Private Northern Lights Tour – A Magical Arctic Escape

by Skall Ventures · Northern lights · private · Reykjavík

Private Northern Lights Tour – A Magical Arctic Escape — Skall Ventures

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

    4 hours and 30 minutes

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    Sep – Apr

  • Starts in

    Reykjavík

  • Meeting

    Hotel pickup available

  • Languages

    EN, HU

  • Start time

    Time agreed after booking

  • Cancellation

    No refund once booked

About this experience

Embark on an exclusive Private Northern Lights Tour, where you’ll journey far from city lights in the comfort of mini van to witness the Aurora Borealis in all its glory. Guided by local experts, you’ll chase the mesmerizing lights across Iceland’s untouched landscapes, wrapped in warm fleece blankets, sipping hot chocolate, and indulging in homemade Icelandic pastries. With professional photography included, this unforgettable adventure ensures you take home breathtaking images of nature’s most magical spectacle.

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

Where you go

  1. Step-by-Step Itinerary – Private Northern Lights Tour

Included

Expert Local Guide – A knowledgeable Northern Lights specialist who will provide real-time aurora tracking, scientific insights, and Icelandic folklore to enhance your journey.

Professional Northern Lights Photography – Stunning high-quality photos of you and your group beneath the auroras, delivered digitally at no extra cost.

Cozy Fleece Blankets – Stay warm while waiting for the lights to appear.

Homemade Icelandic Pastries – A delicious taste of Iceland’s traditional baked goods.

Hot Chocolate – Rich and comforting, perfect for enjoying under the Arctic sky.

WiFi on Board – Stay connected and share your experience in real-time.

Pick-Up & Drop-Off from Reykjavík – Convenient transportation from your hotel or designated meeting point.

Flexible Aurora Chasing – Each night, we adapt the route based on real-time weather conditions to find the best possible viewing location.

No hidden costs, no extra fees—just an unforgettable night under Iceland’s northern sky.

Not included

  • Full Meals & Additional Drinks
  • As this is a private tour, a free retry is not available if the Northern Lights do not appear. However, we carefully select the best locations each night to maximize your chances of witnessing the auroras.

Good to know

  • Warm Layers – Temperatures can drop significantly at night, so dress in thermal layers, fleece, or wool to stay warm.
  • Waterproof & Windproof Outerwear – Icelandic weather is unpredictable; a good winter jacket and waterproof pants are recommended.
  • Gloves, Scarf & Hat – Keeping your hands, head, and neck warm is essential for an enjoyable outdoor experience.
  • Sturdy Shoes or Winter Boots – The terrain may be icy or snowy, so wear warm, insulated boots with good grip.
  • Camera & Tripod (Optional) – If you want to capture your own aurora photos, bring a camera with manual settings and a tripod. Professional photography is included, so this is optional.
  • Small Backpack (Optional) – Useful for carrying personal items, extra layers, or snacks.
  • Reusable Water Bottle – Staying hydrated is important, even in cold weather.
  • Extra Snacks (Optional) – We provide hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries, but feel free to bring additional snacks if needed.

Physical Requirements & Accessibility

  • Not Wheelchair Accessible – Unfortunately, due to the nature of the terrain and vehicle type, this tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Infant Seats Available – If you are traveling with young children (minimum age 5), please request an infant/child seat in advance.
  • Minimal Physical Activity Required – This tour involves stepping out of the vehicle in cold conditions, but there is no significant hiking involved.

Weather & Aurora Conditions

  • Weather-Dependent Tour – The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. If conditions are poor, the tour may be rescheduled or canceled with a full refund.
  • Best Viewing Locations – Each night, our guide selects the optimal aurora viewing spot based on real-time weather data, meaning the location may vary.
  • Cold Weather Conditions – Expect freezing temperatures, especially in winter. Dress appropriately in warm layers, gloves, and sturdy footwear.

Booking & Cancellation Policy

  • Flexible Rescheduling – If your tour is canceled due to bad weather, we will do our best to reschedule based on availability.
  • No Booking Fees – Transparent pricing with secure payments.
  • Non-Refundable for No-Shows – Please ensure you are ready at the designated pick-up time to avoid missing the experience.

What to Bring

  • Warm winter clothing (hat, gloves, scarf, thermal layers)
  • Sturdy footwear (hiking boots or warm shoes)
  • Camera & tripod (optional – professional photos are included)

This experience is family-friendly, immersive, and designed for travelers looking for a personalized, crowd-free adventure under Iceland’s Arctic sky.

Cancellation for this tour

No refund once booked. 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. 1Skall Ventures 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 the cutoff shown above, 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 the one to book if your dates might move: this operator does not refund once booked.
  • 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

Skall Ventures 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 →

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

€179 per person

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