Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour

by David The Guide · Northern lights · Reykjavík

4.70· 127 Google reviews of the operator

Fine on your own

from €182.79 per person

No published departures in the coming months — ask us

Check dates & book Other dates

Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour — David The Guide

Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour, photo 2

Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour, photo 3

Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour, photo 4

Christmas Day Northern Lights Tour, photo 5

1 / 5

Duration
5 hours
Difficulty
Easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
21:30
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before

About this experience

Hunt for the aurora borealis on a guided group tour from Reykjavik. Witness the unique starry sky with the flash of light cutting across the Icelandic landscape.

We meet at the Tour Bus Stops in downtown, and other select hotels outside downtown and located within Reykjavik. Our group size can vary based on the season it can be a max of 30-40 people per group. Please note that pickup and drop off are included in our tour duration. This duration may adjust is we have an early appearance of the lights, or if we need to take a little extra time for the hunt.

The journey will go outside of the city limits away from as much light pollution as possible, the northern lights are harder to see from Reykjavík. The end location is not pre-determined as it will depend on the cloud coverage and activity in the evening. The drive will be kept as short as possible and you might stop at several locations as the lights can be quite elusive. If we have a spot the guide determines as a good location, we might stay in that spot- It is often a waiting game for this beautiful phenomenon, but it is always worth it.

As you search for the aurora borealis, your guide will set up their camera for photos of your group. Your tour guide will ensure everybody gets an opportunity for a photo. Curl up in warm blankets and enjoy a self-service selection of hot chocolate and snacks and enjoy some stargazing while we wait for the aurora to appear.

If our hunt is successful, we email photos using a drop box link within 7 days of your tour to the email provided with the booking.

THIS TOUR RUNS DEPENDENT ON WEATHER - every day we assess the situation and decide whether or not to run the tour. This decision is made by 5 PM, in the case of a canceled tour due to weather you will be notified at this time, and feel free to send us any questions to our email.

We started out as one guide wanting to share and give more. With growing demand, the team has grown and our team of adventure-loving guides will be with you on your tour with us. This is not a single-man operation, but a family of guides who believe in the vision David has for the industry.

Description from the operator, David The Guide . Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

We provide blankets, cookies and hot beverages. Northern Lights photography will be provided. Pickup is included from Reykjavik only.

Not included

We do not pickup outside of Reykjavik, please arrange your own transport or we can arrange a private tour instead.

Good to know

Light colored clothing shows up best in photos. We suggest dressing in layers to stay warm.

You Need to Know before the tour: We email tour confirmation on the day of the tour around 5 pm, please make sure you check your email prior to the tour. Contact us if you have any issues. Group size will vary depending on the season and will be with our team of guides. You will be picked up from either your hotel, guesthouse, or bus stop starting at departure time (Please allow 1hr for everyone to be picked up).

The bus size can vary, depending on group sizes, we have a maximum group size of 35-40 people per vehicle, on our larger vehicle tour there is a private guide and photographer for the group and then a separate driver to keep everyone warm and cozy in the bus with enough space. It tends to get cold out there, so it is great to have a warm and cozy bus to heat up in between photos or attempts to spot the Northern Lights.

We have been doing this for a while now and this has been our best and most appreciated setup for the tour. There is a self-service on our Hot Chocolate, Coffee, and Tea with cookies. Guidance is provided so you can take care of yourselves in regard to the refreshments. Our journey will take us outside of the city limits away from as much light pollution as possible. The Northern Lights are harder to see from Reykjavík. The location will depend on the cloud coverage and activity each time. We try to keep it as short of a drive as possible and we might stop at several locations as the lights can be quite elusive and often it will be a waiting game for this beautiful phenomenon, which might be perfect while your guide sets up his camera for the free photo shoot of your group and you..

