From Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour

Two Iceland icons, one long day. This combined boat tour gives you a daytime cruise through Faxaflói Bay for whales, followed by an evening sail for the Northern Lights. I like the smart use of your Reykjavik time and the chance to see the bay in two very different moods. I also like the warm indoor seating, provided overalls, and helpful guides. The main drawback is that both sightings depend on nature, and rough seas or bad weather can cancel the night cruise.

The whale trip lasts about three hours, and the full experience takes roughly seven hours, with a break between outings. Guides such as Rebekka have earned high praise for spotting whales and explaining marine life clearly. Still, you should come prepared for cold, wet weather, a moving boat, and the possibility that one part of the day produces no sighting.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate cruises from Reykjavik Old Harbour: See Faxaflói Bay in daylight, then return for a night sailing focused on the aurora.
• Common wildlife targets: Keep watch for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.
• Warmth is built in: Heated indoor seating and provided overalls make the long day easier, including for children.
• The guides matter: Rebekka and other guides help you track whale movement and explain the ocean around Iceland.
• The Northern Lights need patience: The cruise leaves city lights behind, but clouds, wind, and aurora activity can still stop the show.
• A practical value choice: At $182 per person, you are paying for two guided boat trips in one day, not a guaranteed wildlife or aurora sighting.

A day split between whales and auroras

This is a good choice if you want two classic Iceland experiences without arranging separate bookings. You begin at the Special Tours office near Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, sail into Faxaflói Bay during daylight, and return in the evening for a second boat trip.

The schedule totals about seven hours, but the outings are not simply one continuous cruise. The whale watching portion takes around three hours, then the Northern Lights cruise happens later. Check the available starting time carefully, since the exact schedule matters if you have dinner plans, another tour, or an early morning departure.

I like this format because it gives the bay a proper change of character. During the day, you get city and mountain views, open water, and wildlife watching. At night, the same bay becomes dark and quiet, with your attention turned upward.

The tradeoff is stamina. A seven-hour activity with time outdoors can feel long, especially if the sea is choppy or the aurora forecast is weak. You can use the heated indoor seating, but you will still want warm layers under the provided overalls.

Leaving Reykjavik Old Harbour for Faxaflói Bay

Meet at the Special Tours office by the Old Harbour. The building is large and dark grey, with blue signs showing the company name and logo. If you drive, allow an extra 15 minutes to find parking, since parking is not available at the office itself.

The departure area is close to central Reykjavik, making this easier than a tour that begins far outside town. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the harbour on your own and return there at the end.

Once the boat leaves the harbour, the city begins to open behind you. You can take photos of Reykjavik, the surrounding mountains, and Faxaflói Bay. On a clear day, views may reach as far as Snæfells Glacier in western Iceland, which gives the outward journey more interest than simply waiting to reach the whale area.

The boat reaches the main whale watching area in about 30 to 45 minutes. During that time, the guide explains what you may see and how to watch the water. That preparation is useful because whale watching often depends on noticing a small blow, a fin, or a change in the surface before the animal disappears.

What you may see in the whale watching area

The main targets are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Each offers a different kind of sighting, and none appears on a fixed schedule.

Minke whales can surface quickly, so you will want to keep your eyes moving rather than focus on one point. Humpback whales are larger and can make a more dramatic appearance, particularly if one comes close to the boat. A curious whale approaching the vessel can turn a quiet search into the most memorable moment of the day.

The guides help by pointing out positions and reading the movement of the animals. Rebekka received especially strong praise for flagging each whale’s location and explaining marine life. That kind of guidance matters. Without it, you can easily stare at empty water while a whale surfaces somewhere behind you.

White-beaked dolphins and harbor porpoises may be harder to track because they move quickly and stay lower in the water. If you see them, the moment may be brief. I would treat every sighting as a bonus rather than expect a parade of animals.

The captain also plays a major role. A careful response to the animals and the sea conditions can affect how close you get and how clearly you can watch. The boat has been described as well maintained, which adds comfort during a long outing.

Boat comfort, sea conditions, and useful clothing

Cold-weather gear is not a minor extra here. The tour provides warm overalls in children’s sizes, and the boat has heated indoor seating. You can move between indoor and outdoor areas, so you can warm up after spending time on deck and then return outside when something is spotted.

Bring warm layers anyway. The provided overalls help with wind and damp weather, but they do not replace a hat, gloves, and sensible footwear. The information for this tour specifically warns that conditions can feel cold and wet, and that advice is worth taking seriously.

The sea may also be rough. One outing included a choppy boat ride, though sea-sickness tablets were offered to passengers. If you are prone to motion sickness, consider asking about the tablets before departure and spending some of the journey in the heated indoor area.

The free onboard Wi-Fi is a handy touch. You can share photos or stay connected between sightings, though the real reason to keep your phone ready is for the bay views and wildlife. A camera with a long lens may help, but you should not expect every whale to appear close enough for a perfect photo.

