From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour

The Northern Lights can turn an ordinary field outside Reykjavik into a natural theater. One moment you are staring at a black sky, and the next a pale ribbon begins to move, then stretches and curls above you. This tour gives you a practical way to search for that show without renting a car or guessing where the clouds will clear.

I like two things right away: the free second chance if the lights do not appear, and the guides’ hands-on help with cameras and phones. Guides such as Alex, Birta, Daisy, and Freda have made the bus ride part of the evening, with stories, humor, Icelandic songs, and useful advice about what to watch for.

The catch is simple and important: no one can guarantee the Aurora. You may spend several hours driving and waiting in bitter cold, then see only stars, clouds, or nothing at all. At 3.7 out of 5 from 761 ratings, this is a solid but not flawless option, and your expectations should be tied to the weather, not the price.

Key points at a glance

• A free retry protects your budget: If you see no Northern Lights on the first outing, you can join again at no extra charge.
• Departure is from BSI bus terminal: Meet on the departure side, with optional pickup available on some arrangements.
• The route changes nightly: Guides choose observation areas based on clouds, weather, and the best forecast.
• Expect real cold outside: Some outings have reached minus 10 to minus 16 Celsius, so several warm layers matter.
• Guides help with photography: You may get practical tips for camera exposure and phone settings while you wait.
• The 9:00 PM departure has treats for sale: Fresh waffles and hot drinks are available on-site, but refreshments are not included.

What this Northern Lights tour is really like

This is a search, not a scheduled light show. You board a Reykjavík Excursions bus at the departure side of the BSI bus terminal, meet your English-speaking guide, and head away from the city’s glow.

The ride and waiting time together usually take about three hours, though the full outing can run from three to four hours. The exact route is not fixed. That is a benefit when clouds gather over one area, since the guide can look for clearer skies elsewhere, but it also means you will not know your exact stopping place ahead of time.

A guide explains the Aurora during the ride. That can include the science behind the lights, what causes changes in color and movement, and how to improve your chances of seeing them. Some guides add Icelandic stories and folklore. One guide, for example, mixed sunspot information with tales of elves, while another sang an Icelandic song on the bus.

The bus is an important part of the plan. You can return to the warmth between checks of the sky, and Wi-Fi is included. That matters on a cold night, since the outdoor portion may involve standing still for a long time rather than walking around.

Leaving Reykjavík and chasing clearer skies

The tour does not use one permanent viewing field. The guide and driver choose from several possible areas depending on cloud cover and conditions. You might drive for about an hour before reaching a dark place away from city lights, then wait for the sky to change.

The dark setting is valuable even when the Aurora is weak. On a clear night, the stars can be impressive, and you may see the moon rise behind the mountains. The absence of city light also makes faint Aurora activity easier to notice and improves your photos.

The road portion is not always the smoothest part of the evening. One account described the driving as a little scary in places, although the group reached the viewing area safely. Conditions can change quickly in Iceland, so you should expect a practical night excursion rather than a polished sightseeing ride with a fixed timetable.

Large buses are used, and one evening involved 10 coaches in total. That tells you something about the atmosphere: this is a popular, mass-market outing, not a quiet private hunt with a handful of people. The bus can be comfortable and warm, but the viewing area may feel busy when many coaches arrive together.

Waiting under the Arctic sky

Once the bus reaches a suitable location, the main activity is waiting. You may see the lights soon after arrival, or you may stand outside for 45 minutes before the first faint streak appears. Several accounts describe the Aurora showing itself only near the end of the visit, after people had started to give up.

That waiting is part of the experience, but it can test your patience. The Northern Lights may begin as a pale patch that looks almost like a cloud. Then, if the activity strengthens, the band can move across the sky, ripple, and remain visible for half an hour or much longer. Strong displays have lasted an hour or more.

If the sky is clear but the Aurora is weak, the guide may ask you to wait a little longer. This extra patience can pay off. One evening, a guide called the group back outside after they had boarded the bus, and they caught a short but memorable display that other buses had already missed.

Your guide also helps you understand what you are seeing. That is useful because cameras often record colors more strongly than your eyes do. A faint gray or green smear to the naked eye can become a clear green curve in a long-exposure photograph, while a strong display may appear to dance in front of you.

The cold is not a minor detail

Bring more clothing than you think you need. The city can feel manageable, but an open viewing area outside Reykjavík may be far colder. Temperatures of minus 10 and minus 16 Celsius were reported during outings, and standing still makes the cold bite faster than walking.

Wear several layers, a warm outer coat, gloves, a hat, and thick socks. Comfortable shoes are listed as essential, but thick soles are especially helpful on frozen ground. Your phone battery may also drain quickly in the cold, so keep it close to your body when you are not taking pictures.

The bus driver generally leaves the heat running so you can warm up between viewings. That makes the experience more manageable, but it does not replace proper clothing. You may spend more time outdoors than you expect if the guide sees signs that the lights are about to appear.

For the 9:00 PM departure, fresh waffles and hot drinks can be bought on-site. These are not part of the $69 price, and they may be welcome after standing in the cold. Bring money or a payment method if that small comfort matters to you.

Photography help that can save the evening

You do not need to be an expert photographer to get something worthwhile from the tour. Guides have helped visitors adjust exposure and camera settings, and some have offered advice for phones. Ask early rather than waiting until the lights are overhead.

