Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos – Small Group

The most memorable part of this Reykjavík outing may come before the aurora appears. You can dress in Viking clothing, handle museum-sourced replica weapons, and pose for photographs while your guide searches for a break in the clouds. Then, if the sky cooperates, you get the real prize: green, red, or purple light moving above Iceland’s dark countryside.

I like the small group of up to 18 because a guide can give each person time with the camera. I also like the free retry policy, which takes some pressure off a famously uncertain activity. The main drawback is that the minibus can feel cramped, especially when everyone brings thick winter layers and has nowhere to store them.

Quick reasons to consider this Northern Lights hunt

• Small minibus access: A group of 18 or fewer can reach darker, quieter viewing places that large coaches may not manage.
• Professional night photography: High-spec cameras are used to create photos of you with the aurora, and guides make sure each person gets a turn.
• Viking-themed entertainment: Costumes and replica weapons give you something fun to do during cloudy spells or quiet waiting time.
• Free retries: If the lights do not appear, you can join again without paying another tour fee.
• Warm treats in the cold: Hot chocolate, gingerbread, cookies, and sometimes blankets make the outdoor waits easier.
• Experienced local guides: Owners Emil and Kolbeinn lead the company, with guides such as Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, and Trond also praised for their persistence and care.

What the four-hour evening is really like

This is not a simple drive to one parking area, a quick look at the sky, and a ride back. It is a moving search for clear skies and aurora activity.

Your evening begins with pickup at one of 16 Reykjavík locations. These include major hotels, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, City Hall, and central bus stops such as Tjörnin, Lækjargata, Skúlagata, and Miðbakki. Pickup systems in Reykjavík can be particular, so check your exact location and be ready to identify yourself. The driver is expected to call out your name.

The tour lasts about four hours, though the actual route depends on cloud cover and aurora forecasts. One evening might involve a short drive beyond the city, while another could send the minibus far into the countryside. Guides have driven more than two hours from Reykjavík when that gave the group a better chance of finding a clear patch of sky.

That flexibility is important. The aurora cannot be predicted with certainty, and a strong forecast does not guarantee a show at your chosen stop. Your guide may change direction, wait longer than expected, or move to a second location. You should see the tour as a search rather than a scheduled performance.

Why the small minibus matters

A maximum of 18 people is a useful middle ground. You are not in a private vehicle, but you are also not one of dozens stepping off a large coach at the same crowded viewpoint.

A smaller vehicle can use places that are awkward for large buses, and the guide can keep track of everyone more easily. That matters when cameras, costumes, and dark outdoor conditions are involved. Several guides have been praised for making sure every person got at least one portrait, rather than allowing the fastest or most persistent people to take all the turns.

The tradeoff is space. One particularly practical warning is that the bus may feel cramped once you return from the cold with extra coats, hats, and other layers. You may spend much of the ride wearing clothing designed for standing still in Icelandic weather. Pack compactly and avoid bringing more gear than you need.

The vehicle can also be useful as a warm base. Guides have kept the heat running so people could warm up between viewings. Blankets have been provided on some outings, but you should still bring proper cold-weather clothing because the included comforts are not a substitute for insulated layers.

The hunt for a clear sky

The guide’s main job is not simply to drive away from Reykjavík. It is to combine cloud forecasts, darkness, local familiarity, and patience.

City lights can wash out a faint aurora, so the search usually heads away from Reykjavík toward darker open country. A stop may offer views of mountains, a lake, or snow-covered surroundings, but scenery is secondary to the sky above you. If clouds cover the first location, your guide may wait for a change or move again.

This is where the company’s local guiding matters most. Emil and Kolbeinn, the owners of Aurora Viking, have spent decades looking for the lights. Guides such as Tomas, Kobe, BG, Johan, Felix, Jonas, and Trond have also received praise for explaining their decisions and continuing the search when conditions looked poor.

Do not expect an exact script. One night may bring a sighting within minutes of leaving town. Another may involve a long wait, a second stop, or a late change in direction. In one case, a guide continued hunting after the scheduled period because the lights looked possible. That determination can make a real difference, though it also means the return time may not feel perfectly fixed.

The best advice is to book early in your Iceland stay if you can. That gives you room to use the retry option if clouds or weak activity spoil the first attempt. You need luck, but flexible timing gives luck more chances to work.

Viking costumes while the sky decides

The Viking theme is more than a title on the booking page. The guides bring costumes and replica weapons sourced from a local museum, allowing you to create portraits while you wait.

This can sound like a small extra, but it solves a genuine problem. Northern Lights tours often involve long periods of standing around in the dark, watching clouds and checking the sky. If the aurora takes its time, you have a group activity instead of four hours of silent waiting.

The costumes also make the photography more distinctive. You can pose in a cloak or other Viking-style clothing with the dark Icelandic surroundings behind you. Some photographs will look dramatic. Others may be hilariously awkward, which is part of the fun.

The Viking theme also connects to local storytelling. Guides explain the old links between Iceland’s Viking culture and the Northern Lights, along with the basic science of how the aurora forms. This gives the evening more shape than simply pointing a camera upward.

The costumes are optional in spirit, even if they are part of the tour’s character. If you prefer a straightforward portrait in your own clothes, you can focus on that. If you have children old enough for the tour, the dress-up element may help keep them interested during a slow spell. Children under seven are not accepted.

