Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

Whales first, sky fire later. This Reykjavik combo is appealing because it pairs two very different Icelandic outings in one booking: a daytime cruise for whales and dolphins, followed by a nighttime search for the Northern Lights. I especially like the chance to see wildlife in Faxaflói Bay and the practical comfort of heated cabins, toilets, and warm flotation overalls. The main drawback is simple: both sightings depend on nature, and $205 is a serious price if weather cancels one half.

I also like the long break between cruises, which gives you time to eat, warm up, and reset in Reykjavik instead of spending the entire day at sea. Guides such as Rebekka, Lucas, Daniel, and others have earned praise for clear commentary and genuine excitement. Still, you should arrive with patience, a charged phone, and realistic expectations. One outing produced four whales and a seal, while another saw nothing for the Northern Lights because of bad weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Two cruises in one day: Spend about 2.5 to 3 hours whale watching, then return for a separate 2 to 3 hour Northern Lights cruise.
• Faxaflói Bay is the setting: You may see minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, seals, birds, mountains, and offshore islands.
• The break matters: The schedule includes about five hours in Reykjavik between outings, useful for lunch, a warm café, or a change of clothes.
• Weather controls the evening: Northern Lights cruises can be cancelled or rescheduled when conditions are poor, and sightings are never guaranteed.
• Comfort is better than you might expect: Heated indoor areas, toilets, WiFi, seasickness tablets, and supplied warm overalls are included.
• The meeting point is central: Check in at the Special Tours office at Geirsgata 11, arriving 30 minutes early.

Two Iceland highlights from one Reykjavik harbor

This is a smart choice if you have one open day in Reykjavik and want both sea life and night skies. The first cruise takes you into Faxaflói Bay during daylight, when you can watch for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals against views of mountains and islands around the capital.

The second cruise changes the mood completely. After dark, the boat heads away from city lights and gives you a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights. You can watch from the open deck in supplied overalls or stay inside at the heated bar. I like that the two outings feel distinct rather than like one long boat ride.

The experience is offered by Reykjavik Sailors and has an overall rating of 4.4 from 127 reviews. That is a strong result for an activity with such unpredictable conditions. The most praised parts are the guides, the whale encounters, and the ease of rebooking when the weather spoils the Northern Lights attempt.

Starting at Geirsgata 11

Your day begins at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner. You are asked to check in 30 minutes before departure, and I would take that seriously. A harbor departure runs on a schedule, and arriving early gives you time to find the office, use the facilities, and get ready for the cold.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the harbor, but the location is walkable from central Reykjavik. One useful detail is that the meeting point is near bus stop number 4, and it was an easy walk from Center Hotels Plaza.

Wear clothing suited to changing weather. Even if the city feels calm, wind on the water can make the temperature feel much lower. The supplied warm flotation overalls help, but they work best over sensible layers rather than a thin shirt.

Whale watching in Faxaflói Bay

The first cruise lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. Your guide explains what to look for and helps identify the animals when they appear. You may see minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, or seals.

The appeal here is the setting. You are not watching animals in a tank or enclosure. You are searching open water, with Iceland’s mountains, islands, and birdlife around you. That also means the experience has a natural uncertainty. A whale may surface close to the boat, or it may remain out of sight for long stretches.

Several outings produced especially good sightings. One January trip saw four different whales and a seal, while another group spotted playful dolphins and two humpback whales. Other trips saw humpbacks within minutes of departure. These encounters can be dramatic, but you should not treat them as a promise.

I would keep your eyes moving and listen closely to the guide. A whale may surface behind you, and a quick turn can make the difference between a clear sighting and a story about the one that got away. The guides provide live commentary in English, and their enthusiasm is part of the fun. Rebekka received special praise for sharing the excitement of seeing dolphins and humpbacks, while Daniel was remembered warmly for his help on another outing.

The boats have indoor cabins, toilets, and free WiFi. Complimentary seasickness tablets are available, which is a useful touch. If the water is rough, take the motion seriously. One group was offered the chance to move its cruise because conditions were choppy, and the following day produced a much better outing.

The five-hour Reykjavik pause

The schedule includes a break of about five hours between the whale cruise and the evening boat. This is not wasted time. You can return to your hotel, find a meal, warm up in a café, or recharge your phone and camera.

That pause also keeps the experience from becoming physically tiring. A full day on cold water can wear you down, especially if you are trying to stay outside for every sighting. Use the gap to eat well and add dry layers before heading back to the harbor.

Food and drinks are not included, though you can buy them onboard. I would still plan a proper meal during the break rather than depend only on boat snacks. Iceland is expensive, and the $205 price already asks a lot of your daily budget.

Charge your phone before leaving. One January outing produced Northern Lights photos, but a dead battery limited the number of pictures. That is an easy problem to prevent, and you will want power for both the whale cruise and the sky hunt.

The evening search for Northern Lights

The Northern Lights cruise lasts about two hours. The boat leaves the brightest city lights behind and heads into Faxaflói Bay, where the darker surroundings can make faint aurora easier to see.

