without making the cold feel endless.
• No guarantee, but a useful fallback: If the lights do not appear, the operator may let you reschedule for free.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbor after dark

You check in at the Old Harbour House on Aegisgardur 2, about 30 minutes before departure. The process is designed to be quick: scan the bar code or QR code on your ticket at the self-service kiosk, then wait for boarding.

The meeting point is useful if you arrive early. It has a bar and restaurant, and one booking option has included a 15 percent food discount there. That gives you a practical place to sit before the cruise rather than waiting outdoors on the quay.

Hotel pickup is available if you select it when booking. Several pickup experiences have been described as prompt and well organized, but you should still allow time for the transfer to the harbor. If you make your own way there, the Old Harbor location is the key detail to plan around.

Once aboard, the yacht feels different from a large coach-based aurora outing. You are not watching the sky through a bus window or spending most of the evening driving between viewpoints. The vessel itself is part of the evening, with seating, toilets, a bar, and several outdoor areas.

The first 30 minutes through Faxaflói Bay

The yacht sails among small islands in Faxaflói Bay and along Reykjavik’s coast before moving farther from the city lights. The exact timing depends on conditions, but the first part of the trip is usually a quiet ride out toward darker water.

That movement matters. Reykjavik is not a huge city, but its lights can still wash out a weak aurora. Getting offshore reduces some of that glare and gives you a broader view of the sky. It does not guarantee better lights, yet it gives the crew a fair chance to find darker conditions.

The ride has also produced a few welcome surprises. One outing included humpback whales, and other trips offered views of the Imagine Peace Tower and the Reykjavik coastline. These are extras, not promised parts of the tour, so do not book this as a wildlife cruise.

The sea can be calm, but it can also make photography difficult. A long phone exposure may show the yacht’s motion as blur, especially when waves are running. If your main aim is perfect aurora photography, a land-based tripod location will be steadier. If your aim is to experience the sky in a memorable setting, the movement is a fair trade.

Three decks and the best place to watch

The yacht has three panoramic viewing areas, giving you more choice than a single outdoor platform. The upper deck is the obvious place for a wide, unobstructed view, but it is also the coldest and can become crowded when the aurora appears.

The covered lower decks offer some protection from wind. You may not get the same open view in every direction, but they are useful when you need to warm up without abandoning the sky completely. The vessel has several seating areas, although popular departures can fill the indoor seats, especially when people use the free rescheduling option after a missed sighting.

I suggest finding an indoor seat near an easy route outside at the start. Then you can listen for an announcement, step out when the guide spots a new wave of light, and return inside before the cold takes over.

Do not expect the aurora to look exactly as it does in photographs. To your eyes, a weak display may appear gray or pale green. A phone camera can reveal stronger green tones, and an active aurora can turn into arches, ribbons, or moving curtains across the sky. The trip has produced green, pink, white, and red tones, but the color and strength depend entirely on the night.

Guides who make faint lights easier to find

The guide is important on an aurora cruise. A faint patch can be easy to miss if you do not know where to look, and clouds can make the whole sky seem empty.

Guides such as Maria have alerted people sitting inside when another wave was beginning. Brianta has been praised for keeping the explanation clear, while Julian and Lucky have helped make the science and viewing process easy to follow. The guides also point out stars and explain why the lights change.

The practical help with photography may be more valuable than a long astronomy talk. Guides have shown passengers how to change phone settings, hold the device steady, and frame a group photo. Some crew members have taken pictures for passengers, which is especially helpful when you are traveling with family or marking a special occasion.

Sound can vary around the boat. One passenger found the guide difficult to hear from some areas, so move closer if the commentary matters to you. The yacht’s open decks, wind, and engine noise can make a talk less clear than it is indoors.

The bar, lounge, blankets, and cold-weather reality

The indoor bar is one of the strongest features of this tour. You can buy hot chocolate, coffee, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and small snacks such as chips and candy bars. Hot chocolate with Baileys or amaretto has become a popular cold-night choice, though drinks are not included in the $93 price.

Warm blankets are provided, and sea sickness tablets are available. These small touches matter because the hardest part of an aurora cruise is often not the waiting itself, but staying outside long enough to see a short display.

Still, do not treat the blankets as a substitute for proper clothing. You need warm layers, a winter coat, gloves, and comfortable shoes. Snow shoes or sturdy footwear are sensible in icy weather. One outing took place at minus 10 degrees Celsius, and the upper deck was understandably bitter. The wind over open water can make a moderate forecast feel much colder.

The lower deck lighting is kept low to protect night vision. That helps you see the sky, but it also means some parts of the boat can feel dark. If you need to move around, take care near stairs and follow the crew’s directions.

What the two-hour itinerary really gives you

The cruise lasts two hours, including the trip out from the harbor and the return. Around 30 minutes may be spent reaching darker water, leaving roughly 90 minutes for waiting and viewing on some departures.

