The aurora belt · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
A trip north is short and the clear nights are shorter. These 15 aurora boat trips justify an evening, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get back outside.
Sail from central Tromsø at 8 p.m. with Polar Adventures, searching the fjords and Arctic sea for the Aurora Borealis. Your English-speaking crew, including guides such as Ken, Holly, Thomas, and Hans, helps with camera settings while you warm up with hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and indoor seating.
“Real 10 out of 10. super friendly guides. The atmosphere was cosy and happy.”
Join guides such as Yana, Valeria, Douaa, or Hannah-Rose aboard a warm catamaran from Tromsø. Sail into darker fjords, watch through panoramic windows or outdoor decks, enjoy free tea or coffee, and receive a free second cruise if no aurora appears.
“Simply stunning. We were very fortunate to see a wonderful display on Monday 23 February. Whole experience, from staff, guides abd amenities were excellent. Highly recommended.”
Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay for two hours of aurora watching. Your English-speaking guide points out the lights, stars, and photo settings, while three decks, blankets, Wi-Fi, and a full bar help you stay comfortable. Hotel pickup is optional.
“Was an incredible evening seeing the Northern Lights whilst in the sea. Could see the Northern lights within 5 minutes of sailing. Initially not to dissimilar to seeing them in the UK (faint green) however after about 30 minutes then lights came alive and illuminated the sky. Dancing across they looked incredible, even seeing a meteor during the spectacle. Reduced my mother to tears! Incredible evening experienced by the whole family.”
Settle into a heated, panoramic catamaran for a three-hour evening around Tromsø. You’ll enjoy a three-course Arctic meal, hear local stories in English, and step outside when the sky clears. Seafood is central, with a vegetarian option available if requested at least 24 hours ahead.
“The crew was great and very supportive. They informed us as soon as they noticed some activities in the sky and helped with the camera settings when needed, so that we could see the lights on the way back to Tromsø. One thing, some of the guests were really annoying as they focused on drinking and became louder and louder. Therefore, it was hard to understand eachother or the crew‘s instructuctions or announcements. Nevertheless, great experience !”
Sail from downtown Reykjavik for about two hours in search of the aurora. You get heated indoor seating, outdoor decks, Wi-Fi, warm floatable overalls, skyline views, and a free return cruise if the lights do not appear.
“This trip was great! The crew were very kind and informative about the northern lights, their formation and the conditions needed. We didn’t actually get to see the lights but they are natural and hard to predict! They provided us with vouchers to try again free of charge valid for two years, a great experience.”
Set out from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a two-hour Northern Lights cruise with an English-speaking guide, indoor lounges, two observation decks, blankets, and Wi-Fi. You can watch from the open deck, warm up inside, and rebook if poor conditions prevent a sighting.
“Northern lights were not what I expected, but I’m delighted to have had a chance to see how they typically look to the naked eye and a camera. Our guide was very helpful.”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay for about two hours of aurora watching. You’ll have heated indoor seating, a viewing deck, Wi-Fi, a bar, and guides such as Isabella helping with sky updates and photography. Wildlife sightings are possible, but the northern lights are never guaranteed.
“While we didn’t see the northern lights on this trip, the crew were fantastic, pointing out constellations etc When we left they told us too come back as we hadn’t seen the lights … Fast forward 2 years and I emailed asking if the offer still applied. They replied quickly and we were able to go while on a return visit. We saw an amazing display and again the crew were fantastic.”
Sail from Tromsø for 3.5 hours aboard Brim Explorer, following weather forecasts toward Kvaløyvågen, Ramfjorden, or Kvaløya. Guides such as Tobias, Darcel, and Ayona share Aurora science and folklore while the crew watches the sky. Heated lounges, vegan soup, and photo help are included.
“The Aurora was stunning. We had perfect conditions. The boat was warm and comfortable. The soup was absolutely delicious.”
Cruise from Reykjavik into Faxafloi Bay for about two and a half hours, with guides explaining aurora science and Icelandic myths. Thermal overalls, heated indoor seating, WiFi, and free tour photos are included. If the lights stay hidden, you can return on another available night at no extra cost.
“The weather was good so the northern lights were visible and plenty of them. The tour guide was brilliant”
Search for the aurora aboard the 70-year-old MS Strønstad on a four-hour Tromsø fjord cruise. You’ll get a pre-cruise presentation, warm coffee, indoor seating, and access to a bar, with optional sauna or jacuzzi time. Guides such as Jana, Janna, and Tobi add local insight.
“Despite not really seeing the northern lights (we just didn’t get lucky), the adventure was really great. The guides were welcoming and friendly and full of interesting information. The boat was cool to explore and we enjoyed meeting the captain and travelling through the fjords on different decks of the boat. The guests and guides were an eclectic mix of different nationalities and we really enjoyed chatting with the whole crew.”
Cruise around Tromsøya from 19:00 to 22:30 aboard a quiet electric boat. You’ll receive a welcome drink, a three-course dinner, aurora guidance, and access to an outdoor viewing deck. The crew may include Elli, Alberto, Fani, Andrea, Francesca, Yvan, or Connor.
“The Green Lady was very generous. The vessel, the crew and the dinner met our expectations and beyond. A 'must do'.”
Sail from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour on Rósin or Andrea, reaching darker waters in 15 to 30 minutes. Your English-speaking guide explains the aurora, points out faint activity, and helps with photos. Warm overalls, heated seating, WiFi, and a free return ticket are included if the lights do not appear.
“Trip was well run and thank god for the inside warm area. Only thing to note, never received link for photos. But well worth going if your visiting Iceland.”
Join Captain Kenneth and Sachi aboard Stella Oceana for a four-hour evening cruise from Tromsø. Search for the aurora, warm up with reindeer soup and hot drinks, and enjoy scheduled hot-tub time at sea. The yacht holds no more than 12 people and returns to the same dock.
“Beautifully curated and luxurious experience! Big icebreaker yacht and plenty of space and time to relax , eat, enjoy the sky and the hot tub!”
Sail from Reykjavík Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay on the MY Harpa or MY Amelia Rose. Your guide watches the sky for the Aurora Borealis while you enjoy views of Harpa, Sun Voyager, Höfði, and Viðey. Inside seating, Wi-Fi, blankets, and hot drinks make the wait comfortable.
“Great trip, the guides were great and gave great commentary throughout, my only minor point was the meeting point was a bit of a mess in that the map location didn’t say go into a an office so I was wandering around for a while looking where to go but other than that great trip and we were blessed with a great northen lights show !”
Cruise Tromsø’s Arctic fjords aboard the 32-meter Stella Oceana with up to 12 people. Captain Kenneth and Sachi serve reindeer stew, hot drinks, and cookies, while you search for the aurora from two decks or a warm hot tub.
“The hot tub was amazing and the experience on cruise was relaxing. Felt warm hosting by captain and crew, the reindeer soup dinner was very delicious!”
Pick a country, a city or a kind of night.
