Best Northern Lights Tour in Iceland (2026): 5 Picks
The northern lights tours we would book ourselves from Reykjavík and Akureyri, by minibus, super jeep and boat, with real prices and honest odds.
The short version
- For most people the best pick is Aurora Viking's minibus hunt from Reykjavík: €145, free photos and unlimited retries if you see nothing.
- Cheapest by land: BusTravel Iceland's small-group tour at €102, with a free rebooking on their regular bus.
- Cheapest overall: Special Tours by boat at €76, two hours from the Old Harbour. The boat cannot follow clear skies.
- Season is September to April. Nobody can promise the lights. Book on your first night so a retry still fits.
For most people the best northern lights tour in Iceland is Aurora Viking’s minibus hunt from Reykjavík: €145, free professional photos, and unlimited retries on later nights if the sky stays empty.
The tour itself matters less than two things: whether the vehicle can drive to where the sky is clear, and what happens when you see nothing. Our five picks below are ranked on those. For the bus-versus-boat-versus-jeep question in depth, see bus vs boat vs super jeep.
1. Aurora Viking: Northern Lights Minibus Hunt
Book: Northern Lights with Aurora Viking
- Operator: Aurora Viking
- Duration: about 5 hours
- Price: €145 per adult
- Departs: Reykjavík, hotel pickup, evening start times
- Minimum age: 7
A minibus, not a coach, so the guide can change plans and drive further when the clouds move. Photos are taken for you, which saves fiddling with camera settings in the cold. Unlimited retries make the most difference to your odds.
Suits: most first-timers, couples, anyone without a car. Not for: people who need to be in bed by midnight. You may be back after 01:00.
2. BusTravel Iceland: Northern Lights Small Group
Book: Northern Lights Small Group Tour
- Operator: BusTravel Iceland
- Duration: about 4 hours
- Price: €102 per adult
- Departs: Reykjavík, pickup from 20:30
- Minimum age: 8
A smaller group than the big bus hunts, with hot chocolate. If you see nothing you can rebook free, but on their regular (larger) bus tour, not the small group.
Suits: budget trips that still want a small group. Not for: anyone set on a retry in the same small vehicle.
3. Arctic Adventures: Northern Lights Super Jeep
Book: Northern Lights Explorer by Super Jeep
- Operator: Arctic Adventures
- Duration: about 4 hours
- Price: €189 per adult
- Departs: Reykjavík, hotel pickup
- Minimum age: 6
A super jeep can leave the paved road, which means darker spots and fewer other tour groups. Blankets, hand warmers, photos and hot chocolate are included.
Suits: small groups, families with young children, anyone who wants more space. Not for: tight budgets. You pay about €45 more than the minibus for a similar sky.
4. Special Tours: Northern Lights by Boat
Book: Northern Lights by Boat with a Backup Plan
- Operator: Special Tours
- Duration: 2 to 3 hours
- Price: €76 per adult
- Departs: Old Harbour, Reykjavík (pickup available)
Ten to fifteen minutes out into Faxaflói Bay and the city lights fall away. Warm overalls, a heated cabin and a free ticket to try again if nothing shows. Short and cheap.
Suits: short trips, families, people who don’t want five hours on a bus. Not for: cloudy nights. A boat can’t drive to a clear patch of sky, and it doesn’t sail in strong wind.
5. Imagine Iceland Travel: Northern Lights from Akureyri
Book: Northern Lights Classic Tour from Akureyri
- Operator: Imagine Iceland Travel
- Duration: about 2.5 hours
- Price: €123 per adult
- Departs: Akureyri, 21:30 pickup
- Minimum age: 3
A local guide drives you out of town into the dark countryside. Free retry the next evening. A good pick if you are in the north, where the sky is often clearer than in Reykjavík. More in northern lights from Akureyri.
Suits: anyone based in Akureyri or on a winter North Iceland trip. Not for: a Reykjavík-only stay.
Our honest take: how we picked
- Free retry. Every pick gives you another go if nothing is seen. On a short trip this matters most.
- Can move with the weather. Land tours that chase clear sky ranked above fixed routes.
- Small groups. Minibus or jeep over a full coach where the price gap is reasonable.
- Runs all season. Each pick has departures through October to March in our calendar.
- Honest price. Adult price as listed, totals confirmed at checkout.
When to go
Northern lights are possible from September to April, when nights are dark enough. Not in June: anyone who sells you a June lights tour is selling you a bus ride. Darker, clear nights near the new moon help; cloud is the real enemy. Operators decide in the afternoon whether a tour runs, and if they cancel you get a full refund or a new date. Before you go out, check our northern lights tonight page and the season and moon guide.
FAQ
Which is the single best northern lights tour in Iceland?
For most people, Aurora Viking’s minibus hunt from Reykjavík at €145. A small vehicle, free photos and unlimited retries.
Will I see the northern lights?
Maybe. It depends on solar activity and cloud. No one can promise it. Book on your first evening so you have nights left for a retry.
Is a boat tour worth it?
On a clear, calm night it is the cheapest and shortest option. On a cloudy night a land tour has a better chance, because it can drive to clearer sky.
Should I book a private tour?
Only if you want the vehicle to yourselves. Private tours are priced per vehicle, not per person, and the sky is the same.
What should I wear?
Thermal layers, a warm hat, gloves and boots. You will stand outside for long stretches at well below freezing.
Can I take photos on a phone?
Recent phones manage in night mode on a strong display. Tours with included photos are the easier option.
