Study of the Best Northern Lights Tour Operators in Iceland: Ratings, Prices, & Cancellations

We analyzed more than 34,500 reviews from Guide to Iceland, TripAdvisor, and GetYourGuide, plus booking records and 2026 prices, to find Iceland's best northern lights tour operators. Small groups outrate every big bus from Reykjavik but cost more, so this study shows which format to book and where the best value is.

The northern lights are one of the main reasons visitors come to Iceland in winter. Some travelers rent a car and chase the aurora on their own, while others stay at northern lights hotels or join northern lights tours in Iceland. Guided northern lights tours offer the advantage of local experts who monitor the forecast and drive toward clearer skies.

Dozens of operators run northern lights tours from Reykjavik and Akureyri. To find out which operator to pick, we went through the northern lights tours sold on Guide to Iceland and matched each one on TripAdvisor and GetYourGuide. We pooled more than 34,500 reviews, adjusted the ratings for review volume, then added cancellation records and current 2026 prices.

Guide to Iceland earns a commission when you book through us. Commissions had no effect on the rankings in this study: the order comes from the review data alone.

Key Findings

• Aurora Viking is the highest-rated northern lights tour operator in Iceland. Aurora Viking's small-group tour rates 4.66 out of 5, a hair ahead of EastWest at 4.65. Aurora Viking groups are capped at 18, and professional photos are included. EastWest has the deeper track record, with more than 2,200 reviews.

• Small-group tours from Reykjavik rate higher than every big bus. The lowest-rated small group from Reykjavik (4.39) still beats the best-rated big bus (4.34). Big buses are more popular, with about 2.5 times as many reviews, mostly because they cost around 3,000 ISK less per person.

• David The Guide's small-group tour is the best value. At about 13,000 ISK per person, David The Guide's tour is the cheapest small group from Reykjavik. The tour includes free photos of you under the aurora and is called off only 6.6% of the time. BusTravel Iceland's minibus ties it at 4.39 for the same price.

• BusTravel Iceland is the best big-bus tour. BusTravel Iceland's bus tour rates 4.23 on almost 17,000 reviews, the largest review base of any northern lights tour in Iceland. The tour costs 9,990 ISK per person and gives you a free retry if the lights don't show.

• A super jeep doesn't buy a higher rating. The top small-group minibus tours rate higher than every super jeep, for less money. Superjeep.is is the best super jeep at 4.41, at 29,900 ISK per person, so book one if the off-road drive is part of what you want.

• Small-group minibus tours are called off least often. About 7% of small-group minibus bookings were called off and refunded, against about 9% for big buses and about 12% for boats, where wind and swell matter as much as cloud. Elding is the best boat tour at 4.37.

The Highest-Rated Northern Lights Tour Operators in Iceland

Ranked by volume-adjusted rating across all three platforms, here is the full ranking of the 16 operators in this study.

The top four northern lights tour operators are all small-group operators, and they win on the same thing: guides who drive to wherever the sky is clearing, take photos of you under the aurora, and keep the group small enough to move quickly.

Aurora Viking and EastWest are a statistical tie at the top. EastWest has the deeper review base, but Aurora Viking holds the higher combined score, at 4.66 against 4.65.

The top 10 northern lights tour operators are all highly rated, and the gap between them is small. From Aurora Viking in first place (4.66) to Gravel Travel in 10th (4.32), the scores sit within about a third of a star on a five-star scale, and every one of them is above 4.3.

On a night when the aurora shows up, any of the top 10 operators will give you a good tour. Since the difference in rating among the top 10 is that small, the difference in price matters more.

David The Guide and BusTravel's minibus sit in the top 10 at about 13,000 ISK per person, while the top two cost 19,900 to 21,000 ISK per person. For most travelers, the best-value small group is the smarter pick.

The Best Big-Bus Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

BusTravel Iceland's northern lights bus tour leads the big-bus field at 4.23 on almost 17,000 reviews, the largest review base of any northern lights tour in Iceland. The tour costs 9,990 ISK per person, includes hot chocolate, and gives you a free retry if the lights don't show. BusTravel Iceland's bus tour also has the lowest called-off rate of the big-bus operators, at 7.6%.

Reykjavik Excursions (3.90) and Reykjavik Sightseeing (3.81) rank lowest among the big-bus operators. They both run large coaches with audio guides and have the lowest combined ratings in the big-bus category. However, Reykjavik Excursions offers unlimited free retries until you see the northern lights, which is a useful perk if you have several nights in Reykjavik.

Mandarin speakers should look at Magic Iceland Travel, which runs a Chinese-guided bus tour from 8,888 ISK per person and rates 4.34. Most of Magic Iceland Travel's reviews come from that Chinese-guided departure, so we name it as the best pick for Mandarin speakers rather than for every traveler.

The Best Small-Group Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

Aurora Viking ranks as the best small-group tour and the best northern lights tour overall, with a rating of 4.66. Aurora Viking groups are limited to 18 people, professional photos are included, and the median price is 19,900 ISK per person.

