From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

The best part of this four-hour outing is the chase. Your guide checks weather and aurora forecasts, then drives away from Reykjavik’s glow toward clearer, darker skies. I especially like the small minibus, which can reach places that large coaches cannot, and the thoughtful pairing of hot cocoa, kleina, and Icelandic wool blankets once you step outside.

I also like that the guides treat the night as more than a quick photo stop. Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi, and others have been praised for explaining the science, helping with camera settings, and taking polished photos of each group. The catch is simple: no guide can control clouds or solar activity, so even a well-run tour may not produce a strong aurora.

Key points at a glance

• Small-group searching: The minibus carries a maximum of 19 people, making it easier to use darker, quieter roadside locations.
• A warm Icelandic pause: Borrow a wool blanket and enjoy hot chocolate with kleina, a traditional Icelandic fried pastry.
• Free professional photos: If the lights appear, your guide takes photos of you and shares them afterward.
• Flexible route planning: The evening may include more than one stop, with the route shaped by cloud cover and aurora forecasts.
• Strong guide focus: Guides such as Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi, and Einar are praised for patient explanations and persistent searching.
• A second chance if needed: If you attend but do not see the lights, you may rejoin a later tour free of charge, subject to availability.

Chasing the aurora beyond Reykjavik

The Northern Lights are not a scheduled performance. They need darkness, clear enough skies, and sufficient solar activity at the same time. That uncertainty shapes this tour from the moment you leave town.

The guide studies forecasts before departure and may change direction during the evening. One night can mean a quick stop just outside Reykjavik, followed by a longer drive north. Another may lead toward Thingvellir National Park or a remote viewing point with less artificial light.

That approach is more useful than driving to one fixed lookout and hoping for the best. It does not guarantee success, but it gives you a better chance than staying beside the city’s streetlights. On some evenings, guides have driven for an hour or more to find a clearer patch of sky.

I like the honesty built into the experience. The best guides explain that a pale gray-green glow may be all nature provides on a cloudy night, while a strong display can suddenly fill the sky with green, pink, red, or purple. You should arrive with low expectations and high hopes. That is not a sales line. It is the sensible way to approach the aurora.

Pickup from 24 Reykjavik locations

Pickup is offered from a long list of hotels, harbours, and designated bus stops around Reykjavik. Options include Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, City Hall, Skarfabakki Harbour, Reykjavik Natura, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Hotel Cabin, and several downtown bus stops.

The important detail is timing. You need to wait at your assigned point 30 minutes before departure. Pickup generally begins from 8:30 p.m. between October 1 and March 31. From August 15 to September 30 and April 1 to April 18, pickup generally begins from 9:30 p.m.

Downtown hotel access is limited by local transport rules. If your hotel cannot receive a tour vehicle, you will be directed to the nearest official bus stop. Check the pickup point carefully rather than waiting outside your hotel and hoping the minibus can stop there.

This is one area where a little preparation saves trouble. Have your confirmation ready, check the exact meeting place, and allow time to walk there in winter clothing. The return follows the same general network of hotels and bus stops.

A minibus that helps the search

The vehicle holds no more than 19 people, which is a useful middle ground. You get more room and a more personal setting than on a large coach, but you still share the outing with a group.

The practical advantage is route access. A smaller vehicle can use roads and stopping places that are less convenient for a full-size bus. One guide drove well away from city lights to a pitch-dark location, while another stopped at several points as cloud cover shifted.

Inside the minibus, the guide explains what you are looking for. You may hear about solar particles, cloud forecasts, darkness, and the difference between what the human eye sees and what a camera can record. Several guides also use live forecast tools or monitor conditions in different areas while driving.

The ride itself is part of the evening, but do not confuse it with a scenic day tour. Much of the route takes place in darkness. The point is not sightseeing from the window. The point is reaching a useful patch of open sky.

The secret stop and changing route

The listed itinerary describes a secret stop for photography, sightseeing, and a guided visit. In practice, the exact location is not fixed because the sky decides where you go.

You might make two stops, or more if conditions call for it. One outing included a point near a geothermal plant and a later stop at Thingvellir National Park. Another included a dark location near horses, which gave the group something pleasant to look at while waiting.

The first stop may be a quick test. The guide checks cloud cover and aurora activity, then decides whether it is worth staying. If the sky looks promising, the group may remain there for a while. If not, the minibus moves on.

This flexibility is valuable, but it can also feel less tidy than a standard sightseeing tour. You may spend part of the four hours sitting in the vehicle, waiting for a forecast to improve or driving toward clearer skies. That is normal for aurora hunting. If you want a fixed schedule with several guaranteed sights, choose a daytime excursion instead.

What it feels like outside

Once you reach a viewing spot, you step into a cold Icelandic night. Even during the better months for the aurora, the wind can make standing still uncomfortable. Bring warm layers, gloves, a hat, and sturdy shoes. The tour supplies blankets, but they are an extra layer, not a substitute for proper clothing.

The blankets are a small but meaningful touch. You can wrap one around your shoulders while waiting, then gather near the minibus for hot chocolate and a kleina. A kleina is a lightly sweet Icelandic fried pastry, and it works well as a simple snack in the cold.

The cocoa has also received plenty of attention. It is served as a warm drink during the outdoor stop, when your fingers and face may be feeling the temperature. It will not make the night warm, but it breaks up the waiting and gives the stop a distinctly Icelandic feel.

You may spend close to an hour outside if the conditions are good. If the lights become active, the guide may keep the group out longer than planned. One evening continued past 2 a.m. because the display was too good to leave. The advertised duration is four hours, but the exact return time can be affected by the night’s conditions.

