Reykjavik Tours
Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik
4

Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

By Reykjavik Sailors
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 198 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: German, English, Chinese, French, Spanish
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  • 2-3 hours Northern lights tour
  • Experienced and professional guides
  • Free ticket to join again in case of no sightings
  • Warm flotation overalls
  • Free WiFi on board
  • Heated indoor cabins with toilet facilities
  • Complimentary seasickness tablets available
What's not included
  • Snacks and beverages sold on board
  • Pickup is available for extra charge


Start:
  • Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
    Meet us at Geirsgata 11, Special Tours ticket office, for your upcoming tour. Please arrive 30 minutes early at the meeting point.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 21533P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travelers can participate
    • NOTE: You should schedule to be at our departure point at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure.
    • Please, check our DAILY DIARY before you come for the tour, all the important daily information of all our tours will be notified on our website.
    • If you have a boat tour booked, please check your email before the tour as all important daily information will be notified via email.
    • We recommend wearing good footwear and warm clothing. Don´t forget to bring your camera to take amazing photos!
    • Kindly notify us if you require wheelchair access, as not all of our boats are equipped for accessibility.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 198 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 21533P1

    From
    $88.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Reykjavik Sailors
      520
      Reykjavik, Iceland
      Joined in December 2015
    • 21PeterK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whales, Whales, Whales!!!!
      A first class operation! A fabulous experience. It is amazing how many whales you can see so close to the capital city of Iceland, We had a ten-hour layover on our way to Spain and took advantage of the down time. The trip was well organized and the guide, Lucas, was amazing. Lucas was knowledgable and entertaining. Of course, the highlights of the trip were the whales. We briefly saw some Harbor Porpoises, had many views of Minke Whales, and a LONG, LEISURELY encounter with a massive Humpback Whale! WONDERFUL!!!
      Written October 7, 2024
    • Marcel T
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing tour
      Amazing Tour at the old habor the guide was really nice an we got to see whales and dolphins but if you do this be prepared with warm cloth or get an overall that is supplied in the ship
      Written September 28, 2024
    • 829shwem
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale watching
      Saw the whales. Amazing Icelandic sea view surrounded with the mountains. Cofe and toilets are on the boat. Good atmosphere and easy to move around the boat.
      Written September 11, 2024
    • H5717QWguyb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good experience seeing life animals in their environment
      Very good and competent guide, she spotted many whales, jumping out of the water for few of them, weather was sunny, sea was very quit, we were very lucky seing many whales this day, the captain and the guide were very good at finding them on the sea.
      Written September 11, 2024
    • Meander53132857573
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience with lots of sightings of whales
      Last minute decision booking for us but a definite good decision! We booked up for the 3hr tour where we saw 4 different humpback whales. The crew were so good at finding the whales and the guide talking us through was fantastic! It was all so amazing and informative. One of the whales came up unexpected about 2 metres from our boat so the pics I’ve added weren’t zoomed in ❤️ best day!
      Written September 5, 2024
    • davidgF4509HL
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      A nice way to spend the afternoon with the whales in the bay
      We had a very good time and managed to get sightings of humpback whales, dolphins, and some late-season puffins in flight. The boat was large and stable, with ample viewing points to get a view. Early sightings were more distant but we managed to get closer later on in the tour. The crew moved the boat to various locations to try to get the best sightings. The guide also provided a session on whale bones which added to the trip. If you want a very close encounter, then the rib boat trips may be better, but this was a very nice and comfortable day out on the water for a family.
      Written September 3, 2024
    • Y3961CBshannonf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Whale Experience!
      I went on a glorious, sunny Sunday day in Reykjavík harbor to see some whales. I was not disappointed at all! Everyone was friendly and welcoming of all of us on the tour including the kids. The crew was knowledgeable about the migratory habits and the types of whales inhabiting the waters there. Also, loved that they respected the whale's space while pointing them out in the water around the boat. I would definitely recommend this tour if you have a few hours and want to experience the beauty of whales in the wild.
      Written September 1, 2024
    • Marc_and_Kim_Z
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice morning out
      They found us a whale… 5 stars. Downside after I paid to park, when I checked in there was a map for FREE parking. I went back and looked and nowhere did they tell me about the FREE parking. Good thing they found me a whale. 🐋
