Northern Lights tours in Iceland

Which Northern Lights tour is right for you?

Related tours

Northern Lights tour types compared

Every Northern Lights tour has the same goal: get you under a clear, dark sky. What changes is the group size, the vehicle and what else is included. Here is how the main types compare.

Private Northern Lights tours

On a group tour the driver has a full bus and a schedule to keep. On a private Northern Lights tour it is just your group, so your guide can chase the clearest sky that night: wait longer at a good spot, try a second place, or head back early if the sky is hopeless. It is the best choice for couples, families with children, keen photographers and anyone who wants the evening to go at their own pace. The price is per vehicle for your whole group, so for a family or a group of friends it can cost less per person than you might think.

• Northern Lights Private Tour from Reykjavík from 80,000 ISK per group: 4–5 hours, pick-up at your accommodation, rated 5.0 from 21 reviews
• Private Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri from 209,900 ISK per group: about 3 hours in North Iceland
• 2 Day South Coast Private Tour from 659,980 ISK per group: waterfalls and glaciers by day, an evening aurora hunt away from the city

“We were driven to remote spots to avoid light pollution. When the Northern Lights finally appeared, it was a breathtaking wrap to a long but rewarding night.”
Carlos M. on the private tour, 5 stars

Luxury Northern Lights experiences

If you want the evening to feel special, these tours add comfort, warm water or a glass of something to the aurora hunt.

• Private Northern Lights Tour from 80,000 ISK per group: your own guide and heated vehicle, nobody else on board
• Northern Lights Cruise, Luxury Yacht Excursion from 12,990 ISK: watch the sky from a yacht leaving downtown Reykjavík
• Sky Lagoon & Northern Lights from 27,999 ISK: an ocean-side lagoon, then the aurora hunt
• Northern Lights & GeoSea Sea Baths from Akureyri from 49,900 ISK: warm sea baths in North Iceland
• Forest Lagoon & Northern Lights from Akureyri from 26,878 ISK: a forest lagoon, then the aurora hunt
• Aurora Hunt with Campfire, Marshmallows & Thermal Suits from 21,990 ISK: warm suits and a fire while you wait for the sky

Planning a honeymoon or a special trip? See our Iceland honeymoon packages, or ask a local and we will build a private Northern Lights trip around you.

Northern Lights plus another experience

Short on time? These tours combine a day of sightseeing, a lagoon or a cave with an evening aurora hunt, all in one booking.

• Golden Circle & Northern Lights from 17,990 ISK: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss by day
• Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights (small groups) from 41,990 ISK: the Golden Circle and a soak in the Blue Lagoon
• Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights (admission included) from 32,499 ISK: a Blue Lagoon visit, then the aurora
• South Coast & Northern Lights from 21,990 ISK: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara black sand beach
• Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon, Kerið & Northern Lights from 30,990 ISK: the Golden Circle, Kerið crater and the Secret Lagoon
• Evening Lava Tunnel & Northern Lights from 25,990 ISK: a walk through a lava tunnel before the aurora hunt
• Whale Watching & Northern Lights from 22,980 ISK: whale watching from Reykjavík harbour
• Reykjadalur Hot Springs and Northern Lights from 29,900 ISK: a hike to the warm river in Reykjadalur
• Into the Glacier & Northern Lights from 46,990 ISK: the man-made ice tunnel inside Langjökull glacier
• Glacier Lagoon & Northern Lights from 29,300 ISK: Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and the glacier lagoon

Multi-day Northern Lights trips: the best odds

One evening is one chance. On a multi-day trip you get an aurora chance every clear night, in different parts of the country, so if one night is cloudy there is another the next evening. Our winter packages include hotels outside the city, where the sky is darker.

• 8 Day Iceland Northern Lights Tour Package from 389,990 ISK (8 days)
• 2 Day Snæfellsnes Peninsula Tour from 69,990 ISK (2 days, West Iceland and Northern Lights)
• 4-Day Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave & Volcano from 169,990 ISK (4 days)
• 5 Day Iceland Itinerary from 143,980 ISK (5 days: Northern Lights, ice cave, glacier hike, Jökulsárlón)
• 6-Day Iceland Winter Package from 238,500 ISK (6 days)
• 7 Days in Iceland from 90,960 ISK (7 days)

See all multi-day trips and travel packages.

Northern Lights tours from Akureyri and North Iceland

North Iceland has long, dark nights and few city lights, so Akureyri is a great base for the aurora.

• Akureyri Northern Lights Tour from 16,900 ISK
• Private Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri from 209,900 ISK per group
• Northern Lights & GeoSea Sea Baths from 49,900 ISK
• Forest Lagoon & Northern Lights from 26,878 ISK

More to do in the north: tours in North Iceland.

How a Northern Lights tour works

1. Check the forecast. In the afternoon the operator checks the cloud cover and aurora forecast for the evening (anyone can look at the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast on vedur.is).
2. Go or no go. If the sky looks hopeless, the tour is cancelled and you are offered another night or a refund. Each tour page explains its own rules.
3. Pick-up in the evening, usually between 7 and 10 pm depending on the tour.
4. Drive to dark sky. The guide heads away from Reykjavík's lights to where the forecast is clearest. This can change during the night.
5. Watch and wait. Time outside watching the sky, often with stops at more than one place.
6. Back to Reykjavík late in the evening or after midnight.

No tour can promise the aurora. It depends on solar activity and clear skies, which nobody controls. Many tours offer a free second try if you see nothing, so book your Northern Lights tour early in your trip to leave nights for a second chance.

When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

The season runs from about late August or September to mid-April. The darkest months are November, December and January, with the longest nights. September, October, February and March often have milder weather and still plenty of darkness. Clear sky matters more than the month: a clear night in October beats a cloudy night in December. The aurora is often strongest between about 10 pm and 2 am, but it can appear any time it is dark.

Read our Northern Lights guide and Iceland in November. The aurora season is also the season for ice caves and snow: see all Iceland winter tours.

What to wear on a Northern Lights tour

• Thermal base layer
• Warm mid layer (wool or fleece)
• Windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm hat, gloves and a scarf
• Winter boots and warm socks
• Hand warmers
• A power bank, because cold drains phone batteries fast

You will spend a lot of the evening standing still outside, so dress warmer than you think you need.

Tips for photographing the Northern Lights

• Use a tripod or rest your camera on something steady.
• On a phone, use night mode and keep it still.
• On a camera, start around ISO 1600–3200, aperture as wide as it goes (f/2.8 or lower), shutter 5–15 seconds, and focus on a distant light or star.
• Turn off the flash.
• Bring a spare battery.

The Northern Lights Photo Tour has a guide who helps with your camera settings.

Northern Lights tour or self-drive?

You can hunt the aurora on your own with a rental car, but winter roads, dark driving and reading the forecast are a lot to manage on holiday. A tour means an experienced local driver, someone who knows where the clear sky is likely to be, and no driving on icy roads at night. If you are self-driving around Iceland, our winter self-drive trips stay in countryside hotels where you can often see the aurora right outside.

Questions people ask