Free photos make a real difference

The free photography is one of the strongest practical reasons to consider this tour. Your guide takes pictures of you beneath the aurora and shares them afterward if the lights are successfully visible.

Aurora photography is tricky. You need a long exposure, a steady camera, and careful timing. A phone can capture some color, but a proper camera often records brighter detail and sharper stars. Several guides also help with camera settings, while others move people into better positions for group or couple portraits.

The result gives you something beyond a memory of looking upward. You can enjoy the sky without spending the entire night trying to make your phone work. The photos are especially useful because the aurora can appear stronger in a camera image than it does to your eyes.

There is an important limit. If the tour does not find visible Northern Lights, photos are not delivered. The included photography is a benefit when nature cooperates, not a separate portrait session guaranteed in all conditions.

The guides shape the evening

Your guide makes a major difference on a tour built around waiting and uncertainty. The strongest guides combine driving, weather judgment, astronomy basics, photography, and good humor.

Baldvin is repeatedly praised for his enthusiasm and long experience chasing auroras. Devin is known for explaining how to spot the lights, helping with photos, and staying patient when conditions are poor. Simon has been praised for his humor, clear explanations, and effort to keep the group comfortable.

Other named guides, including Gummi, Gummi Bear, Einar, Michaela, Slavi, Ionut B, Diogo R, Arni, and Wojtek, have also received warm comments for their effort and personality. Guide assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one particular person will be driving your tour.

What matters most is the attitude. A strong guide does not promise a display. Instead, the guide explains what may happen, checks the sky, adjusts the route, and keeps the group occupied during slow periods. That turns an unsuccessful search into a worthwhile evening, though it cannot replace the aurora itself.

How much value do you get for $169?

At $169 per person, this is not the cheapest way to leave Reykjavik after dark. You are paying for transport, route planning, an English-speaking guide, a small group, blankets, drinks, a snack, and photography.

The value improves if you would otherwise need to rent a car and drive unfamiliar roads at night. You avoid watching forecasts, choosing a route, finding a dark stopping place, and trying to photograph yourself in the cold. You also gain a driver who can change direction as cloud cover shifts.

The price is harder to justify if you only want a quick ride outside the city. Four hours can include a lot of driving and waiting, and no tour can promise a strong aurora. The photography, hot cocoa, and second-chance option make the cost easier to accept, particularly for a first visit to Iceland.

I see this as a good-value experience for a once-in-a-trip attempt, not as a guaranteed entertainment package. If you have several nights in Reykjavik, booking early in your stay gives you more time to rejoin the tour if weather cancels the first outing or the lights stay hidden.

What happens if the sky stays cloudy?

If the company cancels before you attend because of poor weather, you receive a full refund. If you attend and the Northern Lights do not appear, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability.

That second chance is useful, but it is not the same as a refund. If you have already taken the tour, you cannot request your money back simply because the aurora failed to appear. Rebooking is available for up to two years in the stated cancellation conditions, subject to space.

If the original tour is canceled before departure, the company handles the refund rather than sending you out in unsafe conditions. This matters in Iceland, where cloud, wind, and road conditions can change quickly.

The practical advice is simple: schedule this tour early in your Reykjavik stay when possible. A failed first night then leaves room for another attempt. If you book it on your final evening, the free rebooking option may not help.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

This outing suits you if the Northern Lights are high on your Iceland wish list and you want someone else to handle the driving. It is especially useful for couples, small groups, solo visitors, and photographers who want a person to take portraits under the aurora.

You should also enjoy a little uncertainty. The route may change, the weather may force a long wait, and the display may be faint. People who see the search itself as part of the evening will get more from the experience than anyone expecting a guaranteed show.

The tour is not suitable for children under five, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or strollers. Infant seats are not available. You should also be comfortable getting out into the cold and standing outdoors at night.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if you want a practical, small-group attempt at seeing the aurora without renting a car. The strongest reasons are the minibus, the flexible route, the warm blankets and cocoa, and the free photos taken by guides who understand night photography.

I would not book it expecting certainty. Nature gets the final vote, and cloud cover or weak activity can defeat even a determined guide. Book early in your stay, dress more warmly than you think necessary, and treat the search as part of the experience.

For $169, you receive more than a ride into the dark. You get a guide working the forecast, a comfortable base between stops, an Icelandic snack, and a second chance if the sky refuses to cooperate. If the lights appear, the evening can become one of the most memorable parts of your Iceland visit.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The tour lasts four hours, though the return may run later if aurora conditions are especially good.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins from 8:30 p.m. for tours from October 1 through March 31. From August 15 through September 30 and April 1 through April 18, pickup begins from 9:30 p.m.

Where can I be picked up in Reykjavik?

Pickup is available from listed hotels, harbours, and official bus stops, including Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, City Hall, Skarfabakki Harbour, Reykjavik Natura, and Hotel Cabin.

Can the tour pick me up directly from my downtown hotel?

Some downtown hotels cannot receive tour vehicles because of local regulations. In that case, you will be assigned the nearest official bus stop.

What is included in the price?

The price includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, minibus transport, hot chocolate, a wool blanket to borrow, a kleina, and free photos if the Northern Lights are visible.

How many people are in the minibus?

The maximum group size is 19 people.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. The tour takes place outdoors on cold evenings, and proper layers are important.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

If you attend the tour but do not see the lights, you may join another tour free of charge, subject to availability. No refund is provided for an attended tour.

What happens if the company cancels because of weather?

If the company cancels before you attend because of poor weather, you receive a full refund. If you have already taken part in the tour, you may rebook subject to availability, but you do not receive a refund.

Is the tour suitable for children or wheelchair users?

The tour is not suitable for children under five, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, or strollers. Infant seats are not available.