Northern Lights by Boat
Enjoy an evening at sea in search of the beautiful Northern Lights
About this activity
Seeing the Northern Lights at sea is an amazing experience; sailing away from the coastline of Reykjavík and seeing the auroras on the North-Atlantic with the city lights in the background is something you won't forget!
Our expert guide will help you to search for the lights while telling you all about the science, legends and myths that surround this amazing natural phenomenon. There is a speaker system on board so you are welcome to wait inside our cafeteria enjoying a warm drink or watching our own Northern Lights video. When the guide sees the lights, they will announce it on the speaker system so everyone knows to head outside and look up!
Our friendly crew takes photos on every tour that are available to download in the following days at no extra charge. They are also happy to assist with camera settings to give you the best chance of capturing the auroras.
NEW
Special Tours Iceland app with 5 languages (English, German, French, Spanish and simplified Chinese) available for Android and Apple. It is available for all clients to download during their tour, with both text and audio information. The app is as close to an audio guided wildlife adventure as possible
Cancellation policy
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 1 day or less before the event
Our refund fee
On top of the operator's policy above, every refund carries a processing fee: 3.5% + €0.25 for card payments, or 2% for Alipay and WeChat Pay. It applies to all refunds, including cancellations inside the free-cancellation window — the fee charged when you pay is not returned to us when we refund.
What’s included
2-3 hour Northern Lights by Boat tour
Experienced guide on every departure
Warm overalls (also available in children's sizes!)
Heated indoor seating areas
Free ticket to try again if nothing is seen on your tour!
WC's, snack bar & WiFi on board
Pictures taken on every tour, available to download free of charge
Friendly crew can assist with photography and camera settings if needed
Not included
Food and drink (can be purchased on board)
Hotel transfers (can be added for an additional cost)
What do I need to bring?
We recommend wearing warm clothes & sturdy shoes. Don't forget your camera!
Please note
When the northern lights forecast looks good but it is too windy to sail, we will take our customers out for a northern lights tour on a bus - plus a chance to join our boat tour the next available day!
If the tour is cancelled and you have not previously joined a tour, you can exchange your ticket for one of the following options:
- A Whale Watching tour
- Join our Northern Lights Backup Plan - Auroras at Whales of Iceland (plus the chance to keep reschedule your boat tour) - as our reception for more info!
- A full refund
These tours are subject to correct weather conditions. You can always check our website (www.specialtours.is), call us (+354-560-8800), or check with your hotel lobby around 18:00 to see if the tour will operate.
More info
- Experience type
- Day tour / activity
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Live tour guide
- English
Meeting point
Reykjavík
Reykjavík, IS
Hotel pickup points
We can collect you from any of these. You will choose yours at checkout.
- Drop OffGeirsgata 11 60′
- 100 ICELAND HOTEL - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 60′
- 101 Guesthouse - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 101 60′
- 101 Hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Hverfisgata 10 60′
- 101 Skuggi Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Lindargata 50 60′
