Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the sharp change in mood: daylight brings whale watching across Faxaflói Bay, while the evening sends you back out to search for green light in the sky. Minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises are all possible, but nature sets the schedule.

I like the two things this tour handles well: it gives you a second chance after a missed northern lights sighting, and it keeps you warm with heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, and flotation overalls. Guides including Rebekka, Lucas, and Daniel have also earned praise for making the time on the water lively and informative. The main drawback is the price, $205 per person, and neither whales nor auroras can be promised.

Key points to know before booking

• Two cruises in one day: You spend about three hours whale watching, take a break in Reykjavik, then return for a two-hour northern lights search.
• Wildlife is genuinely unpredictable: Possible sightings include humpback and minke whales, dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, and seabirds.
• Weather can change the plan: A rough sea may lead to a rescheduled whale trip, while bad weather can cancel the aurora cruise.
• A free retry adds value: If the northern lights do not appear, you can join again, subject to the operator’s arrangements.
• Warmth is built in: Heated indoor cabins, toilets, warm flotation overalls, and seasickness tablets are available onboard.
• The location is easy to reach: Check in at the Special Tours office at Geirsgata 11, near the corner, 30 minutes before departure.

Two very different views of Faxaflói Bay

This is not one long boat ride with a short pause. It is two separate outings, linked by a five-hour break in Reykjavik.

The first cruise lasts about two and a half to three hours. You head into Faxaflói Bay, the broad stretch of water outside the capital, looking for marine life in its natural setting. The scenery includes mountains, islands, open sea, and birdlife. The boat is not taking you to an aquarium or a fixed viewing platform, so sightings depend on where the animals are that day.

You might see a humpback whale lifting its back above the water, a minke whale surfacing briefly, or a pod of white-beaked dolphins moving near the boat. Harbor porpoises and seals are also possible. Several outings have produced sightings of more than one species, including humpbacks with dolphins and seals.

The five-hour break is useful, but it also shapes your day. You have time to eat, warm up, walk around Reykjavik, or return to your hotel before the evening departure. You do not need to remain at the harbor all afternoon. On the other hand, this is a full day out, not a quick morning activity, so it may feel tiring if you have packed your schedule tightly.

What whale watching is really like

The appeal here is the setting, not a guaranteed performance. A whale may surface close to the boat, or you may spend long stretches scanning the water. That uncertainty is part of any responsible wildlife trip, but it is worth understanding before you pay the higher Icelandic price.

The guide provides live commentary in English and helps you know what to watch for. You will want to keep your eyes moving across the water rather than staring at one spot. A whale can appear, breathe, and vanish in seconds.

The strongest outings can be remarkable. One January trip brought sightings of four whales and a seal, while another produced two humpbacks and playful dolphins. A separate outing saw humpbacks within five minutes of leaving the harbor. Those moments explain why the tour earns such strong praise, but they should be treated as good fortune rather than a promise.

The boat also gives you a broad view of the coast. Look beyond the animals for Reykjavik’s waterfront, the mountains, islands, and birds that use Faxaflói Bay. The guide’s commentary adds useful context without requiring you to identify every fin or splash yourself.

You can stay in the heated indoor area when the wind picks up. If you want a better outdoor view, the provided warm flotation overalls help you spend more time on deck. Wear weather-appropriate clothing underneath. Icelandic conditions can shift quickly, and warm overalls are helpful but not a replacement for sensible layers, gloves, and a hat.

Seasickness tablets are available at no extra charge. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, ask for them early rather than waiting until the boat is already moving. Choppy water was serious enough on one occasion for the operator to recommend moving the whale trip to the following day. That was a sensible call, and the later outing brought excellent sightings.

The five-hour Reykjavik pause

The break between cruises is one of the more practical features of the package. After whale watching, you return to the harbor and have around five hours before the northern lights departure.

You can use the time for a proper meal, since food and drink are not included in the cruise. You can also take a short walk through central Reykjavik, rest at your accommodation, or charge your phone. That last point matters. One successful northern lights outing ended with a dead phone battery and only a few photographs.

The meeting point is at Geirsgata 11, and the Special Tours office is at the corner. Some central hotels are within easy walking distance. The harbor location is also close to bus stop number 4, which may help if you are not staying nearby.

Plan your afternoon carefully. The break sounds generous, but the day can become long once you add check-in time, two cruises, cold weather, and the wait for dark skies. I would not schedule another major attraction between the two departures. Keep the middle of the day simple.

Returning after dark for the aurora cruise

The northern lights portion lasts about two hours. You leave the city lights and sail into Faxaflói Bay, looking for a darker place with a better view of the sky.

You can watch from the outdoor deck or remain inside the heated bar. Warm flotation overalls are available again, and the indoor cabins offer a useful refuge when the cold becomes distracting. The best approach is to move between the two spaces: stay warm indoors, then step outside when the guide signals a promising view.

The northern lights are never a sure thing. Clouds, wind, darkness, and solar activity all matter, and this tour cannot control any of them. One outing was cancelled because of bad weather, while another saw the lights almost immediately after leaving the dock. That contrast tells you what to expect: the cruise gives you a good chance to search away from city glare, not a guaranteed show.

If the aurora does not appear, the free repeat ticket is a major benefit. You may be able to rebook for another night, and one successful outing happened on the second attempt after the first night failed. The exact timing depends on available departures and weather, so leave room in your Reykjavik schedule if seeing the lights is a top priority.

