Northern Lights Yacht Cruise in Reykjavik
4.5

Northern Lights Yacht Cruise in Reykjavik

By Iceland Discover
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Ages 0-100, max of 125 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: English
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  • Drinks and snacks are available for purchase
  • Spacious observation decks
  • Panoramic views
  • Professional guides
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Restroom on board
  • WiFi on board


Start:
  • Old Harbour House | Food, Drinks & Tours, Ægisgarður 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
    We are located at the Reykjavík Old Harbour close to the city's center. It is the main port of departure for whale watching and northern lights tours. *Please arrive at the meeting point 30 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Stroller accessible
    • Wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 293883P6

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Please take note. The tour takes place in wild nature, sightings cannot be predicted or guaranteed. If there are no sightings on the tour, we do not offer refunds but instead, we offer our passengers a free return to join our tour depending on availability, valid for up to three years.
    • 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 experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 125 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: 293883P6

    From
    $94.00
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Ægisgarður 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
      We are located at the Reykjavík Old Harbour close to the city's center. It is the main port of departure for whale watching and northern lights tours. *Please arrive at the meeting point 30 MINUTES BEFORE DEPARTURE.
    • Pass by
      Old Harbour
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Iceland Discover
      106
      Reykjavik, Iceland
      Joined in December 2020
    • neilhT6929PW
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wrap-up warm and be on the lookout for the seals and whales! We saw a magnificent young humpback!
      Didn't really know what to expect. Nature is nature, can't make a schedule with it, but we were lucky enough to see a beautiful humpback whale feeding and messing around in the cold waters! Plenty of seals too, just poking their heads above the water! The boat, the crew, and the organisation overall were good. Clear and simple instructions. Didn't like the feeling in the bar area - steamy windows, wet, hot... Not inviting when on a boat rocking about, but we stayed outside and were just fine. If we're back in "summer", I'd love to take part in this experience again. :)
      Written January 27, 2025
    • raleightravels
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Skilled crew, saw many whales
      We booked the whale watching tour on the Amelia Rose. The boat was comfortable with a warm cabin on two levels. It was not possible to see much from inside, so be prepared to be on the outdoor decks (very cold in December). The crew was skilled, and we saw several humpback whales not far out of the harbour in Reykjavik. The check in process was a little confusing, with kiosks inside a crowded pub and staff only intermittently available to advise on how/when to board the boats (proceed through the back door of the restaurant or around to the back from the entrance to the docks as soon as you have your ticket from the kiosk). We did not purchase anything from the bar, but it was available. There were bathrooms on board. There was WiFi, but I never found the password posted. The views looking back at Reykjavik and of the mountains in the bay were striking.
      Written December 30, 2024
    • guilhermeb16
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Pleasant experience but advertised yacht was not available
      Unfortunately, the advertised yacht was not available. We went on another boat and customer support also offered some hot drinks to compensate. The experience was nice because we saw a group of humpback whales, a mink and plenty of dolphins. The guide could have explained more as well.
      Written December 10, 2024
    • DrLSB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whale and dolphins put on an amazing display. Wonderful experience
      Amazing adventure. Windy, rainy and choppy journey to find the sea life. The guide was informative and very patient. Soon we saw lots of white-beaked dolphins gambolling in the waves. Then just as we were about to turn back to port a beautiful humpback whale put in a show for us. For about 20 mins we were treated to an amazing display by whale and dolphins. Fantastic work experience!
      Written November 4, 2024
    • 769SueM
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      The search of northern lights
      We took a night cruise into the Faxafloi Bay to search for Northern Lights. Our captain was able to point them out and explain them too. We had a night of green color all around us. It was very cold but there is a lower area to get out of the cold and enjoy some hot beverages for purchase. I am so glad we were about to witness what we came to see.
      Written October 20, 2024
    • Vanessa O
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Saw humpbacks
