Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

From the Reykjavik harbor, this combo gives you two very different Iceland experiences in one long day: whales in Faxaflói Bay and the Northern Lights after dark. You may see humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, and seabirds, then sail away from the city glow to scan the sky.

I like the practical setup. Warm flotation overalls and heated indoor cabins make the boat usable in rough weather, and the free return ticket matters when clouds or choppy water spoil a sighting. I also like the gap between cruises, which gives you time to eat and rest in Reykjavik. The drawback is the price, $205 per person, and neither whale nor aurora sightings can be promised.

Key points to know before booking

• Two cruises in one day: Allow about six hours on the water, with a five-hour break in Reykjavik between outings.
• Faxaflói Bay wildlife: Look for minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, and birds.
• Northern Lights backup: If the evening cruise cannot run or the lights do not appear, free rejoining options help protect your investment.
• Useful onboard comforts: Heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, warm overalls, and complimentary seasickness tablets are provided.
• Guides add real value: Rebekka, Lucas, Daniel, and other English-speaking guides have been praised for lively explanations and helpful service.
• Simple harbor meeting point: Check in at the Special Tours office at Geirsgata 11, 30 minutes before departure.

Why this combo works in Reykjavik

I like this tour because it uses the same coastal setting twice, but under completely different conditions. In daylight, you are watching the sea for a curved back, a blow, or a fin. At night, you are looking upward, hoping for green light to appear over Faxaflói Bay.

That contrast makes the day feel fuller than a standard sightseeing cruise. You get open-water views of mountains and islands around Reykjavik, plus a chance to see birdlife and marine animals in their own environment. Later, the city lights fade behind you and the focus shifts to the sky.

Still, you should treat this as a wildlife search, not a guaranteed show. A whale may appear within minutes, as happened for one January booking that spotted humpbacks within five minutes, but conditions change. The Northern Lights also depend on cloud cover and solar activity. The free ticket to join again helps, but you need enough time in Iceland to use it.

Setting out from Geirsgata 11

The meeting point is at Geirsgata 11, with check-in at the Special Tours office on the corner. You should arrive 30 minutes early. This is a central harbor location, and one booking found it an easy walk from Center Hotels Plaza and close to bus stop number 4.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own way to the harbor. That is a small extra task, but the central meeting point keeps things simple if you are staying in central Reykjavik.

The boat has indoor seating, toilets, WiFi, and a heated bar area. Food and drinks are available for purchase, but they are not included in the price. I would eat something before departure, then use the onboard bar for a hot drink or small purchase rather than counting on it as a full meal.

The 2.5 to 3 hour whale search

The first cruise heads into Faxaflói Bay, the wide body of water in front of Reykjavik. Your guide explains what to watch for and shares information about the animals and the surrounding coast. The views include mountains, islands, and seabirds, so there is plenty to look at while the crew searches.

The main possible sightings are minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Seals have also appeared. The animals are wild, so the timing can be unpredictable. Sometimes the action comes quickly. At other times, you may spend much of the trip scanning the water.

Humpbacks are the most dramatic possibility. Their size makes even a brief surfacing memorable, and several bookings saw them, sometimes alongside dolphins. Minke whales are smaller and may surface more briefly, so keep watching after the first sighting. Dolphins can be especially lively, while porpoises are harder to spot because they are smaller and less theatrical.

The reviews of the crew are unusually consistent. Rebekka was praised for sharing the excitement of a dolphin and humpback sighting, while Lucas and Daniel were singled out for being entertaining and helpful. You are not simply left to stare at the water. The guides point out what matters and help you understand what you are seeing.

The boat provides warm flotation overalls. Wear weather-appropriate layers underneath, since you may move between the heated cabin and the outdoor deck. The overalls are useful, but they do not replace a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and standing outside for a long period feels colder than walking around town.

Complimentary seasickness tablets are available onboard. If you are sensitive to motion, ask for them early rather than waiting until you feel ill. Choppy water caused one departure to be moved to the following day, and that change led to a much better experience for the people involved. A flexible schedule is a real advantage here.

The five-hour break in Reykjavik

After whale watching, you return to Reykjavik for about five hours before the Northern Lights cruise. This is not wasted time. You can eat, warm up, charge your phone, and take a short rest before heading back to the harbor.

I strongly recommend using the break to recharge your devices. One successful January outing ended with a phone battery dying after only a few Northern Lights photographs. Cold weather drains batteries quickly, and the combination of whale photos and aurora photos can use more power than expected.

The gap also gives you a chance to decide how much time you want outside for the evening trip. If the whale cruise leaves you cold or tired, use the heated indoor cabin later. If the sky looks promising, put on the supplied overalls and spend time on the outdoor deck.

The exact starting times vary, so check availability for your date. The important point is that this is a full-day plan, not a quick harbor activity. You should avoid booking another fixed evening appointment that could conflict with the second cruise.

