Special Tours · Old Harbour, Reykjavík
Special Tours sails from Reykjavík's Old Harbour into Faxaflói bay, where you're in dark water 15 to 20 minutes after leaving, with warm overalls for the outdoor deck and a lounge inside. Pick it for the retry rule: if you see nothing, you get a free ticket for another sailing, and it never expires.
Special Tours sails from the Old Harbour, a short walk from downtown. Fifteen to twenty minutes after leaving you're out in Faxaflói bay with the city glow behind you. Free warm overalls, in children's sizes too, make the outdoor deck bearable. Inside there's a lounge with a café and bar, toilets, Wi-Fi and a northern lights video for the waiting, and a guide talks through the science and the folklore.
The retry rule is the best on the water. If you don't see the lights, you get a free ticket for another sailing, with no expiry date. If it's too windy for the boat but the aurora forecast is good, Special Tours may run the hunt on land by small bus instead. The crew take photos for the boat's "Daily Diary", and the listing marks the tour as wheelchair accessible.
The weak spots: a boat can't drive to clear sky, so a cloudy bay is a cloudy night, and guest reviews are more mixed than for the Sea Trips yacht. The sailing season is also shorter than the land tours' and the operator's own pages give different months, so check that your dates have sailings before you build a plan around it.
Walk down to the Old Harbour in central Reykjavík and board. Pull on the warm overalls before you head on deck.
The boat leaves the harbour lights behind and heads out into the dark bay.
Watch from the outdoor deck while the guide explains the aurora's science and folklore. Warm up inside with a drink from the café or bar.
The crew photograph the night. Keep your own phone ready with night mode on.
Return to the Old Harbour. No lights? Ask for your free ticket for another sailing.
★★★★★Big shout out to crew member Patrick, very friendly, welcoming and knowledgable.
★★★★★So we were allowed to book a following date, where we had more luck!
★★★★★Overalls were clean and warm, still got to see some amazing constellations and natural scenery.
Read next:
The Old Harbour in central Reykjavík, a short walk from downtown. You're out in Faxaflói bay about 15 to 20 minutes after leaving.
If you don't see the lights, you get a free ticket for another sailing, and it has no expiry. It isn't a promise of the aurora and it isn't a refund.
If the sea is too rough but the aurora forecast is good, Special Tours may run the northern lights hunt on land by small bus instead.
It's one of the easier options with kids: warm overalls come in children's sizes, there's an indoor lounge and toilets, and the trip lasts 2 to 3 hours rather than four or five.
Ready to book
Warm overalls on deck in Faxaflói bay and a free ticket to sail again, with no expiry, if you see nothing.
Northern Lights Yacht Cruise from the Old HarbourTwo hours on a three-deck yacht in dark Faxaflói bay, an indoor bar between sightings and a free reschedule.★ 4.4 · 2 hours · from $96
Northern Lights 4x4 Tour with Hot CocoaA lifted 4x4 minibus, one guide per 16 guests, cocoa and pastries, your photo under the lights and a free retry.★ 4.5 · 4 hours · from $155
Northern Lights Coach Tour with Free RetryThe cheapest hunt out of Reykjavík: a big coach, a live guide, ten audio languages and free rebooking for two years.★ 3.7 · 3 hours · from $80