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

The appeal here is simple: you leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and search for the northern lights from Faxaflói Bay, away from the city’s immediate waterfront. I like that the guide explains both the science and the old stories behind the aurora, and that the boat provides warm overalls, a café and Wi-Fi while you wait.

I also like the weather backup: if cloud cover cancels the sailing, you visit the Whales of Iceland Exhibition, with full-sized whale models, a short photography workshop and a complimentary drink. The catch is that no boat trip can promise an aurora sighting, and if your boat sails but the lights stay hidden, you’ll need to return on another available departure to try again.

The essentials before you book

• A city-center departure: The boat leaves Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, about 15 minutes from the harbor to the search area.
• A two-hour search: Your guide shares facts and folklore while you watch the sky over Faxaflói Bay.
• Warm gear on board: Overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. Bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes, too.
• Two different weather outcomes: A canceled boat means a museum visit. A boat that sails without an aurora means a complimentary ticket to try again.
• An indoor alternative with substance: The Whales of Iceland visit includes a guided exhibit tour, a 25-minute video, a 10-minute photography workshop and a drink.
• A mid-range price: At $82 per person, the value depends partly on the backup plan and whether you want a guided boat search, not a guaranteed light show.

Leaving the Old Harbor for Faxaflói Bay

The tour starts at Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, so you won’t need a long transfer out of town before the search begins. The advertised sailing time to the search area is about 15 minutes, leaving most of the two-hour outing for the boat experience itself.

Once you’re aboard, the goal is to find a spot on the water where you can watch the sky. That setting gives the tour a different feel from standing on a city street or looking out from a hotel. But the boat is a search platform, not a magic viewing window: clouds, visibility and the aurora itself decide what you see.

Your English-speaking guide fills the time with explanations of how the northern lights form, along with stories and myths connected to them. That mix is useful on a night when the sky is quiet. You’ll have more to focus on than a patch of darkness, and you can ask questions as they come up.

The boat carries a northern lights video, Wi-Fi and a café. Warm overalls are included, with children’s sizes available, so you don’t need to pack specialist outerwear just for the trip. Still, take the advice to wear warm clothes and comfortable shoes seriously. The overalls are an extra layer, not a substitute for dressing for a cold night outside.

What the boat search can and cannot promise

The central question is whether the lights will appear. The tour makes no guarantee, and the most useful way to think about the outing is as a guided attempt rather than a ticket to a show. One trip can bring a glimpse, a stronger display or no visible aurora at all.

That uncertainty is part of the experience, but it matters when you’re deciding how to spend your evening. If seeing the lights is your only goal, consider how you’ll feel if the sky stays blank. If you enjoy being out on the water and learning about the phenomenon, the trip has more to offer even without a sighting.

There is a second kind of uncertainty: cloud cover may lead to the boat tour being canceled. In that case, the backup is a private guided visit to the Whales of Iceland Exhibition, a short distance from the harbor. It is a real alternative rather than a refund, and you also receive a ticket to try the boat tour on the next available date.

Keep the two outcomes straight. If weather cancels the sailing, you go to the museum. If the boat sails but you don’t see the lights, you receive a complimentary ticket to try again on another available boat tour. Once you join the boat tour, that ticket has been used and cannot also be used to enter the exhibition.

The museum backup is more than a waiting room

The Whales of Iceland Exhibition gives the weather-canceled evening a clear second act. The exhibit features full-sized whale models and interactive technology, with a guide to lead the visit. That makes it a worthwhile change of plan if you’re curious about whales, or if you’d simply rather spend a cloudy evening indoors than wait for a sky that won’t clear.

The program includes a 25-minute video and a 10-minute northern lights photography workshop. The workshop is a practical extra if you’re hoping to photograph the aurora on a later attempt. You also get a northern lights-themed cocktail with a twist, described as being on the house, and a ticket to return for the boat tour at the next available date.

