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

Catch the sky while it dances. This four-hour Reykjavik excursion combines a serious Aurora hunt with playful Viking portraits, making the waiting part of the evening worthwhile. I like the small minibus group, limited to 18 people, and the chance to receive high-quality night photographs instead of trying to manage a camera in freezing darkness.

I also like the free retry policy if the lights fail to appear. Guides such as Emil, Tomas, Kobe, BG, and Johan have shown real patience in poor weather, sometimes driving far beyond Reykjavik to find a break in the clouds. The main consideration is that the minibus can feel cramped when everyone returns inside wearing thick winter layers, and no tour can promise an Aurora sighting.

Key points to know before booking

• Small groups reach quieter viewing spots: The minibus carries no more than 18 people and can use roads that larger coaches may not reach.
• Professional photographs are included: The guide and photographer take portraits with the Aurora, then send the finished images to you.
• Viking costumes make waiting fun: You can pose with museum-sourced outfits and replica weapons, with results ranging from dramatic to wonderfully silly.
• Free retries protect your budget: If weather blocks the lights, you can rejoin at no extra cost until you see them.
• Hot chocolate and gingerbread matter in the cold: These simple treats are served while you wait outside or warm up in the van.
• The Aurora remains a gamble: Cloud cover, solar activity, and timing cannot be controlled, even by an experienced guide.

Why this Reykjavik Aurora hunt feels different

Most Northern Lights outings ask you to sit on a bus, drive into the dark, and hope nature puts on a show. This one adds a useful human touch: the guides keep the evening moving with stories, Viking gear, photography, hot chocolate, and repeated searches for clearer skies.

That matters because the Aurora may appear within minutes, or it may keep you waiting. On some nights, the lights have shown up as soon as the minibus left Reykjavik. On others, the guide has driven for hours, changed locations, and waited well past the expected finish time.

The owners, Kolbeinn and Emil, lead the operation and have spent decades trying to read Iceland’s skies. Their approach is not to rely on one forecast and give up. The team checks conditions, looks for open sky, and moves when another area offers a better chance.

I would still keep expectations sensible. A forecast can suggest good conditions, but it cannot guarantee a display. You may see a pale green band, a brief glow, or nothing at all. The free retry policy is therefore one of the strongest practical reasons to book this tour.

Pickup around Reykjavik and the first ride out

Pickup is available from 16 locations around the capital area. These include several hotels and central bus stops, such as Hallgrimskirkja, the Reykjavik Bus Terminal, Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura, Hotel Klettur, Hotel Island, and stops near City Hall, the Culture House, Tjornin pond, and Skulagata.

The driver calls your name at the pickup point. That sounds basic, but it is useful in Reykjavik, where designated bus stops can be shared by several companies and hotel vehicles may not collect directly at the entrance.

Try to arrive early and confirm your exact stop. The available pickup points are specific, and a hotel address does not automatically mean door-to-door service. Drop-off uses the same general network of hotels and city stops.

The ride is in a minibus rather than a full-size coach. A group cap of 18 gives the guide a better chance to speak with everyone and makes it easier to organize photographs. It also means less room for bulky coats, backpacks, and extra layers.

One practical tip: wear your warm clothing, but avoid bringing more loose gear than you need. One person specifically found the van tight once winter layers were piled inside. The vehicle does have heat, and blankets may be available, but storage remains limited.

The secret stop and the search for clear sky

The main outing is described as a secret stop, followed by photography and sightseeing over roughly four hours. The point is not a named attraction with an entrance ticket. It is a dark location chosen for sky conditions, distance from city light, and a useful view of the horizon.

That flexibility is valuable. A fixed viewpoint may be beautiful, but it is not much use if clouds settle over it. The guides have taken groups to open fields, lakes, mountain areas, and places more than two hours from Reykjavik when that offered a better chance.

