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

The fun twist here is that you do not simply sit in a bus staring at a cloudy sky. Aurora Viking takes you into the countryside in a small minibus, then fills the waiting time with Viking costumes, replica weapons, and professional night photography. If the aurora appears, you get a proper portrait beneath it, not just a blurry green smudge on a phone.

I like the 18-person limit, which makes it easier for a guide to give everyone a turn with the camera. I also like the free retry policy. Northern Lights tours are always a gamble, and this company lets you return without paying again if the sky refuses to cooperate. The catch is that an aurora sighting is never guaranteed, and there is no refund simply because the lights stay hidden.

Key points at a glance

• Small minibus, maximum 18 people: The vehicle can reach quieter places that large coaches may not use, though the cabin can feel cramped when everyone brings bulky winter layers.
• Professional aurora photographs included: Guides use high-spec cameras and send the finished images to you after the tour.
• Viking dress-up adds real entertainment: You can pose in museum-sourced costumes and handle replica weapons while waiting for the sky to clear.
• Free retries if the aurora does not appear: You can rebook until you see the lights, subject to the company’s policy and available dates.
• Hot chocolate and gingerbread included: This matters on a cold Icelandic night, especially during a long wait outdoors.
• The guide makes or breaks the evening: Emil, Kolbeinn, Tomas, Kobe, BG, and other Aurora Viking guides are responsible for reading the weather, choosing stops, taking pictures, and keeping the group moving.

Why the Viking theme works on a Northern Lights hunt

The Northern Lights can be spectacular, but they can also be late, faint, or completely absent. That is the awkward truth behind every aurora excursion. A tour that promises four hours of magic has to give you something useful to do during the waiting periods.

Aurora Viking handles this with a lighthearted Viking theme. You can put on costumes, pose with replica weapons, and take photographs in the darkness. Some pictures will look dramatic. Others may be gloriously silly. That is part of the appeal. You are not spending the entire evening checking a cloud forecast and asking if that pale patch is actually green.

The company connects the activity to old Viking beliefs about the Northern Lights, giving the guide a natural opening to talk about Icelandic culture and the way earlier generations understood the sky. The tour is not presented as a museum visit, so do not expect a long formal lesson. Think of the costumes as a playful extra that gives the evening some character.

I especially like this idea for families with older children, couples who want unusual holiday photographs, and anyone who would rather have a full evening out than a simple transport service into the countryside. Children must be at least seven years old.

Pickup around Reykjavík and the small minibus

Pickup is available from a wide selection of Reykjavík hotels and designated bus stops. Options include Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík City Hall, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Hotel Ísland, Hotel Klettur, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura, and several downtown stops.

You need to pay attention to the exact pickup point. Reykjavík uses designated bus stops for many tour transfers, and the stop closest to your hotel may not be directly outside the entrance. The driver calls your name at the pickup location, so arrive early and keep your phone available.

The vehicle carries no more than 18 people. That is a meaningful difference from a large coach. A small group can load faster, stop at less crowded places, and receive more direct help with posing and photography. Several guides also appear willing to keep hunting beyond the basic tour window when conditions look promising.

There is one practical compromise: the minibus can feel tight. One detailed account noted that winter layers were difficult to store and that there was not much room to move around inside. Wear warm clothes, but avoid bringing a large bag. Dress in layers that you can manage without turning your seat into a pile of coats.

The secret stop and the real purpose of the drive

The route includes a secret stop for sightseeing and photography, but the precise location is not given in advance. That makes sense for an aurora hunt. The guide needs freedom to follow cloud breaks, darkness, and the latest conditions rather than promise a fixed viewpoint.

The most important part of the drive is getting away from Reykjavík’s city lights. In the best conditions, the guide may stop near open countryside, mountains, a lake, or another dark setting. The supplied accounts describe drives of more than two hours in difficult weather, including one trip toward Seljalandsfoss. That sort of distance is not guaranteed on every outing, but it shows the company’s stated approach: keep moving when a better patch of sky may be available.

You should not think of this as a sightseeing tour with a long list of attractions. The goal is the sky. You may pass dramatic scenery in the dark, but the stop is chosen for cloud cover and visibility rather than for a daytime landmark.

Guides such as Emil, Tomas, Kobe, BG, and Kolbeinn are repeatedly praised for explaining their decisions. That matters because waiting beside a dark road can feel pointless if nobody tells you what is happening. A good guide can explain why the group is staying put, why the minibus is moving, or why a faint glow is worth waiting for.

What happens when the aurora appears

The guide watches the forecast and the sky, then positions the group away from artificial light. You may see only a faint band at first. On a strong night, the display can become bright green, pink, red, orange, or purple, with the glow shifting and stretching across the sky.

Do not assume that a phone photograph tells you what your eyes will see. Cameras can collect light during a long exposure, so a photograph may show stronger color than the naked eye. The best nights in the supplied accounts included auroras that were clearly visible without a camera, but intensity varies sharply from one night to the next.

The guide and photographer will organize people into small turns for portraits. This is one of the strongest reasons to pay more for this outing. You do not have to spend the night trying to balance a camera on a tripod while wearing gloves and hoping the focus is right.

The pictures require real technical skill. Night portraits with the aurora behind you involve long exposures, darkness, changing brightness, and careful positioning. Guides reposition the camera and people so that each person has at least one useful image. The final results are sent to you, and the supplied details describe them as high-quality photographs suitable for keeping and printing.