You have two basic viewing options. Stay in the heated indoor bar, where you can keep warm and still follow the search, or put on the provided overalls and step outside onto the deck. I would move between the two. The indoor area is a welcome refuge, but the open deck gives you a wider view of the sky.

The Northern Lights are not a stage show. Clear skies, solar activity, and darkness all need to cooperate. One outing saw the lights almost immediately after leaving the dock, while another had to be cancelled because of bad weather. On that occasion, the available choices were a refund or another night.

The rebooking policy is one of the tour’s strongest practical points. Another group saw no lights on its first evening, then returned the next night and got the sighting it wanted. If your schedule allows a second attempt, this flexibility matters.

The cruise can also be a good choice if you want to avoid driving at night in unfamiliar conditions. You leave the city with a guide and crew handling the route, while you concentrate on the sky. Just remember that a boat cannot create clear weather, and no Northern Lights tour can guarantee a display.

Guides, commentary, and the human side

The guides do more than point at animals. They explain what you are seeing, help you follow activity on the water, and keep the mood upbeat during quiet periods. That matters because whale watching includes waiting. Good commentary makes the search feel active rather than empty.

Past guides praised by name include Rebekka, Lucas, and Daniel. Lucas was described as entertaining and helpful through both parts of the experience. Rebekka’s enthusiasm was especially noticeable when dolphins and humpback whales appeared.

I also like that the guides do not seem to treat a sighting as a box to tick. When the animals appear, their excitement helps you appreciate the moment. When conditions fail, the staff’s handling of rescheduling or cancellation becomes just as important.

The tour is conducted in English. If you need another language, this experience may not suit you, since English is the stated tour language.

Comfort, access, and what to bring

The boat has heated indoor cabins and toilets, so you are not committed to standing outside for the whole trip. Warm flotation overalls are included, and seasickness tablets are available at no extra cost.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing even though the boat supplies overalls. Warm layers, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear are sensible choices. The supplied clothing is a useful safety and comfort measure, not a substitute for dressing well.

The activity is wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed. WiFi is available onboard, though I would treat it as a convenience rather than a reason to choose the trip. Your phone battery is more important than your connection speed when whales or aurora appear.

The operator may sometimes use a shared boat with a partner during certain periods of the year. This is done to reduce the number of boats on the water and limit environmental pressure. It may mean your vessel or crew differs from what you expected, but the stated goal is to keep the sea cleaner and avoid unnecessary traffic.

Is $205 a fair price?

At $205 per person, this is not a cheap outing. Iceland is expensive, but that does not automatically make every costly activity good value. You are paying for two boat trips, guides, equipment, heated facilities, and the convenience of combining two major Reykjavik activities in one day.

The price makes more sense if you would otherwise book separate whale watching and Northern Lights tours. It also has added value when the second cruise can be moved to another night after bad weather. The free chance to join again in case of no sightings is important, though you need enough time in Reykjavik to use it.

The price is harder to justify if your budget is tight or your schedule allows only one attempt. Nature may provide a superb day with humpbacks, dolphins, and Northern Lights, or it may give you only one successful half. I would book it when both experiences are high on your list and you understand that the fee buys the search, not a guaranteed result.

Who should choose this combo?

I would recommend it to you if you want a full day built around Iceland’s natural attractions and prefer not to arrange two separate bookings. It suits couples, families, and first-time visitors who want a guided introduction to whale watching and aurora hunting.

It is also a good fit if you value comfort. The heated cabin, toilets, overalls, and onboard tablets make the outing easier than a bare-bones boat trip. The five-hour break gives you room to recover before the evening departure.

You may want a different plan if you dislike cold, motion, waiting, or uncertain results. The schedule is long, and the water can be choppy. You also need to be free for a possible rescheduled Northern Lights outing if weather cancels the first attempt.

Practical verdict: book it or skip it?

Book this combo if you have one flexible day in Reykjavik, want both whales and Northern Lights, and can accept that nature makes the final decision. The strongest reasons are the well-liked guides, solid onboard comfort, central meeting point, and useful second-chance policy.

Skip it if $205 would strain your budget or if you need a guaranteed attraction at a fixed time. For everyone else, this is a sensible way to put two classic Iceland experiences together, with enough breathing room between them to eat, warm up, and try again if the sky refuses to cooperate.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik. Check in at the Special Tours office on the corner and arrive 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the full experience last?

The activity includes about 2.5 to 3 hours of whale watching and about 2 to 3 hours searching for the Northern Lights. The schedule also includes roughly five hours of break time in Reykjavik.

Which animals might I see?

You may see minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, seals, and birdlife in Faxaflói Bay.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing for the outdoor deck and changing conditions.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to join again if there are no sightings. The Northern Lights cruise can also be cancelled because of bad weather, with the option to request a refund or reschedule for another night.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. It also has heated indoor cabins, toilets, free WiFi, and complimentary seasickness tablets.