Northern Lights the Viking way - ATV Reykjavik Adventure
by Action Adventures · Northern lights · ATV & buggy · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
- Works in the rain
- Eco-certified
Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Action Adventures'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.
More photos of Northern Lights the Viking way - ATV Reykjavik Adventure
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Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Mosfellsbær
Languages
EN, DE, JA, EN
Departs
21:30
Minimum age
12
Cancellation
Free until 24h before
About this experience
Northern Lights the Viking way - ATV Reykjavik Adventure
The Experience: Join us for a unique "once-in-a-lifetime" adventure: hunting for the Northern Lights on an ATV. This 90-minute night tour takes you away from the city lights into the darkness surrounding Lake Hafravatn and Mount Hafrafell.
Far from the glow of the capital, you will feel like you are worlds away, yet we are only 15 minutes from Reykjavík. On a clear night, we stop to gaze at the stars and look for shooting stars—and if luck is on our side, we will witness the dancing Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) shimmering over the city and the mountains. Even if the lights are shy, driving an ATV through the dark with only your headlights to guide the way is a thrilling adventure in itself.
Why Book Early? We highly recommend booking this tour for one of your first nights in Iceland. This gives you the flexibility to reschedule to a later date if the weather or cloud cover is not favorable on your first attempt.
Important Policies & Weather Conditions
Since the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Here is how we manage the tours:
- If the weather is bad (Storm/Unsafe):We will cancel the tour. You will be offered the option to reschedule for another day or receive a full refund.
- If the weather is good (Clear Skies) but Aurora activity is low:We will contact you before the tour to explain the situation. You will have a choice:
Cancel/Reschedule: You can choose to move your booking to another night or cancel for a refund.
Go for the Ride: You can choose to join the tour for the adventure of night riding. Please note: If you decide to go, the tour is considered completed. We cannot offer a refund or a free reschedule if the lights do not appear.
Tour Details & Logistics
- Duration: Approximately 90 minutes (riding time may vary slightly depending on conditions and stops).
- Group Size: Small group experience (Maximum 8 people bookable online).
- Pickup: We offer pickup from most hotels in the Reykjavik area.
Note: Due to city restrictions, we cannot pick up directly from downtown hotels. Please check www.busstop.is to find your nearest Tourist Bus Stop. - Meet us at location - Use promo code MOL for 10% off the price for "Meet On Location" if you have a car and meet us on location.
- Pricing: Prices are per person.
Shared Ride: Two people per ATV.
Solo Ride: Single riders or groups with an odd number of participants (e.g., 3, 5) must book a Solo Ride. - Requirements: A valid driving license is required for all drivers. Children up to 17 pay the child rate.
What else should you know?
- It gets COLD: Riding at night is significantly colder than during the day. We provide warm overalls, but please wear your warmest layers (thermals/wool) underneath.
- Photography: If you want to take photos of the Northern Lights, you will need a camera with a "Night Mode" or manual settings (long exposure). You are welcome to bring a small tripod, but it must be carried safely in a backpack.
Description from the operator, Action Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Where you go
- The Northern Lights ATV Hunt
Included
What’s Included? We’ve got you covered. We provide all the necessary riding gear, including warm, wind-and-waterproof overalls, helmets, and gloves to keep you comfortable. We also offer free pickup from hotels and bus stops in the Reykjavik area.
What do you need? Just bring your full driving license and a pair of sturdy shoes.
Not included
To ensure clarity and safety, please note the following exclusions and rules:
- Food & Drink: Lunch or snacks are not included. We recommend eating before you arrive.
- Personal Insurance: Personal accident or travel insurance is not included. Riders participate at their own risk.
- Unsafe Driving: For your safety, reckless behavior is strictly prohibited. This includes: Sliding, spinning, or drifting. Speeding or failing to follow the guide's instructions.
- Off-Trail Driving: We ride on established tracks only. Driving off the marked trails is illegal in Iceland to protect the delicate nature (moss and soil) and is not permitted under any circumstances.
"Please note: Guides reserve the right to stop the ride immediately for anyone driving in an unsafe manner or damaging nature."
Good to know
Essential Items:
- Driving License: A physical, fully valid driving license is required for all drivers.
