Northern Lights Small Group Guided Tour from Reykjavik

The northern lights hunt from Reykjavik is interesting because the whole plan is built around one thing, finding the sky conditions that make auroras show up. You start late at night, then the team drives to where the lights are most likely at that exact moment, instead of sticking to one fixed spot.

I like the hotel pickup option for stress-free timing, and I also like the max 19-person group size, which keeps the viewing less chaotic. You also get a professional local guide who can explain what you are seeing and help you work with the conditions, not just point at the sky.

One possible drawback is that this tour depends on weather. If clouds win, you might spend time waiting in cold air for the right window, and the evening could still end without a big show.

Key things that make this aurora tour worth your attention

• Small group cap of 19 helps you get breathing room for photos
• Pickup available and vehicles are marked with the Reykjavik Excursions logo
• Aurora-hunter guide who looks for the lights and teaches you what to watch
• Weather-based routing means you can move to improve odds
• WiFi on board keeps you connected if you want to upload or check settings
• Carbon neutral option in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies

Northern lights in Iceland, why this tour’s approach makes sense

If your goal is seeing the aurora, the best plan is the one that reacts fast to what the sky is doing. This tour leaves from Reykjavik at 9:30 pm and then goes to locations that change day to day based on weather conditions. That flexibility matters, because auroras do not care about our schedules, but they do show up when clouds thin out and the sky cooperates.

The group size is also part of the value. This is capped at 19 travelers, which is small enough that you can actually hear your guide, get in a good spot, and take photos without feeling trapped in a crowd. Even on the nights when auroras are subtle, having time to look without shoulder-to-shoulder jostling makes the experience feel calmer and more rewarding.

Price and what you actually get for $120

At $120 per person for about 3 hours, this is not the cheapest way to chase the lights. But you are paying for real field work: a guide who knows where to look, transport to likely viewing areas, and the ability to adjust if the weather shifts.

Here is what is included, and why it matters:

• Bus fare: you do not need to figure out late-night logistics on your own
• Professional local tour guide: more than narration, this is about timing and positioning
• WiFi on board: handy for quick photo sharing or checking your settings
• Carbon neutral tour in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies: if sustainability is part of your travel checklist, this is built in

What is not included is food and drinks, so you should plan to bring snacks or plan on eating before you head out. The tour is short, so you do not want your night ruined by hunger or by having nothing warm in your system while you wait.

Getting picked up, timing, and the smart way to show up

You meet at BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík. The tour offers pickup, and the pickup detail says you should be ready 30 minutes before departure, with vehicles marked by the Reykjavik Excursions logo.

For a northern lights tour, timing is everything. If you roll in late, you lose warmth, you lose your spot in the van, and you can miss the first opportunity to chase clearer skies. I recommend dressing early, using your time before pickup to get hands and feet ready for the cold, then letting the tour handle the driving.

Also, even though pickup is offered, it is still a good idea to know where BSÍ is, just in case you end up meeting there. That way you do not have to stress if the pickup point feels confusing when you are already cold and tired.

The late-night itinerary, from BSÍ to the best sky window

This is a simple itinerary on paper, and that simplicity is the point. You depart from BSÍ at 9:30 pm, then your guide takes you to the most likely location at the time, based on weather.

Because the location varies, do not expect a fixed route or a promise of where you will stand. Think of the plan as a moving target: you are learning from the guide, then you are waiting for the sky to open up.

Departing BSÍ and settling in on the ride

Right after departure, you will be on the bus with the group. WiFi on board can be useful if you want to quickly look up camera settings before you get out, or if you want to keep your phone charged for later. This is also where you can get briefed so the first aurora sighting does not feel random.

One thing I appreciate about guides who do this job often is that they explain what they are doing while you drive. If you happen to get a guide like Sol or Kalli from past nights, you are likely to see the difference between someone who talks at you and someone who teaches you what to look for, then adjusts when conditions change.

The main viewing stop, and why it is flexible

The tour includes stops that vary by weather, so the core experience is time outdoors at the location your guide chooses. On good nights, the aurora can show quickly once the sky clears. On tougher nights, you wait for a gap in cloud cover.

That is where the guide quality matters most. In the strongest examples, guides spot auroras and then get people out fast so you do not waste the good moment watching from behind glass. Some guides are also patient about photos, giving you time to get your framing right before moving again.

Be mentally ready for “cold waiting” to be part of the bargain. The best outcome is auroras dancing overhead. The fair outcome is at least a glimpse, and the hardest outcome is clouds that never open up enough to show much.

What guides do that changes the night (Sol and Kalli as examples)

You are not just paying for transport. You are paying for decisions in real time, and that is usually what separates a great aurora night from a frustrating one.

