Iceland · Cruise & Sailing

Northern Lights by Boat

2 Hours Round trip from Reykjavík Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Cruise from Reykjavík to search for the Northern Lights at sea
  • 02 Learn about the science, legends and myths of the aurora from an expert guide
  • 03 Stay warm with thermal overalls and heated indoor seating areas
  • 04 Listen for onboard announcements when the lights appear
  • 05 Enjoy photos from the tour available to download free of charge
  • 06 Get help with photography and camera settings from the crew

Set sail from Reykjavík for an unforgettable evening searching for the Northern Lights on the North Atlantic. Watching the aurora away from the shoreline, with the city lights in the background, makes for a memorable way to experience one of Iceland’s most remarkable natural phenomena.

Your expert guide shares the science, legends and myths behind the lights while you scan the sky from the deck. On board, you can warm up in the indoor seating area, enjoy access to the cafeteria, and listen for announcements when the lights appear.

The friendly crew also takes photos on every tour, available to download afterwards at no extra charge, and can help with camera settings so you have the best chance of capturing the auroras.

Spend 2-3 hours at sea searching for the Aurora Borealis with your expert guide.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
City Reykjavik
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Northern Lights by Boat

  1. Arrive at the Special Tours ticket office to check in, where our team will print your boarding passes and direct you to the boat.
  2. After boarding, make sure to grab a pair of thermal overalls to keep you extra warm on the tour!
  3. Spend 2-3 hours at sea searching for the Aurora Borealis with your expert guide.
  4. Return to the same location - if you have purchased transfers, your bus will be waiting for you by the dock.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Reykjavík 1 city · 2 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • 2-3 hour Northern Lights by Boat tour
  • Experienced guide on every departure
  • Warm overalls (also available in children's sizes!)
  • Heated indoor seating areas
  • Free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour!
  • WC's, snack bar & WiFi on board
  • Pictures taken on every tour, available to download free of charge
  • Friendly crew can assist with photography and camera settings if needed

What's Not Included

  • Food and drink (can be purchased on board)
  • Hotel transfers (can be added for an additional cost)

Know before you go

When the northern lights forecast looks good but it is too windy to sail, we will take our customers out for a northern lights tour on a bus - plus a chance to join our boat tour the next available day!

If the tour is cancelled and you have not previously joined a tour, you can exchange your ticket for one of the following options:

  1. A Whale Watching tour
  2. Join our Northern Lights Backup Plan - Auroras at Whales of Iceland (plus the chance to keep reschedule your boat tour) - as our reception for more info!
  3. A full refund

These tours are subject to correct weather conditions. You can always check our website, call us, or check with your hotel lobby around 18:00 to see if the tour will operate.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Reykjavík, IS
Tour start
Reykjavík, IS
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 2 hours finish where they began, in Reykjavík.

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

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