The evening cruise beyond Reykjavik’s city lights

You return to the boat at night for the Northern Lights portion. The route heads out just beyond Reykjavik’s central lights, reducing artificial glare and giving your eyes a better chance to catch faint aurora activity.

The boat offers both indoor and outdoor viewing. The warm seating is valuable when you have already spent part of the day on the water, but outdoor areas give you a wider view of the sky. You can move around as conditions change and use the bar for drinks during the cruise.

The Northern Lights can appear during the winter months and possibly as early as September, but the timing depends on conditions. You need darkness, suitable weather, and aurora activity. A boat cannot force the clouds away, so you should see this part as a carefully planned opportunity rather than a promise.

A strong display can be spectacular from the bay. One particularly successful outing included a sudden burst of aurora activity that became the highlight of the entire day. The darkness over the water can also make the lights feel less interrupted than they might from a brightly lit part of the city.

Bad weather can cancel this cruise. In that case, the provider handled a refund quickly for the cancelled portion, but rescheduling is not always possible if your schedule is full. This is one reason to avoid booking the activity on the final night of your Iceland stay.

How the guides shape the experience

A good wildlife guide does more than announce that something is in the water. The guide explains where to look, helps you understand the animal’s movement, and keeps the search from becoming tiring.

That was one of the strongest parts of this experience. Rebekka was praised for spotting whale positions and explaining ocean life. Another guide was praised for strong knowledge and for helping the group see several humpback whales. These details suggest that the interpretation is a real part of the tour, not filler between sightings.

The tour is conducted in English. An app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which may help you follow information in another language, but the live guide language is English.

The captain’s decisions also shape your day. Finding whales is not just a matter of sailing to a marked point. The crew needs to react to movement, weather, and the behavior of the animals. A well-run boat can make a quiet search feel purposeful, even when the wildlife does not cooperate.

Is $182 a fair price?

At $182 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. Its value comes from combining two guided boat outings, equipment, heated seating, Wi-Fi, and a free retry ticket if nothing is seen on your tour.

The price makes more sense if you already want both whale watching and a Northern Lights cruise. Booking them together saves you from arranging two separate activities and gives you a full day built around Faxaflói Bay. It is also useful if you have limited time in Reykjavik and want to fit several headline experiences into one booking.

The value is weaker if you only care about whales or if your schedule is tight. You are paying for the second outing even though the aurora depends on weather and solar activity. The same uncertainty applies to whales, though the daytime cruise has several possible targets rather than one single animal.

The free retry policy adds some protection if nothing is seen, but it may not help if you leave Iceland the next morning. Think of the price as payment for expert searching and comfortable access to the bay, not a guarantee of two dramatic sightings.

Who should choose this combined tour?

I would suggest it to you if you want a simple way to pair two Iceland highlights and do not mind spending much of the day on a boat. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families who appreciate the provided children’s overalls, and anyone without time for separate whale and aurora bookings.

It is also a sensible option for people who prefer a guide to handle the searching. The crew watches the water, explains what appears, and takes the boat away from the worst city glare at night.

I would think twice if you get seasick easily, dislike sitting outdoors in cold weather, or need a guaranteed schedule. The day can be rough, wet, and slow at times. You should also avoid placing it before an important flight or tightly timed activity, since weather can alter the Northern Lights portion.

Book early enough to leave room for another aurora attempt if the conditions are poor. The included retry ticket is useful only when your itinerary gives you a chance to use it.

Practical details that affect your decision

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans are still changing.

The activity ends back at the Old Harbour meeting point. Since hotel transfers are not included, factor in your own transport time at both ends and extra time for parking if you drive.

The overall rating is 4.1 from 54 reviews, which fits the nature of the activity: many people get close whale sightings or a powerful aurora display, while weather and sea conditions can limit the day for others.

The best tip is simple: dress for wind and rain, keep your expectations flexible, and protect the schedule around this tour. The experience is strongest when you treat the search itself as part of the outing rather than demand a guaranteed wildlife performance.

Should you book the whale and Northern Lights boat tour?

Book it if you want two chances at Iceland’s most famous natural sights and value the convenience of one coordinated experience. The combination of daytime whale watching, a night cruise, warm seating, overalls, and skilled guides gives the $182 price reasonable value when both activities fit your plans.

Skip it if you need certainty, have limited energy, or cannot return for another attempt after poor weather. Nature makes the final call here. Still, with guides who actively track the animals, a well-kept boat, and the chance to watch the aurora away from Reykjavik’s lights, this is a strong choice for a flexible day in the capital.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You need to make your own way to the Old Harbour, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the full experience last?

The combined activity lasts about seven hours. The daytime whale watching cruise takes approximately three hours, followed by the evening Northern Lights cruise.

What 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, but you should still bring warm layers because the weather can be cold and wet.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights or wildlife?

The tour includes a free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour. Sightings remain dependent on weather, sea conditions, and natural activity.