      Written August 27, 2024
    • Pioneer46239198881
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Better than imagine: My favorite Reykjavik experience!
      A fantastic afternoon tour for whale watching out in Faxaflói Bay. Our guide was very informative about the island & Reykjavik’s surrounding Rekjanes peninsula, as well as the whales & other marine life we saw. The crew & captain did an excellent job of approaching whales without crowding or scaring them away.
      Written August 24, 2024
    • Owen F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A must do in Iceland - Good value and easy combo package
      I went with my brother and this was a great package deal for our last day in Iceland. It allowed us to have a bit of a later start to the day and gave us plenty of time to get back later to the hotel to pack for our early morning flight back home. We started with the lava show and were lucky to be in a small group, having front row seats to the show and the opportunity to ask lots of questions. The host for the show was super passionate and knowledgeable. Although the weather was a bit rainy and gloomy for the whale watching it still was a super experience. The staff were friendly and welcoming, offering windbreaker jackets to stay warm and checked up on everyone throughout the trip. We saw a variety of sea life with the host talking us through each spotting and what it was we were seeing. The length of time was good enough to make sure we saw a variety of things and increase the opportunity to see something, whilst not being too long that you were wanting to head back to land. In the return journey Iceland was hidden by a wall of fog and there was something quite indescribable to be following the seabirds back to port, slowly watching as Iceland broke through the fog and the harbour became visible. Overall, a great value experience package and I would recommend for anyone to do, with friends family or as a solo traveler!
      Written August 17, 2024
    • geraldinea467
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect Trip
      We were greeted by the lovely crew. The cabin was clean and warm (for those who could resist not being on deck) and there was a good selection of drinks and snacks, including milk for tea! (not always available). There were lots of places to look out to sea and plenty of seating. The guide was informative and the staff helpful and pleasant. Must mention decent clean toilets and the 'warm suits' that were available to those who needed them. We were lucky - the weather was good - sunny and about 14 degrees. And yes, we did see whales - hump back and Minke - also Arctic Skewer, Artic Tern, Puffins and Icelandic gulls. Fab trip, nothing to complain about at all. We would recommend this crew/boat/trip whole heartedly. It compared very well to a second trip we took 2 days later with on a different boat. Thank you.
      Written July 22, 2024
    • milou2014
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Well worth while: lots of fresh air, a pleasant boat ride and catching sight of local wildlife
      Very well organised and good tour guides. There were warm suits for everyone to enable standing on deck to catch a glimpse of the wildlife. We saw a whale fluke, some dolphins and a minke whale as well as all kinds of birds. It is difficult to be in the right spot to catch sight of the animals, but this was a good try and the female tour guide was excellent. If you did not fancy standing on deck there was plenty of seating inside and a cafeteria.
      Written July 10, 2024
    • leonardn180
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whales galore!
      The guides were excellent and did a great job of locating various whales and porpoises. We got a lot of close up photos on the trip. Really worth the time and effort! It was a highly of our trip to Reykjavik.
      Written June 25, 2024
    • LinaTan7172
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Terrible experience!
      We joined this tour as it was a combined tour with Northern Lights Tour by boat. But the Northern Lights Tour was cancelled on the day of departure and it was too late to cancel the whale watching tour. We had a refund for the Northern Lights Tour but since we took the transfers in the morning, they couldn't refund us even though we paid for 2 transfers for 2 tours. We felt cheated as it was not clear that the transfers were not refundable if the tours were cancelled. As for the whale watching tour, the boat was too crowded and there are issues of insufficient seats. There were too many people crowding at the decks to look for the whales. After a few moments of squeezing with the crowd, we decided to just stay indoors. Luckily, the staff took photos of the whales and we were able to download the photos. We had a much better experience when we took the whale watching tour at Hauganes.
      Written May 19, 2024
    • liljajona
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Perfect daytrip
      We were a group of four, from Iceland and Lithuania, and all of os had a fantastic time with Reykjavik Sailors!!! The guide was professional, funny and very knowledgeable. We got to see a lot of puffins and other seabirds, some bigger types of whales and we had docents of dolphins swim and play all around us. The sailing was smooth, you could by drinks and snacks on board and they even offered everyone seasickness tablets (for those who needed one) and warm overalls to use, free of charge. I highly recommend a tour with Reykjavik Sailors to everyone :)
      Written May 15, 2024
    See all 520 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.0
    4.0 of 5 bubbles24 reviews
    Excellent
    15
    Very good
    3
    Average
    1
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    4

