Magical Auroras - Northern lights in a minibus

by Arctic Adventures · Northern lights · Reykjavík

4.30· 301 TripAdvisor reviews of this tour 4.60· 5,195 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own

from €110.04 per person

Next departure: Thu 22 Oct

Book Thu 22 Oct · €110.04 Other dates

Magical Auroras - Northern lights in a minibus — Arctic Adventures

best small group northern lights tour Iceland

Three people enjoying the skies during Arctic adventures northern lights tour

small group of people enjoying the northern lights tour in Iceland

Arctic adventures northern lights Iceland

1 / 7

7 photos from Arctic Adventures. Tap any one for the full-size original.

Duration
4 hours
Difficulty
Very easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
20:30, 21:30
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

Meeting point, in Arctic Adventures's words: Please send us your pickup location as soon as possible.

Our take on this one

Arctic Adventures' small-group lights tour: a minibus rather than a coach, pickup across Reykjavík, and four hours out in the countryside at night looking for clear sky. The guide photographs the lights whenever they appear and sends you the pictures, which is worth more than it sounds — phone cameras struggle and most people come home with nothing. Two departures, 20:30 and 21:30, winter only, minimum age six. Dress as if you will be standing still outdoors for an hour, because you will be: thermals, waterproofs, hat, gloves and real boots. Nothing about an aurora is predictable and nobody can promise one. At €107 this is the sensible middle between a 60-seat coach and a private car.

Book it if: First attempts at the lights, where a smaller bus and a photographer matter more than having the vehicle to yourself.
Skip it if: Four hours in the dark with a real chance of seeing nothing — if you have only one clear night, a private car can chase the gap in the cloud further.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

Magical Auroras - Northern lights Small Group Tour in a Minibus

Difficulty: 1/5, very easy

Tour Highlights: Small Group Experience, Northern Lights Photos, The Northern Lights, Guided Tour in a Minibus, Budget Option, Iceland Countryside

Arctic Adventures Northern Lights Tour will be an experience you'll not likely forget.

About Small Group Northern Lights Tour Iceland:

This fascinating natural phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, is one of the most mesmerizing sights you will ever come across in your lifetime. The dancing colors and shapes in the dark arctic sky will simply leave you awestruck.

Firstly, your expert Northern Lights guide will pick you up at your selected pick up location in a minibus so you can properly enjoy a small group experience. On the search for the Northern Lights you will travel through some of Iceland's most spectacular natural sights by night time with a very informative guide.

Our guides take photos every time the Northern lights are spotted so you can be sure to get your picture taken with the Aurora.

Please note: As the success of the Northern Lights tour is heavily dependent on weather conditions, we reserve the right to cancel departures up until 18:15 on the day of the tour. If the tour goes ahead and no northern lights are seen we offer clients the chance to join another evening's departure free of charge upon availability. Note that you need to contact us to re-book.

Disclaimer: All adventure trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk

To learn more about Minibus Northern Lights Tour Reykjavik, check here.

Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

Pick-up & drop off from Reykjavík

Minibus Transport

Expert Guide

Northern Lights Photos

English Speaking Tour Guide

Free WiFi on Board Your Bus

Good to know

Warm layers, waterproof jacket and pants, headwear, gloves, scarves, water bottle, snacks and a small backpack is always useful. Strong hiking boots are absolutely essential.

What if I don’t own all of these clothing items?
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking boots, waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process. Booking these items in advance is recommended.

The Northern Lights are natural phenomena that are difficult to predict, but our guides do everything in their power to make sure you see the lights.

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.

1Arctic Adventures 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.
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.
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 Iceland Reykjavik Northern Lights Bus Tour guided in Chinese冰岛雷市中文极光团 from Magic Iceland Travel is €73 — €37 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	Arctic Adventures · €110	Magic Iceland Travel · €73
Getting there	Picks you up	You make your own way
How hard it is	Very easy	Easy

The €37 buys you hotel pickup. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Who this is not for

Children under 6 cannot join this one.
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

Arctic Adventures is one of 204 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 Arctic Adventures

Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Kai Gilchrist
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
Tatjana Kultaniemi
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
Chloe Lamm
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
Nicole Y.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!

Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026

Read before you book

Iceland at Christmas and New Year: what tours runMost day tours still run over Christmas and New Year, but fewer departures. 24 and 31 December are the thinnest days. Book the New Year's Eve boats early.
Northern lights with kids: which tour worksNorthern lights tours with children from Reykjavík: the boat, the minibus and the private family tour. Minimum ages, the late hours and what to pack.
Best Northern Lights Tour in Iceland (2026): 5 PicksThe northern lights tours we would book ourselves from Reykjavík and Akureyri, by minibus, super jeep and boat, with real prices and honest odds.

Reviews from our travellers

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

Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for 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.

Hotels

Where to stay for this tour

From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.

All hotels in Reykjavík →

One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it

from

€110.04 per person

Arctic Adventures's own price. 3% off the whole trip when you book two or more tours together, in one checkout.

Your date

The next departure we can see — change it if this tour is for another day.

Pick a date to check departures.

Departs20:3021:30

Reykjavík: light 08:37–17:48, 9 h 11 min of daylight.

✓ Free cancellation until 24 hours before
✓ Instant confirmation by email
✓ If Arctic Adventures cancels for weather or safety: a full refund, or another date
✓ Card — Apple Pay or Google Pay where your device offers it — through Stripe; the charge is made in Icelandic krónur
✓ Price promise: Arctic Adventures's own price, or we refund the difference
✓ One checkout, even with tours from several operators
✓ Vetted operator — the six checks every operator passes

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €7 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.