The museum option will not feel like a substitute if your main aim is to be on the water that night. But it does make the canceled-sailing scenario less of a dead end: you still get a guided activity, a drink and another chance at the lights. The exhibition entry and a complimentary drink are included; other meals and drinks are not.

What $82 gets you

At $82 per person, you’re paying for a two-hour guided boat search, warm overalls, access to an onboard café and Wi-Fi, and the chance to learn while you watch the sky. The value improves if you appreciate the guide’s commentary and would enjoy the boat outing even without a bright display.

The backup also matters. If clouds cancel the trip, the museum visit adds a guided exhibit, the video, the photography workshop, a drink and another boat-tour attempt. That is a more reassuring arrangement than simply losing the evening, though it is not the same as receiving your money back for a night without lights.

If the boat goes out and the aurora doesn’t show, your next chance comes on a later available departure. That may be a good deal if your schedule has room for another try. It is less useful if you are leaving Reykjavík the next morning or have no flexibility in your plans.

The tour has a 4.2 rating from 58 reviews. The strongest praise centers on the guides and the comfort of having warm overalls and a café during the wait. One guide named Annika was singled out for clear explanations; other comments also praise guides who kept the trip engaging with interesting facts. A few accounts describe a long, cold wait before the lights appeared, which is a fair reminder that comfort helps, but cannot make the sky cooperate.

Getting ready for the night

Dress in warm layers and wear comfortable shoes, even though overalls are supplied. You’ll be outside watching the sky, and a long wait can feel chilly. The café and the onboard toilet, which a customer specifically appreciated, are useful comforts, but don’t treat them as a reason to underdress.

If you care about photography, the museum’s 10-minute workshop is available when the boat is canceled for weather. It is not described as part of the standard sailing, so don’t count on receiving it during a normal boat departure. The boat does have a northern lights video, but that is not the same as a hands-on photography lesson.

Keep some flexibility in your evening if you can. A complimentary return ticket is valuable only if you have time to use it, and a repeat trip depends on the next available boat tour. The operator also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. That is separate from the weather backup and the return ticket offered when the lights are not seen.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, lasts two hours and is guided in English. Starting times depend on availability. Meals and drinks beyond the stated inclusions are not included, so check what you plan to buy at the café.

Who will get the most from this tour

This outing suits you if you’re staying in Reykjavík and want a guided attempt at seeing the aurora without arranging transport beyond the city. It is also a good fit if you like the idea of learning about the lights while you search, rather than treating the boat as a silent ride.

Families may appreciate the children’s-size overalls and the indoor museum alternative, though the late-night sky search may be a long wait for younger children. The whale models and interactive exhibits give the backup outing a more varied feel than simply sitting indoors.

I’d think twice if you need a guaranteed sighting, have only one free evening, or are uncomfortable being outside in the cold. The repeat-ticket offer helps only if your schedule allows another attempt. And if you prefer independent viewing, with no guide or boat involved, this may not be the best use of $82.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a convenient, guided search from Reykjavík, value the guide’s explanations and can accept that the aurora may not appear. The warm overalls and café make the wait more manageable, while the whale exhibition gives a canceled sailing a proper alternative.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed light show or cannot return on another date if the boat sails without a sighting. The smartest booking is one made with realistic expectations: you’re paying for a chance to search the bay, a useful indoor backup in one weather scenario and a second attempt in another.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The boat tour lasts two hours.

Where does the boat depart?

It departs from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor and sails into Faxaflói Bay.

Are the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The lights may not appear during the boat tour.

What happens if cloud cover cancels the boat tour?

You join a private guided tour at the Whales of Iceland Exhibition. It includes entry, a 25-minute video, a 10-minute photography workshop and a complimentary drink. You also receive a ticket to try the boat tour on the next available date.

What if the boat sails but I don’t see the lights?

You receive a complimentary ticket to try again on the next available boat tour. Once you join a boat tour, that ticket has been used and cannot be used for entry to the exhibition.

What should I wear, and are overalls provided?

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