From Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour

Two Iceland spectacles, one long day. This seven-hour boat tour pairs daytime whale watching in Faxaflói Bay with an evening Northern Lights cruise, making good use of your time in Reykjavik. I like the chance to see the bay in two very different moods, and I like the practical comforts: heated indoor seating, warm overalls, onboard Wi-Fi, and a free return ticket if the lights do not appear.

The strongest part of the experience is the wildlife guiding. Guide Rebekka earned special praise for spotting whales and explaining where to look, while the captain reacted quickly when animals moved. The main drawback is simple: nature sets the timetable. Rough water can affect the whale trip, clouds can hide the aurora, and bad weather may cancel the evening cruise.

Key points to know before you book

• Two cruises in one day: Spend about three hours whale watching, then return for a separate night sail to search for the Northern Lights.
• Faxaflói Bay wildlife: The usual targets include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.
• Comfort in cold weather: Warm overalls, heated indoor seating, and children’s sizes help, but you should still dress warmly.
• Strong guiding matters: Guides point out whale positions and explain marine life, which makes a distant fin or blow much easier to follow.
• No hotel pickup: You must reach the Special Tours office at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and allow extra time if you are parking.
• A weather-dependent bargain: At $182 per person, the combined format can be good value, but the experience depends heavily on sea and sky conditions.

A full day on Faxaflói Bay

This tour is built around a useful Reykjavik idea: see two major natural attractions without spending the day on buses or changing between distant locations. You begin at the Special Tours office near the Old Harbour, sail into Faxaflói Bay during daylight, return to the city, and later board again for the aurora search.

The total duration is about seven hours, though the exact starting time depends on availability. The whale watching portion lasts roughly three hours. The Northern Lights cruise takes place in the evening, with a break between the two outings.

That gap matters. You are not trapped on a boat all day, but you do need to plan around the full schedule. Leave room for a meal, a rest, or a walk around Reykjavik between cruises. Check the departure time carefully before booking other activities.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

The starting point is the Special Tours office by the Old Harbour. Look for the large dark-grey building with blue signs and the company name and logo. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you are responsible for getting there.

If you arrive by car, allow at least 15 extra minutes to find parking nearby. Parking is not available at the tour premises. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, which keeps the logistics simple once you are at the harbour.

The harbour departure gives you an appealing first look at Reykjavik from the water. As the boat moves out, you can photograph the city, the surrounding mountains, and Faxaflói Bay. On a clear day, views may reach as far as Snæfells Glacier in western Iceland.

That long view is one of the quiet pleasures of the trip. You get a sense of how exposed Reykjavik is to the sea, and you see the capital from a viewpoint that a standard city walk cannot provide. Keep your camera ready early, before the boat reaches the main whale watching area.

The three-hour whale watching cruise

It takes around 30 to 45 minutes to reach the whale watching area. During this run, the guide explains the bay and the marine life you may encounter. That introduction helps you use your time well once the boat slows and everyone begins scanning the water.

The guide will help you watch for:

• Minke whales
• Humpback whales
• White-beaked dolphins
• Harbor porpoises

The best sightings can be sudden. A whale may surface close to the boat, giving you only a moment to see its back or blow before it disappears. This is why the guide’s role matters so much. Rebekka was praised for tracking whale positions and telling people where to look, rather than leaving everyone to stare at the same patch of water.

A good sighting is not always a dramatic breach. You might see a humpback surface several times, follow its movement, and begin to understand its rhythm. A curious whale coming close to the boat can turn an ordinary viewing into the highlight of your Iceland visit, but you should not expect that every trip will produce a close encounter.

One reported outing produced several humpback sightings, and another had passengers very close to whales. Those moments show what the bay can offer, but they are not a promise. Wildlife watching is inherently uncertain, and the captain cannot summon an animal to a particular spot.

Boat comfort and the reality of rough water

The boat has heated indoor seating, which gives you a useful refuge when the wind picks up. You can also move between the indoor and outdoor areas, so you are not forced to choose between comfort and visibility.

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. They help with wind and spray, but do not treat them as your only layer. Wear warm clothing underneath, along with sturdy footwear, because the boat can feel cold and wet even when the weather looks manageable from the harbour.

One important point is motion. A whale watching boat may roll and pitch, and one account described the ride as rough. The operator offered sea sickness tablets before departure, which is helpful, but if you are prone to motion sickness, prepare carefully and choose a seat that feels comfortable to you.

The indoor bar remains open for drinks, giving you another way to warm up between sightings. Wi-Fi is also available at no extra cost, though you may find yourself paying more attention to the water than your phone once a whale appears.

The evening return for Northern Lights

After the whale cruise and your break in Reykjavik, you return to the harbour for the night boat trip. The crew provides warm overalls again, and the boat heads just beyond the city centre to reduce the effect of artificial light.

Seeing the Northern Lights from the water changes the experience. The city recedes behind you, and the dark bay gives you a broad view of the sky. You can move around the boat, use the heated indoor seating, or step outside when the sky begins to glow.

