Iceland · NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

Northern Lights in Iceland: The 15 Best Tours

146 tours  ·  from $30

Nobody can sell you an aurora, only a better chance of one. The 15 below are compared on where they drive, how many people are on board and what happens to your money when the cloud does not break.

Iceland: Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik - What the aurora looks like in person
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Iceland: Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik

1.Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 11,161 reviews · from $73Our pick

Leave Reykjavik by bus for a four-hour hunt for the Aurora Borealis. Guides such as Jessica, Sunny, Daniel, and Petra explain the science, folklore, stars, and camera settings while drivers chase clearer skies. You can stop for photos and rebook once for free if the lights do not appear.

“Daniel was a phenomenal guide. He was very knowledgeable, answered all our questions, and set expectations appropriately while providing some educational background. He was funny and light hearted and went above and beyond for participants. It was an incredible night for the lights despite being at the end of season. At no point did I feel rushed or that we were spending too much time on stops. I’ve done a lot of great tours and this one was easily the best. The hot chocolates and chocolate sweets were a great treat to top it all off. This is worth every penny.Read more”

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Small-Group Premium Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik - How the Northern Lights hunt works
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Small-Group Premium Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

2.Small-Group Premium Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,977 reviews · 4 hours · from $107

Leave Reykjavik in a small minibus with an English-speaking aurora guide such as Ody, JP, Michael, or Axel. You’ll chase clear skies, stop away from city lights, learn how the aurora forms, and get help with photographs. Hot chocolate and refreshments are included, plus a free retry within three years if the lights stay hidden.

“We got incredibly lucky and had clear skies and a fantastic lights show. Very easy to recommend when it's like this. Our guide, JP, was very friendly and knowledgeable. He had a genuine enthusiasm for the auroras.”

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#1 Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos - The guides shape the night
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#1 Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos

3.#1 Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,887 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Leave Reykjavik with a local guide such as Bjarni, BG, Johan, or Johann and chase clear skies beyond the city glow. Your guide may change locations during the four-hour hunt. Pickup, hot chocolate, pastries, blankets, and professional aurora photos are included, with a free re-run if the lights stay hidden.

“Not sure how this tour can call itself #1 because our experience was so bad it was almost comical. Our guide tried to call off the tour 20 minutes before prime viewing began and several of us just refused to get back on the bus. He claimed that his boss said there would be no lights, but because we refused we were able to see the lights. Then our guide was so angry with us that when he took the “professional pictures” they were much worse than I took with my iPhone. Then he proceeded to drive very dangerously on the trip home, clearly he was throwing a temper tantrum…”

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Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos - What it feels like to wait outside
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Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos

4.Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,068 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $172

Join EastWest’s small-group aurora hunt from Reykjavík, with up to 19 people in a minibus. Guides such as Baldvin, Michaela, Devin, and Ionut read the forecast, change locations when needed, and explain Icelandic folklore and aurora science. Hot chocolate, Icelandic pastries, wool blankets, and photos are included when conditions allow.

“Our guide was fabulous and although he has done about 2000 of these tours he was just as excited as we were to see the lights. Professional photos were included and he was so good with letting each group pose multiple times Best photos of the trip!”

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Northern Lights Night Tour from Reykjavik - Choosing the meeting point and avoiding pickup trouble
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Northern Lights Night Tour from Reykjavik

5.Northern Lights Night Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 1,921 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $63Best value

Leave Reykjavik by air-conditioned coach and search Iceland’s dark countryside for the Aurora Borealis. Your guide explains the science and Icelandic folklore, helps with camera settings, and may change the route based on weather and cloud cover. WiFi is included, and you can rebook free if no lights appear.

“Pickup from the bus stop was exactly as instructions stated, and on time. Driver was informative, and tried to level set expectations that even with high probability- we may not have seen anything during our tour. We had an unexpectedly amazing evening. The auroras were stunning, with the event reaching Europe and the US. As a solo traveler, this tour gave me a safe way to experience the auroras, which is invaluable to me.”

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Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Hot Chocolate - How the aurora chase really works
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Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Hot Chocolate

6.Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Hot Chocolate

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,782 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $76

You’ll leave Reykjavik by bus with an English-speaking guide such as Darren, Simon, Eva, or Barbara, searching weather-friendly skies around Thingvellir and other rural stops. Expect about four hours, round-trip pickup, WiFi, warm chocolate, Icelandic folklore, and one free retry if the aurora stays hidden.

“Well worth it. Northern Lights are a wonder to behold. Just hope for a fairly cloudless evening and you'll be sorted.”

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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Lifetime Guarantee - Leaving Reykjavik from BSÍ Bus Terminal
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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Lifetime Guarantee

7.Northern Lights Tour with Lifetime Guarantee

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 1,578 reviews · 3 hours · from $73

Leave Reykjavik by coach for a three-hour Northern Lights hunt with an English-speaking guide and multilingual audio app. You may stop at a dark rural site, a cafe, or another roadside location as conditions change. Guides such as Thor, Laura, Oliver, and Helga have helped visitors with camera settings, constellation spotting, and last-minute aurora sightings. If the lights stay hidden, you can return free.

“Unfortunately our tour was cancelled the first time round, but they offered us to reschedule which we easily did for the next night. We didn’t get to see the northern lights this time but the tour was still worthwhile. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and told us all about the lights and some history of Iceland. We were also given the opportunity to re book any time in the next two years for free as we didn’t see them which we will definitely be doing on our return to Iceland!”