Getting photographs you can actually keep

Northern Lights photography is difficult. The scene may look faint to your eyes but bright on a camera, and photographing a person against the aurora requires careful timing, framing, and camera settings.

You do not need to arrive with a tripod or know how to use a manual camera. The guide and photographer handle the high-spec equipment. Guides have taken multiple setups of the same group to include more sky, improve the composition, or fit everyone into the frame.

The goal is not just a picture of green light with a tiny person in the corner. The guides work to create portraits that show both you and the aurora. They also make sure each person has a fair chance at a photograph, which is especially valuable in a group setting.

The results depend on nature. If the lights are weak, cloudy, or visible only briefly, no camera can create a spectacular display that was not there. Still, the professional equipment gives you a better chance of taking home something meaningful than relying on a quick phone snapshot.

Some guides have sent the finished photographs after the tour. Confirm the delivery details with your guide, since the exact process is not described as identical for every departure. Bring your own phone if you want casual behind-the-scenes pictures, but let the tour camera handle the important portrait.

Hot chocolate, cookies, and the wait

Cold changes the mood of a Northern Lights hunt quickly. The tour includes hot chocolate and cookies, with gingerbread mentioned as a regular treat. Some guides serve more than one cup during a long wait, and the warm drink has been made at home by a guide’s wife on at least some outings.

This is a modest detail, but it has real value. You may be standing outside in darkness, checking a sky that refuses to clear. A hot drink gives you a reason to pause, warm your hands, and enjoy the night instead of treating every cloud as a disappointment.

The food is a snack, not a meal. Eat beforehand, especially if your pickup is near dinner time. Warm clothing remains essential, and you should bring gloves, a hat, sturdy footwear, and several layers. The supplied information specifically asks you to bring warm clothing, and Icelandic wind can make a clear night feel much colder than the temperature suggests.

The value of $148

At $148 per person, this costs more than a basic large-coach Northern Lights outing. You are paying for several things at once: a smaller group, a more flexible vehicle, a guide focused on finding clear skies, professional photography, Viking equipment, refreshments, and the possibility of repeating the tour free of charge.

That price makes the most sense if photographs are important to you. A successful aurora sighting is wonderful, but a well-composed portrait gives you a physical reminder of the night. It also makes sense if you have only a short stay in Iceland and want a company that will work hard to improve your odds.

The value is weaker if you only want to get outside Reykjavík cheaply and do not care about photos or themed activities. No operator can guarantee the lights. You do not receive a refund simply because the aurora fails to appear, although you can retry without paying again. Once you join the tour, the booking itself is nonrefundable, except for the stated free cancellation period of up to 24 hours before departure.

The retry policy is the biggest safeguard. It cannot create clear skies, but it gives you another chance during your Iceland visit. Communication about cancellations and rescheduling has been praised, and moving to another night has generally been straightforward when weather makes the outing unwise.

Who should book it

I would choose this tour if you want a personal evening rather than a bare-bones transport service. It suits couples who want portraits, families with children aged seven or older, and photographers who prefer to leave the technical work to someone with better equipment.

It is also a good fit if you are willing to be patient. The best nights may involve waiting, changing locations, and staying out longer than planned. The guide’s persistence is useful, but the experience still depends on solar activity and weather.

I would think twice if you dislike cold outdoor waits, crowded vehicle interiors, or flexible return times. The minibus is smaller than a coach, not spacious like a private car. If you need a guaranteed schedule or a guaranteed sighting, no Northern Lights tour can honestly provide that.

Guide quality appears to be a major part of the experience. Tomas is praised for photography and safe driving, Kobe for finding empty viewing places and explaining the aurora, BG for helping children feel welcome, and Emil for continuing the search long after conditions looked doubtful. You cannot choose your guide from the details provided, but the company’s owners are directly involved in guiding and photography.

Should you book Aurora Viking?

Book it if you want the best possible attempt at seeing the aurora from Reykjavík, plus strong photographs and something fun to do while you wait. The small group, persistent guiding, warm refreshments, and free retry option make the $148 price easier to justify.

I would not book it expecting a guaranteed green sky. Book it because the company gives you several good reasons to enjoy the night even before the lights appear, then gives you another chance if nature does not cooperate. For a once-in-a-trip Iceland moment, that is a sensible balance of effort, comfort, and value.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The tour lasts four hours, although the exact route and timing can change depending on weather, cloud cover, and aurora conditions.

How many people are in the group?

The minibus holds a maximum of 18 people. The smaller vehicle is used to create a more personal experience and reach places large buses may not access.

Are hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included at 16 listed locations around Reykjavík, including selected hotels, central bus stops, the Reykjavík Bus Terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, and City Hall.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You can join the tour again free of charge until you see the lights. There is no refund if you do not see an aurora, and joining the tour makes the booking nonrefundable under the stated policy.

Are professional photographs included?

A guide and photographer use high-spec cameras to take photographs of the aurora and the group. The tour includes professional night photos, though the supplied information does not specify the exact delivery method or number of images.

Are Viking costumes and weapons provided?

Yes. The tour includes the use of Viking costumes and replica Viking weapons sourced from a local museum. They are used for photographs and entertainment during the aurora search.

What should I bring, and can young children join?

Bring warm clothing for the outdoor waiting periods. Children under seven are not permitted on the tour.