      It was a very nice trip. We saw a minke whale and a couple of humpbacks that circle around the ship for a out 15 mins or so. Surprisingly crowded. Bathroom smelled unpleasant.
      Written October 14, 2024
    • sedighe2023
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very very poor view
      The view was very poor, I have seen 3 wails BUT they were very very far, barely you see them physically or there breathing. It is not like what you see in the photo's in the organizer website, there you see the wails just few meters (20 to 30 m) away from the boat BUT in reality it is about 500 to 600 meters, so it really difficult to see them I took some photo's BUT barely I can see the wail in the photo's even when I enlarge the photo Don't make a high expectation from this trip, at least as per my experience
      Written September 27, 2024
    • BethB979
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Brilliant.
      Brilliant. Small enough boat to be nimble, big enough not to get seasick. A really great experience, with an excellent guide and team, and a boat with all the facilities - the blankets were a nice touch. We saw whales and dolphins. There are plenty of other whale watching options from Reykjavík, bus I’d really recommend this one.
      Written July 21, 2024
    • V1112KXeriks
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magnificent!
      The day was perfect! We saw different whales and dolphins. Both dolphins and whales were close to the RIB boat so it was a wonderful trip that I really recomend. The guide and captain were borg excellent!
      Written July 20, 2024
    • 456hilaryr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great customer service
      Our boat was changed from a speedboat to a larger boat before the tour. They allowed us to cancel our tour since it wasn’t the speedboat and gave us a full refund a few hours later without any issues. They were super nice about it. We later were able to book a tour on the speedboat and it was amazing! We saw lots of animals, including whales :)
      Written June 24, 2024
    • Din S
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great! Given the number of people that attended, there's a lack of reviews.
      Seriously great energy from the crew. They have the other operators in communication to help increase chances of seeing whales. Didnt even have to keave the harbour before we started seeing whales, there were a handful of humpbacks which according to the guide was out of character fornthis oeriod of the year, they're normally further out. Boat was smooth and comfortable. Onboard bar and hot drinks at additional cost. It was great fun and I'd definitely go again. Only minor gripe the meetup point wasn't 100% clear on maps (turned out to be inside the pub).
      Written April 13, 2024
    • Ellesor826
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Whales
      Beautiful old yacht converted into a whale watching expedition in the waters off Reykjavik. Dress warmly. It gets mighty windy and cccccold when you’re out and about and spotting the whales. Great experience and the crew was terrific at pointing out the whereabouts of the whales. Well done.
      Written April 10, 2024
    • Charlotte H
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice yacht,no Whale sightings but that’s nature!
      After checking in at The Old Harbour house pub we made our way to the yacht which was roomy,warm and not overcrowded.The crew looked after us all well throughout the trip and throughly engaged with us throughout the Whale watching process.The weather was not on are side and with nature like the northern lights is hit and miss,some people were sea sick due to the rough waves and maybe we should had turned back sooner but the crew were determined for us to see whales but it was not the case.
      Written April 5, 2024
    • Adrian B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent service
      Although this trip was cancelled due to unfavourable weather, the company was excellent with their communication and we received a refund the same day. We had other trips cancelled or amended and we are still waiting for a refund and communication has been poor.
      Written March 22, 2024
    • Grace B
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      An Ok trip
      We booked this trip after seeing the reviews, it was an ok trip. It was a chilly two hours, they played music and had a bar which was nice. The only way to see the coastline was by being outside, unfortunately the way the seating worked it was difficult to see the view from the seats. We didn’t see the northern lights but of course that’s down to Mother Nature.
      Written February 10, 2024
    See all 106 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

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles43 reviews
    Excellent
    30
    Very good
    7
    Average
    0
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    3

    patricia m
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Couples
    This trip was perfect from start to finish. Great ride out in the harbor, came to a clearing away from city lights, and the heavens almost immediately opened up, giving us AMAZING views of the Northern Lights.

    Captain and guide were great, with a smooth journey and giving awesome tips on how best to see the lights, capture on camera, and enjoy with our own eyes.

