Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos – Small Group

The best part of this Reykjavík Northern Lights tour is that the evening does not depend entirely on the sky cooperating. While your guide searches for the aurora, you can dress in Viking costumes, handle replica weapons, and warm up with hot chocolate and gingerbread. When the lights appear, a photographer captures you beneath them.

I like the small minibus, which can reach quieter viewing spots than a large coach. I also like the free retry policy. If clouds win on your first attempt, you can join again without paying another tour fee.

The main drawback is simple: the minibus can feel cramped, especially when everyone brings thick winter layers. And no guide can promise an aurora sighting. You pay for the search, the photography, and the effort to improve your odds, not a guaranteed show.

Key points to know before booking

• Small group of up to 18 people: The minibus offers a more personal outing and can reach places large buses may skip.
• Professional night photography included: Your guide and photographer take aurora portraits and Viking-themed photos for you to keep.
• Free retries if the lights do not appear: You can return at no extra charge until you see the Northern Lights.
• A fun backup plan: Museum-sourced Viking outfits and weapon replicas give you something to do while waiting in the cold.
• Warm drinks are part of the experience: Hot chocolate, gingerbread, cookies, and sometimes blankets help during long waits.
• Experienced local guides lead the hunt: Emil, Kolbeinn, Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, and others may guide the evening.

A Northern Lights hunt with more to do than stare at clouds

A typical aurora outing can involve long stretches of waiting in the dark. That is the nature of the Northern Lights. You may drive out under cloudy skies, stop beside an open field, and spend an hour looking up before anything happens.

Aurora Viking adds a theatrical twist to that waiting time. You can try on Viking clothing, pose with replica weapons, and take photographs that are amusing even if the aurora remains shy. This is not just a photo prop for children. Adults often get into the spirit once the costumes come out, especially when the first serious pose turns into a wonderfully silly one.

The guides also connect the lights with old Viking beliefs and explain the science behind the aurora. The cultural angle gives the night a little more substance than simply checking an app and hoping for green streaks.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. The Northern Lights are a natural event affected by cloud cover, darkness, and solar activity. A strong forecast does not guarantee a bright display at your exact stop. A poor forecast can sometimes surprise you. The company’s retry policy helps with the odds, but it cannot control the sky.

Pickup around Reykjavík and the small minibus

Pickup is available from a wide list of Reykjavík hotels, bus stops, and central points. These include Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Hotel Ísland, Hotel Klettur, Reykjavík Natura, and several downtown bus stops.

You need to be at the correct location at the stated time. The driver calls out your name at the pickup point, so stay alert rather than assuming the minibus will find you at a hotel entrance.

The vehicle carries no more than 18 people. That is still a group, but it is far more manageable than a full-size coach. You spend less time organizing a crowd, and the guide can speak to people more directly. A smaller vehicle also gives the driver more flexibility when choosing a road or viewing area.

There is a tradeoff. Winter clothing takes up space, and the minibus may feel tight once coats, hats, boots, and camera gear are aboard. One person specifically noted that storing extra layers was difficult. Wear your warmest practical clothing, but avoid bringing bulky bags you do not need.

The transport has earned a strong score for comfort and service, and several visitors praised smooth pickup and drop-off. The route back can include icy or foggy roads, so an experienced driver matters. Guides such as Tomas and Emil have been praised for careful driving in difficult conditions.

The secret viewing stop and the real purpose of the drive

The itinerary lists a secret photo and sightseeing stop rather than a fixed named attraction. That is useful because the best location depends on the cloud cover and aurora forecast that evening.

Your guide may drive a short distance from Reykjavík or continue much farther in search of open skies. Some outings have gone more than two hours from the capital. Others have stopped soon after departure when the aurora suddenly appeared. Flexibility is the point.

A dark location away from Reykjavík’s city glow gives your eyes a better chance to see faint aurora activity. It also gives the camera a cleaner background. Guides may look for open fields, mountain views, lakes, or a gap in the cloud cover. The exact setting changes with the conditions, so do not book this expecting one fixed viewpoint.

The most valuable part of the guide’s work is often invisible. You may see a dark sky and wonder why you are not stopping yet. The guide is watching cloud movement, forecasts, and activity levels, then weighing whether to wait or drive on. Several guides have continued searching after the scheduled four hours when conditions looked promising.

That extra effort is not guaranteed on every outing, but it is part of what you are paying for. You are not simply being transported to a standard viewpoint and sent home at the first quiet moment.

What happens while you wait for the aurora

The tour lasts about four hours, though the evening can feel longer if you are standing outside in winter conditions. Dress for waiting, not just for the drive. Bring warm layers, gloves, a hat, and sturdy footwear.

When the cold begins to bite, the group can return to the minibus for warmth. Hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread are included. Some outings also provide blankets. These details matter because the aurora may take time, and even an exciting sky becomes less enjoyable when your hands and feet go numb.

The hot chocolate has received repeated praise, including a homemade version prepared by the guide’s wife. You may be offered more than one cup during a long hunt. It is a small touch, but a welcome one in the middle of a cold Icelandic night.

The Viking equipment gives the waiting period a clear focus. You can try on costumes and pose with museum-sourced replicas of weapons. The guide or photographer may use the same equipment for playful portraits. Some pictures turn out dramatic. Others turn out hilariously awkward. That is part of the charm.

This activity also makes the outing a better choice for families with older children. Children under seven are not permitted, but a nine-year-old, for example, received special attention from one guide and was made to feel included. The experience still involves darkness, cold, and patience, so it is not ideal for a child who needs constant movement or an early bedtime.

