Is An Iceland Northern Lights Tour Worth It? Things to Know!
Are you visiting Iceland from September to April and hoping to see the Northern Lights?
Witnessing the aurora borealis dance across the sky is a bucket-list experience, and for first-time visitors to Iceland, a guided Northern Lights tour is the best way to make it happen!
My husband and I went on two Northern Lights tours during our winter trip to Iceland, without which, we never would’ve seen the Lights! But there are definitely some things you should know before booking a tour and chasing the Aurora.
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about going on a Northern Lights tour in Iceland, including which tour to book, what to expect while you’re out hunting, and expert tips for spotting the lights!
Why You Should Book an Iceland Northern Lights Tour
If you’re visiting Iceland from September through April, one of the top things to do is to see the Northern Lights!
While it’s tempting to chase the Northern Lights on your own, booking a guided tour in Iceland is a much better option, at least for your first time in Iceland and/or your first time hunting the Lights. Even if you rent a car in Iceland like we did!
There are a few reasons for this! For one, winter driving in Iceland can be intimidating, with icy roads and unpredictable weather.
By booking a guided tour, you can leave the navigation to experienced locals while you focus on enjoying the journey. Especially since you will be driving in complete darkness.
Plus, some tours take place in a “Super Jeep” with huge snow tires, so they can go off-roading to super remote spots!!
Another bonus? Many tours include extras like hot drinks or even warm blankets to make your adventure more comfortable.
But the primary reason to book a guided tour is to learn expert tips from a local on how and where to hunt the lights. These guides typically run tours multiple nights per week and know the best viewing spots outside of Reykjavik to see the Lights.
In addition, the guides know how to expertly read the weather data that impact the Northern Lights, such as the Interplanetary Magnetic Field values, planetary K index, and of course, cloud cover!
Lastly, most companies have multiple tours running at the same time each night. So, if one tour sees the Lights in their location, they will call the other tour drivers and alert them!
All of these perks will help increase your chances of seeing the Lights during your time in Iceland!
Below, I’ll cover a few different Northern Lights tours to choose from and cover the pros and cons of each. If you want my top recommendation: I got you!
Note: A lot of these tours share the same pick-up location in downtown Reykjavik, so it can be a little chaotic when you’re waiting for your bus/van. The driver will have a list of names for who is booked on the tour, so you don’t have to guess which is yours!
Top Northern Lights Tours in Iceland from Reykjavik
Featured Tour Recommendation: Super Jeep Adventure
Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour with Arctic Adventures
- Price: Starting at $195 per person
- Duration: 4 hours
- Rating: 4.2/5 stars ⭐
- Includes: Hot chocolate, blankets, photos, and more!
We personally went on this Northern Lights Super Jeep tour with Arctic Adventures during our trip to Iceland in February and had an incredible experience! Actually, we went on this tour two different times, since we did not see the Lights on the first night!
Arctic Adventures has a “No Lights Guarantee” policy. If you don’t see the Lights on your tour, they’ll allow you to try again on another tour. Can’t make it on your current trip? Don’t worry, it’s valid for the next 3 years.
In addition, this tour takes place in a “Super Jeep” which is basically a souped up Mercedes van with large off-roading snow tires. This type of vehicle allows the driver to explore more remote places away from crowds, which is better for seeing the Lights!
Plus, there’s only 19 seats onboard, so you’ll have a smaller group when compared to the large van companies, which makes for a much more pleasant experience.
In my opinion, all of these reasons make the extra cost of this tour (when compared to the others) 100% worth it.
Book your Northern Lights tour with Arctic Adventures here! ❄️🌌
Budget Option: Northern Lights Bus Tour From Reykjavik
- Price: Starting at $72 per person
- Duration: 4 hours
- Rating: 4.2/5 stars ⭐
- Includes: Hot chocolate
On the other hand, for those looking to save a little money, this Northern Lights bus tour is only $72! The tour also lasts 4 hours and leaves from Reykjavik. However, it takes place on a large bus instead of the Super Jeep like the tour above.
This means you’ll be more limited in terms of where the tour can go since it is not an off-roading vehicle. In addition, there will be much more people on this tour. So if you’re looking for a more personal experience, this probably isn’t the tour for you.
The $72 tour includes the option to be picked up at Bus Stop #5 near the Harpa Concert Hall or Bus Stop #12 on the other side of downtown. You should be able to easily reach these if you’re staying Reykjavik.
It also includes a “No Lights Guarantee”, valid for 3 years (most tours include this, which is a great perk!).
This tour also includes hot cocoa, which is a lovely perk!