    Vicky D
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    We did not manage to get on the boat as the company asked us to go to a different operator. When we went there and said we were looking for Reykjavik Sailors northern light tour we were sent to another office which was closed. We returned to the original boat but it had left! Only to find out that we were correct in the first place. We would have returned to complain the following morning but our flight was 7am and we left Reykjavik at 5am so had no time to rearrange. We asked for a partial refund as we understood we missed the boat but felt this was partly the operators fault as they sent us away initially. Very disappointed! We managed to see the light from the lighthouse, briefly but it was not what we had hoped for.
    Written November 12, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, The customer did not arrive to the meeting point in time as they were the only group the boat was still waiting for at 21:00 at the time of departure. She was claiming refund and black mailing us about refund is just against the terms and conditions she agreed to. We received an email from her, if we refund her, she can remove the review. We did inform her, the reservation she has is valid for a free tour without any time limit, so whenever she is back in Iceland, need to contact us to reschedule the booking. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
    Written November 29, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Marija Z
    Torquay, UK2 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Solo
    It's fine, but i do not go again. It's to many people ( no spaces sit down). Not many spaces to stand up. I understand we need information about safety. But i think it's too much. And sometimes i couldn't hear about what talking guide ( about trip, about safety, so was not clearly). We didn't been lucky to see much of Northern lights, what it's understandable
    Written December 4, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, We understand the anticipation of witnessing the Northern Lights on our cruise. In the unlikely event of no sightings, we invite you to join the tour again for free, ensuring you have every opportunity to capture the mesmerizing beauty of the Northern Lights. Best regards Reykjavik Sailors team
    Written December 18, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    tyhinkle
    Wilkes-Barre, PA36 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    We picked this company for a variety of reasons. They had a smaller boat, family feel, offered warm clothing, etc. I never expected the lies, creepiness, and poor service. Last minute, they informed us they were pawning us off to a completely different company!!! This is not what I paid for! What if I did not check my email?! I wish I didn’t get the email because it gets worse from there. It was pouring rain and completely cloudy with NO chance of seeing the lights but since they wanted to keep our money, they would not give us a refund and we had no choice but to go out on this outdated impersonal ship. It went like 10 minutes into the harbor (still close to the light pollution from the city) and just sat there. Then a very very creepy guy kept awkwardly talking into the loudspeaker about his family, chanting the happy birthday song just in case somebody had a birthday, and reading poetry he wrote. This was a horrible horrible experience and the trip should have been canceled!! Do not use this company, they will push you off onto other operators. When I emailed them after to ask for a refund, they said that weather can change and they didn’t know. That is garbage.
    Written April 8, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear tyhinkle, Thanks for your sincere review. First of all, we are very sorry for your bad experience with us. As you can read in our website and all our sellers, during some seasons we can transfer the passengers to our partners to be more environmental friendly and sail with the minimum boats; and if this happens, our partners are only 2-4 minutes away walking from our office. Of course the weather can change, sometimes has happened the opposite (we cancel and finally the sky gets clear), but of course, we cannot wait until last minute to put the tour on or cancel it. So, weather is quite unpredictable here. We apologize again for all this matter, but in this case, passengers are invited to come with us for free again. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
    Written May 3, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MtnWill
    Denver, CO80 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2018 • Couples
    The Northern Lights Cruise we took in February was cancelled on the first night due to weather, but they transferred us to the following night when the boat did go out. We saw the lights dimly and briefly (for about 15 minutes total) and when I asked about why they appeared so dimly, the guide told me "Oh, this is better than most nights, actually." So, while you cannot guarantee anything that is purely a natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights on our trip were a huge let down. It was similar to all of the drama created for the Y2K bug prior to moving into the new millennium... a lot of hype about absolutely nothing!

