Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos – Small Group

The best part of this Northern Lights tour is that the evening has a purpose even while you wait for the sky to cooperate. Your guide hunts for clear skies, then brings out Viking costumes and museum weapon replicas for playful portraits while a photographer works with long exposures and the aurora.

I like the small group of up to 18 people, which makes it easier to get personal help with photos. I also like the free retry policy, a real help in Iceland, where clouds can ruin a perfect forecast. The main drawback is the minibus: one passenger found it cramped, especially with heavy winter layers and nowhere generous to store them.

Key points to know before booking

• Two experiences in one: Chase the aurora, then dress as a Viking for unusual night portraits.
• Professional photos included: Guides use high-spec cameras and send finished images after the tour.
• Free retries: If the lights do not appear, you can join again without paying another tour fee.
• Local-led operation: Owners Kolbeinn and Emil guide many departures, with guides such as Tomas, Kobe, BG, and Felix also leading trips.
• Warm waiting comforts: Hot chocolate, gingerbread or cookies, and blankets help during cold pauses.
• Compact but possibly tight transport: The minibus reaches places large coaches cannot, but storage and legroom may be limited.

Hunting the Aurora beyond Reykjavík

This is not simply a bus ride to a viewing platform. The guide checks the weather, cloud cover, and aurora conditions, then drives away from Reykjavík’s city glow in search of a darker and clearer place.

The exact stop is kept flexible. That matters because the best point for the lights can change during the evening. You may stop once, or move to a second location if the first view is weak. Past outings have reached spots more than two hours from the capital, including areas near Seljalandsfoss, when that offered a better chance of seeing the sky.

I like this flexible approach. A fixed sightseeing route looks tidy on paper, but the aurora does not follow a timetable. Your guide may stop quickly when a burst appears, then move again if cloud rolls in. One evening, a guide reportedly changed plans soon after leaving Reykjavík because the lights suddenly returned.

The drive is part of the search, not wasted time. You may spend much of the evening watching the sky through the windows, waiting in the heated minibus, or standing outside in the cold. The tour lasts about four hours, though guides have sometimes stayed out longer when the display was late or especially promising.

Why the small minibus matters

The group is limited to 18 people. That is still large enough to feel social, but far smaller than a full-size coach tour. A smaller vehicle can use roads and stopping places that may not suit large buses, and your guide can speak to the group without a microphone.

This size also helps during photography. Each person needs time in front of the camera, and the guide must check framing, focus, and exposure in near darkness. On a big coach outing, you might get a quick turn and little personal help. Here, the guide can make sure each person gets at least one proper portrait.

There is a tradeoff. The minibus has limited room for coats, boots, camera bags, and extra layers. One passenger found the interior cramped, particularly after dressing warmly for the wait outside. Pack efficiently and wear layers that are easy to remove and hold on your lap.

The vehicle is also your refuge. Guides have kept the heat running, offered blankets, and let people warm up between viewing attempts. That simple detail can make a long wait far more comfortable.

Viking costumes, old stories, and useful entertainment

The Viking theme is not a full historical show. Instead, you get access to costumes and weapon replicas sourced from a local museum, which you can use for photographs and lighthearted play.

That gives the evening a second focus. If the aurora takes an hour to appear, you are not simply standing in a dark field checking your phone. You can put on a Viking outfit, pose with a replica weapon, and try a dramatic portrait. Some photographs may look impressively heroic. Others may come out hilariously awkward. That is part of the fun.

The guides also explain traditional Viking connections with the Northern Lights. You will hear local beliefs alongside the basic science of the Aurora Borealis. The experience works best when you treat these stories as cultural context, not as a formal history lecture.

The costumes are especially useful for families with older children and for couples or friends who want more than a standard skyline photograph. Children under seven cannot join, so this is not a good fit for families with very young children.

Professional night photography, not just phone snapshots

Northern Lights photos are harder than they look. The scene is dark, the aurora moves, and a phone often produces a green blur or a black portrait with a bright sky behind it.

The guide and photographer use high-spec cameras set up for night photography. The goal is to capture both the moving aurora and the people in front of it. Long exposure requires patience, so you may need to hold still while the camera works.

The practical benefit is that you do not need to bring advanced camera equipment. You can enjoy the sky instead of spending the whole stop changing settings. The resulting files are intended to be high enough quality to keep and print.

Photography takes time, so expect a little organization at the stop. The guide needs to give everyone a turn and prevent one person from taking several portraits before others have had theirs. Past departures have included a second camera position or adjusted framing so the full sky could be included.

Guides such as Tomas, Emil, Kobe, and BG have been praised for helping each person get a photo. The exact guide depends on the date, but the company’s approach is clear: the camera work is a central part of the tour, not an afterthought.

You should still bring your own phone or camera if you want casual shots. The supplied photographs are the main benefit, but your own quick pictures can capture the waiting, costumes, hot chocolate, and group atmosphere.

Hot chocolate makes the waiting easier

Icelandic winter nights can be cold, especially when you are standing still in an open area. The tour includes hot chocolate and cookies, with gingerbread mentioned as part of the usual snack. Some hot chocolate has been homemade by the guide’s wife, adding a personal touch to the stop.

This is not a meal. Think of it as a warm drink and small sweet snack during the search. It helps break up the waiting and gives you a reason to return to the minibus before heading outside again.