Mid-Tier Option: Small Group Northern Lights Tour
- Price: Starting at $94 per person
- Duration: 4 hours
- Rating: 4.2/5 stars ⭐
- Includes: Refreshments & hot chocolate
If you’re looking something in between the Super Jeep tour and the bus tour, this small group Northern Lights tour is the perfect option!
For $94, you get the more intimate feel without the high price tag of the Super Jeep tour! Since this tour typically takes place on a minibus, you’ll be able to explore more remote areas than the large bus tour, but not as remote as the Super Jeep tour. So, it’s a great middle of the road option.
Like the others, this tour also offers the 3 year return offer if you don’t see the Lights, as well as refreshments on the tour!
If you are looking to balance experience and cost, I would choose this tour!
Book this Small Group Northern Lights Tour here for only $93! 🌌🚐
What to Expect on a Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
Now that we’ve covered the top 3 different types of Northern Lights tours, let’s cover what you can expect while on the tours themselves! I promise that having a better idea of what happens on these tours will make it so much more enjoyable.
Picking Up from Reykjavik
Northern Lights tours leave from Reykjavik in the evening, usually between 8 PM and 10 PM, to take advantage of the darkest skies of the evening!
You’ll need to be prepared for a late night, as the tours typically last around 4-5 hours. We arrived back in Reykjavik around 1am on both nights!
Your pickup location will be dependent on which tour you book, but most have a few different options around downtown Reykjavik to choose from.
Our pickup spot was at Bus Stop #9 – Snorrabraut in downtown Reykjavik, which was walking distance from our hotel. Unfortunately, this was the pick up location for at least 5 other Northern Lights tours, so it was a bit confusing which was ours.
Do not automatically assume the first bus/van that arrives is your tour!
The tour driver should have a list of names for each bus/van and will confirm with you before you get on! But, it can be a bit confusing when you first arrive, and you may have to check in with a few buses.
Your tour will likely have a few other pick up locations throughout Reykjavik after your stop, depending on where you are in the lineup! Once everyone is on board, your driver will let you know and start heading out of town.
🌌 Getting on the right bus in Reykjavik is the easy part — making sure your whole trip is planned before you arrive is the real work. My Passport to Confidence guide is a $7 step-by-step planning roadmap covering flights, travel insurance, money, phone plans, and more. Download it and show up ready for everything.
Driving out of Reykjavik
Leaving Reykjavik, your guide will start driving to get far from the city lights, typically heading northeast towards Thingvellir National Park (a popular spot along Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route).
Depending on the conditions, this can take an hour or more to get to a remote area.
The tour guides use real-time weather and aurora forecasts to decide the best spot for the evening, sometimes changing locations mid-tour to find clear skies.
On the drive, your tour guide will typically explain the basics of hunting the Aurora, including the main requirements for spotting them: dark, clear skies, low light pollution, and strong solar activity (aka geomagnetic substorms)!
Our guide shared what tools they use to track solar activity and what the fancy terms mean, like Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and KP Index! Space Weather Live was his top recommendation for reviewing the data.
We learned that to spot the aurora, you want the “Bz” IMF value to be in the negative! Our guide explained this as basically a “door opening”. Negative values means the Lights are likely visible in the sky (as long as the conditions are right!)
You can also use the “Aurora” app which sends push notifications when the lights might be visible based on your location! This is a super cool feature.
ALL of this information was new to us, which is exactly why I recommend a guided tour for your first time Northern Lights hunting in Iceland!
Note: Our guide also shared that most photos online of the Northern Lights are highly edited, and it is unlikely for them to be that vibrant in real life, which helped set expectations for our trip.
Waiting and Watching
Once you arrive at your designated Aurora site (wherever your guide decides based on the weather conditions), be prepared for a lot of waiting and watching the sky. You’ll spend most of the tour scanning the sky and waiting for the lights to appear.
This part of the tour requires patience, as the aurora can be unpredictable and may take hours to show itself—or may not appear at all. And since you’ll be visiting in the winter, it’s very important to be dressed appropriately (more on this later!).
Make sure to spend some time appreciating the incredible stars while you wait! A stargazing app can make this experience even better. We were blown away by the amount of constellations we could see.
Our tour guide also provided hot chocolate and Icelandic liquor while we waited, which added a fun and cozy element to the experience (and helped with the cold!).
However, if the cold becomes overwhelming, many tours allow you to wait in the vehicle, and they will let you know when the aurora becomes visible!
The guides will be watching the sky and the weather data throughout the night. On some tours, you may move to several locations depending on the forecast, while other tours stay in one spot if it looks promising!
Again, patience is very important on these tours, and you have to be prepared to be let down!! Remember, the Lights are a natural phenomenon with a mind of their own!