    The tour guides were pretty knowledgeable and the boat was in good shape. The weather was rough and snowing at times, and it was absolutely frigid standing on the deck, but we knew that going into it! Just make sure you wear lots of very warm clothing! I hope that others have a better experience than we did to see the mysterious Northern Lights, but for us the only mystery is why we spent so much money going to Iceland to see something as lackluster as what we saw! There are way better things in Iceland to see, and pretty much all of them are guaranteed to be there when you arrive. We learned our lesson: DON'T go just to see the aurora borealis, or you could be really disappointed.
    Written March 20, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear MtnWill, Thanks for letting us know your opinion, is very important to have different points of view and each single one help us to improve. Well, Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that nobody can predict if they will appear seconds, minutes or hours, but of course, some times can be stronger and other times weak. We wish that every night we had a great display of lights :) We provide of warm overalls on board, but we recommend to wear warm clothes too, as is in winter and the cold weather here is terrible. Also, we have indoor warm decks in the ship. Thanks for your sincere opinion :) Anyway, we hope you enjoyed the rest of Iceland. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
    Written May 3, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mike
    Dewsbury, UK49 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Had an original tour with a different operator for a Northern Lights experience that was cancelled at short notice so booked with Reykjavik Sailors for a cruise instead as there was availability. It was well organised and equipped with a great commentary throughout the cruise. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the lights during the cruise, but this is to be expected with a natural phenomenon, but we were given the option to rebook at any time in the future for free. Would definitely recommend this tour as it’s reasonably priced and gives you a great chance to view Reykjavik by night as well as the Northern Lights.
    Written November 17, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    thank you so much for your review! Made our day, have a great day!
    Written November 19, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kathy B
    Sturtevant, WI65 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2019
    Although we didn't see the Northern Lights, the boat trip was amazing and informative. The crew aboard the boat was friendly and knowledgable. Since the Northern Lights are not guaranteed there's a 50/50 chance - but totally worth it
    Written November 6, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you so much for your message! If you are back in Iceland, you are welcomed to try your luck again! Have a great day!
    Written November 7, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Spike Lemmer
    Johannesburg, South Africa69 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2018
    this a truly amazing and stunning sight to experience. this definitely a bucket list phenomenon to visit.
    Written May 14, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear rototank, Thank you for your feedback. We totally agree : northern lights are an absolutely incredible phenomenon to witness, and are without a doubt bucket-list worthy. Yet it can be so hard to spot at times... We're happy to read our guides managed to make your dream come true! The time spent braving the infamous Icelandic weather does not come in vain ;) We hope you had a nice stay in Iceland, and wish you all the best!
    Written June 4, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    leisms
    Ipswich, UK150 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2018 • Friends
    Very welcoming and well organised, we didn’t see the northern lights but found Sarah’s commentary excellent and informative, we were looked after and kept warm in the flotation suits. The lights teased us, but we were offered another free trip just because the lights didn’t show up, great value
    Written January 29, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello, Thank you very much for such a nice review :) Sometimes the nature is not on our side, but as you say, you are welcome to come again and try in your next visit to Iceland. We are happy to hear that you liked the trip in general, and that is very important for us. We hope you can come soon! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
    Written March 31, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Zak83c
    Edinburgh, UK67 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2017 • Couples
    I'd definitely recommend going with Reykjavik Sailors for the Northern Lights tour. This my second attempt at seeing them in Iceland after doing a bus tour a few years ago. I went on similar nights to the other recent reviews but have a bit of a different take on it. Our trip was booked for November 22nd and we were also called to say it was off and could go by bus then called again to say the boat was back on. We also met at the office and were driven to the boat a few piers along. Would have made sense to say meet at the actual pier but no big deal in my eyes.

    The boat that was used for the tour was big and comfortable. The seas were very choppy and lots of people (including my girlfriend) were being sick but it didn't bother me too much. When I went to get a beer, I was given one for free! Sickness tablets are also available and the staff were really helpful with the people who were sick. We didn't see the lights unfortunately but went back the following night.

    On the next night, we went on Reykjavik Sailors own boat which was cosy and had a bar with beer/coffee/snacks etc. Anyway, the main point being, we saw the lights! Was delighted to see them at last. Again the waters were rough but we'd been warned about that both nights. Don't see much of a reason for the recent negative reviews. Would recommend.
    Written November 26, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Dear friend, Thanks for letting us know your wonderful review :) We are happy to hear that you had a very nice trip. Of course, sometimes they don't appear, but that's nature and something that we can't control. We hope you enjoyed your time in Iceland!! All the best, Reykjavik Sailors Team
    Written March 30, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Natium
    New York City, NY9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2017 • Friends
    Took the Reykjavik Sailors Northern Lights tour October last week with friends and it was amazing. The crew were super nice and accommodating. There were cold weather suits available though we didn't use them. There were also refreshments on the boat to purchase. We were fortunate enough to see a bright display and it was the most beautiful thing we've ever seen. Unnar took great photos and sent them to the entire tour group. Thanks Unnar, Jorge, and crew!
    Written October 18, 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hello I want to thank you for choosing Reykjavik Sailors and for sharing this fantastic review with us and other TripAdvisor members. It means a lot to us when our customers leave us a review after a tour. We always aim to please everyone and make the tours as comfortable as possible for our passengers. We are very happy that you were satisfied with our services and got the chance to see an Icelandic natural phenomena. We hope to see you again! All the best, Reykjavik Sailors
    Written October 22, 2017
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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