- Footwear: Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are recommended.
Clothing Advice (Dress for the Weather.):
- Winter / Cold Days: The wind chill on the ATV can be very cold. We strongly recommend wearing thermal base layers, a warm sweater (wool or fleece), and thick socks.
- Accessories: A thin hat and a neck warmer (buff) or scarf are highly recommended to wear under the helmet.
Good to Know:
- We Provide: Warm, wind-and-waterproof riding overalls, helmets, and riding gloves.
- Available at Base: If you get cold easily, hand and toe warmers are available for purchase at our basecamp.
Camera or Phones:
- Bring Phone with good camera with you or SLR Camera with tripod and Wide lens
- The newest phones can capture the Northern Lights but not the old one.
- We recommend Iphone 11 or better, the new Google phone and other with night mode or adjustion with few seconds open shutter mode.
Logistics & Weather:
- Confirmation: You will receive confirmation immediately at the time of booking.
- Pickup Time: Hotel pickups start approximately 30 minutes prior to the tour departure time. Please be ready in your hotel lobby or at your designated bus stop.
- Weather: This tour operates in all weather conditions. Please dress appropriately for the Icelandic climate (warm layers, waterproofs).
- Gratuities: Pickup and guiding are included. Gratuities (tips) are not mandatory but are always appreciated if you enjoyed the service.
Health & Accessibility:
- Physical Restrictions: This activity is not recommended for travelers with back problems or pregnant travelers due to the bumpy nature of the trails.
- Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Rules & Safety:
- Driving License: A full, valid driving license is required for all drivers.
- Nature Protection: We explore nature responsibly. Riding is strictly limited to safe, established tracks to protect the environment.
- Safe Driving: Unsafe behavior, such as speeding or drifting, is strictly prohibited. Driving off the marked tracks is illegal.
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.
- 1Action 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 Northern Lights at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon from Blue Iceland is €56 — €109 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Action Adventures · €165 | Blue Iceland · €56 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 2.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Changing your mind | Free until 24 h before | Free until departure |
| How hard it is | Moderate | Easy |
The €109 buys you 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 for families with children under 12 — the operator will not take them, even with a parent.
- 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
Action Adventures 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 Action Adventures
Read all 46 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.9/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · a year ago
We had the absolute BEST time on our 2 hour ATV Tour!!! The views were stunning (pictures don't do it justice) and our guide was super informative and friendly!! We stopped to feed some horses on our way back (super cool experience) and we lucked out with the weather too! 10/10 for overall experience!! Would 100% recommend this tour!!!
★★★★★ · 2 years ago
This tour was fantastic. I went with my 3 friends (all of us around 20 years old) on our last day in Iceland as we wanted to do something fun near the Reykjavik. To save some money we shared ATVs and switched turns driving which worked out great. We stopped I think 3 times or so during the ride and the views were great. It was so much fun riding the ATVs and our tour guide was great. He was fun and gave us some info about the places we stopped at. The other group didn’t show, so it was just my friends and I. I would totally recommend.
★★★★★ · a year ago
Absolutely unbelievable experience. Picked up from hotel, taken 15 min out to the base. Got kitted up with everything we needed, hand warmers, gloves, snoods. The guide is so friendly, with a great sense of humour, and very informative too about the local area. Would definitely recommend.
★★★★★ · 2 years ago
Such a great experience. Our ride was fabulous, our guide was friendly, safe and very knowledgeable. There was just our guide and my family of 4 on 2 ATV’s. We went off the beaten track and had plenty of stops to take decent photos. We would all highly recommend!
Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026
Read before you book
- ATV and buggy tours — an hour near Reykjavík or the Westfjords at DrangsnesQuad tours near Reykjavík come as half of a combo day. In Drangsnes you get an empty fjord and a mountain track for €128. Your route decides which one.
- Northern lights by bus, boat or super-jeep — the odds are the same, the night isn'tBus, boat and super-jeep lights hunts from Reykjavík compared on real odds, comfort and price, with the one we'd book first.
- Northern lights with a photographer or a regular tour — what the extra money buysSame sky, same dark field, €71 or €114. What a 'free photos' lights tour really gives you, and what the small-group Sprinter option actually costs.
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.
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