Reykjavík: Northern Lights Small-Group Tour by Sprinter with Photos & Cocoa

by Nordur Travel Services ehf · Northern lights · Reykjavík

Reykjavík: Northern Lights Small-Group Tour by Sprinter with Photos & Cocoa — Nordur Travel Services ehf

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Nordur Travel Services ehf's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.

  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN, DE, EN, ES

  • Departs

    20:00, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00 …

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

About this experience

The Aurora Borealis is a must-see in Iceland, and our Northern Lights Sprinter tour is designed to make this experience both accessible and memorable. We start with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Reykjavík. Our modern Sprinter buses ensure a comfortable ride as we leave the city lights behind and head toward dark, open areas with the best viewing conditions.

On the journey, our experienced guides will share fascinating insights into the Northern Lights — from the science behind this natural wonder to Icelandic legends and stories.

When we reach our viewing spot, you’ll step into the crisp night air. To keep you cozy, we provide hot chocolate, traditional Icelandic pastries, and hand warmers. These little comforts let you focus on the magical sky above.

With smaller groups, you’ll enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere and personal interaction with the guides. You’ll also have more opportunities for photos, and our guides are happy to help capture the Northern Lights with you in the frame.

If weather conditions aren’t right, we offer flexible rescheduling to increase your chances of witnessing this spectacular natural phenomenon.

After the tour, we’ll bring you back to your accommodation in Reykjavík, leaving you with lasting memories of one of Iceland’s most breathtaking experiences.

Description from the operator, Nordur Travel Services ehf. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Where you go

  1. Northern Lights Viewing

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík
  • Sprinter minibus transfer
  • Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries
  • Hand warmers
  • Amazing photography
  • Expert local guides
  • Small group size (1:19 ratio)
  • Free WiFi onboard

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a solid cloud forecast — most operators call it by late afternoon and let you rebook on a clearer night free of charge. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Nordur Travel Services ehf decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Northern Lights at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon from Blue Iceland is €56 — €55 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Nordur Travel Services ehf · €111Blue Iceland · €56
How long it runs4 hours3 hours
Getting therePicks you upYou make your own way
Changing your mindFree until 24 h beforeFree until departure

The €55 buys you 1 more hour out and hotel pickup and free cancellation up to 24 h before. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Not available in summer; the operator runs it roughly September to April.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Nordur Travel Services ehf is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Nordur Travel Services ehf

Read all 134 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.8/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Reme Amat Sánchez

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    Great tour, i enjoy a lot, the guide speaks spanish very good. Wonderfull places.

  • Lee Prescott

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    My sister and I booked a Golden Circle tour with Nordur Travel. They communicated well with us prior to the trip providing pick up details and any changes to the programme. Lara the guide was very good - friendly and informative and considered the needs of the group. I would happily recommend the company.

  • Winnifred Eames

    ★★★★★ · 7 months ago

    Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the Northern Lights, even though we had 2 goes at it! Each trip took us to different places, and although the forecast was apparently very good on the second attempt, we still didn’t see any, despite the enthusiasm and knowledge of both guides. Laura was the perfect guide, with her knowledge and enthusiasm. The hot chocolate drink and pastries were very welcome, and the dark skies on the second night were quite spectacular on their own!

  • Tobias S.

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    The tour with Magda was super, she told us a lot of information about Landmannalaugar and the hike was really beautiful! Relaxing in the hot spring at the end was also very nice. All in all a great adventure 👍

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Northern lights — questions people ask

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?

September to April, when the nights are dark enough. Within that, late September to March gives the longest dark hours, and the equinox months, September and March, often have active skies. There are no lights in June or July; the sky never gets dark. Anyone selling you a June lights tour is selling you a bus ride. Give yourself at least three nights, because clouds, not the aurora, are the usual reason people miss them.

Are the northern lights guaranteed on a tour?

No. Nobody can promise them, and we will not. Two things have to line up: a clear sky and solar activity. Guides check the cloud forecast at vedur.is and drive to gaps, which is the real value of a tour over standing outside your hotel. What most operators do promise is a free second attempt if the lights do not show. Check the exact retry policy on the tour page, because the number of retries and the validity period vary.

Is a northern lights bus tour or a boat tour better?

Bus, if you want the best odds. A minibus can drive an hour inland to find a clear patch; a boat stays in Faxaflói and sees whatever sky is over Reykjavík. Boats are shorter, about two hours, and pleasant with hot chocolate, and Reykjavik Sailors' cruise (/experience/6637/) includes a free retry. For a serious hunt, a small-group minibus like BusTravel's (/experience/150646/) or a 4x4 tour (/experience/1088067/) is the better bet.

Can I see the northern lights from Reykjavík itself?

Yes, on strong nights. The city is small and the sky over the sea to the north is fairly dark. Grótta lighthouse at the western tip and the Ægisíða shoreline are the usual spots, twenty minutes' walk from the centre. On average nights the street lights drown out a faint aurora, which is why tours drive out. If the forecast shows high activity and clear sky, walk to Grótta first and save the tour money.

  • One checkout, any number of operators

  • Rankings are not for sale

  • 153 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted

  • If it falls short, we fix it

Pairs well with

Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.

from

€111 per person

Check dates & book