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Reykjavik: Northern Lights Yacht Tour - The first half hour on Faxaflói Bay
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Reykjavik: Northern Lights Yacht Tour

8.Northern Lights Yacht Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,253 reviews · 2 hours · from $93

Sail from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor into Faxaflói Bay on a two-hour aurora cruise. Guides such as Maria, Julian, and Lucky explain the lights, help with phone photography, and alert you when the sky changes. Three viewing decks, blankets, sea-sickness tablets, Wi-Fi, and an indoor bar make this a comfortable option, though sightings are never guaranteed.

“Overall good trip. We only faintly saw the lights for a couple minutes (still saw them!). However, they didn’t think it was good enough so they are allowing us to come back up to 3 years time which I think it’s very kind of them. The bar / overall boat was really good. Even the two hour cruise is pretty worth it”

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Northern Lights Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik - What the guide adds to the night
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Northern Lights Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik

9.Northern Lights Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,183 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $73

Ride from central Reykjavik to a dark viewing area while a local English-speaking guide explains the aurora. The destination changes with weather and the aurora forecast. Buses have Wi-Fi, pickup is available, and a second attempt may be offered if the lights do not appear. Tours run from September through April.

“We were so lucky to see them! They take you to the National park and let you know the science behind the lights etc. absolutely wonderful!”

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Northern Lights Midnight Adventure Small-Group from Reykjavík - How the guide searches for clearer skies
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Northern Lights Midnight Adventure Small-Group from Reykjavík

10.Northern Lights Midnight Adventure Small-Group from Reykjavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 965 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $140Top rated

Travel from Reykjavík in a small heated minibus while guides such as Tomas, Siggi, Sunny, Patrick, and Almar track cloud cover and aurora conditions. Expect science and Iceland stories, several possible viewing stops, hot chocolate in winter, and professional photos when the lights appear. The tour lasts about three to five hours.

“Seeing the Northern Lights has always been a dream of mine, and thanks to our incredible guide Tomas, that dream came true! From the moment the tour started, Tomas was warm, friendly, and full of fascinating stories. What really impressed me was how determined he was to make sure we actually saw the lights. Tomas checked the forecasts constantly, drove us far out to find clear skies, and sure enough — there they were! The most breathtaking display of the lights dancing across the sky. He even took professional pictures of us and sent them! Tomas went above and beyond in every way — his passion, knowledge, and genuine care…”

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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour - Leaving from Reykjavik’s BSI bus terminal
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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour

11.Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 761 reviews · from $69

Leave Reykjavik by bus with an English-speaking guide and search several possible viewing sites for the Northern Lights. Guides such as Alex, Birta, Daisy, and Freda have helped with Aurora facts and camera settings. The 3 to 4-hour outing includes free Wi-Fi and a free return trip if clouds or weak activity spoil your first attempt.

“Wow, wow, WOW! Such an incredible tour and the northern lights were out in force for us, we were extremely lucky. Our tour guide Birta was incredible and made the experience so fun and excitable. I was lucky enough to use this evening to ask the love of my life to marry me. I cannot thank the Icelandic team enough for all their help making this moment so very special. The tour is 110% a MUST during your stay in Reykjavik!”

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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Guided Tour with Photos - Why the final destination stays unknown
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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Guided Tour with Photos

12.Northern Lights Guided Tour with Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 718 reviews · 5 hours · from $95

Leave Reykjavik with guides such as Christian, Ania, and Chris to search for the Aurora beyond city lights. The five-hour outing may include several stops, hot chocolate, blankets, stargazing, and a group photo session using a proper camera. Photos are sent by Dropbox within seven days when the hunt succeeds.

“It was great. Ana Maria, our guide, was amazing, she was very nice and knowledgeable. We saw the most amazing Northern Lights and couldn't be happier.”

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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Chase with Expert Guide - What happens at the viewing stops
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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Chase with Expert Guide

13.Northern Lights Chase with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 697 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $73

Leave Reykjavik by bus and follow the evening forecast toward clearer skies. Your English-speaking guide chooses the route, explains the aurora, and stops at dark viewing spots for photos. Guides such as Arman, Rene, Kat, and Darren have helped guests wait out clouds and catch sudden displays. If the lights stay hidden, you can return free.

“We did 3 tours for the northern lights, and this was the better one by far, the cheapest, most comfortable bus out of the 3 tours, and Rene was super informative and friendly. We saw the lights by the 2 lighthouses on the southern peninsula. A spectacular show!”

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From Reykjavík: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos - How the aurora search works
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From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

14.Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 695 reviews · 4 hours · from $169

Join EastWest for a four-hour aurora hunt from Reykjavik in a minibus for up to 19 people. Guides such as Baldvin, Devin, Simon, and Gummi use weather forecasts and satellite information to seek clear skies, while you warm up with cocoa, kleina pastries, wool blankets, and complimentary night-sky photos.

“Baldvin was an excellent tour guide, it was clear that he loves chasing the aurora and getting his passengers the best views of it. The aurora we got to see was fantastic, we were very lucky to get such an amazing display. Baldvin took great care in getting lots of photos of everyone with the aurora and the hot chocolate with Icelandic donut were delicious. Our original tour date had been cancelled due to poor conditions but the team at EastWest communicated everything really well. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this tour to everyone.”

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From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Northern Lights Tour - Þingvellir: where Iceland’s story meets the earth
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From Reykjavik: Golden Circle and Northern Lights Tour

15.Golden Circle and Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 673 reviews · 9 hours · from $153

Travel from Reykjavik to Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss with an English-speaking guide, then return for an evening Aurora hunt. You’ll have Wi-Fi, USB charging, camera tips, and optional pickup. The large coach keeps the price sensible, but the Northern Lights outing may use one main viewing stop rather than chase across several locations.

“The golden circle tour was great. Very informative and the guide and driver were great. Unfortunately our northern lights tour was cancelled due to the weather so we weren’t able to make that part of the tour.”

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