Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik: An Eco-Conscious Voyage under Mystical Skies
4.5
494 Ratings
Reykjavík
Embark on an eco-conscious Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik and witness the mystical phenomenon under starry skies. Join Elding, a renowned environmentally friendly company, for an unforgettable experience at sea.
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Elding Whale Watching - Enjoy a 2 hr. cruise in the Southern-part of Faxaflói bay in search for the magical northern lights. Our expert crew will take you on a journey into the dark night to witness an incredible display of aurora borealis. Keep warm out on deck by lending our overalls or sit inside with a warm drink between sightings - your guide will let you know of any sightings!
What's Included
  • Multimedia show
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Warm floatable overalls
  • Excellent guidance
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

The Northern Lights Cruise embarks on a journey to the captivating abyss of the Faxaflói Bay in pursuit of the enigmatic Northern Lights, leaving the illuminating cityscape of Reykjavík behind. Our seasoned guide will provide answers to your inquiries as you bask in the symphony of the natural light display and stellar canopy, ensconced in a cozy overall.

Elding, a company committed to eco-conscious practices, is globally acknowledged for its green initiatives. Our objective and dedication are to decrease our operational footprint on the environment while delivering an unforgettable maritime adventure.

  • Northern lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore very unpredictable, so remember to bring patience and optimism with you.
  • Complimentary tickets (valid for 2 years) are offered in case of no sightings. You can try again as often as needed to see the lights!
  • In case of unfavourable conditions, the tour may get cancelled on short notice. You will be contacted via phone or email in this case.
  • We recommend wearing good sturdy footwear and warm clothing. You can borrow overalls if needed.
  • Please note that our fleet is not completely wheelchair accessible as there are steep stairs between lower and upper decks and high thresholds to get from the decks into the saloon as well as from the saloon to the toilets.
  • Wheelchair users are welcome to bring a foldable chair onboard our bigger boats, but if possible, please advise our office prior to departure as we may need to assist with boarding.
Location
Elding Whale Watching
Meet us in the ELDING ticket office located at Ægisgarður 5c by the Old Harbour district in Reykjavík. Once at the pier, simply follow the red colour to find us! Be sure to arrive at least 15 min. before departure to ensure enough time to check in and to board the boat.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(494 Ratings)
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Cara_w
Apr 17, 2024
Fun little cruise around the bay - Great cruise around the Bay. Got a glimpse of the Northern lights. The guide was very helpful. It was just fun but cold! Dress warm or use their overalls.
Review provided by Viator
Karoline_r1804
Apr 16, 2024
A lot of luck by my first try - It was a great tour and we had luck and saw Northern Lights. It's my first visit in Iceland and it also was the first evening so I had a lot of luck.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kate
Apr 15, 2024
Beautiful even without Northern Lights - The crew was professional and pleasant. When we did not get viewable lights, they offered a voucher. The boat was stable, and it was generally calm.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileen_c
Apr 15, 2024
Reynisfjara Beach wild beauty - Visiting Reynisfjara Beach - the weather was not cooperating (cold, high winds, sleet and snow) which contributed to the visit being a new and exciting view. It was exciting and beautiful in its own way.
Review provided by Viator
Lindaoxley1
Apr 9, 2024
Fantastic! - Fantastic evening. Very comfortable on the top deck of the boat. Excellent information updates from staff. Apart from the cold it was everything we had hoped for and more. Never thought we would see pink and red with the naked eye. Thank you. This tour was recommended by What’s On tourist info in Reykjavik.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Psh07
Apr 7, 2024
