Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Free Photos & Hot Chocolate

The best part of this tour is the chase. Your guide watches the clouds, talks with other drivers, and may change locations several times instead of parking in one place and hoping for the best. On strong nights, guides such as Alex and Jonas have driven to darker, more scenic spots where the lights became easier to see.

I like the small minibus, which holds no more than 18 people, and the free photos. I also like the hot chocolate and Hraun Icelandic Chocolate bar, small comforts during a long wait in Icelandic cold. The main drawback is simple: four hours of driving and waiting can end with no visible aurora, and even a successful display may look pale to your eyes.

Key points to know before booking

• Cloud cover decides the route: The driver chooses the stopping points on the night, so the itinerary is flexible rather than fixed.
• Small groups help with photos: A minibus gives your guide more freedom than a large coach and makes it easier to organize group pictures.
• The lights may look faint: Cameras can show green or detail that your eyes barely catch, especially during a weak display.
• Pickup is not always at your hotel: Downtown traffic rules often mean walking to a nearby designated bus stop.
• Warm drinks are included: You receive hot chocolate and a Hraun chocolate bar, but you should still bring layers, gloves, and a hat.
• Photos are part of the package: Your guide takes digital photos of you with the aurora, though delivery has not worked perfectly for everyone.

The four-hour search beyond Reykjavik

This is not a sightseeing tour with a set route. It is a weather-led hunt that begins in Reykjavik and heads away from city lights. Your guide checks the cloud cover and chooses a stopping area that looks promising that night.

That flexibility matters. The aurora is not a stage show that starts at a set time, and clouds can ruin a clear forecast within minutes. One guide may stop once and wait. Another may move between two or three places. On particularly stubborn nights, drivers have communicated with one another and changed direction to find clearer skies.

The route can also make the ride feel longer than four hours. Some groups have returned around 1:30 a.m., especially after a successful chase. You should plan for a late night and avoid scheduling an early-morning activity immediately afterward.

The first stop is simply the dark countryside outside Reykjavik. It has no admission fee and no fixed attraction. Its value is the absence of city light, which gives you a better chance to spot a faint aurora and see more stars.

Why the small minibus matters

The group limit is 18 people. That is not private, but it is a useful middle ground between renting a car and joining a large coach.

I like the minibus for two reasons. First, the guide can often make decisions more easily when the vehicle is smaller. Several guides have taken groups to locations that would be harder for a large coach to reach. Second, fewer people make the photo session less awkward. You are less likely to have strangers walking through a long exposure or crowding the camera.

The vehicle is heated and has WiFi. Most descriptions of the ride call it warm and roomy, though one account found the bus uncomfortable. That difference may depend on the vehicle and how long you remain seated. Either way, you should not treat the heated bus as a replacement for proper clothing. You may spend a good deal of time outside while the guide watches the sky.

The driver is also your guide. That can work very well, but the quality of the explanation may vary. Juliana gave a short talk about the aurora before the search, while other guides focused more on driving and photography. One soft-spoken guide was difficult to hear inside the bus.

What the aurora may look like to your eyes

Set your expectations carefully. Photographs often show stronger green color than your eyes can see. A weak aurora may look gray, white, or like a faint cloud. In one case, a phone camera captured the lights better than the people standing beneath them could.

That does not make the experience false or pointless. It means your eyes and camera are doing different jobs. A phone or camera can collect light during a longer exposure, while your eyes see the scene in real time. If the display is weak, the photo may show more detail than you remember seeing.

A strong night can be spectacular, with visible colors and movement across the sky. One group saw the lights from three locations, and another caught an aurora alongside New Year’s Eve fireworks. But no guide can promise that result. You may spend nearly three hours waiting for a few faint flashes, or you may arrive during a show that lasts for hours.

I would book this as a chance to see the aurora, not as a guaranteed performance. That mindset protects your budget and lets you appreciate the effort involved in finding even a dim display.

Guides, driving, and the human side of the night

The guide can make a major difference. Alex was praised for using the small vehicle to reach places large coaches could not, staying out longer, and helping the group make the most of a low forecast. Jonas took a group to Thingvellir National Park, where the aurora appeared between the mountains and the guide photographed the moment.

Nelu has also been noted for chasing clear skies over a long distance, taking patient photographs, and looking after the group in cold, windy conditions. Juliana and Julianna were praised for being cheerful, helpful, and persistent with photography. Other names connected with positive experiences include David, Maggie, Iosef, and Hawk.

That said, the guide experience is not identical every night. Some guides explain the science well. Others are better at driving, finding clear skies, or taking pictures. One account described a guide who spent too little time explaining Iceland and the aurora, while another found the commentary too quiet to hear.

I would treat the guide as a practical partner rather than expecting a formal lecture. If you want detailed science, ask questions early in the ride, when everyone is seated and the bus is quiet. If your priority is seeing the sky and getting pictures, a guide who keeps moving and handles the camera may be the better fit.

Free aurora photos, with a few cautions

The included digital photos are one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour. Night photography is difficult, especially when you are cold, excited, and trying to frame both people and sky. Your guide can handle the camera while you watch the aurora.

Guides have used tripods to keep the camera steady. One guide used a clever two-phone method: one device took a several-second exposure while another briefly lit the people in the foreground. This can produce a much better picture than a standard handheld snapshot, with faces visible instead of dark silhouettes.