- 105 - A Townhouse Hotel - Háteigsvegur 11 Háteigsvegur 60′
Show all 147 more
- 201 Hotel - Hlíðasmári 55 Hlíðasmári 60′
- 27 Sóley Guesthouse - Pick up location: BSI bus station ( taxi side )Bergstadastræti 60 60′
- 37 Apartments -Pick up location: Bus stop 14Laugavegur 37 60′
- 41 A Townhouse hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Laugavegur 41 60′
- 4th Floor Hotel - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 101 60′
- Alda Hotel - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 Snorrabraut Laugavegur 66-68 60′
- Alfred's Studios - Pick Up location : Bus stop 14Frakkastígur 6A 60′
- Alfreds Apartments - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 Snorrabraut 60′
- Alva hotel / 22 Hill - Brautarholt 22brautarholt 22 60′
- Anna Guesthouse (Smaragata 16) - Pick up location: BSI bus station ( taxi side )Smaragata 16 60′
- Apartment K ( Bergstaðastræti 12 ) - Pick up location: Bus stop 1412 Bergstaðastræti 60′
- Apartment K (Bergstaðastræti 3) - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Bergstaðastræti 60′
- Apartment K (Hverfisgata 37) - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Hverfisgata 37 60′
- Apartment K (Ingólfsstræti 1a) - Pick up location: Bus stop 61 Ingólfsstræti 60′
- Apartment K (Laugavegur 46) - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Laugavegur 46 60′
- Apartment K (Laugavegur 74) - Pick up location: Bus stop 9 Snorrabraut Laugavegur 74 60′
- Apartment K (Laugavegur 85/86) - Pick up location: Bus stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 85/86 60′
- Apartment K (Lindargata 60) - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Lindargata 60 60′
- Apartment K (Skólastræti 1) - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Skólastræti 60′
- Apartment K (Þingholtstræti 2-4) - Pick up location: Bus stop 6þingholtstræti 2-4 60′
- Arctic Comfort Hotel - Sidumúli 19Sidumúli 19 60′
- Aurora Apartments - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Hverfisgata 78 60′
- Aurora Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaFreyjugata 24 60′
- B14 Hostel - 11 Iceland, Faxafen1 Iceland, Faxafen, Reykjavík 60′
- Blue House B&B - Valhúsabraut 19, Seltjarnarnes19 Valhúsabraut 60′
- Blue Luxury Apartments - Pick up Location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaBergstaðastræti 44 60′
- Brim Hotel - Skipholt 27Skipholt 15 60′
- BSI bus station ( taxi side ) 60′
- Bus Hostel - SkógarhlíðSkógarhlíð 10 60′
- Bus stop 1 - Ráðhúsið (City Hall) Ráðhúsið 60′
- Bus stop 11 - Austurbær 60′
- Bus stop 12 - Höfðatorg105 Katrínartún 60′
- Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurLaugavegur 120 60′
- Bus stop 14 - SkúlagataSkúlagata 60′
- Bus Stop 17 (Temporary Bus stop 15) - GrandagarðurGrandagarður 60′
- Bus Stop 18Hverfisgata 60′
- Bus stop 2 - Tjörnin (The Pond)Tjörnin 60′
- Bus stop 3 - Lækjargata Lækjargata 60′
- Bus stop 5 - Harpa Harpa 60′
- Bus stop 6. Safnarhúsið - The culture house Ingólfsstræti 60′
- Bus stop 8. Hallgrímskirkja101 Hallgrímstorg 60′
- Bus stop 9 - SnorrabrautSnorrabraut 60′
- Candlewood Suites Reykjavík - BUS STOP 13Laugavegur 120 60′
- Canopy Reykjavik - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Smiðjustígur 4 60′
- Capital Inn - SuðurhlíðSuðurhlíð 60′
- Center Hotel Klöpp -Pick up location: Bus stop 14Klapparstíg 26 60′
- Center Hotel Laugavegur - Pick up Location: Bus stop 9, SnorrabrautSnorrabraut 60′
- Center Hotel Miðgarður - Pick up location: Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurLaugavegur 60′
- Center Hotel Skjaldbreið -Pick up location: Bus stop 6Laugavegi 16 60′
- Center Hotel Þingholt - Pick up location: Bus stop 3Þingholtsstræti 60′