How the Northern Lights photography works

The included photography is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour over a basic aurora bus ride. The guides use high-spec cameras set up for long exposures in dark conditions. They take pictures of the aurora itself and portraits with the lights behind you.

This is harder than it looks. A camera must balance a long exposure with enough light on the people in front of it. The guide may reposition the camera, adjust the setup, or photograph each person separately so that everyone receives a proper turn.

Do not assume that the camera will simply point at the sky while you stand somewhere in the frame. The most praised guides actively make sure each person gets at least one useful portrait. Some groups have also received several photos, depending on the time and conditions.

The results can include green, red, orange, or purple aurora, though color strength depends on the night. The camera may record color that is faint to the naked eye, but the best evenings can show the lights clearly without help. One outing produced a display with pink and green tones, spikes, movement, and shooting stars. That is a lucky night, not the standard promise.

You should receive the finished images after the tour, but the supplied details do not specify an exact delivery time or file format. If the photographs are important to you, ask the operator how and when they will be sent before departure.

The Viking portraits are separate from the aurora portraits, but they make a useful addition. You can get a more traditional Iceland souvenir and a playful themed picture in the same evening.

The guides make a real difference

The company is run by Kolbeinn and Emil, who have decades of experience looking for the lights. Other named guides include Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, Jonas, and Trond.

The guide matters because this is an active search rather than a fixed sightseeing stop. BG has been praised for finding a good location quickly and helping everyone get photographs. Tomas is repeatedly described as patient, enthusiastic, and skilled with the camera. Kobe has driven toward clearer skies and explained both aurora science and local beliefs.

Emil is known for continuing the search when the first display was weak. On some nights he drove a long way from Reykjavík, waited through poor conditions, and stayed out beyond the expected finish when the forecast suggested a better chance. That kind of persistence can turn a faint sighting into a memorable one.

You should still allow for variation. Different guides may have different styles, and the sky remains the deciding factor. Some will tell stories throughout the drive. Others may focus more on the route and photography. Across the named guides, the useful pattern is clear: the company expects its staff to keep searching rather than give up at the first cloudy stop.

How the free retry policy changes the value

At $148 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the aurora in Reykjavík. The price includes transport, a live English-speaking guide, professional photography, Viking costumes and replicas, hot chocolate, and cookies.

That package has more value than a simple transfer to a dark field. You are paying for the guide’s time, vehicle, camera work, and willingness to search across changing conditions. The small group also gives you more personal attention than a large coach usually can.

The free retry policy is the biggest value point. If the aurora does not appear, you can join again without paying another tour fee. There is no refund for a missed sighting, and once you have joined, the normal cancellation arrangement does not provide a refund. The retry is the remedy.

This works best if you have at least one spare night in Reykjavík. Book early in your stay rather than on your final evening, so bad weather does not leave you without another chance. You still need to contact the operator and arrange a new date, but the process has been described as easy and responsive.

If your schedule allows only one fixed night, compare this tour with the cost of a cheaper option, then ask what the photography and retry policy are worth to you. For someone who came to Iceland mainly for the Northern Lights, paying more for a persistent guide and professional images can make sense. For someone who simply wants a quick look at the sky, the extras may not matter as much.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if you want the aurora hunt to feel like an evening activity rather than a bus ride with a weather gamble. It suits couples, families with children aged seven and older, solo visitors who want help with photography, and anyone who wants a ready-made portrait beneath the lights.

It is also a good fit if you care about small groups. Eighteen people is not intimate in the strict sense, but it is small enough for the guide to organize photo turns and answer questions without addressing a crowd of 50.

You should think twice if you dislike waiting, cold weather, or a cramped vehicle. You should also avoid treating the photographs as proof that a sighting is guaranteed. The camera can capture a faint aurora, but it cannot create one.

Book this tour early in your Reykjavík stay when possible. That gives you room to use the free retry if clouds spoil the first night. Bring warm clothes, keep your schedule flexible, and leave space in your evening for the search to run long.

Should you book the Aurora Viking tour?

Book it if you want a serious attempt at finding the Northern Lights, plus professional portraits, Viking dress-up, warm drinks, and a free second chance when nature says no. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of persistent local guides and included photography.

I would not book it expecting a guaranteed two-hour display or a roomy vehicle. The aurora remains unpredictable, and the minibus can feel crowded in winter clothing. But at $148, the package is fair for visitors who value the search itself, personal attention, and photographs they can take home.

If the Northern Lights are high on your Iceland wish list, this is a sensible premium option. Put it near the start of your trip, stay warm, and be ready for either a short successful chase or a long, funny night of Viking portraits under an empty sky.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The tour lasts about four hours.

What is the maximum group size?

The minibus holds up to 18 people.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from listed Reykjavík hotels, bus stops, and central pickup points.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You can join the tour again free of charge until you see the lights. There is no refund for an evening without an aurora sighting.

Are professional photos included?

Yes. A guide and photographer take high-quality night photographs of the Northern Lights and portraits of you with the aurora behind you.

Can I wear Viking clothing during the tour?

Yes. Viking costumes and replica weapons are provided for photographs and entertainment while you wait.

Are hot drinks and snacks included?

Yes. Hot chocolate and cookies are included. Gingerbread is also provided during the experience.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing suitable for waiting outside at night in Iceland.

Are young children allowed?

Children under seven are not permitted on the tour.