You should still ask how and when the files will be delivered. At least one person had not received the promised photos, despite having been photographed. That appears to be a delivery problem rather than a missing feature, but it is worth confirming before you leave Reykjavik.

Bring your own phone or camera too. Your guide may be busy photographing the whole group, and your personal device might capture faint lights surprisingly well. Do not expect every image to show bright green ribbons. The final result depends on cloud, aurora strength, camera settings, and the guide’s time.

Staying warm while you wait

Hot chocolate and a Hraun Icelandic Chocolate bar are included. They are welcome during a cold stop, especially when the wind picks up and the aurora takes its time.

Still, this is Iceland after dark. Wear several warm layers, and bring your own hat and gloves. The operator offers branded hat and glove items for an extra 3,000 ISK, plus a neck warmer for 500 ISK, but those are optional purchases and not part of the tour price.

One person waited outside in snow and wind after a pickup mix-up and found it hard to warm up afterward. That is a good reminder to stand at the correct location and dress for a wait, not just a short walk from the bus.

The bus has WiFi, which is useful while you wait or during the drive. It also gives you a warm place to return to between stops. The hot drink is a comfort, not a substitute for good outdoor clothing.

Pickup at 9 p.m., or later in September

Pickup begins at 9 p.m. and can take up to 30 minutes. In September, it begins at 10 p.m. Be ready at your selected location before the stated time.

Downtown Reykjavik traffic rules prevent the vehicle from stopping at every hotel entrance. You may be collected at a nearby designated bus stop, usually only a few minutes away on foot. Check the exact stop before the evening begins, using busstop.is if needed.

This detail matters more than it sounds. Waiting at the wrong hotel entrance in snow or wind can sour the whole night before it begins. I would verify the pickup point with the operator and allow extra time to walk there.

Round-trip transfers from designated stops are included, so you do not need to rent a car or navigate dark roads outside the city. That convenience is a large part of the price, especially if you do not feel comfortable driving in winter conditions.

Is $118.27 a fair price?

At $118.27 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the aurora. You could drive yourself and spend less on the outing, but then you would take responsibility for route planning, weather decisions, safe winter driving, and photography.

The price includes transportation, an English-speaking guide, WiFi, hot chocolate, the chocolate bar, and digital photos. The small group is important too. You are paying for someone to watch the sky while you stay warm, and for a driver who can adjust the route when cloud cover changes.

The value depends on what happens. If you see a strong aurora in a scenic setting and receive good photos, the price feels reasonable for a special night. If the sky stays cloudy, you may feel that you paid for a long drive and a cup of hot chocolate. That is the unavoidable risk of any Northern Lights outing.

I think the price is easiest to justify for first-time visitors who do not want to drive and who value the included photos. If you already have a rental car, a tripod, and confidence reading cloud forecasts, you may prefer independent hunting.

Cancellation, weather, and a second chance

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The operator can cancel when weather makes the experience unsuitable. In that case, you are offered another date or a full refund. Several accounts also describe the company helping people rebook after an unsuccessful or canceled night, sometimes for the following evening, but you should confirm the current arrangement before booking if a second attempt matters to you.

That flexibility is valuable because the first night may simply be unlucky. It does not guarantee that a later night will succeed, but it gives you another chance if your schedule allows.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you want help with the practical work. You get transport from Reykjavik, a driver who follows the clouds, a small group, warm drinks, and someone who can take night photos. It also suits families and mixed-age groups because most people can participate, and you have a heated vehicle between stops.

It is a good choice for visitors who do not want to drive outside the city at night. It also suits anyone who might miss a faint aurora without a guide pointing it out. Pale light can be easy to overlook, even under a clear sky.

I would hesitate if you need a guaranteed show, dislike late nights, or expect a full astronomy presentation. You should also think twice if cold weather is a serious problem. The guide can provide hot chocolate and a warm minibus, but the search still requires time outdoors.

My booking advice

Book this tour when you have at least one flexible evening in Reykjavik. The more nights you can leave open, the less pressure you will feel if the first attempt fails. Try not to place it on your final night if a rebooking option would be important.

Before departure, confirm the bus stop, bring layers, and ask how the photos will be sent. During the trip, listen carefully when the guide points out a faint glow. You may see less color than the camera does, and that is normal.

I would book it for the small group, active cloud chasing, and included photography, while accepting that nature gets the final vote. If the lights appear, the combination of a dark Icelandic setting, a warm drink, and a guide working to find the clearest sky can make the night memorable. If they do not, the experience is still a four-hour gamble, not a promise.

FAQ

Where does this Northern Lights tour begin?

The tour begins in Reykjavik, with pickup from designated bus stops and some approved hotel locations.

What time does pickup start?

Pickup begins at 9 p.m. and can take up to 30 minutes. In September, pickup begins at 10 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from designated bus stops. Due to downtown traffic rules, the vehicle may stop at a nearby bus stop rather than directly at your hotel entrance.

How large is the group?

The minibus group has a maximum of 18 people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes designated-stop transfers, an English-speaking guide, minibus transportation, WiFi, hot chocolate, a Hraun Icelandic Chocolate bar, and digital photos of you with the aurora.

Are hats and gloves included?

No. A branded hat and glove combination costs 3,000 ISK, and a branded neck warmer costs 500 ISK. You should bring your own warm clothing.

Can I see the Northern Lights for certain?

No. The aurora depends on weather, cloud cover, and natural activity. The guide changes locations to seek clearer skies, but a sighting is not guaranteed.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.