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

The best part of this Reykjavík excursion is that the hunt itself becomes the evening. You ride out with an experienced local guide, stop where the skies look promising, and wait beneath Iceland’s dark sky while the guide watches the forecast. If the aurora appears, a photographer captures you with it. If it does not, you receive unlimited free retries, though there is no refund simply because nature keeps the lights switched off.

I like the small minibus, which can reach places the big coaches cannot, and I like the way the tour fills waiting time with Viking costumes, museum weapon replicas, hot chocolate, and gingerbread. The professional photographs are a real plus, especially when you are trying to capture a faint aurora in total darkness.

The main drawback is space. A vehicle limited to 18 people feels more personal than a large coach, but it can still feel cramped once everyone brings thick winter layers. You also need patience: the aurora is never guaranteed, and the four-hour outing may stretch when the guide keeps hunting for a better opening in the clouds.

Key points at a glance

• A true aurora hunt: Guides such as Emil, Kolbeinn, Tomas, Kobe, and BG watch conditions and may drive well beyond Reykjavík to find clearer skies.
• Small-group transport: The minibus carries a maximum of 18 people and can use roads and stops that are less practical for large coaches.
• Professional night photography: High-spec cameras capture portraits with the Northern Lights, and the guide works to give everyone a turn.
• Viking photo sessions: You can try on Viking clothing and handle museum-sourced weapon replicas while you wait.
• Comfort during the wait: Hot chocolate, gingerbread or cookies, blankets, and a heated minibus help take the edge off the cold.
• Unlimited free retries: If the aurora does not appear, you can join again without paying another tour fee, subject to available dates.

Why this four-hour hunt feels different

Most Northern Lights excursions are built around one simple hope: drive away from Reykjavík, find a clear patch of sky, and wait. This one adds enough activity to make the waiting worthwhile.

The company calls its experience Aurora Viking, and the Viking theme is more than a name on the minibus. You can put on Viking outfits, hold replica weapons, and pose for night portraits. Some photographs are polished, while others may be gloriously silly. That is part of the fun, especially during a slow aurora night when everyone needs something to do besides stare at the clouds.

The guides also connect the Northern Lights with old Viking beliefs. You will hear about the way earlier Icelanders understood the lights, alongside practical explanations of how the aurora forms. The exact presentation depends on your guide, but guides including Kobe, Tomas, Emil, and BG are repeatedly praised for explaining decisions, sharing local stories, and keeping the group involved.

This is not a fixed sightseeing route with a tidy list of monuments. The destination changes according to cloud cover, darkness, and the aurora forecast. That makes the evening less predictable, but it is also the reason a flexible minibus matters.

Pickup in Reykjavík and the ride into darkness

Pickup is available from a long list of Reykjavík hotels and designated bus stops, including Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík Bus Terminal, City Hall, Tjörnin pond, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, Hotel Ísland, and Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura.

You need to be at the correct point and ready to listen for the driver calling your name. Reykjavík uses designated pickup points for many excursions, so do not assume the minibus will stop directly outside every hotel entrance. The supplied pickup list is useful, but check your exact point when booking.

The ride begins with a small group, up to 18 people. That is a meaningful difference from a large coach. You spend less time loading people, and the guide can make quicker decisions when a promising break in the clouds appears. Several outings have involved moving between locations, sometimes driving far from the capital to find clearer skies.

Past tours have reached places around two hours from Reykjavík, including the area near Seljalandsfoss. That does not mean every outing takes you there. It means you should be ready for a serious night drive if conditions call for it. The reward is a better chance of escaping city glow and cloud cover. The cost is time in the vehicle and less room for your coat, camera bag, and extra layers.

The secret stop and the art of waiting

The central stop is described as a secret location, with sightseeing and photography spread across the four-hour outing. In practice, you might make one main stop, move to another viewing point, or pause quickly when the lights appear and then fade.

A good guide does not simply park and hope. The stronger experiences described by the company involve checking conditions, finding a darker patch, and waiting for the sky to open. Tomas, Emil, Kobe, BG, and other guides have been praised for staying with the search when the first view was faint or when other companies had cancelled.

That effort matters, but it cannot defeat the weather. The aurora needs darkness, clear enough sky, and solar activity in the right mix. No guide can promise a bright display at a precise time. You may see a pale green smear, a stronger green arc, or a dramatic show with red, pink, orange, and purple tones. You may also see nothing.

The company’s policy deals with that uncertainty in a practical way: unlimited free retries until you see the lights. There is no refund if the aurora does not appear, and once you have joined the tour there is no refund for changing your mind. For a visitor staying in Reykjavík for several nights, the retry promise can be more useful than a refund. For a short one-night stay, it has less value because you may not have another evening available.

Professional photos, Viking costumes, and fair turns

Aurora photography is hard. The camera needs a long exposure, the subject must stay still, and the guide has to balance the light on people with the faint colors in the sky. A phone may show more color than your eyes can see, but a good camera can produce a far better keepsake.

Aurora Viking supplies high-spec cameras and takes photos of the group. The guides work to make sure everyone receives at least one portrait. You should expect a little waiting while each person or pair gets positioned, especially when the aurora is active and everyone wants several shots.

This is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You can enjoy the sky rather than spending the entire time trying to operate a phone in freezing darkness. The photo sessions also encourage you to look up and take part instead of standing at the edge of the group.

