Northern Lights Small Group Tour with Hot Cocoa & Free Photos
by EastWest · Northern lights · Reykjavík
- Fine on your own
from €154.09 per person
Next departure: Thu 22 Oct
1 / 29
Duration
4 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
21:00, 22:00
Minimum age
5
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Words alone cannot capture the breathtaking beauty of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This incredible natural phenomenon is something you must see to believe, and we are dedicated to making sure you have an unforgettable experience.
We promise to do our best to find the Aurora Borealis on your night out. Even If we don’t see any northern lights while on tour, you can join us again another day for free (upon our availability). This is our promise to you, as even with the best of guides and detailed forecasts, sightings can never be guaranteed.
Carefully Planned Journeys for Optimal Viewing
Our Northern Lights tour is meticulously planned based on the latest weather forecasts to ensure we head to the best possible locations for viewing the lights. Sometimes, the adventure of chasing the lights is part of the thrill. If we are fortunate enough to witness this magical display, it will be a moment you will cherish forever. And if not, there will always be another opportunity to try.
Comfort and Warmth on Your Journey
Travel in comfort on our cozy minibuses, equipped with free WiFi and USB charging ports, and enjoy complimentary Icelandic wool blankets, hot chocolate, and traditional pastries. With a maximum of 19 guests, our tours offer a personal, crowd-free experience close to Iceland’s untouched landscapes.
Intimate and Exclusive Experience
To ensure a more intimate and exclusive experience, we travel in a minibus with a maximum of 19 people. This allows us to avoid crowded areas and find the best vantage points for viewing the Northern Lights.
Join us for an unforgettable journey to witness the Aurora Borealis in a small group with attention to details.
Please note:
- Pick-up begins 30 minutes before departure time. Please be ready at the selected location based on this information.
- Not wheelchair accessible nor stroller accessible.
- Infant seats are not available.
- Access to restroom facilities out of urban areas is very limited while on the Northern lights tours.
- Even with the best of guides and a detailed forecast, sightings are never guaranteed. If we don’t find any lights while on tour, you can join us again another day for free (upon our availability). We cannot give a refund.
- The tour is operated in a minibus and does not exceed more than 19 passengers. This tour takes place at night, please dress up accordingly with warm garments. Bring along a hat, gloves and a scarf. Waterproof clothing is always recommended while touring around Iceland.
- Please check your email inbox - we will send you an email on your departure day in the afternoon to inform you if the tour goes ahead or if it is cancelled. Make sure to check the spam inbox too.
- Due to traffic regulations, tour buses are not permitted to drive or stop in certain city areas and may only stop at designated locations. If your hotel isn't on our list, or if you're uncertain about where to meet us for pickup, please contact us.
Description from the operator, EastWest. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Included
Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries
Professional Local driver/guide
Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
Free Photos (if conditions allow)
Use of Icelandic woolen blankets
Wifi available on board
Not included
Please note that dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated while on this tour
Good to know
Layered Clothing: Icelandic nights can be exceptionally cold, so dressing in layers is essential. Don't forget to pack thermal socks, gloves, a hat, and a scarf to keep yourself comfortably warm.
- Pick-up begins 30 minutes prior to departure time. Please be ready at the selected location based on this information.
- Not wheelchair accessible nor stroller accessible
- Infant seats unavailable
- Please note that the access to restroom facilities out of urban areas is very limited while on the Northern lights tours.
- Even with the best of guides and a detailed forecast, sightings are never guaranteed. If we don’t find any lights while on tour, you can join us again another day for free (upon our availability). You will not be entitled to get a refund.
- A refund is only possible if the tour never operates while you are in Iceland and you never get the chance to join the tour which sometimes happens due to unfavorable weather conditions.
- The tour is operated in a minibus and does not exceed more than 19 passengers.
- This tour takes place at night, please dress up accordingly with warm garments. Bring along a hat, gloves and a scarf. Waterproof clothing is always recommended while touring around Iceland.
- Please check your email inbox - we will send you an email on your departure day in the afternoon to inform you if the tour goes ahead or if it is cancelled.Make sure to check the spam inbox too.
- Due to traffic regulations, tour buses are not permitted to drive or stop in certain city areas and may only stop at designated locations. If your hotel isn't on our list, or if you're uncertain about where to meet us for pickup, please email us at eastwest@eastwest.is.
