Northern Lights Yacht Cruise from Reykjavik

Reykjavik Old Harbour

The cruise departs from Reykjavik Old Harbour, the historic port built in the early twentieth century that turned the small town into Iceland's capital of trade and fishing. Today the harbour mixes working fishing boats with whale watching vessels, seafood restaurants and colourful sheds, while the glass facade of the Harpa concert hall sparkles on the eastern side.

If you choose the default option, our driver collects you from your hotel and brings you straight to the yacht, so you do not need to know how to get to Reykjavik Old Harbour in the dark. With the harbour option you meet at Aegisgardur 2, a pier about ten minutes on foot from the city centre, and check in 20 minutes before departure.

Faxafloi Bay and the lights of Reykjavik

Faxafloi is the wide bay that opens west of Reykjavik, framed by the Reykjanes peninsula to the south and the Snaefellsnes peninsula to the north. Once the yacht leaves the harbour, the bright streets fall behind and the sky darkens, which is exactly what you need to see the northern lights. The captain heads to areas of the bay where light pollution is lowest and the views are open in every direction.

Looking back, the city shines along the shore: you can pick out the tall tower of Hallgrimskirkja, the glowing Harpa and the lights of the suburbs climbing the hills. To the north-east rises the dark mass of Mount Esja, and the island of Videy lies close by. Even on nights without auroras, this view of Reykjavik from the sea is a beautiful sight.

The northern lights over Iceland

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, appear when charged particles from the sun strike the upper atmosphere and make its gases glow. The most common colour is green, produced by oxygen around 100 to 250 kilometres high, while strong displays can add pink, red and violet edges. Iceland sits under the auroral oval, so on clear, dark nights the lights can be seen almost anywhere in the country.

The best time to see the northern lights in Reykjavik is from autumn to early spring, when nights are long and dark. Two things must come together: solar activity and clear skies. The crew keep an eye on the forecast and the sky during the cruise, and point out the first pale arcs, which often look grey-green to the eye but show strong colour on camera.

On board the yacht

The yacht is designed for comfortable aurora watching. Three open deck areas at different levels give everyone space at the rail, so you can move around to find the best angle, while the heated indoor lounge lets you warm up between sightings. Warm blankets are provided, and seasickness tablets are available for anyone sensitive to the motion of the sea.

For photography, bring a camera that allows manual settings and long exposures, or use the night mode of a recent phone; on a moving boat, a higher sensitivity and shorter exposure give sharper results than a tripod. Snacks and hot drinks are sold on board, and there is Wi-Fi to share your pictures. Allow about two hours on the water, plus transfer time with the pickup option.