If you DO get to see the Lights, some tours offer free photography as part of the package, which can take some stress off you so you can focus on enjoying the lights.
Save this post for later!
Enter your info below and I'll email you the link to this blog post so you can refer back to it later 🙂
What to Wear on a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland
Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland means braving cold winter nights. You could be standing outside for several hours, so packing the right gear is crucial for staying warm and comfortable.
Here’s a practical packing list based on our experience! I personally made sure to overdress, as I really hate being cold, and I didn’t want to be miserable the whole night!
- Base Layers: Start with wool or thermal base layers to trap body heat. Merino wool is a great choice for both warmth and breathability.
- Mid-Layers: Add fleece or insulated layers for extra warmth. These help retain heat without adding bulk. I wore sweatpants over my fleece-lined leggings!
- Outer Layers: Wear a waterproof and windproof jacket and pants to shield against Iceland’s brutal wind and snow.
- Accessories: Don’t forget a beanie, scarf or neck gaiter, and warm gloves. These small items make a big difference in keeping you warm.
- Insulated Snow Boots: Choose boots designed for extreme cold with good grip for icy conditions. My boots were NOT warm enough so my toes were cold all night!
- Warm Socks: Wool socks are a must to keep your feet cozy. I actually wore two pairs of these!
- Optional: Use hand warmers (in your pockets and boots) for added comfort during long waits outside.
- Snacks and Water: Northern Lights tours often run late into the night, so make sure to pack a snack and some water! I was starving when we got back from our tour!
- Headlamp or Flashlight: Helpful for navigating dark paths and setting up your gear so you don’t have to use your phone.
- Portable Charger: To keep your phone charged throughout the night!
- Blanket or Sitting Pad: If your tour doesn’t provide them, a small blanket or pad can make waiting outside more comfortable. We personally stood the whole night, but a blanket would’ve been lovely.
For more packing tips, make sure to check out my Ultimate Iceland Winter Packing List! Or grab the downloadable version below🧣
Photography Tips for the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights in person is unforgettable, but capturing their beauty on camera means you’ll get to relive your experience forever! However, photographing the Northern Lights takes some advanced preparation.
Speaking from experience, you’ll want to know what camera settings you need in advance so you’re not fumbling around in the cold and dark.
If you’re serious about capturing the Lights, a DSLR or mirrorless camera works best since it allows for manual settings and long exposures. I used my Canon R7, and it worked great!
You’ll want to use a wide-angle lens (to capture as much of the sky as possible) with a low f-stop (f/2.8 or lower) to let in as much light as possible!
In order to capture the lights, you’ll need to set your shutter speed to somewhere around 15 – 30 seconds. Because of this long exposure, you’ll want to have your camera on a tripod for stability, or else the photo will come out extremely blurry!
P.S. I am obsessed with my Peak Design travel tripod! It’s pricey, but has a life-time guarantee! 📸
A remote shutter or timer is an added bonus to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter button. Plus, you can keep your hands in your pockets while taking the photo!
You should set your ISO between 800 and 1600 to start and adjust as needed. Don’t forget to set your focus to manual and set the dial to infinity!
With these settings in place, you can take some test shots and adjust your ISO or shutter speed depending on the sky and the Lights.
One more quick note: Cold weather drains camera batteries quickly. Bring extras and keep them in a warm pocket until you need them.
Also, gloves with touchscreen compatibility are helpful for adjusting settings without freezing your hands (ask me how I know!!).
Final Thoughts
Seeing the magical Northern Lights in Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and in my opinion, booking a tour is the best way to maximize your chances of witnessing this natural wonder!
From the convenience of guided transportation to the expertise of local guides who know where and when to look, tours take the stress out of planning and let you focus on the magic of the aurora.
However, remember that the Northern Lights are unpredictable, so patience and preparation are key. You may or may not see the Lights on your tour, but you can always try again another night!
Another great way to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is by booking an Igloo hotel away from the city lights! This is how we personally saw our best viewing of the lights. Read more about our experience in an Aurora Igloo hotel here!
Read More Iceland Blog Posts Below! ⬇️🇮🇸❄️
Visiting Iceland In February: Everything To Know!
13 Incredible Things to Do in Iceland in the Winter!
Ultimate 5 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
Renting A Car In Iceland In Winter: Is It Worth It?
The Only Iceland Winter Packing List You Need!
How To Spend One Epic Day In Reykjavik
A Guide To Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle In Winter
Is an Iceland Northern Lights Tour Worth It? Things to Know!
The Most Magical Stay at an Iceland Igloo Hotel!
An Epic Glacier Hike To The Katla Ice Cave In Iceland
Make sure to pin this post for future planning!
