Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour with Pro Aurora Photos Small Group

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the active hunt. You do not sit at one roadside lookout and hope for luck. Guides such as Tomas, Emil, Felix, Kobe, and Jonas track cloud cover and aurora activity, then drive to different spots across Iceland. I especially like the small-group limit of 18 and the free professional photos, which save you from choosing between watching the sky and fumbling with a camera.

I also like the unlimited free retries if the aurora fails to appear. The catch is simple: nature makes no promises. You may see a faint green haze that looks far brighter through a camera, and the cold can be severe while you wait.

Key points at a glance

• Forecast-led chasing: Your guide changes locations based on cloud cover and aurora activity rather than sticking to one fixed viewpoint.
• Free professional photos: Guides take individual and group images with long-exposure cameras and share them after the tour.
• Unlimited retries: If you do not see the Northern Lights, you can try again, but the retry applies only to the original participant.
• Warm breaks matter: Cocoa, cookies, and snacks make repeated trips outside easier on cold nights.
• A small van experience: The group can include up to 18 people, making it more personal than a large coach tour.
• Extra Icelandic fun: Viking clothing and weapon props provide a lighthearted photo break between aurora sightings.

The real appeal: an active Northern Lights hunt

The Northern Lights are not a scheduled performance. Cloud cover can ruin an otherwise strong forecast, while a quiet night can suddenly produce a fine display. This tour’s main strength is that the guide keeps checking conditions and can move you to a better location.

That matters in Reykjavik, where city lights can wash out a faint aurora. A short drive into darker country may reveal more than you would see from town. The guide may also choose a place with a mountain or lake behind the sky, giving your photos a stronger Icelandic setting.

Several guides, including Tomas and Emil, are described as staying in touch with the wider team while checking forecasts and cloud movement. That teamwork is useful because the best place at the start of the evening may not be the best place an hour later.

You should still keep your expectations sensible. A camera gathers light during a long exposure, so it can show green, red, pink, purple, or yellow more clearly than your eyes do in real time. A faint aurora may look subtle overhead but appear much brighter in your finished image.

Pickup from Reykjavik and the first drive

Pickup is offered from several points around Reykjavik. Allow up to 30 minutes from the stated start time for the vehicle to complete its pickup route, so do not plan a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

The tour lasts roughly three to five hours, with about four hours listed as the typical duration. That range makes sense for an outing shaped by weather and activity. A quiet night may involve waiting and moving between locations, while a strong display can keep the group outside longer.

The vehicle is a small minibus rather than a full-size coach. One account described a group of about 15 people in a nearly full van, so you should expect a sociable ride rather than lots of empty seats. The maximum group size is 18.

As you leave Reykjavik, your guide explains the basic science behind the aurora. Guides also add Icelandic folklore and Viking stories, which help fill the driving time. Tomas, Kobe, and Felix are all singled out for making the journey informative and friendly without treating the ride as dead time.

Stop one: searching beyond the city lights

There is no rigid sightseeing route. The first stop depends on the forecast that evening, and the guide may drive about 30 minutes or more from central Reykjavik before setting up the first viewing point.

At this stage, you may see the aurora quickly, or you may see nothing at all. One useful habit is to let your eyes adjust before deciding that the sky is empty. A weak display can be hard to spot at first, especially if you have just stepped out of a bright vehicle.

Your guide watches the sky and checks for changes. If the aurora appears, the group can move between the van and the viewing area to warm up. On a cold night, you may spend five or ten minutes outside, return to the minibus, then head out again when a new formation appears.

The guides also take photos during these stops. You can pose alone or with your group, and the long-exposure camera can record color and detail that your phone may miss. The photos are provided at no extra cost and are generally sent or made available within 24 hours.

Stop two and the value of moving on

A second location can make a big difference. One commonly described evening included three stops, with each location offering a better chance than the last. The guide moved on because the first viewing point was in an area that could become cloudy.

This is where the tour can justify its price. If you drive yourself, you must read cloud maps, find a legal stopping point in the dark, watch road conditions, and avoid losing the display while driving. You also need to know when a faint glow is worth waiting for and when the sky is unlikely to improve.

The group may pause for a restroom break between locations. That sounds minor, but it becomes important on a long, cold evening outside Reykjavik.

At the stronger viewing spots, you may see the aurora in several bursts instead of one continuous show. Guides may call everyone outside when a new formation is about to appear. That extra prompting is helpful because people often retreat to the warm van just before the sky changes.

Cocoa, cookies, and Viking photos

Snacks, cocoa, and cookies are included. The hot chocolate is more than a cute extra on a winter night. It gives you something warm to hold while you wait and makes the stop feel less like standing in the cold for an uncertain reward.

Alcohol is not provided, so do not expect drinks beyond the nonalcoholic refreshments. Tipping is optional and not included in the price.

The Viking clothing and weapon props add a playful break from the science and waiting. You can use them for photos, especially if the aurora is faint or you need something to do between sightings. This is not a major historical activity, but it gives the small group a relaxed shared moment.

The guides also bring personality to the outing. Kobe is described as mixing aurora science with Viking and Icelandic folklore. Tomas is praised for staying enthusiastic and calling people back outside when the sky changed. Felix is noted for keeping spirits up during a very cold, windy night.

