From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Hunt Super Jeep Tour

The best part of this tour is the super jeep. It can leave the city and reach rougher, quieter spots than a standard coach, giving your guide more freedom to chase breaks in the clouds. You may see the Northern Lights from several locations rather than waiting in one car park.

I especially like the small group of up to 10 and the photographer who helps you make usable aurora pictures. The hot chocolate, kleinur, and telescope add comfort and interest while you wait. The catch is simple: the lights are natural, so nobody can promise a show. Cloud cover or weak solar activity may leave you with only a faint glimpse.

Key points at a glance

• Super jeep access: Travel beyond Reykjavik and reach viewpoints a regular bus may not manage.
• Photographer on board: Get high-quality pictures and help with camera settings in the dark.
• Small-group setting: The vehicle holds no more than 10 people, making it easier to ask questions and move between stops.
• Warm Icelandic treats: Hot chocolate, rum with hot chocolate, and kleinur help take the edge off the cold.
• Telescope included: Use an astronomical telescope while waiting for aurora activity.
• Backup protection: If bad weather cancels the trip, you can rebook, and if the lights do not appear, another tour is offered within two years.

Chasing the aurora beyond Reykjavik

This is a four-hour evening hunt, with pickup beginning at 9 p.m. The timing puts you out after dark, when the Northern Lights have a chance to appear. You leave the city’s artificial glow behind and head toward quieter parts of Iceland, often in the direction of the Southern Region.

The point is not to drive to one famous viewpoint and hope for luck. Your guide watches the conditions and may shift locations if clouds block the sky. That flexibility matters. A clear patch can appear a short distance away, and a super jeep gives the group more options than a large coach.

Still, keep your expectations in check. A Northern Lights tour is a search, not a scheduled performance. Even on a clear night, the aurora may be faint. Strong displays depend on solar activity, darkness, and cloud cover, none of which the company controls.

What the super jeep adds

The vehicle is used for roughly 30 minutes at the start and end of the tour, with about three hours spent in the Southern Region. The off-road design is the main reason to choose this trip over a cheaper bus outing.

A super jeep can take you away from dense city lighting and onto rougher routes. That does not mean every part of the trip is an off-road thrill ride, but it does give the guide room to look for better viewing conditions. One guide, Thor, kept moving between locations when cloud cover weakened the view, and the vehicle helped make that possible.

There is a tradeoff. A smaller vehicle can feel more personal, but you have less room than on a coach. The tour is also designed around the aurora rather than sightseeing stops, so do not book it expecting a full Iceland day tour or a string of major attractions.

Pickup from 28 Reykjavik locations

Pickup is available from a wide range of hotels and designated bus stops. Options include Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, Reykjavik City Hall, BSÍ Parking, Skarfabakki Harbour, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Hotel Cabin, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, and many others.

If your accommodation sits on a street that the super jeep cannot enter, you will be sent to the nearest accessible bus stop. Check the exact pickup point before departure, and be ready from 9 p.m. The operator aims to send cancellation notices before 6:30 p.m. when bad weather forces a change.

Drop-off follows the same general network of hotels and city stops. That is useful after a cold late-night outing, since you will not need to arrange a taxi back across Reykjavik.

The three-hour search in the Southern Region

The main portion lasts about three hours. Your guide drives through the Icelandic countryside, stopping when conditions look promising. The exact places can change, which is part of the point.

At each stop, you may have time to scan the sky, take photos, and listen to an explanation of the aurora. The guide covers how the Northern Lights form and what affects their appearance. This helps you understand why a pale green arc, a fast-moving ribbon, or a strong glow can look so different from one moment to the next.

The tour also includes regional food, welcome refreshments, and a food tasting. Hot chocolate with rum and Icelandic kleinur are particularly welcome when you are standing outdoors in winter clothing. Kleinur are lightly sweet Icelandic doughnuts, a traditional snack rather than a generic packaged treat.

The telescope gives you something else to do during quiet periods. It cannot make the aurora appear, but it adds a sky-watching element to the wait and gives the guide a useful way to talk about objects beyond the lights.

Photography help that makes a real difference

Aurora photography is not easy. You need a steady camera, careful focus, and exposure settings that work in very low light. Cold hands make the job harder, especially when you are trying to adjust a phone or camera in gloves.

A professional photographer rides with the group and takes high-quality pictures of you beneath the lights when conditions allow. You also receive help with your own camera. That combination is valuable because you can enjoy the sky instead of spending the whole evening staring at a screen.

The photographer has captured strong memories for people who could not manage their own cameras in the cold. One guide, Daniel, also found multiple locations during a successful outing, which shows how useful patience and movement can be on this kind of trip.