    Highly recommend this spacious, well equipped yacht tour, with plenty of warm cabin space, a bar, and 3 levels of 360° deck viewing.
    Written December 9, 2024
    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.

    Rob B
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022
    We booked this cruise very early in our trip and also a higher end bus tour to see the Northern Lights mid week. The published information on chances of seeing northern lights for our cruise night were not encouraging. However we ended up seeing the northern lights and were able to get a bunch of great photos. It was a cold night, but we were able to relax inside enjoying snacks and drinks until the lights were very much visible. We visited all sides of the boat deck. I would definitely recommend this excursion over the bus trip which we did later in the week.
    Written December 18, 2022
    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.
    Wow thank you so much for taking the trouble to write this long review, we really appreciate it and it is super helpful for future customers. I am delighted you had such a lovely time.
    Written December 20, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Cathy
    Wakefield, UK1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We booked this trip that was delivered by and the whole experience was brilliant. There is a bar and the prices were very reasonable for Iceland. The crew seemed invested in everyone having a good experience and genuinely keen to see the Northern Lights. We were very lucky and saw a fantastic display, thanks to the captain who ‘sensed’ they would appear and stayed out after other boats returned to harbour. Our phone cameras were not the best and failed to capture the spectacle so Lucky, the lead guide, shared her photographs with us. Altogether a great experience that we would highly recommend.
    Written November 18, 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.
    Oh I am so happy you had a great time with us, thank you for your review
    Written April 27, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Alexx Phoenix
    70 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2024 • Family
    I'm going to be "that guy" but I had a really mixed time with this tour. The boat was nice, we did see some lights (which of course is not under the tour people's control) but everything else was terrible.

    Several tours were leaving the marina at the same time and it was beyond confusing. The check in for this was not at a staffed office but at a self-serve kiosk in a pub. Our confirmation number to print out tickets did not work. The guy working at the restaurant tried to help to no avail.

    The map to find the boat completely on your own was not helpful. It was dark and freezing out and we ran around to every boat that people were getting on to ask if this was our cruise and they all said no.

    My husband finally found it. It turns out that our boat was BEHIND another boat hiding with its lights off. Other boats had lights, staff, ramps to walk on. OUR boat was almost completely dark, and you had to jump off the pier onto a small shelf that was below the water to get on the boat.

    Once on the boat, there were also no staff around besides the guys serving drinks at the bar. There were of course people driving the boat and cracking bad jokes on the intercom, but no one in view to help in general. An extremely drunk passenger was both amusing and horrifying staggering around making an absolute fool of himself. No staff was around to help with the obnoxious man. No staff was around to perhaps tell the drunk man he was too drunk to get on the tour in the first place.

    The boat had several levels but it was extremely packed and hard to move around. It didn't help that most of the lights were off to help us keep our night vision. Perhaps they could have turned off the lights AFTER we left the marina?

    I never saw any life preservers, but there were some stacks of blankets to use if you went out on deck. No one told us about the blankets, but we found them because we just happened to sit next to them. It was all very "Lord of the Flies" feeling, and really an unpleasant experience all the way around. I wish we had booked with another tour.
    Written March 30, 2024
    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 for your detailed feedback. We're sorry to hear your experience didn’t meet expectations. We do provide clear instructions for check-in, but we understand the confusion in this case. We also work hard to ensure staff are available, though it’s unfortunate that you felt this wasn’t the case. The boat setup and safety features are standard, but we’ll take your comments into consideration to improve future tours. We appreciate your input and hope you’ll give us another chance in the future.
    Written December 4, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sean
    1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Friends
    I went on this trip in early November with one of my brothers, and unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Northern Lights. There should be more emphasis when advertising the trip to the public, highlighting the high chance that the lights won't be visible during the 2-hour boat ride.