Bring warm clothing anyway. The operator specifically advises it, and you should take that seriously. Use thermal layers, a windproof outer layer, a hat, gloves, and sturdy warm shoes. You may be comfortable in the vehicle and then suddenly need to stand outdoors when the aurora appears.

The guides have also provided blankets on cold nights. Still, do not treat the hot chocolate or heated bus as a substitute for proper winter clothing.

The guides make or break the night

Aurora hunting depends partly on science and partly on timing. No guide can promise a display, but a good guide can read the conditions, explain the choices, and keep searching when the first stop fails.

Aurora Viking is operated by Kolbeinn and Emil, who have spent decades looking for the lights. Other departures may be led by Tomas, Kobe, BG, Felix, Johan, Jonas, or Trond. Names matter here because the guide is not just driving. The person behind the wheel decides where to stop, handles the camera, explains the sky, and manages the group.

Several guides have been praised for staying out longer than expected when the display was weak. That can be valuable if the forecast is uncertain. One guide continued hunting after the scheduled time and eventually found a strong show. Another drove far beyond Reykjavík to reach a gap in the cloud.

You should keep expectations sensible. A determined guide cannot control cloud, solar activity, or road conditions. Some nights produce bright green, red, orange, or purple curtains. Other nights bring only a faint glow, or nothing at all.

The company’s free retry policy is therefore a major part of the value. If the aurora does not show, you can join another outing at no extra charge until you see it. You need enough time in your Iceland schedule to use that option, though. It is less useful if you are leaving the next morning.

Pickup around Reykjavík

Pickup and drop-off are available at 16 listed points around the capital. These include Reykjavík hotels, the central bus terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, City Hall, the Culture House, Tjörnin pond, and several designated bus stops.

You need to wait at the exact selected location. The driver will call out your name at the pickup point, so stay alert and arrive early enough to avoid a rushed boarding. Drop-off uses the same broad network of locations.

This arrangement is practical if your hotel does not accept direct coach access. It can also mean a short walk to a designated bus stop rather than a pickup outside your front door. Check the stop carefully when booking, especially if your accommodation is outside central Reykjavík.

Communication has generally been useful when weather changes force a reschedule. The company has moved bookings to better nights without charging another tour fee. That flexibility matters more here than on a normal sightseeing outing, since weather is the main variable.

Is $148 a fair price?

At $148 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the Northern Lights. You are paying for more than transportation, though. The price includes a guide, photographer, Viking costumes, weapon replicas, hot chocolate, cookies, hotel-area pickup and drop-off, and the chance to retry for free.

The photos are the strongest reason to pay extra. If you value a clear portrait with the aurora behind you, professional equipment can be worth more than a basic coach ride where you only see the lights through your own phone.

The small group adds value too. You get more room for questions and a better chance of receiving careful attention during the photo session. The tradeoff is that the vehicle may feel tight, and the aurora itself remains uncertain.

There is no refund if you join and see no lights. You can retry instead. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some booking flexibility.

I would compare the price with your priorities. If you only want the cheapest possible ride outside Reykjavík, this is probably more than you need. If you want photographs, a local guide, a small group, and a second chance built into the cost, the price is easier to justify.

Who should book this tour?

This tour suits you if seeing the aurora is a major reason for visiting Iceland. The retry policy gives you a practical safety net, especially if you are staying in Reykjavík for several nights.

It also suits couples, friends, families with children seven and older, and anyone who likes a bit of humor alongside nature. The Viking portraits make the evening feel less passive than simply waiting in a dark field.

Photographers will appreciate the professional images, though serious photographers may still want to bring their own camera for personal control. You should also be comfortable with a late evening, cold outdoor stops, changing plans, and a drive that may go well beyond the city.

I would skip it if you need a guaranteed sighting, dislike cold waits, or have no spare night for a retry. No company can guarantee the Aurora, and this operator is clear that seeing it depends on conditions and luck.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a determined aurora hunt with strong photo support and something fun to do while you wait. The small group, free retries, warm drinks, and Viking portraits give it more substance than a basic nighttime bus outing.

Before paying, check that you have warm clothing and enough time in Reykjavík to use a retry if needed. Also accept that the minibus may feel crowded with bulky layers. For most people who want both the Northern Lights and memorable photographs, the added cost is reasonable.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts four hours. The guide may spend that time driving between possible viewing areas, waiting for the aurora, taking photographs, and offering the Viking activities.

What is the maximum group size?

The minibus holds a maximum of 18 people. This allows access to some places that large buses cannot reach.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You can join the tour again for free until you see the lights. There is no refund after you have joined the tour.

Are professional photographs included?

Yes. A guide and photographer use high-spec cameras to take night photographs of the aurora and portraits of you with the lights behind you.

Are Viking costumes included?

Yes. You can use Viking costumes and museum-sourced replicas of Viking weapons for photographs and activities during the wait.

Is food or drink provided?

Hot chocolate and cookies are included. Gingerbread may also be served, and blankets have been provided on some cold outings.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from 16 listed locations around Reykjavík, including selected hotels, bus stops, Hallgrimskirkja, City Hall, the central bus terminal, and other central points.

Can children join the tour?

Children under seven are not permitted to join. The tour is suitable for children aged seven and older, provided they can manage the cold and late-night schedule.