Winter Whale Watching and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

The best thing about this Reykjavik outing is the pairing of two very different sea trips: whale watching in daylight and a northern lights hunt after dark. You may see humpback or minke whales, dolphins, or nothing more dramatic than open water, then return later to search for green light above Faxaflói Bay.

I like the practical sighting guarantee, which gives you a free return chance if the whales or aurora fail to appear. I also like the warm overalls, blankets, indoor lounge, and outdoor viewing areas. The main drawback is that nature sets the schedule. Bad weather can cancel the aurora cruise, and whale sightings are never certain, even with a strong crew.

Key points to know before you book

• Two separate boat trips: A three-hour whale watching cruise in the afternoon is paired with a two-hour northern lights cruise in the evening.
• Free return option: If you do not see the whales or aurora, you can try again free of charge, subject to the operator’s arrangements.
• Warm clothing supplied: Warm overalls and blankets help, but you should still dress for cold, wet weather.
• Harbor meeting point: Both trips begin and finish at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, near Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.
• English commentary: The crew explains local wildlife and the aurora throughout the trips.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can cancel or reschedule the northern lights cruise, with a new date or full refund offered for a weather cancellation.

Two Reykjavik sea trips for one changing Iceland day

This package works because the two cruises give you different kinds of time on the water. The whale trip uses daylight to search for marine life. The evening cruise turns your attention skyward, away from the city and toward the northern lights.

The combined price is $198 per person. That is not a bargain-bin excursion, but you are buying two separate tours, about five hours of boat time in total, warm overalls, blankets, live commentary, and access to the wildlife exhibition. If you already plan to book both activities, the package can be a sensible way to combine them.

You should look closely at the timing before paying. The whale cruise takes place in the afternoon and the aurora cruise in the evening, so this is not one continuous five-hour trip. You will have a gap between departures, and the exact timetable matters if you are also fitting in museums, food, or a hotel rest.

The operator is Elding Whale Watching, and the boats leave from the Old Harbour. The harbor is close to central Reykjavik and near public transportation, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You can arrange transfers with the operator for an extra fee.

The afternoon search for humpbacks, minkes, and dolphins

The whale watching portion lasts about three hours. The crew searches the waters around Reykjavik for marine life, while the live English commentary gives you more to notice than a simple hunt for a fin.

The most exciting possibilities include humpback whales and minke whales. A humpback feeding near the boat can make the trip memorable, especially when you see its back break the surface or its tail rise before it disappears. Dolphins are another possible reward, and one trip produced a long look at dolphins even without a whale sighting.

The viewing platform lets you watch from outside, while the indoor lounge gives you a place to warm up. That choice matters in Iceland. You might start outside in hope of spotting a whale, then step indoors when rain and wind make the search uncomfortable. The supplied warm overalls and blankets are useful here, but they are not a substitute for warm layers, gloves, and sturdy footwear.

Keep your expectations sensible. One trip produced humpbacks and minkes, while another saw a whale close to the harbor and watched it surface for about an hour. Yet another departure found no whales at all. That range is normal for a wildlife trip. You are paying for the search and the chance to see animals in their natural setting, not for a staged display.

The sighting guarantee softens that uncertainty. If you do not see whales, the operator offers a free return attempt. Read the practical details at the office if you need to use it, since the return trip depends on available departures and your schedule in Reykjavik.

What the wildlife exhibition adds before or after sailing

Access to the wildlife exhibition is included. This gives the trip a small educational layer beyond the boat ride, especially useful if your first cruise produces only distant fins or dolphins.

The exhibition can also help you make sense of the commentary. Instead of treating every sighting as a quick photo opportunity, you get a better idea of the animals you are watching and the local waters they inhabit. The exact amount of time you spend there depends on your departure schedule, so think of it as an included extra rather than a major museum visit.

The crew’s live explanations are one of the strongest parts of the package. You can ask questions, listen for updates about animal activity, and learn about both marine wildlife and the aurora. Commentary is offered in English, so this tour suits you best if you are comfortable following spoken English while outdoors and on a moving boat.

Returning after dark for the northern lights

The evening cruise lasts about two hours and gives you a different way to look for the aurora. Instead of standing on land, you travel out on the water with fewer immediate city distractions and a wide view around you.

That does not guarantee a stronger display. The northern lights need suitable conditions, and cloud, wind, rain, or low aurora activity can defeat even a well-run search. One successful outing produced a clear and active show. Another saw only a single green streak, which was still enough to count as a sighting. A separate cruise was cancelled because of bad weather.

The boat has an indoor lounge, outdoor viewing areas, warm overalls, and blankets. I would use the lounge as a warm-up base, then step outside when the crew says the sky is worth watching. You need patience here. The aurora may appear quickly, remain faint, or fail to show at all.

If you see even a small aurora display, the operator may still offer a free return opportunity. That is good news if you want a stronger show, though you should not count on having time for a second attempt during a short Reykjavik stay.

