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

Seeing the Northern Lights is the main event, but this tour gives you something to do while the sky decides what it wants. You ride into darker country with a local guide and photographer, then wait with Viking costumes, replica weapons, hot chocolate, and gingerbread close at hand.

I like the small minibus and the free retry policy. A group capped at 18 people can move more easily than a large coach, and the guides can search for clearer skies instead of simply parking beside a crowded viewpoint. If the aurora does not appear, you may join again at no extra charge.

The catch is simple: nobody can promise the Northern Lights. You may spend four cold hours chasing a faint glow, and the minibus can feel cramped when everyone brings thick winter layers. There is no refund after you join, only the chance to retry.

Key points to know before booking

• Small-group hunting: The minibus holds a maximum of 18 people and can reach places large coaches cannot.
• Professional night photography: A guide takes high-quality portraits with the aurora behind you and sends the finished images afterward.
• Free retries: If the lights do not appear, you can rebook without paying again, though the tour does not offer a refund for a missed sighting.
• A playful Viking theme: Museum-sourced costumes and weapon replicas turn the waiting time into a photo session.
• Warm treats on a cold night: Hot chocolate, gingerbread, cookies, and sometimes blankets help make outdoor waiting more comfortable.
• Experienced local guides: Emil and Kolbeinn are the owners, while guides including Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, Jonas, and Trond may lead different departures.

The real focus: finding a break in the clouds

Aurora Viking treats the Northern Lights as a hunt rather than a fixed sightseeing stop. That distinction matters in Iceland, where cloud cover can change quickly and the strongest aurora may appear far from Reykjavík.

Your guide watches the forecast, darkness, cloud gaps, and aurora activity before choosing where to go. The exact location is kept secret, which helps the driver adapt rather than promise a standard view from one familiar parking area.

Past outings have ranged well beyond the capital. Some guides have driven more than two hours toward areas such as Seljalandsfoss when that offered a better chance of clear skies. Other nights have required only a short drive before the lights appeared. You should expect the route to change according to conditions.

This approach can produce a terrific payoff. The aurora may show itself within minutes of leaving the city, or you may wait at one place and then move when the sky opens elsewhere. The guides are not simply taking you to a dark field and hoping for luck. They explain why they are moving, waiting, or staying put.

Still, the word hunt should not fool you into thinking skill can control nature. A good guide can improve your odds, but no operator can guarantee a display. The Northern Lights may be faint, partly hidden by cloud, or absent altogether.

Pickup around Reykjavík and the 18-person minibus

Pickup is available from a long list of Reykjavík hotels and central bus stops, including Hallgrímskirkja, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura, Hótel Ísland, and several designated city stops.

You need to stand at the stated pickup point and listen for the driver calling your name. Reykjavík uses designated bus stops for many tour pickups, so do not assume the minibus will pull directly outside your hotel. Check your exact point carefully, especially if your accommodation is in the center.

The smaller vehicle is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. With no more than 18 people, boarding and moving between stops should take less time than with a full-size coach. The driver can also use narrower roads and reach viewing spots that are not practical for large buses.

There is a tradeoff. One traveler found the minibus tight, with limited room for storing spare layers. That is worth taking seriously in Iceland. You need warm clothing, but bulky coats, hats, gloves, and camera gear quickly fill a small vehicle. Wear your heaviest layers rather than packing a large pile beside you.

The heated minibus becomes a useful refuge between viewing attempts. You can warm up inside before heading back into the dark, cold air. A few outings have also included blankets, though blankets are not listed as a standard inclusion, so do not depend on them.

Waiting time made useful with Viking costumes

The tour adds a theatrical twist to an activity that often involves standing quietly and staring at cloud cover. Museum-sourced Viking outfits and weapon replicas are brought out for photos while you wait for the sky to improve.

You can pose in Viking clothing with the Northern Lights behind you, assuming the aurora appears. The results may be impressive, imperfect, or funny. That is part of the appeal. This is not a formal historical reenactment, and you should treat the costumes as playful photo props rather than museum-quality interpretation.