Professional aurora photos, and what to expect

The included photography is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour. Guides use professional cameras, tripods, and long exposures to make portraits with the aurora behind you. You can also take your own pictures, but the guide handles the harder setup.

Do not expect your personal phone to produce the same result automatically. Night photography often needs a steady camera, careful exposure, and patience. One useful tip is to bring a tripod if you want to work on your own images, and learn the basic settings before the tour.

The professional images may look more colorful than what you saw with your eyes. That is normal for astrophotography. A sensitive camera can collect light over several seconds, while your eyes see the display moment by moment.

The tour provides group and individual photos at no added fee. They are generally sent within 24 hours, giving you a useful souvenir soon after the outing. If photography is important to you, this feature adds real value compared with a basic transport-only aurora chase.

The free retry policy

Aurora chasing always carries a risk of disappointment. Clouds, low activity, or poor conditions can leave you with little to see. Aurora Viking offers unlimited free retries if you do not see the lights on your original outing.

That policy is valuable if you have several nights in Reykjavik. Book the tour early in your stay, not on your last night, so you have time to try again. The retry is for the original participant only, and it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Some evenings require two attempts. Guides may work hard to find even a brief glimpse during a cloudy or low-activity night, but the retry policy gives you a better safety net than a single fixed departure.

The policy is not a guarantee of a display. It gives you more chances, not control over the weather. If you have only one night in Iceland, the free retry may not help unless another date fits your schedule.

Cold-weather planning is essential

The biggest practical warning is the cold. The tour can involve repeated stops in exposed areas, and one outing was described as especially cold and windy. Cocoa helps, but it does not replace proper clothing.

Wear warm layers, a windproof outer shell, a hat, gloves, and solid footwear. You may spend only a few minutes outside at one time, or you may remain out for more than two hours if the aurora becomes strong.

The minibus provides a warm place to recover between sightings. That makes the moving format more comfortable than waiting outdoors at one fixed viewpoint, but you still need to be ready to step outside whenever the guide spots a new formation.

Photography creates another cold-weather issue. Batteries drain faster in low temperatures, so keep your phone and camera protected when you are not using them. The supplied professional photos mean you do not have to risk missing the show while managing your own equipment.

Is $148.50 a fair price?

At $148.50 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the aurora. You are paying for more than a ride out of Reykjavik, though. The price includes a local guide and driver, forecast-based searching, snacks, cocoa, professional photos, a small-group setting, and unlimited retries when the lights do not appear.

I think the value is strongest for first-time visitors who do not want to drive at night. The guide handles the route, watches the weather, finds darker locations, and explains what you are seeing. The free photos can also save you from paying separately for a photography session.

The value is less clear if you already have strong night-driving skills, a rental car, several evenings free, and your own photography equipment. Even then, you may not know the best stopping points or have the same team communication used by the guides.

The 4.9 rating from 349 reviews and 98 percent recommendation rate suggest a consistently well-received service, but the aurora itself remains outside the operator’s control. You should judge the price by the guiding, transport, retry policy, and photography, not by a promise of a spectacular sky.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this tour if you want a guided search rather than a fixed lookout. It suits couples, solo visitors, families, and small groups who like the idea of meeting other people during a shared night outside Reykjavik.

It is also a good fit if you care about photographs. The guide can take portraits and group shots while you concentrate on the sky. The Viking props and folklore add a little fun for people who want more than a silent wait in the dark.

Book early in your Iceland stay if possible. The tour is often booked well in advance, and an early booking gives you more room to use the free retries.

You should think twice if you dislike cold, uncertain plans, or group transport. You might spend much of the evening waiting, changing locations, and stepping in and out of the van. The reward can be wonderful, but the process is part of the experience.

Cancellation and booking details

You receive confirmation when you book, and the activity is offered in English. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes after the stated start time.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund. Most people can participate, and the tour operates near public transportation, but pickup details should be checked carefully when you book.

Should you book the Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour?

I would book it, especially for your first night or two in Iceland. The strongest features are the active location search, the small van, the free professional photos, and the unlimited retries. Guides such as Tomas, Emil, Felix, Kobe, and Jonas appear focused on keeping the group informed and moving when conditions change.

Just bring realistic expectations. You may see a spectacular curtain of color, a faint green glow, or nothing on the first attempt. If you accept that uncertainty, this tour gives you a practical way to improve your odds without driving into the Icelandic night yourself.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour depart from?

The tour departs from Reykjavik and offers pickup from several locations around the city. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes from the stated start time.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three to five hours, with about four hours listed as the typical duration.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You can take unlimited free retries if the aurora does not appear on your original tour. Retry tickets apply only to the original participant and cannot be transferred.

Are professional photos included?

Yes. The guide takes professional aurora photos along with individual and group photos. The images are provided at no additional cost and may be sent within 24 hours.

What food and drinks are included?

Snacks, cookies, and hot cocoa are included. Alcoholic beverages are not provided.

How large is the tour group?

The maximum group size is 18 people. The experience is operated as a small-group tour in a minibus.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.