Reykjavik: Guided Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos
Description
Get ready for an epic adventure chasing the Northern Lights in our small group minibus tour from Reykjavík! We'll take you on an epic hunt for nature's most stunning display; the Aurora Borealis. We've got cozy blankets and hot chocolate to keep you warm and our awesome guides will snap some amazing photos of you with the lights, all for free. This is more than just a tour—it's an unforgettable night under the magical Arctic sky!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your Northern Lights hunt kicks off with an evening pick-up from your chosen spot in the Reykjavik area. Leaving the city behind, you'll escape light pollution and head into the quiet Icelandic countryside for the best chance to see the magical auroras. Our expert guide will scout out the perfect spot with the least cloud cover and highest KP index values. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure under the shimmering Arctic sky! Our hunt may take up to 4 hours depending on the conditions but we will make sure to do our best to find them.
Once we find the perfect spot, you'll have the chance to witness the epic Northern Lights in all their glory. Picture a neon green glow lighting up the sky, sometimes shifting to pinks and purples, depending on the KP index. The shapes, colors, and brightness are always changing, so no two views are ever the same. Imagine waves of vibrant colors shimmering and dancing across the night sky, creating a mesmerizing, otherworldly show that feels like a magical, celestial ballet. It's a natural performance that will leave you absolutely in awe. While enjoying this incredible spectacle, you'll stay cozy with warm blankets, hot chocolate, and some sweet chocolate treats. Plus, you'll have the chance to get your photos taken with the Northern Lights!
After our hunt, we'll head back to the city for a late-night drop-off at your chosen spot from our list.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- Remember, you’re responsible for updating your pick-up location at least 48 hours before your tour. - Pick up times for Magical Auroras is as follows: 25th Aug - 14th Sept: 21:30 (9:30pm) 15th Sept - 14th Mar: 20:30 (8:30pm) 15th Mar - 15th Apr: 21:30 (9:30pm) You’ll find the actual pickup time in the booking process and on your final voucher. Pick up may take up to 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions and your location. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If you do not see any northern lights, offer you a free second tour but please note that you must contact to re-book this and this is subject to availability each time. No refund is given when no lights are seen.
- Tour is operated from Mid-September to Mid-April.
- The tour duration is up to 4 hours
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately and bring warm clothing
- Free photos on the tours when northern lights are seen
Reviews(290)
Our guide Nikos was excellent and gave us really interesting expert knowledge on the northern lights on our drive to Thingvellir to our viewing point. He drove us to a second, quieter spot away from the bigger buses which was really appreciated. Highly recommend this tour!
Dear Traveler, Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a highly recommended experience on your Northern Lights tour. It is fantastic to know that Nikos made the journey so enjoyable with his expert knowledge and thoughtful approach, finding a quieter viewing spot to enhance your experience. Moments like these truly make the adventure even more special. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Iceland in the future. - Arctic Adventures Team
Nice experience! The weather is unstable but the tour guide Nikos is professional and patient. He found a place where we can finally see the northern lights. Also, he took pictures with all of us under the lights. Great trip at all!
Dear Traveller, Thank you very much for your kind words! We are delighted to hear that you had such a nice experience on your Northern Lights tour. It is wonderful to know that our guide made a strong impression with his professionalism and patience, especially in challenging weather conditions. We are glad his efforts paid off and that you were able to see the Northern Lights and capture those special moments together. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Iceland in the future. -Arctic Adventures Team
Excellent experience. Nikos was great, he brought us in a clear sky spot where aurora was magnificent. He also took memorable photos for us. Kind nature, helpful, excellent! A life time experience indeed. Thank you!
Dear Anthia, Thank you very much for your kind review! We are overjoyed to hear that you had such an excellent and memorable Northern Lights experience. It is fantastic to know that Nikos made the tour so special, finding the perfect clear sky location and helping you witness such a magnificent display. It is amazing that you now have beautiful photos to remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are grateful for your kind words and for sharing your journey with us. We would love to have you join us again for another memorable journey in Iceland. -Arctic Adventures Team
Helpful guide for the northern lights visit!!! Thanks Nichos
Dear Traveller, Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful feedback! We are happy to hear that you had a nice experience on your Northern Lights tour. It is great to know that Nichos was helpful throughout the tour, making your experience even more enjoyable while searching for the Northern Lights. Your feedback means a lot to us, thank you for letting us know about your experience. We look forward to seeing you again for more amazing experiences in Iceland. -Arctic Adventures Team
I was so disappointed our trip was cancelled on the Wednesday because of the weather but I would’ve been more disappointed if they had taken us out knowing we wouldn’t see anything. They allowed us to move our trip to Thursday & let me tell you it was the most special thing I have ever seen! It’s been on my bucket list for years to see the northern lights & it was worth every penny! We got picked up around 10pm, our pick up time was 9.30 so we were beginning to panic when everyone else who was waiting with us got picked up with their groups but we waited it out & the minibus came. We were the last pick up but frost drop on way home. Our guide Al was fantastic & full of knowledge! We drove about an hour out of Reykjavik & we saw them almost instantly! Al said it’s unusual it happens that fast as it’s usually a lot of driving & waiting so we were very very lucky! He took all of our photos & when we were happy we got our hot cocoa & got back on the bus to head back to our hotel. Highly recommend this trip & Arctic Adventures
Loved this tour. Our guide, Greta was fantastic. We did get to see the lights! Everything went smoothly, the bus was comfortable. We were done early because we saw the lights and were able to go back. I will say that I thought included photos would mean they would be there organizing photos so we wouldn't have to, but mostly the guide was available to take your picture. That was the only thing I felt like I misunderstood.
