Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Private Photographer

The clever part of this Northern Lights outing is that it treats the wait as part of the experience. Guide and photographer Heimir keeps watching the aurora forecasts, cloud cover, and satellite images, then decides whether to move or stay put. That patience mattered on one outing when the lights appeared only after other buses had given up.

I like the maximum group size of 18, which keeps the night calmer than a large coach tour. I also like the warm jumpsuits, chairs, snacks, and unlimited professional photos. You can focus on the sky instead of shivering beside a tripod or trying to make a phone camera do the impossible.

The main caution is that the operation has not been perfect every time. One outing ran late after a van broke down, and warm suits and refreshments arrived much later than expected. The lights can also fail to appear, despite the advertised 93 percent sighting rate.

Key points before you book

• Heimir combines guiding and photography: You get a guide who tracks aurora activity and takes professional pictures throughout the night.
• The group is capped at 18 people: That is a useful middle ground between a private tour and a crowded bus outing.
• Warm jumpsuits are supplied on location: You still need proper clothing, but this extra layer can make long outdoor waits far easier.
• Photos are included without a stated limit: You receive the professional images from the outing at no extra charge.
• The tour includes Icelandic snacks and drinks: Expect dried fish, cinnamon rolls, pastries, chocolate, cocoa, tea, vodka, and snaps.
• A failed sighting can lead to a free retry: There is no refund if the lights do not appear, but the retry remains valid for two years.

Why the photographer matters under Iceland’s dark sky

The Northern Lights are not a stage show. You need darkness, clear enough skies, solar activity, and a little luck. A guide can improve your odds by reading those conditions, but nobody can order the aurora to appear on schedule.

That is where this outing has a clear purpose. Heimir is not only driving you to a dark place and hoping for green light. He watches weather forecasts, cloud maps, aurora predictions, and satellite images. One particularly useful detail from the tour is his willingness to wait when the data suggests that conditions are about to improve.

That patience can make a real difference. On one night, the group saw strong Northern Lights on the return journey after other tours had already ended. Heimir stopped so the group could watch. Another account describes him waiting an extra 30 minutes because the aurora movement looked promising, a decision that led to a powerful display visible without a camera.

Still, you should treat the 93 percent sighting rate as a strong historical claim, not a promise for your particular night. Icelandic weather can shift quickly. The tour can be canceled at short notice if conditions are poor, and an outing can run without a clear sighting even when the forecast looked favorable.

Leaving Reykjavik for a darker sky

The five-hour tour includes pickup and drop-off from hotels, larger guesthouses, and cruise ship terminals in Reykjavik. City regulations prevent buses from stopping at some central addresses, so you may need to walk to a designated bus stop. The operator directs you to the correct stop through busstop.is.

That meeting-point detail matters more than it sounds. Reykjavik’s center has narrow streets and vehicle restrictions, so do not assume the van will pull up outside your door. Check the stop before the evening begins, and allow time to reach it in warm clothes.

The exact starting time changes with availability and the season. You receive an email by 6:30 p.m. on the day of the tour confirming whether the outing will operate. Keep your evening flexible until that message arrives.

Once collected, you travel away from city lights and traffic. The supplied information does not promise a fixed scenic route or named viewing site, and that is actually sensible for an aurora hunt. The best place changes with cloud cover and forecast conditions. A fixed viewpoint may look neat in a brochure, but a flexible route gives Heimir more room to chase clearer skies.

What the five-hour outing feels like

Think of the evening as a moving search rather than a tightly scripted sightseeing circuit. The tour does not list several formal attractions or stops. Its main goal is to reach darkness, assess the conditions, wait when needed, and position you for the best possible view.

At a suitable outdoor location, the staff provides winter jumpsuits and chairs. The chairs are a small but useful touch. Northern Lights tours often involve standing still for long stretches, and cold works on your legs and feet faster than you expect. A chair gives you a place to sit while you watch the sky and wait for activity.

The jumpsuit is an extra layer, not a substitute for your own clothing. Bring a warm coat, hat, gloves, and hiking shoes as requested. You should also dress for standing outside in Icelandic winter weather, not just for the van ride.

The timing of refreshments seems intended to make the wait feel more pleasant. You can sample dried fish, cinnamon rolls, pastries, chocolate, hot cocoa, tea, premium Icelandic vodka, and snaps. The mix is broad enough to cover the curious and the cautious: dried fish gives you a distinctly Icelandic taste, while cocoa and pastries are more familiar comfort food.

One important practical note comes from an outing that did not run smoothly. The group received the warm suits nearly two hours after reaching the viewing area, and snacks and drinks arrived close to departure. The hot chocolate had cooled by then. This may have been an isolated operational problem, but it is worth knowing that the promised comforts depend on good timing and a well-functioning vehicle.

The photo package is a real part of the value

Northern Lights photography is hard. The lights may look bright to your eyes but require a steady camera, suitable settings, and a long exposure. A phone can record something, but it often produces a fuzzy or faint result unless conditions are excellent.

This tour includes a professional photographer who takes pictures of the aurora and the group. You receive the photos from the outing without an added photo fee, and the amount is described as unlimited. That can be worth a lot if you are visiting Iceland only once and do not own a camera suited to night photography.

Heimir also helps with your own camera settings. Extra tripods are available to borrow at no charge. That is helpful for anyone carrying a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or another camera that needs a stable platform.

