Northern Lights Tours in Iceland
Handpicked northern lights tours from Reykjavík and Akureyri — when to go, what is included and how to book.
Choose your tour
The aurora does not appear on a schedule — it shows up when cloud cover, darkness and geomagnetic activity line up. A guided tour, where the driver follows the forecast and moves between locations, is the most reliable way to see it. Every tour here runs from September to April, when the nights are dark enough.
Small-Group Northern Lights Hunt
A minibus tour where the guide picks the destination based on that night’s cloud cover. Warm overalls, hot chocolate and a free re-try if nothing shows.
Northern Lights by Super Jeep
A smaller group and a 4×4 let the driver leave the main road and get away from Reykjavík’s light pollution, where the sky is often clearer.
Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavík
A sailing out into Faxaflói bay with no land in sight — good when the forecast is strong but city lights interfere. Colder than a bus tour, so dress properly.
Aurora Photography Tour
For anyone who wants the photo too: the guide sets up your camera, lends a tripod and shows the aperture and shutter settings that work in the dark.
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Before you book
- Book early in your trip and keep at least two nights free — tours are cancelled for cloud cover, so you want a second chance.
- Check the forecast before you book: the Kp number alone says little, cloud cover decides almost everything.
- A full moon and snow on the ground wash the aurora out. A new moon is the best night.