EastWest comes a close second at 4.65, with more than 2,200 reviews across the three platforms. EastWest is the safer choice if you want a top-rated small-group tour with a larger review history. The EastWest minibus carries up to 19 people, and the experience includes blankets, hot chocolate, pastries, and free photos. The median price is around 21,000 ISK per person.

Nordur Travel (4.53) uses 4x4 minibuses that can venture off paved roads, with a median price of about 17,900 ISK per person. Happyworld (4.46) is a good choice for stargazers. Happyworld's tour includes a telescope session, giving you another activity to enjoy on cloudy nights when the aurora is not visible.

The Best-Value Small-Group Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

David The Guide and BusTravel Iceland's minibus tour are tied at 4.39, with both costing around 13,000 ISK per person. About 13,000 ISK is the lowest price for a small-group northern lights tour from Reykjavik and about 3,000 ISK more than a big-bus tour. David The Guide and BusTravel Iceland's minibus also have higher ratings than every big-bus operator in the study.

David The Guide's minibus tour includes free photos beneath the aurora, hot drinks, and warm blankets. David The Guide's tour is canceled only 6.6% of the time.

BusTravel Iceland's minibus tour has a larger review base and offers passengers the option of taking a seat on its big-bus tour if the northern lights do not appear. David The Guide and BusTravel Iceland's minibus are both good-value choices if you want a small-group experience without spending 20,000 ISK per person.

The Best Northern Lights Tours From Akureyri

North Iceland offers long, dark winter nights and fewer crowds than Reykjavik. Three operators run small-group northern lights tours from Akureyri, and their ratings are almost identical: Imagine Iceland Travel leads at 4.29, followed closely by Saga Travel at 4.28 and Star Travel at 4.27.

Saga Travel offers the best value of the Akureyri operators at 12,900 ISK per person and has the largest review base of the three. Imagine Iceland Travel has the highest rating, at 4.29, with tours costing 16,900 ISK per person. Star Travel is the most expensive at 19,500 ISK per person and has the fewest reviews.

Big-Bus Northern Lights Tours Are More Popular Than Small Groups

Big-bus tours are the more popular choice for northern lights tours by a wide margin.

Northern lights bus tours account for about 23,100 reviews across the three platforms, compared with around 9,200 for small-group minibus tours. Big-bus tours have roughly 2.5 times as many reviews as small-group tours. BusTravel Iceland's bus tour alone has more reviews than all the small-group tours in this study combined.

Price is a major factor. A big-bus tour from Reykjavik costs around 8,200 to 10,000 ISK per person, while the cheapest small-group tours start at about 13,000 ISK per person. For first-time visitors who mainly want a chance to see the aurora without spending too much, the big bus is an affordable option.

However, small-group tours come out ahead on ratings. They average 4.58 compared with 4.12 for big-bus tours. Even after adjusting for review volume, every small-group operator from Reykjavik outrates every big-bus operator.

The reviews also reveal some interesting differences in what passengers value. Guides are the most-mentioned aspect of both formats, appearing in about half to two-thirds of the reviews we checked for the biggest bus and minibus tours. Complaints about crowds are rare in both categories, accounting for less than 2% of reviews.

Photography is where small-group tours stand out. About 16% of reviews for David The Guide's minibus tour mention photos, compared with around 6% for the two biggest bus tours. The gap in photo mentions reflects a common advantage of small-group trips: free photos of passengers beneath the aurora are often included.

Our take: If you can spend around 3,000 ISK more per person, a small-group tour is worth considering for the more personal experience and included photos. If keeping costs down is your priority, BusTravel Iceland is our pick for a big-bus tour.

When a Super Jeep Northern Lights Tour in Iceland Is Worth It

A super jeep can take you farther from the main roads and into areas that large bus convoys cannot reach, while keeping the group to just a handful of people. Super jeep northern lights tours come at a higher price, ranging from about 21,000 to 29,900 ISK per person.

Superjeep.is is the top-rated super jeep operator, scoring 4.41. The Superjeep.is tour uses modified off-road vehicles and costs 29,900 ISK per person.

Gravel Travel offers better value at 21,000 ISK per person, with a rating of 4.32 and a photographer included.

Arctic Adventures has the largest review base among the three super jeep operators but the lowest rating, at 4.17.

The ratings suggest that paying more for a super jeep does not necessarily mean a better northern lights experience. The top-rated small-group minibus tours score higher than all three super jeep operators and cost less.

Our take: A super jeep is worth considering if the off-road adventure is an important part of the experience, rather than simply a way to see the aurora.

When a Northern Lights Boat Tour in Iceland Is Worth It

Boat tours have lower average ratings than land-based small-group tours (4.28 compared with 4.58). The main drawback of a northern lights boat tour is that boats cannot drive toward clearer skies. If clouds cover Faxafloi Bay, the tour stays beneath them.

Boat trips are also canceled more often than minibus tours, at about 12% of bookings, because wind and swell conditions matter as much as cloud cover. However, boat tours offer a more comfortable way to look for the aurora. Northern lights boat tours depart from Reykjavik's Old Harbor, last about two hours, and have warm indoor cabins.

Elding is the highest-rated boat operator, with a score of 4.37 and a ticket price of 14,500 ISK per person.