THIS TOUR RUNS DEPENDENT ON WEATHER - we only go if there is a high possibility of a sighting - every day we assess the situation and decide whether or not to run the tour. This decision is made by 5 PM, in the case of a canceled tour due to weather you will be notified at this time, and feel free to send us any questions at info@davidtheguide.com David the Guide started out as one guide wanting to share and give more. With growing demand, the David the Guide team has grown and our team of adventure-loving guides will be with you on your tour with us. This is not a single-man operation, but a family of guides who believe in the vision David has for the industry. Your Good to Know after the tour: A little note on the Northern Lights, they are fickle and elusive. They are very common in Iceland but alas cannot be promised by anyone, so in order to make sure that you get another chance to see them we will take you a second time if your first time out turned out to be only stargazing and hot chocolate. This re-use ticket is valid for two years after purchase. When succesful with the Northern Lights, links with your photos will be sent to you within 48 hours, photo links go to the email address used for the booking.

Blessings

The David The Guide Team

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.

1David The Guide 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 — €109 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

	David The Guide · €183	Magic Iceland Travel · €73
How long it runs	5 hours	4 hours
Getting there	Picks you up	You make your own way

The €109 buys you 1 more hour out and hotel pickup. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

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

David The Guide 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 David The Guide

Read all 127 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.7/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

Michael Donegan
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
We had an amazing time seeing the Northern lights with David The Guide during our first trip to Iceland! Ania was our guide and she was very informative about the science behind how the lights appear, and how they are able to take measurements to predict the intensity for the night. Ania also took pictures of everyone in the group who wanted one, and they turned out fantastic! In our case, the forecast was not looking great when we started the tour. But they ended up becoming very bright around midnight! Hot chocolate was provided and everyone could warm up in the bus when it got too cold. We will absolutely purchase a tour again during our next visit to Iceland!
Jubel
★★★★★ · 9 months ago
As a solo traveller, I did the 2-day Winter Tour to South Coast and Diamond Beach and was able to see many of the sites that I wanted to see on my first trip to Iceland! The bus is comfortable and I had a great stay at the Hotel Hofn (comes with delicious breakfast). A few of the sites included Ice Cave, Waterfalls (Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss etc.), Diamond Beach and more. We were a small group of 9 and everyone was respectful and on time when coming back to the bus at each stop. Yes, this is a fast-paced tour, but you will cover MANY spots! Thank you to my guide, Sebastien, for a wonderful trip to the South Coast, he is friendly, knowledgeable and communicates clearly.
K S
★★★★★ · 6 months ago
I went on the Northern Lights tour, and they let me reschedule it twice with no additional fee because conditions weren't good and the northern lights were not visible. I was able to see the northern lights on my third try, and it was an amazing experience. Chasing the northern lights with this tour company was fantastic since they take professional photos of both you and the aurora by itself, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out camera settings yourself. They also give you a hot drink, cookies, and they also lend you blankets! Be sure to layer up and bring hand warmers for your hands and feet as you will be outside for several hours
Zorali De Feria
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
★★★★★ I highly recommend this South Coast tour with David the Guide. Everything was exactly as promised—and even better. Our guide, Jagoda, was outstanding. She was extremely professional, knowledgeable, organized, and clearly passionate about Iceland. Throughout the two days, she shared fascinating information about the country’s history, geology, culture, and landmarks, making every stop more meaningful and enjoyable. What impressed me most was how efficiently she managed the itinerary. We maximized our time at every location without ever feeling rushed, and she even included a few extra experiences along the way. Her planning and time management were exceptional. The small-group format made a huge difference. If you’re considering a South Coast tour, I would not hesitate to book with David the Guide. And if you’re lucky enough to have Jagoda as your guide, you’re in excellent hands. Her professionalism, expertise, and dedication truly made this one of the highlights of our trip to Iceland.

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.
Northern lights tour: bus, boat or super-jeep?Bus, boat and super-jeep lights hunts from Reykjavík compared on real odds, comfort and price, with the one we'd book first.

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

Pairs well with

Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €11 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.