From Reykjavik: Whales and Northern Lights Boat Tour

The best part of this tour is the two-part view of Faxaflói Bay. By day, you look for humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. At night, you leave Reykjavik’s city glow behind and scan the sky for the Northern Lights from the same broad bay.

I like the efficient pairing of whale watching and aurora hunting, especially if you have only a short stay in Reykjavik. I also like the practical comforts: heated indoor seating, warm overalls in children’s sizes, Wi-Fi, and a bar that stays open. The main drawback is simple: nature sets the schedule, and rough water or cloudy skies can limit one or both parts.

Key points before you book

• Two boat trips in one day: Sail in daylight for whales, then return at night for the Northern Lights.
• Faxaflói Bay wildlife: The usual targets include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.
• Good cold-weather setup: Heated indoor seating and provided overalls make the outing easier in Iceland’s damp air.
• Strong guiding matters: Guides help you spot quick blows and fins, with Rebekka praised for clearly calling out whale positions.
• No-sighting backup: If the Northern Lights do not appear, you receive a free ticket to try again.
• Allow a full seven hours: The tour begins and ends at the Special Tours office beside Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, with no hotel pickup.

Why this two-part boat tour works in Reykjavik

Iceland gives you many ways to chase its famous natural sights, but this tour keeps both experiences close to the capital. You do not spend the day on a long road transfer. Instead, you walk to the Old Harbour, board a boat, and reach the whale-watching area in roughly 30 to 45 minutes.

That matters if you are building a short Reykjavik stay. You can fit a major wildlife outing into your day without giving up an entire day to driving. The evening cruise then gives you a second chance to see the bay under very different conditions.

The schedule does require a clear block of time. The listed duration is seven hours, and the whale cruise takes about three hours before the Northern Lights outing later that day. Check the available start time carefully, then keep your plans light around it. This is not a quick harbor ride you can squeeze between dinner and a museum.

The price is $182 per person. That is not a small add-on, but you are paying for two guided boat outings, two chances at major Iceland sights, warm clothing, heated seating, Wi-Fi, and the possibility of a free return ticket for an unsuccessful aurora trip. I consider it a fair value for someone who wants both experiences and would otherwise book them separately.

The value is less clear if you only care about whales or only care about the Northern Lights. In that case, a single-purpose outing may suit your plans better. Here, the appeal comes from combining two uncertain natural events into one well-packed day.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for Faxaflói Bay

You meet at the Special Tours office near the Old Harbour. Look for the large dark-grey building with blue signs and the company name and logo. The tour ends at this same point, which keeps the logistics simple, but there is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

If you drive, allow an extra 15 minutes to find parking. Parking is not available at the operator’s premises, so arriving right before departure could create needless stress. I would get to the office early enough to check in, find the boat, and put on the provided overalls without rushing.

The boat ride itself begins with city and coastal views. As you move away from Reykjavik, you can photograph the harbor, the surrounding mountains, and the open water. On a clear day, the view may extend as far as Snæfells Glacier in western Iceland. Do not count on that distant sight every day, but it gives you a sense of how open the bay can feel.

The guide explains the area and the wildlife during the trip. English is the tour language, and an app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The live guide remains English-speaking, so keep that in mind when choosing this experience.

Three hours looking for whales

The whale-watching portion reaches its main area after about 30 to 45 minutes. That ride is part of the experience, not dead time. You have a chance to settle in, take photos, listen to the guide, and watch the city recede.

Once the boat reaches the whale-watching area, the pace changes. You need to keep your eyes moving across the water. A whale may show only a back, a blow, or a fin before slipping below the surface. This is where the guide earns a large part of the tour’s value.

The likely wildlife list includes minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Humpback whales are the most dramatic possibility, particularly if one surfaces close to the boat. Minke whales can be harder to spot, while dolphins and porpoises may appear in quicker, lower movements.

A good guide does more than name species. Rebekka, one guide associated with this experience, was praised for calling out each whale’s position and explaining ocean life clearly. That kind of active spotting help can make a real difference. Without it, you may spend the cruise staring at a wide patch of water and miss the animal your companions are watching.

The captain also affects the experience. One account praised the captain’s quick response to whale movements, along with the boat’s good condition. That suggests the crew works to position the boat sensibly without turning the sighting into a frantic chase.

Still, you should set your expectations correctly. Wildlife is never guaranteed. Even an excellent guide cannot order a whale to surface. The tour gives you a serious chance to see marine life, but it cannot promise a close encounter or a particular species.

What the boat feels like in Icelandic weather

Faxaflói Bay can be cold, wet, and rough. One account described the ride as a little bumpy, though sea-sickness tablets were offered before departure. If you know you are sensitive on boats, plan for movement and use the indoor area when needed.

The warm overalls are a useful detail, not just a marketing extra. Icelandic wind can cut through ordinary sightseeing clothes, especially when you stand outside waiting for a whale to surface. The overalls come in children’s sizes, so families have a practical way to keep younger passengers warmer.

You can move between indoor and outdoor areas. The heated seating gives you a place to warm up, while the outside decks offer the clearest chance for photos and sightings. I would dress in layers anyway. Provided overalls help, but they do not replace warm base clothing, gloves, and a hat.

