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Sail out from Reykjavík harbor to observe the Northern Lights dance above the ocean waves!
The outside boat deck makes for a refreshing and romantic atmosphere to watch the natural light show. Our expert guides on board are knowledgeable about all things Aurora and are on hand to answer any questions, alongside our very own Northern Lights video inside. We do everything we can to make your time on board the vessel comfortable, complete with overalls should you get cold, and a cozy cafe to buy warming drinks.
The Northern Lights in Iceland are a phenomenon simply out of this world. Out on the waves in the North Atlantic, you’ll have a chance to spy on the Aurora Borealis as it dances its timeless magic. Spirit yourself away from the hustle and bustle of Reykjavík and wrap yourself in the darkness of the open ocean. With our experts on board, the second the lights are visible we’ll point them out and allow plenty of time to fully enjoy the show. Leave the world behind and join us for a spellbound night of Nature’s most supernatural wonders.
Meet us at the Old Harbor in Reykjavík, also called the Downtown Harbor. In just 15-20 minutes, our expert sea crew will take you across those bracing North Atlantic waves to a place far enough away from the light pollution of Reykjavík. We monitor the aurora and cloud forecasts to make sure we go to the best place optimal for viewing.
The Northern Lights are a truly spectacular and unforgettable experience. You’ll never forget that magic moment when they first appear. They usually shimmer softly at first, before breaking out into more vibrant swirls of color rippling across the sky. Whether they’re delicate or dramatic, they’re always special to behold. The northern lights typically appear in hues of green and yellow, with blue, violet, and rose coming in a close second. As for the rarer reds, though still elusive, you’re more likely to observe these in Iceland than in any other country. So rest assured, you’re in good hands here!
While you’re waiting for the lights to appear, the boat crew will explain the science behind the majestic and magical aurora borealis. Your guide will also tell you all about some fascinating Northern Lights myths, stories, and legends from cultures around the world. We show our own specially made video in the ship café/bar. This is packed full of folklore, fun facts, and, of course, magnificent northern lights photography. We offer overalls to keep you comfortable on deck while you’re waiting for the lights to appear. There is also our cozy bar/café, video show, and souvenir shop to keep you entertained if you want to be in the warm for a while. As soon as those colors begin to appear, rest assured, we’ll fetch you!
Northern Lights are formed by certain reactions when particles emitted by the sun collide with the Earth's atmosphere. These particles are transported by the solar wind to those areas around the north and south poles. We do our utmost, but due to the nature of the phenomenon, we can’t guarantee the northern lights will appear.
We can never guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights. If you do not see them we offer you a free second tour but please note that you must contact us to re-book this. We cannot promise to offer you a second tour on the next night because this is dependent upon places being available.
Because Northern Lights boat tours are reliant upon suitable weather and aurora forecasts, they are sometimes canceled. Your tour may be canceled up to 18:15 on the day of departure. When this happens, your payment is refunded in full.
The Northern Lights are natural phenomena and we unfortunately cannot promise you will see them on our tours. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions, which are factors entirely out of our control.
For more information on the Northern Lights, please have a look at our Northern Lights information.
Unfortunately, there isn’t just one simple answer to this question.
Your camera doesn't have a single setting that will guarantee excellent pictures. But if you have manual controls, playing with different mixtures of ISO, aperture, and exposure settings is usually preferable. As a general rule, ISO settings of 800 to 3200, f/2.8 to f/5.6, and shutter speeds of 15 to 30 seconds have been found to be successful.
Keep in mind that ISO settings between 800 and 3200, f/2.8 and f/5.6, and shutter speeds between 15 and 30 seconds have produced excellent results.
Results from various combinations can vary greatly. You can take faster exposures with a higher ISO setting, but the photographs can turn up grainier as a result.
If the shutter speed is above 15 seconds it will result in a slight star movement.
In low-light situations, wider-angle lenses are typically more adaptable, while longer lenses provide you with more compositional alternatives. Make sure to take off any lens filters because they could cause image distortion. Most likely, using a manual setting for infinite focal length will get the greatest results.
For more tips, read our blog on photographing the Northern Lights.
A refund is not available if the Northern Lights tour goes ahead and no Northern Lights are seen, however, we do offer you the chance to join a Northern Lights Minibus tour free of charge.
Please contact our Customer Care Team to re-book your tour.
When Northern Lights tours are cancelled it’s usually due to unfavourable weather conditions.
In that case, your options will be to:
1. Reschedule for another day.
2. Find another tour to embark on and use the deposit for it.
3. Get fully refunded.
Please contact our Customer Care team to re-book your tour.
The Northern Lights are a pretty difficult thing to predict. You can check the Icelandic Meteorological Office website to see the forecast - if the level is high and the skies are clear then it’s very likely that the tour is going ahead. We do update our website’s tour departure sheet with the information at 17:00 at the latest. If the tour is canceled, you will receive an email from us notifying you.
If we think there is no chance at all of seeing the lights, we will cancel the tour. We don’t want to bring you out and disappoint you if there will definitely be no aurora activity.
Yes, the guide will take a photo of you with the Northern Lights behind you. These can be single or group photos and are free of charge.
The Northern Lights season is said to be from late August until mid-April. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing them, it is best to wait until the colder winter months, from mid-September until March.
If luck and weather are on your side, then you will be able to see the aurora borealis above the inviting streets of Reykjavik. Whether you see the lights or not depends on two unique factors. The first is the weather: If the sky is clear, with no clouds, then you are halfway to seeing the astonishing spectacle that is the Northern Lights (although light pollution can sometimes be a problem). Increased solar activity is the second factor, so if these two are both favorable at the same time you may well be able to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik.
