Reykjavik: Northern Lights Comfort Coach with Surprise

The best part of this Reykjavik Northern Lights tour is the active search. You do not simply park beside the city and hope. Guides and drivers check several darker locations, watch the conditions, and may move again when the forecast looks better. I like the clear night-sky explanations and the practical phone photography help, especially from guides such as Daniel and Jennifer.

I also like the comfortable coach, hot chocolate, onboard toilet, and small Icelandic surprise. At $67.50, that is a fair package for a four-hour evening. The catch is simple: the aurora may not appear, and a bus carrying up to 57 people can mean waiting in the cold while everyone takes photos.

Key points before you book

• Several viewing locations: The team may try two or three spots rather than staying in one place all night.
• Strong guide-led learning: Daniel and Jennifer have been praised for explaining auroras, stars, satellites, forecasts, and camera settings.
• Useful comforts: The coach has Wi-Fi and a toilet, and hot drinks are included.
• A local Icelandic surprise: Each person receives a small unexpected Icelandic treat or item, with the exact nature kept secret.
• Free second chance: If the lights do not appear, you may be able to rebook for free within two years.
• Large-group format: The maximum group size is 57, so this is not a quiet private chase.

Chasing the aurora beyond Reykjavik

Northern Lights tours require patience and a bit of luck. The aurora is not a scheduled show, and even a promising forecast can fail when clouds settle in or solar activity stays weak. This tour handles that uncertainty in the most useful way available: it gets you away from Reykjavik’s strongest lights and gives the crew room to search.

Your guide and driver choose locations with better visibility and less artificial light. The route is not presented as a fixed sightseeing circuit. Instead, the evening changes with cloud cover, aurora forecasts, and what the team sees in real time.

That matters because a single viewpoint can be a poor choice on an unsettled night. The group may stop at one location, then try another. On a particularly promising evening, the bus has stopped twice when the lights strengthened again on the return journey.

The itinerary is listed as about three hours of aurora hunting, with the entire experience lasting roughly four hours. The extra time covers pickup, driving, short waits, and the return to Reykjavik. You should think of this as a night search rather than a sightseeing tour with a strict timetable.

What happens at the 9 PM meeting point

The stated meeting point is Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6. You are asked to be ready at 9 PM, but the bus may arrive any time between 9 and 9:30 PM because of traffic and weather.

That half-hour range is worth taking seriously in winter. You may be standing outside in freezing conditions, and one person reported waiting about 25 minutes in temperatures near minus 10 Celsius. Wear your warmest layers before you leave your hotel, not just a fashionable outer coat.

Once aboard, the coach gives you a useful base for the night. Wi-Fi and a toilet are included, which can make a big difference on a four-hour outing. Hot drinks are also provided, with hot chocolate receiving particular praise.

The bus can hold up to 57 people. That keeps the price down, but it affects the feel of the tour. You will have less space and less flexibility than you would on a small-group minibus or private outing. Pickup and drop-off both take place at the same meeting point.

Searching two or three dark-sky locations

The main activity is the hunt itself. The crew drives beyond the city and looks for a combination of clearer skies, low light pollution, and a reasonable chance of aurora activity.

You may stop at more than one location. One evening included three attempts, while other outings reached two viewing points. The sites are chosen for conditions rather than for a named attraction, so do not expect a list of famous landmarks or a scenic sightseeing route.

At each stop, you may wait for the sky to change. That waiting is part of the experience, not a sign that the tour has stalled. The aurora can appear faintly at first, and cloud breaks may open only briefly. A guide may encourage you to stay a little longer when the forecast suggests activity is building.

This is where patience pays off. One group waited an extra 15 minutes and saw the lights appear. On another night, the conditions never improved despite trying several locations. The crew can improve your odds, but it cannot control the sky.

Bring realistic expectations. A late January date or a strong aurora forecast does not guarantee a display. Cloud cover can hide everything. You could spend the evening under a gray sky, even when the season is generally suitable for Northern Lights viewing.

Guides who turn waiting into part of the evening

The strongest part of this experience is the guide commentary. Daniel has been singled out for his detailed explanations of auroras, stars, and satellites. His enthusiasm for the subject comes through, and he can make a quiet stretch of sky interesting even before anything appears.

Jennifer has also received praise for her upbeat approach, clear aurora explanations, and patience in the cold. She has helped people adjust mobile phone settings for night photography. That is practical help you can use immediately, since automatic phone settings often produce a dark image or a bright blur.

The guides do more than point toward green light. They explain what you are looking at and how to watch for changes. That gives the evening more value when the aurora is faint or absent.

The drivers matter, too. Kuba, Cooper, and Greggor have all been praised for calm driving and friendly service. A driver who can handle dark roads and changing conditions is an important part of an overnight excursion, even if you spend most of your attention looking up.

Photography help for phones and cameras

The included photography advice is one of the best reasons to choose this tour over a basic transfer into the countryside. The guides can explain how to prepare a camera and how to use a mobile phone to capture the lights.