One evening, Emil drove as far as Seljalandsfoss to find a break in the clouds. On another, a guide moved the group between two locations after a first display looked promising but incomplete. The exact route changes with the forecast, so you should see the drive as part of the search rather than a scenic transfer to one guaranteed viewing point.

The best guides explain why they are stopping or moving. Tomas has been praised for finding an open patch of sky after most other outings were canceled. Kobe has taken groups away from crowded viewing areas to darker places where the Aurora appeared in green, red, and orange tones.

That said, a long drive is not automatically a better night. You could spend much of the four hours in the minibus, especially when cloud cover forces a search. If you want a short outing with a guaranteed landmark, this is not the right format. If you care most about giving the Aurora the best possible chance, the flexibility works in your favor.

Viking clothing, replica weapons, and local stories

The Viking part is more than a quick photo prop. The guides use costumes and replica weapons sourced through a local museum, then explain some of the old connections between Viking beliefs and the Northern Lights.

You can put on Viking clothing and pose with a shield, weapon replica, or other period-inspired pieces. The resulting pictures may look heroic, comic, or both. That is part of the fun. Some photographs turn out impressively theatrical, while others become the evening’s best joke.

This activity earns its place because it fills the awkward pauses. Standing in a dark field waiting for solar activity can become tiring, especially for younger participants. Viking portraits give you something to do without pretending that the Aurora will appear on command.

I especially like the contrast between the modern science of solar activity and the older stories tied to the sky. The guides discuss how the lights form, then connect them with local beliefs about the old gods and the Viking world. You get a little science, a little folklore, and a set of photographs that are more personal than a standard sightseeing snapshot.

Children must be at least seven years old. Older children may enjoy the costumes and props, but remember that the evening can involve cold, darkness, waiting, and a long ride. The format suits families best when everyone is prepared for an outdoor hunt rather than a quick show.

How the professional photography works

The photography is a major part of the price. The company uses high-specification cameras that can capture the Aurora and the people standing beneath it, something that is difficult with an ordinary phone.

Night photography needs long exposure, careful focus, and controlled lighting. Josef described the challenge well after guide Tomas managed to photograph people in near darkness with the Aurora behind them. The point is not just to record green light in the sky, but to show that you were there beneath it.

Guides make a real effort to photograph everyone. On busy evenings, the team has organized the queue so each person gets a turn before anyone takes a second portrait. That small bit of fairness matters when the group is excited and the lights are changing.

You may get portraits in ordinary warm clothing, Viking dress, or both. Some guides also take pictures and videos during the display. The finished images are sent to you, giving you something useful to take home and print.

Do not expect every photograph to look identical. Aurora brightness changes, clouds move, and the guide may need to reposition the camera. Still, the included photography adds real value, especially if you do not own a tripod or a camera suited to dark skies.

Bring your own phone if you want casual behind-the-scenes pictures, but do not spend the whole night trying to photograph the Aurora yourself. You could miss the best moment while adjusting settings. Let the guide handle the difficult shots and enjoy the sky with your own eyes.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread, and staying warm

The supplied hot chocolate and cookies are not the main reason to book, but they improve the evening. Gingerbread or ginger cookies provide a quick snack, while hot chocolate gives you a reason to come back inside after standing in the cold.

The drinks are often made locally, and one guide served hot chocolate prepared by his wife. Some people enjoyed more than one cup during a long wait. Blankets and the heated minibus also offer a practical break from the weather.

You still need proper clothing. Bring a warm coat, hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear suitable for standing outdoors. The tour specifically advises warm clothing, and that advice deserves attention. Icelandic wind can make a clear night feel much colder than the temperature suggests.

The van’s heater is useful, but do not treat the vehicle as a permanent shelter. To see the lights, you need to step outside, look up, and be ready when the guide calls everyone over. Dress in layers you can manage without filling every seat with spare clothing.

The free retry policy and the real value of $148

At $148 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the Aurora. The price pays for a small group, a guide, a photographer, transport, Viking equipment, refreshments, and the option to return free if the lights do not appear.