Keep your phone and camera warm when possible, and charge everything before leaving. Cold drains batteries, and the boat offers memorable photo chances even if the aurora remains faint. The night sky, dark water, and distant city lights can still make the second cruise worthwhile, but do not expect every photograph to match what your eyes see.

Guides, commentary, and the human side

The guides are an important part of this experience because wildlife watching involves patience. A good guide keeps the mood positive during quiet periods and helps you understand why the boat is stopping or changing direction.

Names attached to especially memorable outings include Rebekka, Lucas, and Daniel. Rebekka was praised for her excitement and passion when dolphins and humpback whales appeared. Lucas was described as helpful and entertaining during a day that included both a whale and the northern lights. Daniel made a strong impression on another whale-watching outing.

Those individual mentions point to a useful feature of the tour: the crew does not simply drive the boat and leave you to stare at the water. Commentary is provided in English, and the guides help make sense of what you see. The exact guide will depend on the departure, so do not book expecting a particular person.

The tone is informal and enthusiastic. That suits a trip where a single whale surfacing can change the whole atmosphere. If you prefer a quiet, private wildlife experience, the shared boat setting may feel less personal. If you enjoy learning while you search, the live commentary is a plus.

What the $205 price buys you

At $205 per person, this is an expensive day by ordinary excursion standards. Iceland itself is costly, but that does not automatically make every package good value.

Here, you are paying for two separate cruises, guides, onboard facilities, warm flotation overalls, WiFi, toilets, and a free chance to try the northern lights cruise again if conditions do not cooperate. You also avoid booking two separate activities and arranging your own transport between them.

The value is strongest if you want both experiences and have limited time in Reykjavik. A successful whale sighting followed by visible auroras can turn this into one of the defining days of an Iceland trip. The value is weaker if you care mainly about whales, dislike spending a full day around a fixed harbor schedule, or are traveling on a tight budget.

Food and drinks cost extra, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach Geirsgata 11 yourself, and you should arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. These are small details, but they matter when you are calculating the true cost and time commitment.

The operator may sometimes place the trip on a shared boat with a partner company for environmental reasons. This means fewer boats on the water, which is a sensible aim, but the vessel and onboard atmosphere may vary. The key point is that the whale and aurora programs remain part of the same planned outing.

Comfort, access, and practical preparation

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which makes it more usable than many sea excursions. Still, you should confirm your own needs at booking, especially if you require specific assistance during boarding or movement around the boat. The provided information confirms accessibility, but it does not describe every boarding detail.

Smoking and pets are not allowed. English is the tour language. You should bring weather-appropriate clothing, even though warm overalls and heated indoor areas are provided.

I would prepare for the day in five simple ways:

• Charge your phone and camera fully before the first departure.
• Bring layers, gloves, a hat, and shoes suitable for wet or cold conditions.
• Eat during the Reykjavik break because meals are not included.
• Keep the evening free if you may need to reschedule the aurora outing.
• Arrive at Geirsgata 11 at least 30 minutes early.

The whale cruise and aurora cruise are affected by different conditions. Rough seas may lead to a safer rescheduled whale departure. Bad weather can cancel the evening search. That flexibility is helpful, but it also means you should avoid placing this tour on the final few hours of your Iceland visit.

Who should book this combo cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want two classic Iceland experiences in one organized package and can spare most of a day. It works particularly well for a first visit, couples looking for a memorable shared outing, and anyone who would rather let a guide handle the search than rent a car and make separate plans.

It is also a good fit if the northern lights are high on your wish list but you understand that nature may require a second attempt. The free repeat opportunity gives the aurora portion more practical value than a one-shot cruise.

I would hesitate if you need a guaranteed schedule, have severe motion sickness, or want a short activity that leaves the rest of the day open. I would also think twice if $205 feels too high for a trip with no guaranteed sightings. This is a nature outing, not a theater ticket.

Should you book the Reykjavik combo?

Book this tour if you want a well-supported search for both whales and northern lights, and you can accept uncertainty. The combination of warm facilities, strong guide support, a five-hour break, and a free aurora retry makes the package more useful than simply taking a chance on one evening cruise.

The best reason to choose it is the possibility of a day that moves from humpbacks and dolphins in daylight to auroras after dark. The main reason to skip it is the price, especially if you only want one of those experiences.

Charge your phone, dress warmly, keep your schedule flexible, and treat every sighting as a gift from the bay or the sky. With that mindset, this is a well-organized way to meet two of Iceland’s most famous natural spectacles.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins 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 combined experience lasts about six hours of touring, with a whale-watching cruise, a break in Reykjavik, and an evening northern lights cruise. The listed whale trip lasts about two and a half to three hours, and the northern lights trip lasts about two hours.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, and seabirds. Sightings are not guaranteed because the animals are wild.

Are the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The northern lights depend on weather and natural conditions. If they are not visible, you receive a free ticket to join again, subject to the operator’s arrangements.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The whale-watching trip or northern lights cruise may be rescheduled or cancelled if conditions are unsafe or unsuitable. You may be offered another time for the affected outing.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided, and the boat has heated indoor cabins. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing, including suitable layers for time outside.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but they can be purchased onboard. You also have a five-hour break in Reykjavik between the two cruises.