The onboard Wi-Fi is also useful in a modest way. You can share a photo, check the time between outings, or stay connected while offshore. It should not be the reason you book, but it is a welcome convenience on a long day at sea.

A bar remains open for drinks. That gives you another way to warm up, though purchases are not included in the tour price. You should budget separately if you want refreshments onboard.

Returning after dark for the Northern Lights

The second outing takes you back to Faxaflói Bay at night. The aim is to get away from Reykjavik’s artificial light so the sky has a better chance to show the aurora. You can move around the boat and view the sky from inside or outside.

This part of the trip is less predictable than whale watching. You need darkness, clear enough skies, and auroral activity in the right combination. The lights may appear during the winter months and can sometimes be seen as early as September, but no date guarantees a display.

A strong aurora can make the whole day feel worthwhile. One particularly memorable outing brought intense aurora activity, with the boat positioned well away from city light. That experience depended on the right natural conditions, but the setting gives you a better viewing position than standing under Reykjavik streetlights.

The boat also gives you a wide horizon. From the water, you are not limited to one direction or boxed in by buildings. You can move around as the crew searches for better conditions. The crew’s local judgment matters here, since the best position can change with cloud cover and activity.

The night trip can also be a quieter experience than the whale cruise. Daytime wildlife watching involves scanning, movement, and frequent guide announcements. The aurora outing asks you to wait, watch, and stay patient. That contrast is part of the appeal, but it may feel slow if you expect constant action.

The free retry and the limits of nature

The free retry is one of the strongest practical features of the Northern Lights portion. If no aurora is seen, you receive a free ticket to try again. That does not guarantee success on the second outing, but it reduces the risk of paying once for a completely blank sky.

Use this benefit only if your schedule allows it. A free return ticket helps most when you have more than one night in Reykjavik. If you are flying out the next morning, you may not have a realistic chance to use it.

Bad weather can also force a cancellation. One outing had its Northern Lights cruise canceled because of poor conditions, and the refund was handled quickly. That is frustrating, especially when the cancellation causes a scheduling clash, but it is the correct call for a boat operating at night in changing weather.

You should treat the whale sighting and aurora sighting as separate chances, not one guaranteed package. A successful whale cruise does not make the sky cooperate later. On the other hand, a cloudy evening does not erase the value of a good morning on the bay.

Who will get the most from the $182 price

I would recommend this tour to you if you want both headline Iceland experiences but do not want to arrange two separate bookings. It is especially useful during a short Reykjavik visit, when time matters and a local departure saves a long transfer.

Families may appreciate the warm overalls and indoor seating. The free Wi-Fi, onboard bar, and chance to move around also make the long outing easier for mixed-age groups. Keep in mind that rough water can be tiring for young children or anyone prone to sea sickness.

Photography-minded visitors get plenty to work with: Reykjavik and mountain views during the day, whale blows and fins on the water, then a dark sky at night. You should bring patience along with your camera. The best moments may last only seconds.

I would be more cautious if you dislike cold, wind, or uncertain schedules. The boat has useful comforts, but this remains an outdoor marine activity. You may spend time waiting, and the ride may move around more than expected.

It is also not ideal if you need hotel pickup. You must reach the Old Harbour office yourself, and drivers need time to find parking. The meeting point is central enough to make this manageable, but it is still one more detail to handle.

Practical details for a smoother day

Arrive at the blue-marked Special Tours office with enough time to check in and prepare. The building is large and dark grey, so the signs matter. If you drive, add the extra parking time before the listed departure.

Wear warm layers even though overalls are supplied. Waterproof outerwear, gloves, and a hat will make the outdoor sections more comfortable. If you are prone to motion sickness, ask about the tablets offered before departure and use the heated indoor seating when the bay becomes rough.

Keep your schedule flexible after the whale cruise. The full experience lasts about seven hours, but the day includes a return for the nighttime outing. Do not book an important dinner, flight, or timed attraction too close to the end unless you have checked the exact departure and return times.

The tour accepts free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if Icelandic weather makes your plans uncertain, but the key decision is still the time commitment.

Should you book this whale and aurora cruise?

Book it if you want an efficient two-in-one day from Reykjavik, value active guiding, and accept that nature may deliver one sight but not the other. The best reasons are the combination of daytime wildlife and nighttime sky, the useful cold-weather setup, and the free Northern Lights retry.

Skip it if you want a guaranteed spectacle, dislike boat motion, or have only a narrow window in your schedule. At $182, the tour makes the most sense when you would happily pay for both whale watching and aurora hunting, even knowing that only one may fully come through.

For many short Reykjavik stays, that is a sensible gamble. You get out on the bay twice, see the capital from the water, and give yourself two very different ways to experience Iceland’s natural world.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts about seven hours. It includes a daytime whale-watching cruise of roughly three hours and a separate Northern Lights boat outing later in the day.

Where does the tour start and finish?

You meet at the Special Tours office beside Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to the Old Harbour meeting point.

What wildlife might I see?

The tour looks for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises in Faxaflói Bay. Sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to try the Northern Lights tour again if no lights are seen during your outing.

What is included to keep me warm?

Warm overalls are provided, including children’s sizes. The boat also has heated indoor seating, and you can move between indoor and outdoor areas.