Akureyri Northern Lights Tours: the 12 Best Nights Out

2.Northern Lights Classic MiniBus Tour from Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $150

Leave Akureyri around 9:30 pm in a small group of up to 16, with guides such as Armann, Norbert, Jon, or Daniel searching for clear skies and dark viewing spots. You will hear local stories, get help with phone camera settings, and receive hot chocolate and cookies. If the aurora stays hidden, you can try again the next evening.

“Pick up was quick and easy your guide called me to make sure we didn’t miss the pick up. Very knowledgeable tour guide with a rich life story. Great intuition when it comes to chasing the northern lights and fantastic food recommendation! Will be recommending to friend and family.”

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3.Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 42 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $132

Leave Akureyri’s street lights behind on a 2.5-hour Northern Lights hunt with an English-speaking guide. Guides such as Ingi, Lilija, and Graham adjust the route and share local stories while helping you photograph the aurora. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and hot chocolate are included, but sightings depend on weather and solar conditions.

“We went out on a cloudy night unfortunately, but our guide did her absolute best to find the northern lights. We stopped at different locations, and ended up seeing faint northern lights. We loved that our guide told us stories about Akureyri and the culture, too. The provided hot chocolate warmed us up! The day after we got a very unexpected and very kind offer to go out and try again free of charge (but we weren’t free) - what a lovely gesture! We would definitely recommend them (we wouldn’t have seen the lights ourselves, not knowing where and what to look for!)”

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4.Northern Lights Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 37 reviews · 3 hours · from $194

Leave Akureyri’s lights behind on a three-hour Northern Lights hunt with an English-speaking guide and up to 15 people. You’ll ride into the countryside or mountains, watch the sky, and warm up with a hot drink and Icelandic treat. Aurora sightings and guide-taken photos are not guaranteed.

“Unfortunately we did not see them the night we went but the company offered us a redo the next night which was very kind. Our guide was amazing, and the experience was still enjoyable.”

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5.Northern Lights 4×4 Jeep/van Tour from Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $259

Leave Akureyri at 9:30 p.m. with a guide such as Reynir or Thor, riding into darker country in a 4x4 or van. The small group, usually capped at seven, waits for clear skies and aurora activity while enjoying hot cocoa and an Icelandic twisted doughnut. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Thank you so very much for a wonderful experience! Reynir is a very seasoned guide who generously shared his knowledge and expertise, right alongside his friendliness and warmth. His experience with the Northern lights was the reason we were able to see the lights at the right time and in the right location. We cannot wait to relive our memories by seeing his beautiful photographs. One thing to keep in mind is that vehicles such as the one we rode in, while perfect for the weather, the back row is challenging to enter/exit for those with mobility limitations. Otherwise, very comfortable and roadworthy.”

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6.Hunt for the Northern Lights Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $113Best value

Leave Akureyri at 9:30 pm with an English-speaking guide such as Jong or Thor, then follow the clearest skies toward the Lake Mývatn area or elsewhere nearby. You will learn how to spot faint auroras, photograph them, and stargaze far from city lights. The outing lasts 2.5 hours, but conditions may affect the route and timing.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any northern lights due to the weather conditions. It was really cloudy, but the guide was very friendly and tried his best to get us to see the northern lights. He drove with us about four hours in the south of Akureyri animals very engaged. So in conclusion you have to have good weather and a bit luck.”

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7.Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 6 reviews · 3 hours · from $116

Join Saga Travel for a three-hour Northern Lights hunt from Akureyri. Your English-speaking guide drives into dark countryside or the mountains, explains the science behind the Aurora, and helps with camera settings. Guide Åsa has also shared practical advice before the bus stops, so bring warm clothing, a camera, and a tripod.

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8.Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $176Top rated

Start at 7:30 pm from Hotel Kea in Akureyri for two hours at Forest Lagoon, including admission and a towel. Then ride into Eyjafjardarsveit with guide Sigi to search for the Aurora Borealis away from city lights. The tour lasts about 4.5 hours and returns to the hotel.

“Sigi was an amazing guide & would recommend to everyone. There were only 2 of us so we ended up with a private tour & very happy it wasn't cancelled. Sigi took a scenic route to get the most out of the tour. We were lucky w the lights & he made multiple stops for us to get out & enjoy them. He also took some amazing photos which he shared with us after. Can't recommend this tour enough”

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9.Northern Lights Photography from Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $185

Meet at 9:00 pm in Akureyri for a three-hour northern lights hunt with Saga Travel. You’ll leave town for the dark countryside around Eyjafjörður, with pickup offered and time to enjoy the sky as well as photograph it. The route depends on weather and cloud conditions.

“Great knowledgeable guide and would recommend company for their proactive approach to make sure we saw the northern lights. We were contacted the day before our tour was booked for asking if we could do that evening instead as Read more”

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10.Northern Lights Tour from Husavik

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · from $173

You leave Husavik at 9:00 pm with an experienced guide and a group of no more than eight. The route shifts with the forecast, reaching places such as Þeistareykir, the Laxá river mouth, Tjörnes, or Öxarfjörður. Expect about two hours of aurora hunting, with a return to the same parking area.

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11.Northern Lights Hunt with Forest Lagoon Entry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 5 hours · from $235

Spend two hours at Forest Lagoon with a towel and drink included, then head into the Eyjafjord area for up to three hours of Northern Lights hunting. An English-speaking guide handles transport from selected Akureyri hotels. Bring swimwear, warm layers, and a camera.

“They did a great job with transportation and Aurora hunting. Friendly, fun guides and we saw some pretty good lights! Forest lagoon is my new favorite in Iceland. Easy, beautiful, drinks were good, food too!”

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12.Northern Lights 4×4 Tour from Akureyri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $190

Join Imagine Iceland Travel at 9:30 pm for a Northern Lights hunt from Akureyri. Your local guide drives a heated 4x4 minibus into darker countryside, shares Icelandic tales, serves hot chocolate and biscuits, and helps you search patiently for the aurora. Hotel and guesthouse pickup is included, along with a free retry if the lights do not appear the next evening, when available.

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