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

The best part of this tour is that the waiting becomes part of the fun. You are not simply dropped at a dark roadside and told to stare at the sky. The guides bring out Viking costumes and replica weapons, set up portrait photos, and serve hot chocolate and gingerbread while they track the clouds and aurora forecast.

I like the small minibus, which can reach spots that larger coaches cannot, and I like the serious effort made to photograph every person in the group. The main drawback is simple: no guide can order the Northern Lights to appear. You may spend four cold hours chasing a faint glow, though Aurora Viking offers free repeat trips until you see them.

Key points to know before booking

• Small group of up to 18: The minibus gives the evening a more personal feel and can use narrower access roads than a large coach.
• Guides who keep hunting: Emil, Kolbeinn, Tomas, Kobe, BG, Felix, and other Aurora Viking guides are praised for staying out longer or driving farther when conditions look promising.
• Professional night photography: High-spec cameras are used for aurora portraits and Viking-themed photos, with digital images sent to you afterward.
• Something to do while you wait: Museum-sourced costumes and weapon replicas turn a slow spell into a playful photo session.
• Warm treats included: Hot chocolate, gingerbread, cookies, and, on some outings, blankets or a heated van, help take the edge off the cold.
• Free retries matter: If the lights fail to appear, you can join again without paying another tour fee, subject to available dates and the operator’s arrangements.

A four-hour aurora hunt from Reykjavik

This is an evening outing built around one uncertain event. The aurora depends on darkness, cloud cover, solar activity, and plain luck, so the route is not fixed like a city sightseeing tour.

You are collected from one of 16 Reykjavik pickup points. These include several hotels, the Reykjavik Bus Terminal, Hallgrimskirkja, City Hall, the Culture House, and central bus stops such as Tjörnin and Lækjargata.

The exact starting time changes with the season and availability. That makes sense in Iceland, where the useful viewing window shifts with sunset and darkness. Check the time shown for your date, and be at the pickup point early. The driver will call out your name, which is helpful at a busy stop but means you should stay alert rather than wait inside a hotel.

The group limit is 18 people. That is not a private tour, but it is much smaller than the big aurora coaches that can carry several dozen passengers. In practical terms, you should spend less time waiting for a large group to board and have a better chance of speaking directly with your guide.

Why the minibus changes the evening

The minibus is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. Large coaches need broad roads, formal parking areas, and enough room to turn around. A smaller vehicle can use more modest stopping places and move on quickly if clouds cover the sky.

The guides, including owners Kolbeinn and Emil, have spent decades looking for the aurora according to the tour information. The most useful skill here is not merely pointing out the lights. It is reading the weather, watching for clear patches, and deciding when a change of location is worth the drive.

That flexibility shows in the way the evening can unfold. You might stop soon after leaving Reykjavik if the aurora appears, or you might travel much farther in search of clear skies. On difficult nights, guides have driven for hours toward areas such as Seljalandsfoss, more than two hours from the capital, to find a break in the cloud.

There is a tradeoff. A long chase means more time seated in the van and less time at a scenic stop. The minibus has also been described as cramped, especially when everyone brings bulky winter layers. You can warm up inside, but there is not much room to move or store coats.

The secret stop and what actually happens there

The advertised itinerary lists a secret photo and sightseeing stop lasting within the four-hour tour. Its exact location is not given, and that is deliberate. The guide chooses the stopping place according to cloud cover, darkness, road conditions, and the aurora forecast.

Do not expect a polished visitor center or a set attraction with an entrance queue. The point is a dark viewing location away from city lights. You may stop once, or the guide may move the group to a second place when the sky improves elsewhere.

This is where the tour can feel different from a basic bus outing. The guide may tell you why the van is moving, explain how the aurora forms, or share Icelandic and Viking beliefs about the lights. The supplied material describes a connection between the Vikings and the Northern Lights, so expect local stories alongside the science.

The stop itself can be cold, windy, and dark. Bring proper warm clothing, including layers that are easy to put on and remove. The van may provide a welcome warm refuge, and some outings have included blankets, but you should not treat those extras as a substitute for winter gear.

Viking portraits while the sky stays quiet

Aurora Viking’s most unusual idea is the costume session. The clothing and weapon replicas are sourced from a local museum, and you can pose in them for photographs while waiting for the sky to change.

This is more than a quick novelty if you enjoy taking pictures. The photographer can create portraits with the dark Icelandic setting behind you, and the same camera equipment is used for night images of the aurora. The results will not all be perfect. Some Viking photos may look wonderfully dramatic, while others may be hilariously awkward. That is part of the appeal.

The costumes also help solve a real problem with aurora tours. Forecasts can be wrong, clouds can roll in, and the lights may take hours to strengthen. Instead of standing silently in the cold, you have an activity that gives the group something to laugh about.

I would especially recommend this part for families with children old enough to join, couples who want a memorable portrait, and anyone who prefers an evening with some human energy rather than a quiet technical photography outing. Children under seven cannot join, so families should check ages before booking.

Professional photographs, not just phone snapshots

Photographing the aurora is harder than it looks. The camera needs a long exposure, careful focus, a stable position, and enough light on the people in front of the sky. A phone may capture a green smear that looks brighter than what your eyes saw, but it may not produce a flattering picture of you.

The included photographer uses high-spec cameras for both the Northern Lights and the Viking portraits. Guides have taken time to reposition the camera, give each person a turn, and make sure nobody monopolizes the photo session before everyone has an image.

This matters because a dark outdoor group can become disorganized quickly. You may be excited, cold, and unsure where to stand. Having a guide manage the camera and rotate people through the frame saves you from spending the whole night adjusting phone settings.