- Circle Hostel - Hringbraut 121Hringbraut 121 60′
- Dalur - HI Hostel (Reykjavík Campsite Hostel)Sundlaugavegur 34 60′
- Downtown Reykjavík Apts - Pick up location: Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurRaudararstigur 31 60′
- Eric the Red Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaEiríksgata 6 60′
- Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel - Brautarholt 10 - 14Brautarholt 10 - 14 60′
- Fosshótel Barón - Bus Stop 9Snorrabraut 24 60′
- Fosshótel Lind - Rauðarárstígur 18 - Pick up location: Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurRauðarárstígur 31 60′
- Fosshótel Rauðará - Rauðarárstígur 37Rauðarárstígur 37 60′
- Fosshótel Reykjavík - Pick up location: Bus stop 12 - HöfðatorgThorunnartun 1 60′
- Freyja Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - Hallgrímskirkja freyjugata 39 60′
- Galaxy Pod Hostel - Laugavegur 170Laugavegur 170 60′
- Galtafell Guesthouse - Pick up location: BSI bus station ( taxi side )Laufásvegur 46 60′
- Gestinn Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaNjarðargata 29 60′
- Grand Hótel Reykjavík - Sigtún 38 Sigtún 38 60′
- Grand Hotel Reykjavík - Sigtún 28Sigtún 28 60′
- Grettir Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Laugavegur 28a 60′
- Grettisborg Apartments - Pick up location: Bus stop 11 - AusturbærGrettisgata 51 60′
- Grímur Hotel - Efstaland 26, 108 ReykjavíkEfstaland 26 60′
- Guesthouse Andrea - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaNjarðargata 43 60′
- Guesthouse Borgatún - Borgartún 34Borgartún 34 60′
- Guesthouse Captain Reykjavik - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaBergstadastræti 60 60′
- Guesthouse Smáragata - Pick up location: BSI bus station ( taxi side )Smaragata 3 60′
- Guesthouse Snorri - Pick up location: Bus stop 11 - AusturbærSnorrabraut 61 60′
- Guesthouse Sunna - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaÞórsgata 26 60′
- Guesthouse Von - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 Snorrabraut Laugavegur 55 60′
- Heida's Home - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 SnorrabrautHverfisgata 102 60′
- Hilton Hotel Nordica - Suðurlandsbraut 2Suðurlandsbraut 2 60′
- Hlemmur Apartments - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 126 60′
- Hlemmur Square - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 Snorrabrauthlemmur 60′
- HOSTEL B47 - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaBARÓNSSTÍGUR 47 60′
- Hotel Aska - Skipholt 29Skipholt 29 60′
- Hótel Cabin - Borgartún 32Borgartún 32 60′
- Hótel Frón - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Laugavegur 22a 60′
- Hótel Garður (Student Hostel) - Hringbraut 2929 Hringbraut 60′
- Hótel Holt - Pick up location: BSI bus station ( taxi side )Bergstaðastræti 37 60′
- Hótel Ísland Comfort - Hlíðasmára 13Hlíðasmára 13 60′
- Hótel Ísland Spa&Wellness - Ármúli 9Ármúli 9 60′
- Hótel Klettur - Mjölnisholti 12-14Mjölnisholt 12 60′
- Hotel Leifur Eiriksson - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaSkólavörðustíg 45 60′
- Hotel Lotus - ÁlftamýriÁlftamýri 60′
- Hótel Örkin - Brautarholti 29Brautarholti 29 60′
- Hótel Óðinsvé - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaÞórsgötu 1 60′
- Hotel Saga - Pick up location: Bus stop 2Tjörnin 60′
- Ice Hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - Hallgrímskirkja47 Barónsstígur 60′
- Igdlo Guesthouse - Busstop 11Snorrabraut 37 60′
- Ion City Hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Laugavegur 28 60′
- Ísland Apartments - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Hverfisgata 56 60′
- Kerno Apartments - Hringbraut 79Hringbraut 79 60′