The photo service changes the value calculation. At $229 per person, this is not a cheap evening bus ride. Part of your payment goes toward the guide, transport, warm gear, snacks, and the chance to chase the aurora. The included professional images add another useful part, especially if you would otherwise pay separately for a photographer.

There are limits to what the camera can solve. The images cannot create a sighting that never happened, and the quality will depend on conditions, timing, and the photographer’s position. Still, when the lights appear, having someone else handle the camera lets you watch the sky instead of spending the entire night adjusting settings.

Small group comfort, with one qualification

The tour is limited to 18 passengers. That is not a private tour, but it is much more manageable than a large coach packed with people waiting for the same patch of sky.

A smaller group can make several things easier. You spend less time organizing people, there is less competition around the photographer, and the outdoor chairs and jumpsuits are less likely to feel like a mass handout. It should also be easier to hear Heimir’s explanations and ask for help with your camera.

The group size does not guarantee a quiet or personal evening. Eighteen people can still feel busy in a small outdoor area, and you are sharing the vehicle and photo service with others. If you want total control over the route, timing, and photography, a private tour would suit you better, but this activity is not presented as private.

The van itself was described as brand new on one outing, though another trip was delayed by a broken vehicle. That tells you two useful things: the operator has used newer transport, but mechanical trouble remains possible on any Icelandic road trip. Leave some space in your evening rather than booking an activity that starts immediately after this one.

The retry policy and the risk of bad weather

The tour offers a free retry if conditions prevent a successful Northern Lights viewing. The retry is valid for two years from the original tour date. That is generous if you have a flexible Iceland schedule or plan to return.

The policy is not the same as a refund. If the lights do not appear, you cannot request your money back under this condition. You receive another chance instead. That distinction should be clear before booking, especially if you are in Reykjavik for only two nights and cannot fit a second attempt.

The operator may also cancel at the last minute when the weather is too poor. You receive confirmation by 6:30 p.m. at the latest on the day of departure. This can be frustrating if you have arranged dinner or another evening plan, but a cancellation is better than sending a van into poor conditions for a sky that cannot be seen.

You can cancel your booking up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also helps if your plans are still changing.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this outing if you care about coming home with good Northern Lights photographs, not just seeing the display. The photographer, free tripods, camera help, and unlimited images make it especially useful for people who do not know how to shoot in darkness.

It also suits you if cold is a serious concern. The supplied jumpsuit and outdoor chairs cannot change the weather, but they make a long wait more practical. The snacks and hot drinks add a pleasant Icelandic touch, while the vodka and snaps are optional flavor experiences rather than the reason to book.

The small group makes sense for couples, families with older children, and solo visitors who do not want a huge bus excursion. Children under five cannot join, and every participant should be ready for outdoor conditions, waiting, and possible changes to the route.

I would think twice if your budget is tight or if you need a guaranteed result. At $229, the price is high for a five-hour outing that may end without visible lights. You are paying for a better attempt, comfort gear, photography, and a retry option, not certainty.

The overall score is 4 out of 5 from 10 ratings, so the picture is positive but not flawless. The strongest praise centers on Heimir’s forecasting, patience, photography, and effort to find the lights. The main weakness is inconsistent timing when transport or equipment problems interfere.

Is $229 a fair price?

The value depends on what you would otherwise arrange yourself. A basic Northern Lights bus trip may cost less, but it may not include a professional photographer, unlimited images, warm jumpsuits, chairs, snacks, camera assistance, or borrowed tripods.

If you already own warm gear, know night photography, and are happy to take your chances with a standard group tour, the extra price may not be worthwhile. You could prefer a lower-cost outing and keep your budget for Iceland’s other attractions.

If you want one organized attempt with as many practical supports as possible, the price becomes easier to defend. The photos alone may save you the trouble of renting equipment or hiring a separate photographer. The retry option also gives the booking more value, although it helps only if you have time for another outing.

I would view it as a specialist tour rather than a general Reykjavik excursion. You are paying for the search and the documentation of the sky, not for a broad introduction to Iceland.

My booking advice

Book this tour if your priorities are professional photos, a small group, and patient aurora tracking. Heimir’s decision to wait for improving conditions appears to be the heart of the experience, and the included images are a strong advantage.

Before booking, check your pickup point, keep your evening free, and dress more warmly than you think necessary. Be ready for a long wait, a route change, a late cancellation, or a retry instead of a refund.

I would not book it if you need a fixed schedule or a guaranteed sighting. I would book it if this is one of the main highlights of your Iceland trip and you want a serious attempt, a more comfortable wait, and photographs you can actually keep.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so you should check availability for the date you want.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels, larger guesthouses, and cruise ship terminals in Reykjavik. Some central addresses cannot receive bus stops because of city regulations, so you may need to use a nearby designated bus stop.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

A free retry can be arranged if unforeseen conditions prevent a sighting. The retry is valid for two years from the original tour date. A refund is not offered for an unsuccessful viewing.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and hiking shoes. The operator supplies warm winter jumpsuits, but you still need to dress properly for cold outdoor conditions.

Are photographs included in the price?

Yes. A professional photographer takes pictures during the outing, and the photos are included without an additional stated charge. The tour also offers help with camera settings and free loaner tripods.

How many people can join the tour?

The group is limited to a maximum of 18 passengers.

Can young children join?

Children under five are not permitted on the tour.