The two-hour Northern Lights cruise

The evening outing lasts about two hours and heads into Faxaflói Bay to find darker viewing conditions. The purpose is to get away from Reykjavik’s city lights, though the final result still depends on cloud cover and aurora activity.

You can watch from the heated indoor bar or put on warm flotation overalls and step outside. I like having both options. The indoor space gives you a place to warm up, while the deck offers a better view of the stars and any aurora that appears.

The Northern Lights can show up soon after leaving the dock. One October outing saw them almost immediately, despite the fact that weather had prevented earlier attempts. Another booking had the evening cruise canceled because of bad weather, with the choice to request a refund or reschedule for another night.

That flexibility is important because the aurora is never a scheduled performance. A cloud bank can block the sky, or the lights can remain faint. The tour provides a better setting than the city center, but no cruise operator can control the weather.

Take photographs, but do not spend the entire cruise staring at your phone. The display may be faint to the eye and stronger through a camera, or it may become bright enough to see clearly without help. Keep your phone charged and bring a way to protect it from the cold.

What the $205 price really buys

At $205 per person, this is an expensive activity, even by Iceland standards. The cost makes more sense if you planned to book separate whale-watching and Northern Lights trips anyway. You receive both cruises, professional English-speaking guides, warm overalls, heated cabins, toilets, WiFi, and the option to join again after a missed sighting.

The free rejoining policy is the strongest value point. If the Northern Lights are hidden by clouds or the whale trip produces no sightings, you have a way to try again, subject to available time and tour arrangements. That matters most if you are staying in Reykjavik for several nights.

The price is harder to justify if your schedule allows only one day in town. You may not have time to return for another attempt, and there is still no guarantee of whales or aurora. In that case, you are paying for the chance, the guides, and the setting, not a guaranteed result.

I would consider it good value for someone who wants both experiences and prefers one coordinated booking. It is less compelling for someone who dislikes boats, has a tight budget, or wants a relaxed half-day rather than a six-hour commitment.

Weather, comfort, and practical limits

Boat conditions are the biggest practical concern. Faxaflói Bay can be choppy, and the whale cruise may be moved when the water is rough. That is sensible for safety and comfort, but it can affect other plans.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing, even though overalls are supplied. I would wear warm layers and bring gloves, a hat, and waterproof outerwear. You will have access to heated indoor space, but the best animal and sky views often come from outside.

Smoking and pets are not allowed. The activity is wheelchair accessible, which makes the indoor facilities and harbor departure more usable for people with mobility needs. Hotel transport is not included, so you need to handle the trip to and from Geirsgata 11 yourself.

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. The strongest praise has gone to guides who combine facts with visible enthusiasm. That matters on a wildlife cruise, where patience is part of the experience and a good guide keeps the quiet periods from feeling empty.

Who should book this cruise

I would recommend it to you if you want a full day built around nature and can accept uncertainty. It suits couples, families, and solo visitors who want a simple way to combine two classic Iceland activities without arranging separate operators.

It is also a good fit if you have several nights in Reykjavik. The free rejoining option gives you a practical second chance when weather gets in the way. The tour can be especially rewarding in winter, when darkness creates the right conditions for aurora viewing, though that is also when weather may be more difficult.

I would be cautious if you get seasick, dislike cold weather, or need a fixed schedule. The complimentary tablets help, and the heated cabin is useful, but neither removes the movement of the boat. You should also skip this if $205 feels too high for an experience that may produce no major sighting.

The tour has wheelchair accessibility, but the provided information does not describe every detail of boarding or deck access. If you need specific assistance, contact the operator before booking.

Should you book it?

Book this combo if you want the possibility of two major Iceland moments in one day and have room in your schedule for weather changes. The strongest reasons are the experienced guides, the warm onboard setup, the broad range of possible wildlife, and the free chance to return when conditions fail.

Skip it if you need certainty, a low-cost activity, or a short outing. The best attitude is patient and flexible. You may see humpbacks and dolphins within minutes, then catch the Northern Lights after dinner. You may also spend time watching empty water or a cloudy sky. The free rebooking option makes that gamble easier, but it does not remove it.

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 early.

How long does the full activity last?

The combined experience lasts about six hours, with a 2.5 to 3 hour whale-watching cruise, a break of about five hours in Reykjavik, and a 2 hour Northern Lights cruise. The full schedule can vary by departure time.

Which animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, seals, and seabirds.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights depend on weather and natural conditions. If the evening trip is canceled because of bad weather, you may be able to request a refund or reschedule.

What happens if I do not see whales or the Northern Lights?

You receive a free ticket to join again in case of no sightings. Availability and your remaining time in Iceland still matter.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm flotation overalls are provided. You should still bring weather-appropriate clothing, including warm layers suitable for time outside.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you can purchase them onboard. Use the break in Reykjavik to eat before the evening cruise.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to and from the meeting point at Geirsgata 11.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. For specific boarding or deck requirements, contact the operator before booking.