Experience the mesmerising Northern Lights on a comfortable winter cruise, with expert guides ensuring an optimal viewing opportunity under the skies of Reykjavík’s surrounding waters.

Itinerary

Welcome aboard this 1.5-2.5 hr. winter cruise in search of the incredible Aurora Borealis. Experience the captivating display of Northern Lights as they shift in color, intensity, and movement against the vast night sky, accompanied by the soothing rhythm of the ocean.

Enjoy the comfort of our heated indoor areas, an onboard café, and a 360° viewing platform for panoramic views. Our knowledgeable aurora guides will enhance your experience by providing insights into the lights and answering any questions. Warm overalls are available for borrowing, but don’t forget to bring a hat and gloves.

We’ll venture far enough from the city for a comfortable and scenic sailing experience where the journey offers a chance to witness the auroras in a serene and mystical setting. As the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, sightings cannot be guaranteed; however, our experienced guides are dedicated to maximizing your chances of experiencing this incredible phenomenon by monitoring solar activity, weather conditions, and cloud cover. Understanding that weather can change rapidly, we will always give it a go as long as conditions allow!

Eager for more sea adventures? Combine this activity with whale watching or check out some of our other tours!

Meeting Type

Meet on location_OR_PICK_UP

Meeting Place

Úgisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík (Check-in & Boarding)

Short description

Look out for aurora borealis away from the bright city lights on this exciting winter cruise! Northern lights are best displayed under dark and clear skies, which you can find in Reykjavík between September and April.

Good to know

We know that you don’t have many days to search for the northern lights, so we want to maximise your chances! That’s why we will always go out, even if the forecast is not in our favour. In case we don’t see any auroras, we will offer you to join us again free of charge!

Check out our Northern Lights Diary for daily updates on the predicted forecast and recent sighting success.

Tour area

The Northern Lights cruise is focused mainly on the southern part of Faxaflói, just off Reykjavík. Each day we check weather reports and northern lights forecast to get an idea of the situation out there and make a decision on whether or not to sail based on that. The boat tour provides a great opportunity to view the Auroras without having to go far away from the city.

Looking for a more video/photography-friendly tour? We recommend the Northern Lights on Viðey Island.

FAQ

When is the best time to see the northern lights?
Northern lights are best displayed under dark, clear skies. You can find these conditions from September until the end of April in Reykjavík. Statistically, the equinox months of September and March are best for aurora activity, but other winter months can also be great. You can take a look at the Aurora forecast by the Icelandic Met Office that shows expected activity at your selected date.

How well can I see the northern lights?
It’s hard to say for sure as there are many factors that can influence the visibility of the northern lights, including cloud coverage, moonlight, and other lights. Their strength varies also depending on the solar activity. They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning.

How do you find the northern lights?
When looking for the northern lights, it is important to know the area and remember to look up, in the sky. We use the Aurora forecast by the Icelandic Met office to guide us and give us an idea of the possibilities of seeing the northern lights in our area.

What happens if I don’t see any northern lights on the cruise?
The northern lights are natural phenomena and the chances of seeing them vary from day to day. Therefore we can never guarantee a sighting, but northern lights forecasting is generally accurate. In case no northern lights are seen, we do however offer our guests a complimentary ticket for another tour.

What happens if the weather conditions are unfavorable on the night of my tour?
For optimal viewing and a more enjoyable cruise, our tours are weather dependent. We help our expected guests to find replacement tours if available and desired, including:
– Whale Watching tour with Elding.
– Dinner at Restaurant MAR according to tour price.
Otherwise, they can join our tour at a later date or get a full refund.

Where is the best position on the boat?
Everyone has their favorite spot. The front and the sides on the viewing platforms are great spots. The back of the boat tends to be the best spots for those sensitive to motion sickness and for those who prefer to stay on the insides; the side windows of the saloon come in handy.

How should I dress for the tour?
There is no dress code, but we always recommend dressing warmly as it is a bit colder on the water than on land. On board, we offer the use of warm floatable overalls, coats, and blankets free of charge, but gloves and hats might come in handy, especially during the winter months.

I am prone to seasickness; is the tour advisable for me?
It depends on the conditions on the day of the tour. In the ticket office, you can get the best available information about the conditions at sea. You can come on the day of the tour or the day before, and we will advise you what to do. We also offer free motion sickness tablets if you want to take one before the tour. If our recommendation is not to do the tour on a particular day, we can also help you alter your travel itinerary if needed.

Do you sell any refreshments on board?
Yes, Elding whale watching boats have an onboard café where you can buy light refreshments during the tour.

Are there toilets on board?
Yes, Elding boats have all the toilet facilities you would expect.

Can I photograph the northern lights on this tour?
Photographing the northern lights requires some skills, and some people have mastered the techniques for years. It sure is more difficult to photograph the northern lights from a boat, as northern lights photos usually require stability over a period of time. We therefore don’t particularly recommend this tour for photographing the northern lights but rather to enjoy the moment.

Do you offer wheelchair access?
Yes, our boats are wheelchair accessible. However, each boat has more than one level, and there is no elevator on board. This means little or limited access to indoor areas, toilets, and the onboard café.

Do you offer hotel pick up?
Yes, we offer pick up and drop off at hotels and guesthouses in the Reykjavík area for an additional charge.

Is there parking close by?
Yes, about 300 m from our ticket office, there is a large gravel parking lot where you can park free of charge. GPS: N64°09’08” W21°56’55”

Vendor

Elding Adventure at Sea

Difficulty Level

Easy

Duration

2 hours

Price

£79.9

Adventures Globally

Iceland, Reykjavik, ReykjaviK Northern Lights Cruise Experience

Verified Listing

Iceland, Reykjavik, ReykjaviK Northern Lights Cruise Experience

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