Private Northern Lights with photographer

by zimno · Northern lights · photo · private · Reykjavík

5.0(31) · operator on Google
Private Northern Lights with photographer — zimno

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at zimno'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

    5 hours

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN

  • Departs

    21:00

  • Cancellation

    Free until 3 days before

About this experience

Enjoy the amazing wonders of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. You’ll be picked up from your hotel or Bus Stop for the hunt of a lifetime – Northern Lights hunting. See the northern lights dancing high up in the sky.

The Northern Lights are one of the major attractions in Iceland. Due to its high latitude, Iceland is just a few km away from the Arctic Circle – making it one of the places to view the northern lights.

Our guide will pick you up at the designated location in Reykjavik, and will take you to some of the best places to witness the northern lights.

Make sure to dress up warmly for this tour, as Iceland’s cold winter winds can definitely make you feel cold. Hot chocolate will be provided while witnessing the northern lights.

Every day we closely monitor the forecast for the evening. Favorable conditions require, at least, light to moderate activity, cold weather, and a clear sky. When conditions are favorable, we announce decision through email to confirm the tour.

Even with the best of guides and a detailed forecast, sightings are never guaranteed.

*Please note that the access to restroom facilities out of urban areas is very limited while on the Northern lights tours.

Tour is available from September until April

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

Where you go

  1. Private northern lights tour

Included

Price includes

  • Guidance during the tour
  • Hot drinks
  • Parking fees
  • Photo package (5 per person)
  • Transportation


Not included

Price excludes

  • Meals
  • Great weather

Good to know

  • Gloves, buff, beanie hat
  • Good shoes (preferably waterproof)
  • Warm winter clothes
  • Wind and water resistant jacket

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 3 days 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. 1zimno 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 3 days before departure, the operator's policy after that.

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

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 last-minute planners — free cancellation ends 3 days before, longer than most tours here.
  • 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

zimno 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 zimno

Read all 31 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.

  • Sandor Magyar

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    We had a great day touring Thorsmork with our guide Kris from Midgard. We really enjoyed the great hikes and viewpoints that are otherwise difficult to reach without the Superjeep. I feel like those that can complete the short hikes get more out of the experience.

  • Pablo A. Amador R.

    ★★★★★ · 5 months ago

    The best adventures of my life! For adventures in Iceland, Zimno is without a doubt my number one choice. I have had some amazing experiences with Zimno. Krzyś, the owner and main guide, makes every adventure personalized, enjoyable, exciting, safe, and so much fun!! With Zimno, I have explored incredible Icelandic nature: from glaciers like Langjökull, Sólheimajökull, and Eyjafjallajökull to hikes in places like Landmannalaugar and Glymur, in both winter and summer. What I appreciate most is that every trip feels special, with the perfect balance between adventure, fun, that “kick of adrenaline”, and safety, no matter your experience level. One thing I like about Krzyś is his readiness to help. His positive energy is contagious, and he always keeps the group in a great mood. At the same time, when it is time to get serious, you can clearly see his professionalism and his strong knowledge of safety, equipment, land navigation, first aid, etc. I also really appreciated the quality of the equipment provided and the information shared before each trip. It helps you prepare for the weather (which is especially important in Iceland!) and to not forget the essentials according to each adventure. Every tour feels personal. Maybe he has done hundreds of tours and does this every day, but he still makes you feel like he takes time for you and explains things properly. For beginners like me, this is important, because it opens the door to enjoying Iceland instead of making you feel left out for being inexperienced. He patiently answers questions about the trip and about Iceland, and this creates a beautiful connection and a warm, inclusive atmosphere throughout the whole experience. Definitely 5 stars. Totally recommended!

  • Rui Charnock Barata

    ★★★★★ · 5 months ago

    I had an unforgettable week from start to finish with Zimno. Zimno offered a far beyond typical outdoor tour—it’s a true, personal adventure led by the kindest, loving, fun people, Krys and Helen, who deeply know and love Iceland. From mountain trekking to cross-country skiing and glacier cave climbing and exploration, every moment felt safe, seamless, and genuinely special. Both are extremely knowledgeable, experienced and professionally certified. Additionally, Helen, also as a professional photographer, captured the most stunning moments of the adventures which made it even more client-focused and personal! What also stands out is their warmth, energy, and the way they make you feel completely welcome from day one. If you’re looking for an authentic and memorable adventure, Krys and Helen are simply exceptional and highly recommendable!

  • Nicole Kummer

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    Kris was our guide on a full day private hike of Thorsmork, and it was universally agreed upon that this was our favorite day of the entire trip! Kris was friendly, knowledgable, and engaging. He took the utmost care of our group and showed us amazing scenery and fantastic hikes. We will absolutely reach out to him next time we are in Iceland.

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

€1,139 per person

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