That last part changes the calculation. A failed evening on another tour may leave you with nothing but a bus ride and a cancellation notice. Here, you can reschedule without paying again until you see the lights. The company does not offer a refund simply because the Aurora stayed hidden, but you retain the chance to try again.

The policy has clear limits. Once you join the tour, there is no refund for changing your mind. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. If the weather is poor, communication about rescheduling has generally been smooth, with some people moving their booking more than once.

I would book this early in an Iceland visit if the Aurora is a top priority. That gives you more nights for a retry and avoids placing all your hopes on your final evening. If you are in Reykjavik for only one night, the free retry does not help much, so the financial value is lower.

The 4.8 rating from 400 reviews and the 88 percent perfect score for transport support the idea that this is a well-run outing. Still, those numbers cannot improve the weather. They mainly tell me that the company handles the parts it can control: pickup, guiding, photography, warmth, and persistence.

What the best guides add to the evening

The guide can make or break an Aurora hunt. You want someone who can explain the science without turning the evening into a lecture, drive carefully on icy roads, and keep the group calm when the sky looks empty.

Emil has continued searching after the official tour time when a display seemed possible. Tomas has been praised for his camera work, safe driving, and ability to find a clear patch beneath heavy cloud. Kobe has earned strong praise for taking groups to less crowded locations and making the Viking photography enjoyable. BG has been especially good with families, including making a nine-year-old feel welcome.

Names can change from one departure to the next, so you cannot book a specific guide based on these examples. The useful lesson is what to look for: patience, clear explanations, fair access to the camera, and a willingness to keep searching.

The guides also seem to understand that the Aurora is not only a technical sighting. You may have come to Iceland hoping for one unforgettable night. A good guide treats the photographs, stories, hot drinks, and atmosphere as part of that memory, not as filler before the sky cooperates.

Who should book this small-group tour?

I would recommend it to you if the Northern Lights are high on your Iceland wish list and you want more than a basic coach excursion. The included portraits are especially useful for couples, families, and anyone who wants a proper photograph without hiring a separate photographer.

It also suits people who value persistence. You may spend several hours moving between dark locations, waiting in the cold, and checking the sky. That can be exciting when the guide finds a gap in the clouds, but it can feel long if you want a tightly timed activity.

The tour is a good fit for families with children seven and older, provided they can handle the late timing and cold. It is also appealing to solo visitors because the small group and organized photography make it easier to enjoy the night without arranging everything yourself.

I would hesitate if you dislike minibus travel, need generous storage space, or cannot return for a retry. I would also avoid making this your only Iceland experience. The Aurora is weather-dependent, and even an excellent guide cannot order green lights for a particular evening.

Should you book Aurora Viking?

Book it if you want a determined, personal Aurora hunt with professional photographs and something entertaining to do while you wait. The small group, flexible route, warm drinks, Viking gear, and free retries give this tour more practical value than a simple drive into the countryside.

Do not book expecting certainty. Nature gets the final vote, and the minibus may feel tight after you pile on winter clothing. But if you plan ahead, dress warmly, and schedule the tour early enough to use the retry policy, $148 is a fair price for a serious search wrapped in a lot of good humor.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The experience lasts about four hours, including pickup, the drive to a dark viewing location, photography, sightseeing, and the return to Reykjavik.

How many people are in the group?

The minibus holds a maximum of 18 people. This allows the guide to use smaller roads and offer more personal help with viewing and photography.

Are professional photographs included?

Yes. A guide and photographer use high-specification cameras to take photographs of the Aurora and portraits of you, including optional Viking costume portraits.

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 after joining the tour, but the retry policy lets you reschedule without paying another tour fee.

What is included with the tour?

Hotel or designated pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, a photographer, Viking costumes, replica Viking weapons, hot chocolate, and cookies are included.

Can children join the tour?

Children must be at least seven years old. Everyone should bring warm clothing because you may spend time outside waiting for the Aurora.