- Kex Hostel - Skúlagötu 28 - Bus stop 9Skúlagötu 28 60′
- Konrads Downtown GH - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - Hallgrímskirkja Lokastigur 11 60′
- Laekur Hostel - Laugarnesvegur 7474 Laugarnesvegur 60′
- Laugabjarg guesthouse - Sundlaugavegi 37Sundlaugavegi 37 60′
- Loft Hostel - Bus stop 6Bankastræti 60′
- Loki Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaLokastígur 24 60′
- Luna Apartments (Baldursgata 36) - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaBaldursgata 36 60′
- Luna Apartments (Laugavegur 37) - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Laugvegur 37 60′
- Múli Hotel -Hallarmúli 1Hallarmúli 1 60′
- Mýrin Guesthouse - Starmýri 2c 108Starmýri 2c 60′
- Northern Comfort Apartments - Skipholt 15Skipholt 15 60′
- Norðurey City Garden - Hrísateigur 14 60′
- Norðurey Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaSnorrabraut 71 60′
- Oddsson Downtown hotelHáteigsvegur 1 60′
- Oddsson Midtown Hotel - Grensásvegur 16aHringbraut 121 60′
- Odinn Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Óðinsgata 9 60′
- OK Hotel - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 74 60′
- Óðinsvé Hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaÞórsgata 60′
- Pavi Guesthouse - Brautarholt 4Brautarholt 4 60′
- Phoenix Hotel Laugavegur - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 140-105 60′
- R13 A Townhouse Hotel - Ármúli 13AÁrmúli 13a 60′
- REK Inn - Skipholt 1515 Skipholt 60′
- Rey Apartments - Pick up location: Bus stop 14 Grettisgata 2a 60′
- Reykjavík 4 You Apartments (Bergstaðastræti 12) - Pick up location: Bus stop 14Bergstaðastræti 12 60′
- Reykjavik 4 you Apartments (Laugavegi 85) - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegi 85 60′
- Reykjavík City Hostel - Sundlaugavegur 34Sundlaugavegur 34 60′
- Reykjavik Hostel Village - Bus stop 11Flókagata 60′
- Reykjavik Lights Hotel - Suðurlandsbraut 12Suðurlandsbraut 60′
- Reykjavík Natura - Berjaya Iceland Hotels - Nauthólsvegi 52Nauthólsvegi 52 60′
- Reykjavik Residence Hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Hverfisgata 45 60′
- Room with a View - Pick up location: Bus stop 6 Laugavegur 18 60′
- Sandhotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 6 60′
- Skarfabakki Harbour (Cruise Ships) - Parking lot next to the Viðey Ferry TerminalSkarfagarðar 8 60′
- Skuggi Hotel - Pick Up location : Bus stop 9 - Snorrabrauthverfisgata 60′
- Sport Hostel Reykjavík - ÁlfheimarÁlfheimar 60′
- Stay Apartments (Laugavegur 139) - Pick Up location : Bus Stop 9 SnorrabrautLaugavegur 139 60′
- Stay Apartments - Bolholt 6boltholt 6 60′
- Stay Apartments Einholt - Pick up location: Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurEinholt 60′
- Stay Apartments Grettisgata - Pick up location: Bus stop 11 - AusturbærGrettisgata 43 60′
- Stay Apartments Njalsgata - Pick up location: Bus stop 13 - RauðarárstígurNjálsgata 112 60′
- Storm hotel - Pick up location: Bus stop 12 - HöfðatorgÞórunnartún 4 60′
- The Swan house - Pick up location: Bus stop 6Vatnsstígur 11 60′
- Thor Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaSkólavörðustígur 16 60′
- To Be AnnouncedGeirsgata 11 60′
- Tower and Perlan Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaGrettisgata 22c 60′
- Tower Suites Reykjavík - Katrínartún 2 - Bus Stop 12Katrínartún 105 60′
- Travel-Inn - Pick up location: BSI bus station (taxi side) Sóleyjagata 31 60′
- Villa Guesthouse - Pick up location: Bus stop 8 - HallgrímskirkjaSkolavordustigur 30 60′
- Von Guldsmeden Hotel - Pickup Location: Bus Stop 9 - SnorrabrautLaugavegur 55 60′
Staying at a hotel or apartment? You will be asked for your room number — the driver needs it at reception.