The pictures are sent to you after the tour, according to the experience details and direct accounts from the outings. The quality will depend on the strength of the aurora, cloud cover, wind, and how still everyone remains, but the included photography adds real value to the $148 price.

Do keep your expectations sensible. Professional photos cannot create an aurora that was not there, and a weak display will produce different results from a strong green and red show. When conditions cooperate, though, the photographs can be the best souvenir of the night.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread, and the cold factor

The tour includes hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread. Some outings have featured homemade hot chocolate, and multiple cups have been offered during long waits. This is a small touch, but it changes the mood when you have been standing outside in Icelandic winter air.

The van’s heat is another practical comfort. You can return inside between checks of the sky, warm your hands, and add another layer before going back out. Some accounts also describe blankets being available.

Still, this is an outdoor experience. Wear warm clothing even if the forecast looks mild in Reykjavik, since conditions outside the city can be colder and windier. Waterproof shoes are sensible, though the supplied instructions specifically require warm clothing rather than naming particular footwear.

The minibus can feel tight once everyone is carrying coats, cameras, and accessories. I would wear your bulkiest essential layers rather than pack several spare items that will need to sit at your feet.

How the guides shape the experience

Aurora Viking is a family business, and the tour depends heavily on the person driving your minibus. Names attached to the experience include Emil and Kolbeinn, the owners, along with guides such as Tomas, Kobe, BG, Felix, Johan, Jonas, and Trond.

The strongest pattern is persistence. Guides have continued looking after a weak first sighting, moved to a second location, or kept the group out past the planned finish when the sky showed promise. That does not guarantee a display, but it improves the odds compared with a rigid route and fixed stop.

The guides also handle the social side well. They explain the science, talk about local beliefs, keep the group moving through the photo session, and help children feel included. If you are nervous about night driving on icy or foggy roads, safe driving is worth noting too. Several direct accounts praise drivers for handling poor conditions without making passengers feel unsafe.

Guide quality can vary from one outing to the next because different people lead the vehicles. The company’s repeated high rating, 4.8 from about 400 ratings, suggests a consistently strong operation, but you should still judge the tour as a team experience rather than book solely around one named guide.

The free retry policy is a major part of the value

Northern Lights tours always carry risk. You can spend money on transport, photos, and guide time and still see nothing. Aurora Viking’s answer is an unlimited retry policy at no extra charge until you see the lights.

This is not a refund. If the aurora does not appear, you cannot claim your money back after joining the tour. Instead, you can book another outing free of charge, and the company has helped people reschedule after poor weather.

That policy is most useful if you have at least one spare evening in Reykjavik. I would avoid putting this tour on your final night if seeing the aurora is a top priority. A retry has little value if your flight leaves the next morning.

Communication also matters here. The experience information allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options help with planning, but the no-refund rule for a missed aurora remains important.

Is $148 a fair price?

At $148 per person, this is not the cheapest way to leave Reykjavik in search of the aurora. You are paying for more than a seat on a coach, though. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a live English-speaking guide, a small group, the Viking gear, replica weapons, hot chocolate, cookies, and professional photography.

The free repeat trips also change the calculation. A cheaper tour that gives you one attempt may cost less at first, but a second paid outing can erase the difference. If you have flexibility and fail to see the lights, Aurora Viking’s retry policy gives you another chance without another tour charge.

The strongest value comes if you care about photographs and a personal evening. If you only want transport to a dark place and plan to use your own camera, you may find the price harder to justify. If you want help with night photography, local stories, costumes, snacks, and an active search, the extra cost is easier to defend.

The 88 percent perfect score for transport is also useful context. It suggests the minibus service generally works well, though the cramped interior is a genuine weakness for a four-hour outing.

Who should book this aurora tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a small group, included photos, and guides who will keep looking when the first spot fails. It suits couples, solo visitors, families with children aged seven and older, and anyone who wants more than a silent wait in a parking lot.

It is also a smart choice if your schedule allows a retry. The aurora remains unpredictable, even when the forecast looks promising, so building in two possible nights gives you a much better chance of seeing it.

I would think twice if you dislike cold outdoor waits, cramped vehicle seating, or long drives with no guarantee of a show. You should also avoid booking it as your sole plan on the last night of your trip, since the free retry cannot help after you leave Iceland.

Final verdict: a strong choice for a personal aurora hunt

I would book Aurora Viking for the mix of persistence, photography, and entertainment. The guides do not control the sky, but they can control how hard they search, how clearly they explain the decisions, and how enjoyable the waiting feels.

The tour is worth the $148 if you value professional portraits and a smaller group. Bring serious warm clothing, leave room in your schedule for a repeat outing, and remember that the best result may be a faint glow rather than a sky full of green ribbons.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The experience lasts four hours, including pickup, the evening search, photo stops, activities, and drop-off.

How many people can join the minibus?

The minibus carries a maximum of 18 people.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included at selected Reykjavik hotels and central bus stops.

Where can I be picked up in Reykjavik?

Pickup points include Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, Hotel Iceland, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik Bus Terminal, City Hall, the Culture House, Tjornin, Lækjargata, Skúlagata, Miðbakki, Höfðatorg, Rauðarárstígur, Snorrabraut, and Vesturbugt.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Are professional photographs included?

Yes. A guide and photographer use high-spec cameras to take Northern Lights and Viking-themed portraits. The photographs are sent to you after the outing.

Can I dress up as a Viking?

Yes. Viking costumes and museum-sourced replica weapons are provided for the photo activities.

What food and drinks are included?

Hot chocolate and cookies are included. The experience also describes local pastries and gingerbread, and some outings have included homemade hot chocolate.

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 simply because the aurora does not appear.

Can children join the tour?

Children under seven years old are not permitted to join.