Tripods are available to rent. If you want serious night-sky pictures, ask about one before heading out. A tripod gives you a much better chance of keeping the camera still during a long exposure. You should not assume that a handheld phone will produce sharp aurora photographs.

The pictures are also a reason to consider this tour if you are traveling with family or a partner. Seeing the lights is one thing. Having a clear portrait of the moment is another.

A small group, with a few practical limits

The group is limited to 10 participants, though it can become larger if several previous nights were canceled because of weather. Even then, this is generally a more personal setup than a full-size bus.

A small group lets you ask the guide questions and makes it easier for everyone to get time with the photographer. It also helps when the vehicle moves between several possible viewing places. You are not trying to organize a large crowd at every stop.

The tour is not suitable for children under 8. Everyone should bring gloves, thermal clothing, and weather-appropriate layers. Icelandic nights can feel much colder when you are standing still while waiting for the sky to change, so treat warm clothing as essential rather than optional.

The vehicle includes WiFi, though your main connection should be with the guide and the sky. Coverage in remote areas can vary, and the tour is not designed as a working evening.

What happens if the lights do not appear

The company offers another tour within two years of your original departure if the Northern Lights do not appear. This does not change the weather, but it makes the price easier to justify if your first attempt produces only clouds or a weak display.

If bad weather cancels the outing, you can rebook another evening free of charge or receive a full refund. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead. You also can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland schedule is still shifting.

Be careful with the wording: a replacement tour does not mean the original night will be recreated. You must have enough time in Reykjavik to try again. For that reason, I would schedule this near the beginning of your stay rather than on your final evening.

Is $192 a fair price?

At $192 per person, this is not the budget choice. You are paying for more than transport: a small group, a super jeep, a guide, professional photography, camera assistance, refreshments, telescope use, hotel pickup, WiFi, and a second-chance policy if the aurora fails to appear.

The value is strongest if the photographs matter to you or if you dislike large coach tours. The ability to move between locations is also worth something on a cloudy night. You are buying flexibility and comfort during a search that may otherwise involve a long wait in the cold.

The price is harder to defend if you only want a quick look at the sky and already own good night-photography equipment. A standard Northern Lights bus tour may cost less, though it may not offer the same access or personal attention.

The tour earns its cost best on a night when the guide finds several clear spots and the photographer captures good portraits. On a poor-weather night, the backup policy becomes an important part of the value.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this for couples, photographers, solo visitors who want a smaller group, and anyone who prefers a flexible hunt over a fixed bus route. It also suits people who want a guide to explain the science and help with camera settings instead of simply driving them into the countryside.

You should be comfortable staying outside in winter conditions. The tour is four hours long, and much of that time may involve standing, waiting, watching, and moving between locations. Warm layers are not just a nice idea.

This is less suitable if you need a guaranteed sighting, dislike late nights, or want a packed sightseeing itinerary. The experience is focused on one natural event, and the event may be subtle or absent.

The final call

Book this tour if you value small groups, off-road access, and photographs you can take home. Guides such as Daniel and Thor have shown the patience needed for a proper aurora hunt, including staying out longer and changing locations when conditions were poor.

Skip it if your schedule allows only one final night in Iceland or if $192 feels too high for an uncertain result. If you do book, place it early in your stay, bring serious thermal layers, and treat any clear sighting as a success rather than expecting a movie-style sky.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights super jeep tour?

The tour lasts four hours. Pickup begins at 9 p.m., and the schedule includes about 30 minutes of driving at the start, three hours in the Southern Region, and about 30 minutes returning to Reykjavik.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from many Reykjavik hotels and designated city bus stops. If the super jeep cannot reach your street, you will be directed to the nearest accessible bus stop.

How many people can join the tour?

The usual group size is limited to 10 participants. The group may become larger if several earlier departures were canceled because of bad weather.

Is seeing the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. Sightings depend on weather, cloud cover, and aurora activity. If the lights do not appear, the company offers admission to another tour within two years of the original tour.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You may rebook for another evening free of charge. You can also receive a full refund if the tour is canceled because of bad weather.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the super jeep trip, guide, professional photographer, Northern Lights search, hotel pickup and drop-off, hot chocolate, kleinur, rum with hot chocolate, use of an astronomical telescope, WiFi, and access to another tour if the lights do not appear.

Can I get help with my camera?

Yes. A photographer is available to assist with your camera. Tripods can also be rented if you want a steadier setup for long-exposure Northern Lights pictures.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is not suitable for children under 8 years old. All participants should bring gloves, thermal clothing, and other clothing suited to cold Icelandic weather.