A tripod can be useful for long exposures, although the supplied details do not confirm that one is provided or available to borrow. Keep your expectations realistic: a camera can capture more detail than your eyes, but no setting can create a real display when the sky is cloudy or Aurora activity is absent.

The guide may also explain where to stand and what to look for. Avoid staring only at your screen. The best part of the evening is the movement above you, not just the image you take home.

What happens if you see nothing

This is the tour’s strongest practical safeguard. If the Northern Lights do not appear on your first outing, you can join the tour again for free. You must still deal with the time and cold, but you are not forced to pay another $69 for another chance.

The free retry is especially useful if you are in Reykjavík for several nights. A canceled departure may also be moved to another night, but check your email closely, including the junk folder, for changes. Weather can cancel or alter the evening, and you should check for updates before leaving for BSI.

Do not treat the repeat option as a guarantee that you will eventually see the lights. It only gives you another attempt if the schedule and conditions allow it. Still, it makes this bus tour less risky than a one-shot outing on the last night of a short visit.

For the best odds within your own schedule, book early in your stay. That leaves room to try again. A late booking can work, and one outing was booked at the last minute with great success, but luck is doing much of the work here.

Is $69 a fair price?

At $69 per person, this is one of the more accessible ways to search for the Aurora from Reykjavík. You receive bus transport, an English-speaking local guide, Wi-Fi on the bus, and the possibility of a free second outing.

The price is fair if you value convenience. You do not need to drive on unfamiliar winter roads, study cloud maps, or decide where to park in the dark. The guide and driver handle the route, while you can focus on the sky.

It is less appealing if you want a small group or a quiet, personal setting. With many coaches operating on busy nights, the experience can feel organized and crowded. A smaller tour may offer more room and less waiting near other groups, though this particular experience has the advantage of the free repeat policy.

The price also does not include refreshments. That is a small extra cost, but warm waffles and a hot drink can make a difference after time outdoors. Think of the $69 as payment for transport, guidance, and another chance, not a fee for a guaranteed show.

The guides make the difference

The strongest part of the outing is often the person leading it. Alex has been described as warm and entertaining, even singing an Icelandic song during the ride. Birta brought energy to an especially dramatic night, while Daisy helped with camera settings and kept the ride lively.

Freda combined humor with clear explanations and seemed as excited as the people on the bus when the lights appeared. Other guides have helped visitors with phones and cameras, explained light pollution, and encouraged everyone to wait when the conditions looked promising.

That personal touch matters on a night when nature may not cooperate. If the sky stays empty, a good guide can still explain the science, point out stars or moonlight, and make the drive feel worthwhile. If the Aurora appears, the guide can help you recognize faint activity before it becomes obvious.

The experience is not identical every night. Your guide, route, weather, and group size will shape the evening. That is another reason to book this as a flexible search rather than a guaranteed attraction.

Getting back to Reykjavík

The tour ends at the original meeting point, BSI bus terminal. On some evenings, drivers have dropped people near their hotels on the return journey, but you should not count on that as a guaranteed part of the service.

Plan your return around BSI unless your booking gives you confirmed pickup or drop-off details. The bus may make several hotel-area stops on the way back, which can be convenient, but the exact arrangement can vary.

The optional pickup information asks you to be ready 30 minutes before departure, and the bus is marked Reykjavík Excursions. Confirm the instructions in your booking email so you do not walk to the wrong side of the terminal or miss a change caused by weather.

Who should book this outing?

I would choose this tour if you want a reasonably priced first attempt, prefer not to drive, and have enough time in Reykjavík to use the free retry. It suits families and first-time visitors because the guide handles the search and can help with photography.

It is also a good match for anyone who values flexibility over luxury. The route changes with the forecast, and the free second trip gives you a better chance than a fixed one-night plan.

I would think twice if you dislike cold, long periods of standing, or large bus groups. A private or small-group tour may feel more comfortable, but this experience offers no promise that a more expensive option will produce better weather.

Final decision: book it or skip it?

Book this Northern Lights tour if you want a straightforward, lower-cost way to try for the Aurora and can schedule it early enough to return if needed. The strongest reasons are the free repeat trip, capable guides, photography help, and bus transport from central Reykjavík.

Skip it if seeing the lights is the single purpose of your Iceland trip and you want a private, quiet outing. The weather may cancel the trip, the Aurora may stay hidden, and a large coach group is part of the deal.

My practical advice is to book for your first or second night, check your email before departure, and pack for far colder conditions than you expect. Then let the evening be what it is: sometimes a long wait beneath stars, and sometimes a spectacular green curtain moving across the sky.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour start?

The tour starts on the departure side of the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavík. The bus is marked Reykjavík Excursions.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Some buses may drop people near their hotels on the return journey, but this is not guaranteed.

How long does the tour last?

The listed duration is three to four hours. Check availability for the starting times.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is optional, but the supplied information does not specify all pickup locations. If using pickup, be ready 30 minutes before the departure time and check the booking instructions.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The Aurora depends on weather and natural conditions, so sightings are not guaranteed.

Can I take the tour again if I do not see the lights?

Yes. If you do not see the Northern Lights on the first attempt, you can join the tour again free of charge.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing in several layers and comfortable shoes. Expect to spend long periods outside in very cold winter conditions.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Refreshments are not included. On the 9:00 PM departure, freshly baked waffles and hot drinks are available to purchase on-site.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour has a live English-speaking guide.