Special Tours and Reykjavik Sailors (4.17) offer the most departures, with prices starting at around 13,000 ISK per person.

Sea Trips and Iceland Discover (4.25) operate smaller yachts and offer the cheapest boat tours, at around 10,500 to 13,000 ISK per person. However, Sea Trips and Iceland Discover also have the fewest reviews in the study.

Our take: Choose a boat tour if you prefer a comfortable cruise with indoor shelter and don't mind having less flexibility to chase clear skies.

How Much a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland Costs

The type of tour you choose is the biggest factor in the price of a northern lights tour. For example, a northern lights tour from Reykjavik costs around 8,200 ISK per person on a big bus and up to nearly 30,000 ISK per person in a super jeep.

While price largely depends on the tour format, paying less does not necessarily mean getting a lower-rated experience.

BusTravel Iceland is the highest-rated big-bus operator, yet at 9,990 ISK per person, it costs only about 1,800 ISK more than the cheapest big bus. Similarly, David The Guide and BusTravel Iceland offer the cheapest small-group minibus tours, yet both outrate every big-bus operator.

The median price per person for big-bus and small-group northern lights tours departing from Reykjavik:

The median price per person for boat, super jeep, and Akureyri northern lights tours:

How Often Northern Lights Tours in Iceland Get Canceled

Northern lights tour operators cancel departures when the cloud cover or aurora forecast is poor. When a northern lights tour is canceled, passengers usually receive a refund or the option to rebook for another night.

Across Guide to Iceland bookings since 2024, small-group minibus tours were canceled and refunded about 7% of the time, compared with 9% for big buses and 12% for boats. Gravel Travel's super jeep tour had the highest cancellation rate, at about 20%. If you choose Gravel Travel's tour, leave a few spare nights in your itinerary in case you need to rebook.

The cancellation figures in this study only include cancellations that resulted in refunds. Many travelers choose free rebooking instead, while tours that go ahead without an aurora sighting may offer a free retry. As a result, the actual number of nights travelers spend looking for the lights without seeing them is higher across all formats.

The forecast has a bigger influence on your chances than the operator you choose. Check the northern lights forecast for cloud cover and aurora activity before your tour.

If you plan to drive out and hunt for the lights yourself, also check the weather and road conditions. For more planning advice, see our studies of the best month to see the northern lights in Iceland and Iceland's clearest skies for the northern lights.

How We Ranked Iceland's Northern Lights Tour Operators

This study is built on reviews, booking records, and 2026 prices for the northern lights tours sold on Guide to Iceland, Iceland's largest travel marketplace. The methodology sections that follow say what went in, what stayed out, and how the ratings were adjusted.

What We Measured

We started with every northern lights tour sold on Guide to Iceland and kept the operators with a real booking or review history since January 2024.

• Reviews from Guide to Iceland, TripAdvisor, and GetYourGuide, pooled into one total per operator.

• Called-off rates from Guide to Iceland bookings with departures since January 2024.

• Median prices per person on 2026 departures booked through Guide to Iceland.

What We Left Out

• Combo tours, such as Golden Circle plus northern lights.

• Museum and planetarium entries.

• Private tours.

• Tours with too few reviews to rate fairly.

How We Matched Reviews Across Platforms

For each operator, we matched the same tour on TripAdvisor and GetYourGuide and pooled the reviews into one total. Where an operator sells the same tour under another brand on those platforms, we matched it to the operator that runs it.

How We Counted Cancellations and Prices

Called-off rates count only cancellations made by the operator or for weather that ended in a refund. Prices are the median price per person on 2026 departures booked through Guide to Iceland.

How We Adjusted the Ratings

Raw averages favor tours with a few dozen reviews, and operators with thousands of reviews almost always score lower. So we adjusted every rating for review volume.

Each score is pulled toward the average of all the tours in the study, and the fewer reviews a tour has, the stronger the pull. A tour has to earn its score over hundreds of nights to keep it.

Which Northern Lights Tour in Iceland Should You Book?

The best northern lights tour in Iceland depends on your budget and the kind of experience you want.

For the highest-rated small-group experience, Aurora Viking and EastWest are our top picks. If you want a small group without spending as much, consider David The Guide or BusTravel's minibus tour.

BusTravel Iceland's big-bus tour is the best choice on a tighter budget, while Elding is our pick for a more comfortable experience on the water. If you're staying in North Iceland, Saga Travel is a good place to start your search from Akureyri.

Whichever northern lights tour you choose, try to book it for your first or second night in Iceland. Most operators in this study offer a free retry if the northern lights don't appear, giving you another chance on a later night.

Keep an eye on the northern lights forecast on the day of your tour, too. Clear skies and good aurora activity matter more than small differences in operator ratings, so leaving room in your itinerary for another attempt can make all the difference.

More Guide to Iceland Studies

• The best month to see the northern lights in Iceland
• The best places in Iceland to see the northern lights
• The best ice cave tour operators in Iceland
• The best whale watching companies in Iceland
• The best Golden Circle tour operators in Iceland
• The best snorkeling companies in Iceland
• The best food tour companies in Iceland