The aurora may appear from September onward and can be seen throughout the winter months, but only if the conditions cooperate. You need darkness, suitable weather, and solar activity. Even with all three, the display may be faint or short-lived.

That uncertainty is the central issue with this tour. One outing produced an extraordinary aurora display, with the lights becoming suddenly intense. Another had the Northern Lights cruise cancelled because of bad weather. The cancellation was handled with a quick refund, but rescheduling was not possible because of the passenger’s other plans.

The free return ticket is therefore important. If the Northern Lights do not appear, you can try again on another available outing. Read the exact redemption conditions when you book, since a second attempt still depends on weather and scheduling.

Why the guides and captain make a difference

A boat tour is only as good as the people running it. The guide needs to explain what you are seeing without talking over the excitement, and the captain needs to place the boat well while keeping the ride safe.

The strongest praise here goes to both roles. Rebekka was singled out for her ability to flag whale positions and explain ocean life. The captain was also praised for reacting quickly to whale movements. Those details matter because wildlife is moving, not waiting for a photo opportunity.

The English-language live guiding is the main tour format. An app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which can help with extra information, but the stated live tour language is English. If you need another spoken language, do not assume the guide will provide it.

Is $182 a fair price?

At $182 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. Its value depends on how you use the day.

The price includes two separate boat experiences, an experienced guide on both trips, warm overalls, heated indoor seating, Wi-Fi, and the chance to try the Northern Lights cruise again if nothing is seen. If you already plan to book both whale watching and an aurora boat trip, combining them can save planning time and may offer reasonable value.

The cost is harder to justify if your schedule is tight or you are mainly interested in only one attraction. A seven-hour commitment takes up much of a day, and the evening portion is weather-dependent. You also need to arrange your own route to the harbour and cover drinks purchased onboard.

I see the best value for someone with a short Reykjavik stay who wants two major Iceland experiences in one booking. You get a full day at sea, not a quick harbour outing, and the return-ticket policy reduces some of the risk attached to the aurora portion.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the tour to you if you want a simple combination of whale watching and Northern Lights viewing, especially during a first visit to Reykjavik. It suits couples, families, and anyone who prefers a guided experience to arranging two separate excursions.

Children are accommodated with smaller overalls, though the boat ride may still feel long or rough for some. Give your group a realistic briefing: you may see whales but no aurora, or an aurora but few whales. The tour works best when you treat the sightings as possible rewards rather than guaranteed events.

Photography fans should bring a camera, but keep expectations practical. The whale cruise offers city and mountain views, while the Northern Lights can be difficult to photograph from a moving boat. Your best memory may be watching the sky change, not capturing a perfect image.

The experience may not suit you if you dislike boats, suffer badly from motion sickness, or have only a narrow window in Reykjavik. The combination is efficient, but it is also a long day with a fixed schedule.

Practical details that can save you trouble

Arrive at the Old Harbour office with time to spare, especially if you need to park. The meeting point is easy to identify by its blue signs, but parking nearby requires planning.

Dress for cold, wind, and spray even though overalls and indoor heating are provided. Keep a warm base layer, hat, gloves, and waterproof footwear available. You can go inside to warm up, but the best views may call you outdoors.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful in Iceland, where weather can shift quickly. Still, check availability for the actual starting time before building the rest of your day around it.

The tour has an overall rating of 4.1 from 54 ratings, which fits the nature of the product. The strongest experiences include close whales, skilled spotting, and a powerful aurora display. The weaker ones are usually tied to rough conditions or a cancelled Northern Lights cruise, not a lack of effort from the crew.

Should you book this combined boat tour?

Book it if you want to pack whale watching and an evening aurora search into one Reykjavik day, and you can accept that neither sighting is guaranteed. The heated seating, warm overalls, capable guiding, and free retry ticket make the $182 price easier to defend.

I would be especially inclined to book during a stay when you have enough flexibility for a second Northern Lights attempt. If your schedule allows only one evening, choose this tour for the boat setting and the chance to see the sky away from city lights, not because anyone can promise an aurora.

For a first Iceland visit, this is a practical, memorable pairing. Just bring patience, warm clothes, and a willingness to let the bay and the weather decide how dramatic your day becomes.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Special Tours office by Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The building is large and dark grey, with blue signs showing the company name and logo.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same Old Harbour meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to the Special Tours office.

How long does the experience last?

The combined experience lasts about seven hours. Check availability for the exact starting time.

How long is the whale watching cruise?

The daytime whale watching cruise lasts approximately three hours.

How long does it take to reach the whale watching area?

The boat usually reaches the whale watching area in about 30 to 45 minutes.

Which animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. The boat also has heated indoor seating.

Is the Northern Lights cruise guaranteed to operate?

No. The evening cruise can be cancelled because of bad weather, and the Northern Lights depend on suitable conditions.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to try the Northern Lights cruise again if nothing is seen on your tour. Availability and scheduling still apply.