    A round of complimentary drinks would have been appreciated while we sat in the boat for most of the journey because it was far too cold to stay outside, staring at a black, lightless sky. The tour operator offered a free boat tour to see the lights again on a later date. However, realistically, after such a frustrating experience with the likelihood of not seeing the lights again, most people won't return to the boat for a similar experience as the first time to be stuck in an endless loop. A partial refund should be offered on the original tour price instead. Overall, it was an overpriced disappointment, and I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone.
    Written January 7, 2024
    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 for your feedback. We strive to provide an honest experience, but as the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, sightings can never be guaranteed. We do offer a chance to return if the lights are not visible, which many guests appreciate. We’re sorry the weather conditions didn’t cooperate during your trip, but a partial refund is not part of our policy. We hope you’ll consider trying again in the future.
    Written December 4, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Tracey B
    Westbury, UK96 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We booked the trip before we arrived in Iceland and changed the dates as they told us that would be a better chance to see the Northern Lights based on the forecast.
    We arrived a bit early but got our tickets and waited to board the boat, all very nice and easy, staff very friendly and helpful with telling us how to get the best photos from your phone.
    Plenty of blankets to wrap up from the cold, and it was very cold out on the top deck, even with four layers of clothing 🥶🤣.
    But so worth the waiting for the experience, definitely recommend this trip, they we’re determined to make sure you get to see the Northern Lights.
    Written March 12, 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.
    That is brilliant! I am so glad we got to show you the aurora! Thanks for this wonderful review
    Written March 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Holly W
    47 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun way of seeing the northern lights, there must have been only around 10 of us on our tour. We saw them the 1st night. Lots of bar option, hot & cold, soft and alcoholic. We had hot chocolates to warm ourselves up. We sat outside at the front of the boat the entire time (it was freezing even tho we dressed very warmly, so dress warmer than you think you’ll need). It also helps with sickness.
    Would definitely recommend, but probably wouldn’t personally do it again as the boat rocked a little (obviously) so the pictures didn’t come out as clear as I’d have liked!
    Written January 31, 2024
    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.

    CHRISTINE K
    Brisbane, Australia75 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This trip was THE BEST. Well organised, on time , comfortable ship , great tour guide and the simplest yet best experience.
    We could have hired private guides, stayed in an igloo tent , trekked into the wilderness but this harbour cruise delivered with best Northern Lights experience we could have wished for. Awesome!
    Written December 24, 2022
    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.
    Ahhhh thank you! I am thrilled we got to be the ones to show them to you:)
    Written January 2, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    jennifergT7472VZ
    Northern Virginia73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022
    This is a great way to see the Northern Lights. You will have time to walk around, talk, get drinks and snacks and watch the lights from the top deck of a beautiful yacht. I haven't tried other lights tours but this appealed to me because of the ability to move around, go inside if it's cold, get snacks and drinks and see the Reykjavik skyline from the water. It was beautiful and the lights were amazing.

    The only down side is that I don't think you will see the lights as brilliantly as you will out in the middle of nowhere. We had some city lights the whole trip and I think that dimmed the Northern Lights a bit. I didn't mind but it's a consideration if you really want to see bright green lights. The upsides were the drinks, freedom to move around and the ability to watch from a top deck or go inside if you're cold.

    Overall, I highly recommend this tour.
    Written November 3, 2022
    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 for this review, both for us and future customers. It will be super helpful for them. It is about a balance, and we hope that even if the lights don't show it is still a wonderful night out on a yacht - rather than just sitting in a bus all night when you might not see them either. I am thrilled you had such a brilliant time. Thank you again for your review.
    Written November 5, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Shaun P
    South Wales, UK229 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    On the morning of the trip the clouds filled all of Iceland so we wasn’t very optimistic but the crew told use the clouds are going to clear and they did. Then all of a sudden the lights started. And went on for a good while. I’ve never seen anything like it. The yacht is comfy and the crew was great. There’s a bar on board to buy drinks and snacks. The tour guide speaks English and called us every time the lights appeared so we didn’t have to stay out in the cold. This is s tour I recommend. But remember the lights are not always guaranteed but we was very lucky
    Written March 5, 2022
    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 for this lovely review :) I am delighted you saw the aurora and had a magical night!
    Written April 27, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

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