You should still arrive with your phone or camera charged. The supplied information does not promise tripods, camera equipment, or professional photographs, so you need to bring your own gear. One guide did take a memorable photo of an anniversary couple beneath the aurora, but you should treat that as a thoughtful moment rather than a guaranteed photography service.

The group size creates a tradeoff. When the lights appear, many people will want the same few minutes for pictures. You may need to wait while others pose, adjust settings, or step into the frame. A larger group can slow things down, especially in the cold.

If you want a picture of yourself, ask promptly and keep your setup simple. The guides are there to help, but they also need to watch the sky and manage the group.

Hot chocolate and the Icelandic surprise

The hot drink is more than a minor extra on a cold night. You may spend 15 minutes or longer standing outside while the sky decides what to do, so a warm cup helps make the waiting easier.

Each person also receives a small Icelandic surprise. The exact item is intentionally not revealed in advance. One particularly memorable version involved fermented shark, which some people tried and others skipped. Do not assume you will receive a sweet or a souvenir postcard.

This surprise adds a bit of local character, but it is not a meal. Food and extra drinks are not included, and personal expenses remain your responsibility. Eat before departure if you need a proper dinner.

Is $67.50 a good value?

At $67.50 per person, this tour offers good value for a standard coach-based aurora outing. The price includes an English-speaking guide, transport, Wi-Fi, an onboard toilet, hot drinks, photography advice, and the Icelandic surprise.

The free retry policy improves the value. If the Northern Lights do not show, the company has offered a second chance within two years. That does not solve every visitor’s schedule problem, but it gives you a practical reason to book early in your stay rather than on your final night.

The price also reflects the compromises. This is a large coach, not a private vehicle. You may wait for up to 30 minutes at pickup, stand outside in severe cold, and share each viewing stop with many other people.

Compared with paying more for a small private chase, this tour makes sense if you want a sensible first attempt without spending heavily. If you are celebrating a major occasion, dislike group travel, or need complete control over timing, the larger coach may feel less personal.

What if the lights do not appear?

You should book this with the possibility of failure in mind. One evening can offer dramatic activity at two locations. Another can bring clouds across the whole sky. Both outcomes are normal for this kind of outing.

The crew may search hard and still return without a sighting. In that case, the guide can still explain the aurora and show you how to look for it later. One person who missed the lights on the coach later spotted them from a point in Reykjavik after using the guidance received on the tour.

If your departure is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, while cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

For the best odds, schedule this outing early in your Reykjavik stay. If conditions fail, you have time to use the free retry or try another night on your own.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this experience if you want a reasonably priced first attempt at seeing the Northern Lights, prefer having an informed guide, and appreciate the security of a coach with a toilet and hot drinks.

It also suits you if you want help with photography. The advice from Daniel and Jennifer can be useful even if the display is weak. You may leave with better knowledge of how to photograph the sky on another night.

Families and older visitors may appreciate the onboard facilities, though everyone must still handle cold outdoor waits. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation at its starting point.

I would think twice if you dislike large groups or have only one evening in Iceland. The weather may cancel the trip or erase the aurora, and a large group can make each viewing stop less peaceful. In that case, a private option may offer more comfort, but likely at a higher cost.

Practical advice for a better night

Dress for standing still, not walking quickly. Warm boots, gloves, a hat, and several layers will matter more than the temperature shown in your hotel lobby.

Arrive at Bus Stop 12 before 9 PM and be ready to wait until 9:30 PM. Keep your phone charged, bring any camera equipment you want to use, and avoid planning a tight dinner reservation afterward.

Think of the hot chocolate and surprise as welcome additions, not the main reason to book. The real value is the combination of transport, active searching, guide instruction, and a free retry if the weather wins.

Should you book the Northern Lights Comfort Coach?

Yes, if you want a fair-priced, well-supported aurora search and can accept the uncertainty. The guides add real value, the coach handles the long drive comfortably, and the free second chance gives you some protection against a blank sky.

I would book it near the start of your Reykjavik stay, not on your last night. Choose this tour for practical help, warm drinks, and several search locations. Skip it if a large group or possible outdoor waiting would spoil the evening for you.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights coach tour start?

It starts at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland.

What time should I arrive?

You should be ready at the meeting point at 9 PM. The bus may arrive between 9 and 9:30 PM because of road and weather conditions.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours. The Northern Lights hunt itself is listed as about three hours.

Does the tour return to Reykjavik?

Yes. The activity ends back at the original meeting point.

What is included in the price?

The price includes an English-speaking guide, coach transport, Wi-Fi, an onboard toilet, the Northern Lights search, hot drinks, photography tips, and a small Icelandic surprise for each person.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The aurora is a natural phenomenon, and poor cloud cover or weak activity can prevent a sighting.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You may use a free second chance, valid within two years, according to the tour’s stated retry policy.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If the company cancels because of poor weather or insufficient numbers, you are offered another date or a full refund.