That is a good balance for most people. A longer cruise might give the crew more time to search, but two hours limits the amount of time you spend exposed to cold wind. It also works well for families and for people fitting the cruise into a short Reykjavik stay.

The aurora may appear quickly. Some departures have seen it within minutes of leaving the harbor, while others waited until the final 30 minutes on the way back. One especially strong night produced nearly two hours of constant activity, but that is unusual luck, not a normal promise.

You may spend part of the trip looking at an empty or cloudy sky. The guides keep watch, and the crew may remain out longer or search farther when conditions suggest that the lights are nearby. Even so, you should be ready for a quiet ride with no aurora.

The biggest question: is $93 good value?

At $93 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the northern lights. You are paying for a two-hour yacht outing, crew and guide service, three outdoor viewing areas, an indoor lounge, blankets, Wi-Fi, and the chance to leave the city glow behind.

I think the price makes sense if the boat experience matters to you. You get a comfortable base, a bar, and a more memorable setting than simply standing beside a road. The yacht also gives you somewhere to warm up, which can make the difference between enjoying the wait and giving up early.

The value is weaker if you only care about the strongest possible aurora photograph. A boat can move, shake, and crowd the frame, making long-exposure images harder. A land-based tour may offer steadier ground, though it can involve a longer coach ride and less comfortable waiting.

Drinks and souvenirs cost extra. Hotel pickup also depends on the option you choose. I would budget for at least one hot drink, especially if you plan to spend time on deck.

Weather, cancellations, and the no-show problem

The operator does not guarantee a sighting. Clouds, rain, wind, and low aurora activity can all spoil the view. A night with a high forecast can still produce nothing from the boat, while an overcast evening may clear at the right moment.

If the lights do not appear, you may be able to reschedule for free with the activity provider. The exact arrangement should be confirmed at booking, especially if you have only one night in Reykjavik. Some passengers have been allowed to return after an unsuccessful outing, while others have simply rebooked for the next available night.

Weather can also cancel the sailing itself. When that happens, the operator has contacted passengers in advance and moved the booking to another day. The flexible cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before departure.

If you have a short Iceland itinerary, schedule the cruise early rather than on your final night. That gives you a second chance if weather closes the harbor or clouds hide the aurora.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would choose this trip for you if you want the northern lights to be part of a pleasant evening, not just a quick stop at a dark roadside. It suits couples, families, and first-time aurora watchers who would appreciate a bar, indoor seating, toilets, and a guide who explains what is happening.

It also works well for anyone who dislikes long bus rides. The whole experience lasts two hours, and the harbor departure keeps the outing close to Reykjavik.

Families should consider the cold and the waiting time. The two-hour length is manageable, and one passenger specifically chose it instead of a four-hour outing for a trip with a grandchild. Still, young children may find the outdoor viewing uncomfortable if the wind rises.

Photography enthusiasts should bring a camera, but keep expectations realistic. The guide can help with settings, yet the moving boat makes sharp long-exposure shots difficult. The best memories may come from short bursts of strong aurora, group photos, and simply watching the sky change.

Practical advice before you board

• Arrive at the Old Harbour House 30 minutes before departure.
• Wear several warm layers, not just one heavy coat.
• Bring gloves, comfortable shoes, and a camera or charged phone.
• Choose an indoor seat close to an outside exit if you want to switch quickly.
• Buy a hot drink before the cold sets in.
• Keep your phone ready, but do not spend the entire sighting looking at its screen.
• If the guide announces a new wave, head outside promptly. Auroras can fade as quickly as they appear.
• If your schedule allows, book before your final night so a free reschedule remains useful.

Should you book the Reykjavik northern lights yacht tour?

Book it if you want a comfortable, atmospheric way to search for the aurora and like the idea of watching from the water. The friendly crew, indoor lounge, bar, blankets, and three decks make the waiting easier than it is on many basic outings.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed sighting or perfect tripod photography. No northern lights tour can promise that, and a moving yacht adds some camera shake. At $93, this is best viewed as a well-equipped aurora search with a memorable boat ride, not a guaranteed celestial performance.

FAQ

Where does the northern lights yacht tour depart from?

The tour departs from the Old Harbour House at Aegisgardur 2, 101 Reykjavik.

How early should I arrive?

You should check in 30 minutes before departure.

How do I check in?

Scan the bar code or QR code on your ticket at the self-service kiosk inside the Old Harbour House.

How long is the cruise?

The cruise lasts two hours.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup is available from hotels in the Reykjavik area if you select that option.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live tour guide and activity information are in English.

Are drinks included in the ticket?

No. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase at the onboard bar.

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

Sightings are not guaranteed, but you may be able to reschedule for free with the activity provider if the lights do not appear.