The guides also explain the old connections between Vikings and the Northern Lights. Expect local beliefs alongside basic science about the aurora. That mix gives the evening more character than a simple drive into the countryside.

This feature suits families with older children, couples wanting unusual holiday photos, and anyone who would rather have an active evening than spend hours silently waiting. Children must be at least seven years old. Parents should remember that the tour takes place at night and includes time outside in the cold.

The Viking session can also help ease the pressure of the evening. If the aurora is weak, you still have photographs, stories, and a bit of fun to take home. If the display becomes strong, the costumes can be set aside so everyone can focus on the sky.

Aurora portraits taken in difficult conditions

The included photography is more than a quick group snapshot. The guides use high-spec cameras designed for nighttime work, and they take individual or small-group portraits with the aurora in the background.

This is valuable because Northern Lights photography is difficult. The sky may look brighter to a camera than it does to your eyes, and long exposures make it hard to capture people sharply. The guide needs to position you, manage the camera, and balance the aurora with enough light on your face.

The best results depend on the strength of the display and the weather, but the photography is a major part of the tour’s value. Guides such as Tomas, Emil, Kobe, BG, and Felix have been praised for making sure each person gets a photo rather than allowing a few fast-moving people to take over.

That last point matters in a small group. Ask how the photo rotation will work when you arrive, then be ready when your turn comes. The guides aim to give everyone at least one portrait, and additional photos may be possible if time allows.

You should also bring your own phone or camera if you want candid shots. The included professional images are the main souvenir, but your personal device may capture the costumes, hot chocolate stop, or group atmosphere in a more relaxed way.

The final photos are sent to you after the tour. The supplied information does not specify an exact delivery time or number of images, so think of the photography as a valuable included service, not a guaranteed package with a fixed count.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread, and the cold factor

A cup of hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread are included. Some guides serve more than one cup, and the homemade hot chocolate has become a favorite detail of the experience.

This may sound minor, but it matters when you are waiting outdoors after dark. The warm drink gives the evening a clear pause, and the sweet snack helps take the edge off the cold. It also makes the tour feel more personal than a bare transport-and-viewing trip.

Bring proper warm clothing anyway. The treats do not replace winter layers, and the Northern Lights can take time to appear. Wear gloves that let you use a phone or camera, and keep your hat and outer layer easy to reach.

The bus’s heat is another practical advantage. You are not required to stand outside for the entire four hours. You can step inside to warm up, although the compact cabin has limited space for changing or spreading out gear.

I would avoid booking this as a casual evening in ordinary city clothes. Reykjavík may feel manageable at departure, but conditions outside the city can be much colder, especially when you stop in open country.

Four hours, one secret stop, and possible extra driving

The stated duration is four hours, with a secret photo and sightseeing stop. In practice, the evening can include more than one viewing location if the guide sees a better chance elsewhere.

The first part is pickup and the drive away from Reykjavík’s city lights. The trip itself can be scenic, with mountain views, snow-covered ground, lakes, or waterfalls depending on the route and conditions. The exact sights are not fixed, so you should not book this as a standard sightseeing tour with a guaranteed waterfall visit.

At the stop, the guide checks the sky and sets up the photography equipment. You may wait for the aurora, take Viking portraits, listen to stories, and warm up with drinks. If the lights appear, the mood changes quickly as everyone moves into position for viewing and photographs.

Some evenings involve a second stop. A faint display at the first location may be followed by a stronger show somewhere darker or clearer. This flexibility is useful, but it can also mean more time in the vehicle and less time at any single scenic location.

The return is usually to one of the same central pickup points or hotels. Road and weather conditions can affect the pace. Several guides have been praised for safe driving on icy or foggy roads, but you should still expect a late, weather-dependent night rather than a tightly timed city excursion.

Is $148 a fair price?

