Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland — Biggest Selection & Lowest Prices Guaranteed

Northern lights tours in Iceland take you away from Reykjavik's city lights to areas with darker skies. Most tours depart in the evening, last 2 to 5 hours, and include hotel pick-up.

Popular options include bus tours, small-group tours, Super Jeep tours, boat tours, and private tours. Multi-day tours and northern lights packages combine aurora hunting with daytime sightseeing, ice caving, hot springs, and other attractions.

Most northern lights tours in Iceland run from September to April, and some bus tours start in late August. Many of these tours offer a free retry on another night if you don't see the northern lights.

The northern lights ranked second among Iceland's top experiences in a 2026 survey of tourism professionals. Solar Cycle 25 peaked in 2024 and 2025, and solar activity often stays high for a year or two after a solar maximum.

The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

The best northern lights tours in Iceland combine experienced guides, weather and aurora forecasts, and the flexibility to find clearer, darker skies. Many tours also include free rebooking if the aurora does not appear.

• Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik: This affordable bus tour suits budget travelers and first-time visitors to Iceland. The tour is carbon-neutral and runs on modern coaches with free Wi-Fi.
• Northern Lights Minibus Tour in Iceland With Free Photos & Refreshments: This tour suits couples, families, and travelers who want a smaller group and help with photography. The tour includes warm blankets, hot chocolate, and free photos, so you can focus on watching the aurora.
• The Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour from Reykjavik with Free Photos: This tour suits adventurous travelers and photographers who want to reach remote areas far beyond the reach of standard vehicles. A professional photographer joins the tour and takes photos of you beneath the aurora.
• The Northern Lights Boat Tour from Reykjavik: This tour is a convenient option if you have limited time in Iceland or want a different view of the aurora. Watch from the outdoor deck in warm overalls, or step inside the heated cabin as you sail into Faxafloi Bay.

Best Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the main starting point for northern lights tours in Iceland. Guides check the aurora forecast and the cloud forecast each night and look for the clearest skies near the city. Most tours from Reykjavik include pick-up and last 2 to 5 hours, while combo tours last longer.

1. The Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Warm Refreshments: This bus tour suits travelers who want an affordable aurora borealis tour. Warm refreshments are included, and the free retry is valid for up to three years.
2. Northern Lights Minibus Tour with Transfer from Reykjavik: This smaller-group tour suits travelers who prefer a more relaxed night away from a large tour bus. Hot chocolate and snacks keep you warm while your guide searches for the northern lights in the countryside.
3. Golden Circle and Northern Lights Hunting Combo Tour from Reykjavik: This combo tour is a practical choice for travelers with limited time who want to see two Iceland highlights in one day. Visit Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall by day, then hunt for the northern lights after dark.
4. Northern Lights & Stargazing Tour with Pictures & Transfer from Reykjavik: This tour suits travelers who want more than an aurora hunt. The tour combines northern lights hunting with stargazing, and your guide uses a powerful telescope to show you stars, planets, and galaxies while you wait.
5. Iceland Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik: This cruise is an ideal choice for families and travelers with limited time. Watch the skies over Faxafloi Bay from the boat, with warm drinks, protective overalls, and a warm indoor cabin.

Best Northern Lights Tours from Akureyri

Northern lights tours in North Iceland start in Akureyri and drive into the dark countryside around Eyjafjordur Fjord. They are a practical choice if you are staying in Akureyri or exploring Lake Myvatn and want a guide to handle the driving, forecasts, and search for clear skies.

1. Small Group Northern Lights Tour With Transfer From Akureyri: This family-friendly aurora tour has a minimum age of three, with hotel pick-up and drop-off in Akureyri. A local guide takes you by minibus into the dark countryside.
2. Northern Lights Hunt from Akureyri: This tour is an ideal choice for travelers spending a night in North Iceland. Get picked up from your accommodation and head to darker areas where your guide searches for the best available aurora-viewing conditions.
3. Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Akureyri: This tour suits cruise passengers and hotel guests, with pick-up available from Akureyri Harbor or your hotel. With a maximum of 15 people, it offers the smallest group size among these Akureyri northern lights tours.

Best Multi-Day Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

The best multi-day northern lights tours in Iceland give you several nights in the dark countryside, which raises your chances of seeing the aurora. Guided multi-day tours in Iceland last 2 to 8 days and include transport and accommodation, with winter tours often adding ice caves and other seasonal experiences.

1. 8-Day Guided Winter Northern Lights Tour of the Complete Ring Road: This tour suits travelers who want to see Iceland's top attractions without driving in winter. You circle the whole Ring Road and visit the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, with seven nights to look for the northern lights in different regions.
2. 3-Day Northern Lights & Ice Cave Multi-Day Tour to the Golden Circle, South Coast & Glacier Lagoon: This tour is a good fit for travelers who want a shorter northern lights trip packed with Iceland highlights. Follow the Golden Circle and South Coast to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, then hike on a glacier and explore a natural blue ice cave.
3. 2-Day Northern Lights & Ice Cave Tour with Glacier Hiking & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: This tour is ideal for travelers who want to combine South Coast sightseeing with chasing the aurora borealis. The highlight is a guided ice caving tour in Vatnajokull Glacier, with all equipment included.

Best Northern Lights Vacation Packages in Iceland

The best northern lights vacation packages in Iceland combine Reykjavik accommodation, guided sightseeing, and northern lights tours into one planned trip. They are ideal for travelers who want to see Iceland without arranging each tour separately, with airport transfers and accommodation included.

