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Leave Reykjavik Old Harbour after dark for a Northern Lights cruise across Faxafloi Bay, watching for the aurora from the water with heated cabins, warm flotation overalls and coastal night views of the city behind you. Guides share local stories about the lights while you move between the warm indoor space and the open deck as the sky allows.
After check-in you board a comfortable vessel with warm flotation overalls, heated cabins, restrooms and free Wi-Fi, then cruise away from city lights into Faxafloi Bay. Guides share aurora stories while you watch the sky from deck or the warm cabin; snacks and seasickness tablets are available on board.
Sightings are never guaranteed. Quieter periods may mean a shared partner boat, and if the lights do not appear you can usually rejoin free of charge when the team confirms. Exact route and timing flex with sea state, weather and aurora activity.
Faxafloi Bay opens west of Reykjavik and offers dark water close enough to the capital that an evening cruise can leave city glow behind without a long transfer. The Old Harbour is walkable from downtown hotels, so the outing fits into a winter city stay.
Night views of the coastline and mountains give the cruise a strong sense of place even when the aurora is shy. Conditions change quickly here, so every departure is shaped by sky and sea rather than a fixed sightseeing loop.
No prior boating experience is required. This is a cabin-boat evening cruise, so it suits travellers who want aurora time with indoor shelter when the bay turns cold or choppy.
You should be comfortable following crew instructions and spending a few hours on a working boat after dark. Wear warm layers and sturdy footwear; nights on the water feel colder than the harbour promenade.
Crews know how Faxafloi evenings behave and keep briefings clear so everyone understands boarding, safety and what to watch for in the sky. Heated cabins and warm overalls make longer waits more comfortable when cloud or wind slows the show.
Shared quieter-period sailings help cut boat traffic while still giving you a full search window. The focus stays on a calm, realistic aurora hunt rather than rushed promises.
Arrive at Geirsgata 11 at least 30 minutes before departure and check in at the Special Tours ticket office in Reykjavik Old Harbour. The crew covers boarding, safety points and how the evening aurora search usually runs.
Use this window to add warm layers. If you booked optional pickup, your transfer brings you to the same harbour area before boarding begins.
Once boarding starts you collect warm flotation overalls and settle into heated indoor seating with onboard restrooms and free Wi-Fi nearby. Complimentary seasickness tablets are available before you leave the pier.
Snacks and refreshments are available on board so you can stay comfortable while waiting for clear sky windows out on the bay.
The boat leaves Reykjavik Old Harbour and cruises into darker waters on Faxafloi Bay, away from city lights. Guides share local stories about the aurora while you watch the night sky from deck or through the cabin windows.
Routes flex with cloud cover, sea state and how the lights are behaving. Expect pauses when the sky opens up and a calm search rather than a fixed sightseeing loop.
Between sky watches you take in night views of the Reykjavik coastline, surrounding mountains and the quiet Icelandic sea. When the search window closes the boat returns to the Old Harbour and you leave via the same ticket area.
If the aurora stayed hidden, ask the crew about the free rejoin option before you leave the pier. Keep a warm layer on until you are back in sheltered streets.
Check in at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, in the Old Harbour. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure.
The harbour sits downtown and is easy to reach on foot or by taxi from central hotels. If you booked optional hotel pickup, be ready at your pickup point 60 minutes before departure. Bring warm layers, sturdy footwear and your booking confirmation.
The aurora is a natural show and never guaranteed. The crew takes you away from city lights into Faxafloi Bay when conditions look promising, but cloud, moonlight and solar activity all play a part.
If the lights do not appear, you can usually join another Northern Lights by boat departure free of charge when the team confirms that option.
Plan for around 2 to 3 hours on the water depending on weather and viewing conditions, plus check-in time ashore before boarding.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Exact timing can shift with sea state and how the sky looks once you leave the harbour lights behind.
There is no minimum age for this cabin-boat Northern Lights cruise. All ages are welcome when guests can follow crew instructions.
Adult, youth and kids rates are available through the live booking options. If you are travelling with infants, ask the team before you book so they can advise for the boat and conditions on the night.
Meet at the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, in the Old Harbour.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Follow the confirmation details sent after you book rather than a generic map pin that may point to a different pier.
Yes. Safe sea state and sky conditions matter for an evening aurora cruise. The team may reschedule or adjust the plan if the weather is unsuitable.
If your sailing cannot run, the team will be in touch with the next steps for your booking.
If no Northern Lights are seen, you can usually join another Northern Lights by boat tour free of charge when the team confirms that option.
Ask at check-in or after the cruise how the free rejoin works for your sailing date so you know what to expect next.
In quieter periods the sailing may run on a shared boat with partner operators to keep boat traffic lower on the bay.
You still get a full guided Northern Lights cruise; the shared format is about protecting the waters when demand is lighter.
Optional hotel pickup can be arranged for the first boat tour of your booking when you select it in advance.
Pickup usually needs to be booked at least one hour before departure. Be ready at your designated point 60 minutes before sailing time.
Dress warmer than for a city evening walk. Wind on the bay makes nights feel colder than the harbour streets, even with heated cabins nearby.
Wear sturdy non-slip footwear and bring a hat and gloves. Warm flotation overalls are provided on board so you can step onto the deck when the sky lights up.
Yes. Boats have heated indoor seating, onboard restrooms, free Wi-Fi and complimentary seasickness tablets. Snacks and refreshments are available on board.
You can move between the warm cabin and the open deck as the aurora search unfolds, so you stay comfortable while still watching the sky.
About the centre
Reykjavík
Operated by Reykjavik Sailors, a partner of adventuro.