The Viking equipment adds a playful second layer. You can dress in Viking clothing and use replica weapons sourced from a local museum. These pictures may be more theatrical than natural, but that is the point. The activity gives children and adults something to enjoy while the guide watches the sky.

The tour is not suitable for children under seven. Families with older children may find the costumes and weapons especially helpful during a long wait. One guide, BG, was praised for making a nine-year-old feel welcome, which suggests that the tone can work well for children who can handle a late, cold evening.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread, and the cold factor

Icelandic winter cold is not dramatic at first. It creeps in while you stand still, wait for a camera setup, or watch a cloudy sky. Bring warm clothing, including enough layers to stand outside for a while. The operator supplies hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread, and some outings have included blankets.

The minibus can also provide a warm refuge between checks of the sky. One account describes the driver keeping the heat running so people could warm up before stepping outside again. That small detail matters more than it sounds. A Northern Lights tour becomes miserable if you spend four hours shivering.

Still, hot chocolate does not replace proper clothing. Wear warm layers, sturdy shoes, and something that protects your hands and head. You will need to move between the vehicle and the viewing area, and the weather can change quickly.

The food is a simple comfort rather than a meal. Think sweet biscuits and warm drinks, not dinner. Eat beforehand if you need a full evening meal.

What guides such as Emil, Tomas, Kobe, and BG add

The guide is central to this experience. The company’s owners, Kolbeinn and Emil, are primary guides and are described as having decades of experience finding the lights. Other guides named in the supplied material include Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Jonas, Felix, Trond, and Joey.

The best value comes when the guide explains the choice of each stop. You want to understand why the minibus is moving, why the group is waiting, and why a faint glow may be worth following. Several guides are praised for driving long distances, waiting beyond the scheduled end, or moving on after a first glimpse to find a darker and clearer place.

That dedication has limits. A guide cannot control the aurora, road conditions, or cloud cover. Driving quickly to chase a burst of light may make the ride feel urgent, though one account specifically praised the driver’s safe handling on icy and foggy roads. Your experience will depend partly on the guide assigned that night.

The family-business feel may appeal to you if you prefer a personal operation rather than a large sightseeing company. Small groups make it easier to ask questions and get help with photos. They also mean that each person’s timing matters. Be ready at pickup, take your turn promptly, and give others room when the camera comes out.

Is $148 good value?

At $148 per person, this costs more than a basic coach trip focused only on transport and aurora viewing. The price includes hotel or designated-point pickup and drop-off, a guide, a photographer, Viking costumes, replica weapons, hot chocolate, and cookies.

The strongest value is the combination of three services: transport into darker areas, an experienced aurora search, and professional photos. If you were planning to pay separately for a photography session, the package becomes easier to justify. You also receive the free retry policy, which reduces some of the risk on a multi-night Reykjavík stay.

The price is less attractive if you have only one night in Iceland, since an unsuccessful outing cannot be converted into a refund. It is also not the best match if you want a quiet, minimalist night under the sky. The Viking costumes and group photo routine are part of the product, not optional extras you can ignore entirely.

The high overall rating of 4.8 from 400 reviews and an 88 percent perfect score for transport point to strong satisfaction, particularly with the guides, photographs, effort to find clear skies, and small group. I would still judge the value by your own priorities. For a once-in-a-lifetime photo and a serious attempt to find the lights, $148 is reasonable. For a cheap ride outside town, it is more than you need.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this for a first visit to Iceland when seeing the Northern Lights is high on your list and you want help with photography. It suits couples, families with children aged seven or older, and solo visitors who would rather join a small group than rent a car and make their own decisions at night.

It is also a good choice if you have several evenings in Reykjavík. The retry policy gives you a second chance when the first forecast fails, and communication about rescheduling has been praised as quick and straightforward.

You should think twice if you dislike late nights, long drives, cold outdoor waits, or group portraits. The minibus is smaller, but it is not spacious. You also need to accept that a successful tour may show only a faint aurora, while a cancelled or retried outing may be necessary before the sky cooperates.

Book with realistic expectations. You are paying for a skilled search, warm drinks, entertainment, and photos, not a guaranteed natural show.

Should you book Aurora Viking?

Book it if you want an active Northern Lights evening rather than a simple bus ride. The small group, determined local guides, professional camera, Viking portraits, and free retries make the price easier to defend. Guides such as Emil, Tomas, Kobe, and BG have made a strong impression by continuing the search when conditions looked poor.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed result, dislike being photographed, or have no spare night for a retry. The aurora remains wild and unpredictable.

For most visitors with several nights in Reykjavík, I would put this on the shortlist. Bring serious winter clothing, eat before pickup, keep your schedule flexible, and let the guide handle the chase. If the sky opens, you get the memory and the photograph. If it does not, you at least have a better chance of returning for another attempt.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The tour lasts four hours, including pickup, driving, stops, waiting, photography, and drop-off.

What is included in the $148 price?

The price includes hotel or designated-point pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, a photographer, Viking costumes, replica Viking weapons, hot chocolate, and cookies.

Is seeing the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The aurora cannot be predicted accurately. If you do not see it, Aurora Viking offers unlimited free retries until you do, but there is no refund for an unsuccessful sighting.

How many people are in the minibus?

The minibus carries a maximum of 18 people. This allows a smaller group and access to places that may not suit large coaches.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. You should be prepared to spend time outside in cold conditions while waiting for the aurora and taking photographs.

Can children join the tour?

Children under seven cannot join. The supplied information does not set a maximum age, and older children can take part in the Viking costume and photography activities.