Be realistic about the phrase professional photos. You are still sharing the camera with the rest of the group, so you will not receive a private portrait session with unlimited styling. The guide’s goal is to make sure everyone gets a turn. If you want several poses, ask politely once the rest of the group has had a chance.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread, and waiting in the cold

Icelandic nights can become uncomfortable quickly, even when the forecast does not look extreme. Hot chocolate and gingerbread are included, and several guides have also used blankets or kept the minibus warm so people can thaw out between viewing attempts.

The hot chocolate is more than a decorative extra. A Northern Lights outing may involve standing outside, returning to the vehicle, driving to another stop, and waiting again. A warm drink gives the evening a welcome rhythm. Gingerbread and cookies provide a small snack, but do not treat them as dinner.

Bring proper warm clothing. The activity specifically recommends warm layers, and that advice is not optional. Add a hat, gloves, sturdy footwear, and a warm outer layer. You should be able to step outside quickly when the sky opens, without spending ten minutes reorganizing your clothes.

The warm minibus is also useful, but the limited interior space creates a tradeoff. You can shelter from the cold, yet bulky coats and extra bags make the cabin less comfortable. Pack light and wear your heaviest layers rather than carrying them loose.

The free retry policy is the strongest safety net

No operator can control the aurora. Solar activity, cloud cover, wind, and darkness all have to cooperate. A clear forecast does not guarantee a show, and a cloudy forecast does not always mean failure.

Aurora Viking offers unlimited free retries until you see the lights. This is valuable if you have several nights in Reykjavík. If the first outing fails because of clouds, you can contact the company and move to another evening without paying for another tour.

The policy is less useful if your Iceland visit ends the next morning. Before booking, check how many nights you have available. If you are staying for four or five nights, book early in your trip so you have room to try again. If this is your final night, you are accepting the full risk.

The company may cancel or reschedule when conditions are poor, and communication appears to be an important part of the service. Several accounts describe easy changes after bad weather. Still, a retry is not the same as a refund. The stated terms say there is no refund after joining the tour, even if the aurora does not appear. The separate cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead.

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 transport: hotel or bus-stop pickup and return, an English-speaking guide, a small vehicle, photography, Viking costumes, replica weapons, hot chocolate, cookies, and the free retry option.

The value depends on your priorities. If you only want to reach a dark location and you already have a camera setup, a basic coach tour may cost less. If you want help with night photography, a smaller group, and a company willing to try again, the price is easier to justify.

The photographs are the main financial difference. Hiring a separate photographer in Iceland can cost far more than the tour itself, while taking usable aurora portraits alone can be frustrating. Here, the camera work is built into the evening.

The retry policy also changes the calculation. A failed first night is disappointing, but it does not automatically mean your money is gone. That protection has real value, particularly for a first-time aurora hunter who does not know how to read Icelandic cloud forecasts.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This outing fits you well if you want:

• A Northern Lights hunt with a small group rather than a full coach
• Ready-made photographs of yourself beneath the aurora
• A guide who keeps searching when the first stop is weak
• A playful Viking activity during cloudy or quiet periods
• A flexible retry option during a longer Reykjavík stay
• Pickup and return from central hotels or listed bus stops

It is less suitable if you need a guaranteed sighting, dislike cold-weather waiting, or want a quiet, private photography session. The minibus is small, and the evening can involve long stretches of uncertainty.

Families should note the minimum age of seven. Older children may enjoy the costumes and weapon replicas, but the late timing, cold, and possible long drive still require patience. Couples and small groups should also understand that the photographs are shared among everyone on board.

Practical tips for getting more from the evening

Book this early in your stay if possible. You will then have a chance to use the retry policy if clouds win on the first night.

Keep your schedule flexible the next day. The tour lasts four hours, but the actual night may feel longer if the guide continues hunting for a break in the clouds. Do not place a tightly timed dinner reservation immediately afterward.

Wear warm clothing that is easy to remove and put back on. Bring gloves that still let you handle a phone or camera, though the guide will handle the main photography.

At the photo stop, listen when the guide positions you. Long exposures mean you need to stay still for a moment. Moving too soon can blur an otherwise excellent portrait.

If the aurora is faint, wait before deciding that the night is a failure. Several strong displays began as weak or partial lights, and guides may move to a second location when the first view is not enough.

Finally, keep expectations honest. The company can improve your odds, choose darker places, and take better photographs. It cannot order the aurora into the sky.

Should you book Aurora Viking?

I would choose this tour if professional photographs and a smaller group matter to you. The combination of patient guides, a free retry policy, Viking dress-up, and warm drinks gives you a fuller evening than a simple bus ride into the dark.

The best reason to book is the effort put into the hunt. Guides such as Emil, Tomas, Kobe, BG, and Kolbeinn have been praised for changing locations, explaining the conditions, and making sure everyone receives a photograph. The main drawbacks are the cramped minibus, uncertain viewing conditions, and the no-refund rule after participation.

Book it early in your Reykjavík stay, bring serious cold-weather clothing, and treat the aurora as a natural event rather than a promised performance. If the sky cooperates, you get the rare combination of seeing the lights with your own eyes and bringing home a portrait that proves you were there.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The activity lasts four hours.

How many people are in the group?

The small minibus carries a maximum of 18 people.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide and photographer, Viking costumes, replica Viking weapons, hot chocolate, and cookies.

Are professional Northern Lights photographs included?

Yes. The guides use high-spec cameras to take night photographs of the aurora and portraits of you beneath it. The photographs are provided for you to keep.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You can join the tour again free of charge until you see the lights. There is no refund solely because the aurora was not visible.

Can children join the tour?

Children must be at least seven years old.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from selected Reykjavík hotels and designated city bus stops, including Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík City Hall, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Hotel Ísland, Hotel Klettur, and Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Once you join the tour, the stated policy says there is no refund.