At $148 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for more than transportation, though. The price includes hotel or city pickup and drop-off, a guide, a photographer, Viking clothing and replica weapons, hot chocolate, cookies, and the chance to retry free of charge.

The photography makes the comparison more favorable. A separate professional night portrait session could cost a substantial amount, and a large coach tour usually does not provide individual aurora portraits. The small group also gives the guide more time to help with camera positions and keep the photo line fair.

The free retry policy is the biggest protection against a disappointing first night. If the forecast fails or clouds cover the sky, you can reschedule without another tour fee. You do not receive your money back after joining, so this benefit helps most if you have another evening available in Reykjavík.

That last condition is important. If you are leaving Iceland the next morning, the retry promise may be of little use. Book early enough in your stay to leave room for another attempt, especially if seeing the aurora is one of your main reasons for visiting.

The tour has a rating of 4.8 from 400 reviews, and 88 percent of ratings give the transport a perfect score. Those figures suggest strong consistency, but they cannot remove the natural risk of an aurora outing. I would call the price good value for someone who wants photos and a personal hunt, less so for someone interested only in the cheapest possible chance of seeing a glow.

The guides make a real difference

Aurora Viking is run by owners Kolbeinn and Emil, both of whom have decades of experience searching for the lights. Other departures may be led by Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, Jonas, Trond, or another member of the team.

The strongest pattern is persistence. Guides have continued searching after a weak first sighting, driven toward clearer skies, and sometimes stayed out beyond the planned end when conditions looked promising. That effort cannot force an aurora to appear, but it can prevent the evening from ending too soon when a real chance remains.

Communication is also important. If weather forces a cancellation, the company has been responsive about changing dates. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, while a missed aurora after you join leads to a free retry rather than a refund.

The experience may vary slightly by guide. Some focus more on science, some bring more humor, and some are especially attentive to children or photography. The common goal is clear: keep the group informed, warm, and ready when the sky changes.

Who should book this Northern Lights tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a smaller group, personal attention, and finished photos without carrying a tripod or learning long-exposure settings yourself. It is also a good fit if you enjoy a bit of costume fun and want more than a silent bus ride into the countryside.

Families with children aged seven and above may like the Viking props and warm treats, though the late hour and cold waiting require patience. Couples and solo visitors can expect a social evening, with the small group making it easier to share the excitement when the aurora finally appears.

You should think twice if you dislike uncertain plans, cramped vehicles, or standing outside at night. This is not a guaranteed show, and even a skilled guide cannot defeat cloud cover or weak solar activity.

I would also avoid booking it on your final night unless you are comfortable with the risk. The free retry policy is excellent, but it only has real value when your schedule includes another evening.

Final verdict: a strong choice for photos and persistence

Book this tour if the Northern Lights are a top priority and you want a company willing to keep searching rather than stop at the first mediocre viewpoint. The combination of a small vehicle, local guides, playful Viking portraits, professional photos, hot chocolate, and free retries gives the $148 price a solid case.

Do not book expecting certainty. Book knowing that the sky makes the final decision. If you bring warm clothes, allow room in your schedule for a retry, and accept that the minibus may feel snug, Aurora Viking offers one of Reykjavík’s more thoughtful ways to chase the aurora.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts four hours.

How many people are in the group?

The minibus holds a maximum of 18 people.

Is pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed Reykjavík hotels and designated city bus stops.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You can join the tour again free of charge until you see the lights. There is no refund if you join the tour and do not see an aurora.

Are professional photos included?

Yes. A guide and photographer take high-quality nighttime photos, including portraits with the Northern Lights when conditions allow.

Are Viking costumes provided?

Yes. The tour includes the use of Viking costumes and replica Viking weapons sourced from a local museum.

What food and drinks are included?

Hot chocolate and cookies are included. The tour information also describes gingerbread as part of the refreshments.

Can children join the tour?

Children under seven cannot join. Children aged seven and above may participate.