From past experiences with this tour style, guides like Sol have been praised for making two stops to improve your odds, rather than committing to one place and hoping. Guides like Kalli have been praised for staying patient during photo time and helping people take extra shots once the lights start.

You will also get the benefit of aurora education while you are waiting. The better guides explain the physics in a way that helps you recognize patterns in motion, so when you see the aurora, it feels like a real event instead of a lucky accident.

One practical photo tip, tripod or not

A common and useful advice from past nights is to plan your camera settings before you arrive. If you have never shot auroras, it helps to research how to get better results, then test your settings before the sky is at its brightest.

A tripod can make a big difference for sharp images and timelapse sequences. Some guides have also offered to help capture shots for people who did not have their own setup, and there is even an example where a guide shared images via a Google folder after the tour. You should not count on that happening every single time, but it does signal the kind of support that can be part of the experience.

Group size of up to 19: what it feels like in practice

A cap of 19 travelers sounds like a number on a listing. In real life, it usually translates into a quieter viewing area than the big open-bus setups.

When the weather is decent, your goal becomes framing and timing. A smaller group helps because:

• You can step aside to shoot without blocking everyone
• You have a better chance of finding a spot with less obstruction
• Your guide can manage people efficiently when the lights appear fast

Of course, even in a small group, if multiple operators show up at the same parking area, you can still feel crowded. The difference is that with a smaller group, you have more ability to rotate positions as the guide tells you what is happening.

Weather dependence: the part you should plan for

Here is the blunt truth about northern lights tours from Reykjavik: good weather is required. If the sky is too cloudy, the tour may not happen as planned.

The key thing is that if the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered either a different date or a full refund. That flexibility is valuable because it respects the fact that auroras are not something you can force.

If you only have one night in Iceland, consider booking with extra caution and having a plan B. A northern lights tour can be worth it even when you do not see much, but your best odds come when you can try more than once.

What to bring for a comfortable, camera-ready night

This tour is only about 3 hours, but a lot can happen outdoors in Iceland’s winter or shoulder seasons.

Bring layers and plan for wind. You will likely spend time outside before the lights show, and you will want to be able to stand still and look up without your hands going numb. Warm gloves matter more than you think. Also bring a hat and something that protects your neck.

If you are taking photos:

• Charge your phone and camera fully
• Consider using a tripod if you have one
• Use your screen time before you get out of the bus so you can stop fiddling when the aurora starts

And since food and drinks are not included, bring something warm if you need it. Even a simple snack can keep your energy steady while you wait.

So, is it a small guided tour, or a crowd in disguise?

The best version of this tour is what you want from an aurora hunt: pickup included, a guide who is actively scanning, and a group small enough to make the night feel personal.

But it is also worth setting expectations. A night view can still get busy if other operators are also chasing the same sky conditions and you all end up in the same general area. That does not mean the guide is ineffective. It does mean your comfort and photo experience can vary depending on how many buses and vans arrive at the same moment.

The upside is that your guide can often help you choose where to stand within that area, and strong guides use that chance to get you better sightlines or a calmer corner.

When this tour is a great fit (and when it is not)

This is a great fit if:

• You want the easiest way to chase the aurora from Reykjavik without planning routes
• You like learning something while you are doing it, not only watching a show
• You want a guide who helps maximize your chances and manage outdoor photo time
• You prefer a group that stays under 19 people

It may not be your best fit if:

• You hate waiting in cold weather without guarantees
• You are very sensitive to delays or communication problems, since the tour depends on coordination
• You want a fixed itinerary with no weather-based changes

Also, if you are a strong self-sufficient photographer, you might prefer doing more DIY aurora chasing. But if you want fewer decisions and more guidance, this tour design is built for that.

Should you book Northern Lights from Reykjavik with this company?

I would book this tour if you want a guided aurora hunt with pickup convenience, a small group, and a team focused on finding the best sky window that night. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of weather-based location changes and guides who are praised for spotting the lights and making time for photos.

I would think twice only if you are the type who gets stressed by weather uncertainty or if you are relying on one single night with zero flexibility. In that case, still book if you want the guidance, but go in knowing that Iceland’s clouds call the shots.

If you do book, plan smart: dress warm, arrive on time for pickup, and set your camera mindset before you go outside. Do that, and your odds of a memorable aurora night go up, even on the evenings when the sky is shy.

FAQ

How long is the northern lights tour from Reykjavik?

It lasts about 3 hours.

What time does the tour depart?

The start time is 9:30 pm.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is offered. You should be ready at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure, and vehicles are well marked with the Reykjavik Excursions logo.

What is the group size?

The maximum group size is 19 travelers.

What is included in the price?

WiFi on board, bus fare, a professional local tour guide, and a carbon neutral tour in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies.

What happens if the weather is poor?

This tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.