1. 5-Day Northern Lights Winter Vacation Package in Iceland with Ice Caving & the Blue Lagoon: This package is a great choice for a short winter break that balances sightseeing and relaxation. It combines a northern lights tour with the Golden Circle, the South Coast, an ice cave, and a visit to the Blue Lagoon.
2. 7-Day Northern Lights Winter Vacation Package with Ice Caving: This package is ideal for travelers who want to cover more of West and South Iceland in one week. Highlights include the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, an ice cave, and a guided visit inside Vidgelmir Lava Cave.
3. 6-Day Northern Lights Adventure Package in Iceland: This package is ideal for travelers who want a balance of guided sightseeing and free time in Reykjavik. Explore the Golden Circle and South Coast on small-group tours, stay one night in the countryside, and visit a natural blue ice cave.

Best Northern Lights Self-Drive Tours in Iceland

The best winter self-drive tours in Iceland give you the freedom to choose when and where to look for the aurora each night. They are best for confident winter drivers who want to explore at their own pace, with a rental car, accommodation, insurance, unlimited mileage, and a detailed itinerary included.

1. 7-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour of South Iceland, the Golden Circle & Snaefellsnes Peninsula: This road trip suits independent travelers who want to combine the South Coast with West Iceland. Visit major sights along the way and search for the northern lights after dark.
2. 6-Day Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour in the South Coast of Iceland with Ice Caving: This road trip is ideal for travelers who prefer a slower pace focused on one region. Spend six days exploring the South Coast's waterfalls, black sand beaches, and glaciers, and you can add an ice cave tour.
3. One-Week Northern Lights Self-Drive Tour of South & West Iceland with Ice Caving: This tour suits travelers who want the most variety on a winter road trip. Drive from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and chase the northern lights at night.

How to Choose a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland

Choose a bus tour from Reykjavik if you want the most affordable northern lights tour. For smaller groups, photography help, and access to more remote locations, choose a small-group or Super Jeep tour.

If you have limited time, a northern lights boat tour from Reykjavik Harbor offers a shorter option. For better chances of seeing the aurora, choose a multi-day tour or vacation package, which gives you several nights to hunt instead of one evening.

Best Time for Northern Lights Tours in Iceland

The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland is from mid-September to early April, when darkness returns and nights are long. Peak aurora viewing hours are generally from 9 PM to 2 AM, though the exact timing shifts with the seasons.

Within that season, our study of the best month to see the northern lights in Iceland found the strongest windows are late February through March and October through November. March pairs the year's highest aurora activity with long enough nights and clearer skies, and October offers more hours of strong aurora after dark than any other month.

If budget is the deciding factor, January is the cheapest month for a northern lights trip, followed by November. Our study on the cheapest time to visit Iceland finds 115 of 119 aurora tours bookable in January and 112 in November, so November gives you a strong activity window at close to the lowest trip cost.

What many travelers don't realize is that the aurora is actually active year-round and can appear at any time of day, as it's a constant atmospheric phenomenon. In Iceland, you can only see it during the darker months, since from late April to mid-August, the bright summer nights and midnight sun make sightings impossible.

Because the aurora depends on both solar activity and clear skies, it is wise to build at least five nights during aurora season into your trip to Iceland. An overcast spell can last several nights, so a longer stay gives you more chances.

Where to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

You can see the northern lights anywhere in Iceland when the sky is dark and clear. Our study of Iceland's clearest skies found the clearest winter skies on the southeast coast, from Kirkjubaejarklaustur to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Hofn. This is why many multi-day northern lights tours spend a night or two on the South Coast.

The northern lights are sometimes visible even from Reykjavik despite the glow of the city. Knowing the best places to see the northern lights in Reykjavik, such as Grotta Lighthouse or Oskjuhlid Hill, can improve your chances on clear nights.

How to Spot the Northern Lights in Iceland

Going out to look for the northern lights in Iceland is easy. Follow these five steps to give yourself the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis during your trip:

1. Check the aurora forecast: You'll need both solar activity and clear skies.
2. Charge your camera or phone: Cold weather drains batteries faster.
3. Dress warmly: Wear thermal layers, a hat, gloves, and sturdy boots.
4. Find a dark spot: Join a tour, rent a car, or go on foot.
5. Be patient: The aurora can appear suddenly or after hours of waiting.

Understanding the Aurora Forecast in Iceland

If you're traveling independently, you can use tools like the Icelandic northern lights forecast or Norwegian aurora forecast to see the estimated solar activity. Three key things to check are the Kp index, the cloud cover, and the wind.

• Kp index: This scale measures geomagnetic activity. A reading of 2 or higher means the aurora is active enough that it's worth heading out, provided the skies are clear. Iceland sits directly under the auroral oval, so a modest reading often puts the lights right overhead.
• Cloud cover: The forecast map shows expected cloud conditions. Areas shaded in green indicate clouds, which will block your view of the aurora.
• Wind: The Icelandic Met Office forecast also shows wind speed. Wind does not affect the aurora itself, but it decides how long you can comfortably wait outside. Our study of the windiest and least windy months in Iceland found that September and October are the calmest months of the aurora season, with April close behind.

A bright full moon can wash out faint auroras, so new-moon periods and the hours after a moonset will give the darkest sky for viewing and photography. Auroras also tend to come in pulses. Even on a slow night, it is worth waiting outside for at least an hour so your eyes can fully adjust to the dark.

Learn more in our ultimate guide to the northern lights in Iceland.

What to Know Before a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland

No northern lights tour in Iceland can guarantee a sighting, because the aurora depends on solar activity and clear skies. Book your northern lights tour early in your trip, so you have time to use a free retry.

Dress for long waits in the cold on a northern lights tour in Iceland. Wear thermal layers, a warm jacket, a hat, gloves, and sturdy boots, and bring a power bank because the cold drains phone batteries.

Stay in one of the northern lights hotels in Iceland for darker skies, or one of the hotels in Reykjavik for easy tour pick-up. You can also rent a car and look for the northern lights on your own.