The crew also takes pictures when possible. Treat those as a welcome extra rather than a promised photo package. Your own camera or phone may capture something, but the best reason to keep watching is the live view above you.

Weather can change the evening plan

Icelandic weather is the key practical issue. A cloudy sky can block the aurora, while rough conditions can make a boat trip less pleasant or unsafe. The operator may cancel the northern lights cruise when conditions are poor.

If the experience is cancelled because of bad weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That policy is reassuring, but a new date only helps if you remain in Reykjavik long enough to use it. Check your schedule before assuming a rescheduled cruise will fit.

A cancellation can also create confusion with the combo arrangement. If one part changes, speak with the office staff before leaving and confirm your new departure time. One reported problem involved a missed boat after the evening section was rearranged, followed by a rebooking several hours later. The practical lesson is simple: get the replacement time written down, especially if weather affects one part of a two-tour package.

The regular cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted. Those cutoffs use local Iceland time.

Comfort, group size, and the realities of a boat tour

The maximum group size is 150 people. That is a sizable boat outing, not a private wildlife expedition. You should expect other people moving between the lounge and viewing areas, particularly when a whale or patch of aurora draws everyone outside.

The indoor seating is important for anyone who does not want to spend three to five hours in the cold. You can make the trip more comfortable by wearing several warm layers and keeping your hands protected for cameras and binoculars. Food and drinks are not included, though you can buy them on board.

Children under 13 must wear life vests for the entire tour by law. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part. The activity is near public transportation, which makes the central harbor meeting point manageable without paying for a transfer.

The boat setting also changes how you experience wildlife. A whale might surface far from the side where you are standing, and the view can disappear within seconds. Listen to the crew and stay ready, but do not spend the entire trip staring at your phone. The natural setting is the point, and the best sighting may last only a moment.

Who gets the most value from this package

I would consider this tour if you want both classic Reykjavik sea experiences but do not want to arrange two separate bookings. It is especially useful for a short visit, when you want a full day built around Iceland’s marine life and night sky.

It suits you if you:

• Want a chance to see humpbacks, minkes, or dolphins in open water
• Prefer a boat-based aurora search to waiting on land
• Value warm clothing and an indoor place to recover from the cold
• Have enough flexibility to return if a sighting does not happen
• Are comfortable with a group boat carrying up to 150 people
• Can follow live commentary in English

It may not suit you if you need a guaranteed wildlife sighting, dislike cold and wind, or have no spare evening for a weather change. You should also think twice if your Reykjavik schedule is packed tightly. A cancelled or moved northern lights trip can take up more time than planned.

The price is easier to justify when you want both activities. Booking the whale cruise and aurora cruise separately may give you more control over timing, while this package gives you the convenience of one combined purchase and shared sighting policies. Compare the two options based on your schedule, not just the headline price.

A practical plan for your day

Start at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik. Allow time to reach the harbor without relying on a last-minute connection. Pickup is not part of the standard package, so arrange it separately if you do not want to make your own way there.

For the whale trip, wear your warmest practical clothes under the supplied overalls. Keep a waterproof layer handy, and use the indoor lounge whenever the weather turns unpleasant. If you see a whale, let the crew guide your attention, since animals can surface on either side of the boat.

Between tours, leave room for food because meals and drinks are not included. Also leave room for schedule changes, particularly if the weather forecast is poor. The afternoon and evening departures are separate, so you do have time on land, but the exact gap depends on the operating timetable.

For the aurora cruise, bring patience. The crew can take you out to search, but they cannot control cloud cover or aurora activity. If the sky stays quiet, ask about the free return option before you leave the harbor.

Should you book the Winter Whale Watching and Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you want two major Reykjavik experiences in one package and can keep your schedule flexible. The warm overalls, indoor lounge, wildlife exhibition, English commentary, and free return policy make the $198 price more reasonable than a bare-bones boat trip.

Do not book it expecting guaranteed whales or a dramatic green sky on the first attempt. Nature may give you humpbacks feeding, dolphins near the boat, or only a brief green streak. It may also give you bad weather and a rescheduled cruise.

My advice is to book this during a stay of several days, when you have a realistic chance to use the free return or replacement date. If you have only one tightly planned evening in Reykjavik, book only if you can accept that the aurora portion may change or disappear.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

Both parts start at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the combined experience last?

The package includes a three-hour whale watching tour and a two-hour northern lights cruise, for about five hours of boat activities in total. The trips take place separately, with whale watching in the afternoon and the aurora cruise in the evening.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Pickup and drop-off in the Reykjavik area are not included in the listed price. You can arrange them directly with the operator for an extra fee.

What happens if I do not see whales or the northern lights?

You can try again free of charge under the sighting guarantee. Ask the operator about the return arrangements before leaving.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the experience to be cancelled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are available to purchase on board but are not included in the tour price.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Yes. Children can participate, but anyone under 13 must wear a life vest for the entire tour by law.