Dear Traveller, Thank you very much for your lovely review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a great experience on the Northern Lights tour and that Greta made it so enjoyable for you. It is wonderful to know that everything ran smoothly, from the comfortable bus to the successful sighting of the lights, and even an early return after such a magical display. We also truly appreciate your feedback regarding the included photos, it is understandable how this could have been interpreted, and your comment helps us improve how we communicate this part of the experience to future travellers. Thank you again for sharing your experience with us. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in Iceland in the future. Arctic Adventures Team
We had our trip cancelled a few times but finally went with Greta on Sunday and we were not disappointed. The spectacle was awesome, we were literally clapping in wonder. The lights just exploded above us. It lasted ages and just fulfilled every dream we had to see the lights. Greta was brilliant. And the hot chocolate very welcome as it was freezing. The absolute highlight of our Iceland holiday fabulous
Dear Luv, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We at Arctic Adventures are truly happy to hear that, despite the initial cancellations, the tour delivered such a memorable evening. Seeing the Northern Lights at their best is something special, and your description says it all. Greta will certainly appreciate your kind words, and it is great to know the experience became a highlight of your trip. We would be glad to welcome you again for another Arctic Adventure! Best regards, Arctic Adventures Team
Took this tour last evening with Palli(sp?). Forecast was moderately favorable. Pickup went without a hitch. It was a full bus, with some repeat customers from prior failed sightings. Palli was efficient & informative. We drove outside Reykjavík, maybe 1/2 hour, parked in a remote area, no others around, despite many tours being picked up at the same time. As we slowly disembarked, Palli ran back to the bus shouting “come!”. We were immediately rewarded by Lady Aurora. Subtle at first, definitely better seen through camera lens. To say it was mesmerizing is an understatement. Not one of us was left unmoved. We stayed at the same location for about 2 hours, during which time we delighted in the spectacle above us. The aurora was visible the entire time, shifting, changing patterns a locations, sometimes dancing. Even Palli said it was amongst the 5 best trips this year. We all took our own photos of differing quality & Palli was very generous with his photographic expertise, taking multiple shots of each of us with the aurora as the backdrop, as well as many of the light show alone. The hot chocolate & chocolate crispy treat were the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to get the link to Palli’s photos!
Dear Anna, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us. You cannot imagine the happiness we felt while reading your review, it truly made our day. Knowing that your evening with Palli and Lady Aurora was so memorable means the world to our team. We are delighted that the aurora put on such a spectacular show and that Palli’s guidance, photos, and warm treats added to the magic of the night. He will be thrilled to hear your kind words. We hope to see you on our tours again in the future for more unforgettable Icelandic adventures! Best Regards, Arctic Adventures Team
It was our second attempt and our guide, Palli was really kind and enthusiastic about the success of our tour. As a consequence of that, my wife and I got the most beautiful photos of the northern lights that we ever had. So we are very grateful with our guide.
Dear Luis, Thank you for sharing such a special experience with us. Second attempts often come with a bit of hope, and it is wonderful to hear it paid off so beautifully for you and your wife. Seeing the Northern Lights and capturing those moments is something truly unforgettable. Palli will be very happy to hear your kind words. His experience with Northern Lights tours, enthusiasm, and dedication make all the difference on nights like these. Our team is grateful you chose to join us again, and we would be delighted to welcome you back for another adventure in Iceland. Best regards, Arctic Adventures Team
We went to see the Northern Lights on March 10, 2026 and our tour guide was the absolute best! He was very knowledgeable about the northern lights and was very upbeat. He picked the perfect spot to see the lights. Highly recommended!!
Dear Traveler, Thank you for your wonderful review. It is great to hear that your Northern Lights experience was such a success. Finding the right spot is part of the magic, and it is lovely to know your guide made the evening both informative and enjoyable. Moments like these are truly special, and we are very happy you got to experience them. Thank you for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you again in Iceland. Best regards, Arctic Adventures Team