- Please note that we may use photos taken during the tour for our marketing and promotional purposes. If you do not agree to this, please let us know in advance.
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.
- 1EastWest 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 — €81 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| EastWest · €154 | Magic Iceland Travel · €73 | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Picks you up | You make your own way |
The €81 buys you hotel pickup. 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
- Children under 5 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
EastWest 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 EastWest
Read all 2,173 reviews on Google →Operator rating 5.0/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I took three different day tours with this company during my stay in Iceland: the Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. All three were absolutely breathtaking! You get to experience so much of Iceland’s incredible beauty in a comfortable, well-organized way. The minibuses were clean, the tours were punctual, and I always felt safe while having a lot of fun. Leroy and Ionut were my guides and drivers. Leroy went above and beyond. He is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, professional, and has a great sense of humor. Truly one of a kind! 🙂 Ionut was equally wonderful—caring, knowledgeable, organized, and an excellent guide who made the day both enjoyable and informative. I highly recommend this company to anyone visiting Iceland. It was one of the highlights of my trip!
★★★★★ · 3 weeks ago
We booked 3 tours with this company. Our Northern Lights tour was a bust, but they rebooked it for tomorrow for us. This review is for Golden Circle. We also have a South Coast Tour planned for tomorrow. Stay tuned for those reviews as well. East West is extremely communicative, I encourage you to check your email the morning of pick up. A lot of tour companies use the bus stops and have multiple vehicles. We knew Simon was our driver and had a license plate number. Simon was great, with a fantastic sense of humor. He explained exactly what was going on at every step of the way. We visited the National Park, fresh ice cream shop, waterfall, geyser, crater, and tomato farm. Definitely a long day with a lot to do. I will say that food everywhere is expensive. Tomato farm was very good though. 2nd review is the South Coast Tour. Oscar was our guide for this tour. We went to black sand beach, and some really amazing waterfalls and a glacier. I don’t want to say too much and ruin it for you. We loved this one even more than the first. The scenery is absolutely stunning. This is a 10 hour tour and well worth it. Finally was our second go at the Northern Lights. We hit them at the very first stop. By the way, hot chocolate is amazing. This company and everyone we met who works for them is top notch.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
The Golden Circle tour guided by Gon was one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. First, a moment for Iceland because this country is 😍. 🇮🇸 We started the day punctually, in an immaculately clean van, with a wonderful group of tourists and expert tour guide. After an early start, Gon was on mission to maximize our experience on this tour. He was able to squeeze in a few extra stops that were just the cherry on top of all of the experiences included in the tour. He thoughtfully planned out and timed our route to place us in locations at ideal times for lower crowds. Not one stop felt rushed or “overcrowded” at any point on our trip (aside from Guyser, which is apparently always packed in summer). Gon was extremely knowledgeable of Icelandic culture and history, blending informative segments and opportunities to quietly take in the majesty of the remarkable landscape. From breathtaking vistas and grand waterfalls, to expertly crafted dining and treats, to interaction with native animals, this adventure was more than we could have ever hoped for! One for the memory book for sure! Gon, Eastwest, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience Iceland with you! Leaving with a greater appreciation and knowledge of what a truly unique country this is because of this tour.
★★★★★ · a month ago
Our South Coast tour with Einar was fantastic! He was super knowledgeable and lots of fun. He was able to drive and guide us all safely through our 10 hour tour. I highly recommend! We also did the Golden Circle tour with Monica as our tour guide. She was quite entertaining and very interactive with the group. She made us all feel welcome and we had beautiful weather. You can tell she is passionate about the land!
Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026
Read before you book
- 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.
- Blue Lagoon and northern lights: one day or two?Do them on different days. The one-day combo is 15 hours and €306; the lagoon fits your arrival or departure, and a €73 lights bus fits any clear night.
- Cruise port to Keflavík airport transferGetting from Reykjavík cruise terminal to Keflavík airport: private transfers start around €147 a car, and you should book before the ship docks.
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.
from 16.181 kr.Lowest price
Guesthouse · Reykjavík
Old Town Reykjavík
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 41.790 kr.Mid-range
Hotel · Reykjavík
Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 60.840 kr.Top end
Hotel · Reykjavik
Hótel Holt
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
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
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €9 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
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Icecube ehf
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Hyper Taxi
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