Awesome northern lights cruise operator, highly recommend - Northern lights cruise from Reykjavik. Service was exceptional. Highly recommend. We weren’t set on doing a cruise, and had originally considered driving out to the countryside ourselves in our hire car (we didn’t fancy a bus tour as we have young kids). After a bit of research which noted that the aurora were quite elusive and hard to spot if driving around chasing them, and you are best picking a spot and staying put and being patient. Again doing this late at night with young kids in the frying cold (it got to -5 overnight!) didn’t appeal. So we decided to give the boat trip a go. We originally booked a cruise on Tuesday 2 April when it was forecast as cloudy skies (we hadn’t checked the weather beforehand) and whilst it was a nice boat ride, we were bitterly disappointed we didn’t see the lights. Primarily because we had kept our young children up until 1am (cruise operates 10pm-12am) and we were all very tired the next day so felt like it wasn’t worth it... but as a natural phenomenon they of course cannot be guaranteed. We were just planning to wander around Reykjavik the next day so nothing too strenuous. Before we docked back at the harbour, the crew offered complimentary tickets for another time. We called in at the office the next day and booked no problem at all, for later in the week (Thursday 4 April). We were quite nervous about whether we would get to see them as we were only in Iceland for 4 nights… we thought this gave us a last resort back up to do it on the Friday (our last night) if need be and we weren’t successful again. However learning from our first mistake of not checking the weather, we kept (obsessively!) checking the forecast for the next couple of days and it became apparent that the forecast for the Thursday was to be cloudy again, but the Friday was supposed to be clear skies. With young kids in tow we wanted to avoid another wasted trip, so on the Thursday morning we emailed the office and asked to change to the Friday which they accommodated no issue at all. We got an email confirmation back straight away. We then went out on the Friday and our weather research had paid off - it was the most spectacular display of the aurora we could ever have hoped for! They appeared about 40 mins into our sailing and lasted beyond our return to the harbour, they were breathtaking - even the crew said it was the most amazing display they had ever seen! As we were sailing out the crew gave helpful tips about what the aurora are, and how to spot them, and also how to take the best photos on various devices (SLRs, smartphones etc) which was really helpful. They also took their own photos which they shared on request with participants via a weblink after the event (which I have to say were a lot more professional looking than my own via iPhone!). There is a cafe on board, and large inside area with tables and chairs to keep warm and play cards/chat/have a drink while waiting for them to appear, which the crew announces as soon as they spot something. They also provide warm waterproof oversuits which you can borrow and wear over all your clothes/coat to keep you extra warm and dry. It can be very windy on deck and bitterly cold. Recommend taking fingerless gloves (which I hadn’t but wish I had) which you can wear on your dominant hand to give at least some protection while you operate your camera/phone and avoid windburn/frostbite!!! Wholeheartedly recommend this cruise operator and the experience we had - even if you don’t see the lights you can try and try again until you do… or have to go home!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pinkpacker
Apr 7, 2024
Wonderful light show and a boat trip in one! - We were lucky enough to see the Northern lights on our second attempt and got to witness quite a show. It was great to have the commentary of a knowledgeable guide explaining what causes the lights, it was also great to have the warmth of the cabin and a selection of drinks onboard to keep warm! Easy to get to from staying in downtown Reykjavik too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roger_y
Apr 7, 2024
Amazing Experience - What an amazing time on the Elding. The whole trip lasted two hours. This was our 2nd time out, as the first trip earlier in the week was cloudy and we weren't able to see anything. The inside of the boat is comfortable and warm to keep you toasty as they sail out. On our night, the forecast was for clear skys and at around 11pm the northern lights started showering us from all directions. Make sure your camera has the correct settings to capture those bright colors you've seen in pictures. What a magical trip!
Review provided by Viator
Karina_d
Apr 30, 2024
Good cruise - The tour is well organized. However, bring layers and a blanket because there isn’t much indoor space. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the Northern Lights that evening. They offer a voucher for a free cruise in a later date but we were leaving the following day :(
Review provided by Viator
Paul_d
Apr 14, 2024
Risky trip if you have plenty of money and time - Went twice on our 4 day trip after they said conditions were good. Saw nothing. Was freezing beyond.
Review provided by Viator
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