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

What makes this Northern Lights experience in Reykjavik so compelling is the way it turns waiting into entertainment, not dead time. You get a minibus small enough to feel personal, plus a photographer who helps you get real shots when the Aurora Borealis finally decides to show.

I really like two things here. First, the combo of pro-grade night photography and an on-hand photographer, so your images are more than phone snapshots. Second, the unlimited retry idea, which matters because you cannot force the Aurora to cooperate.

One possible drawback to plan for: it is cold, and the minibus can feel snug when you are bundled up. Also, if you do not see the lights on your booked night, there is no refund, though you can rejoin free of charge.

Key Things I’d Watch For on This Tour

• Small group, up to 18 people, in a minibus that can reach places bigger buses cannot.
• Owners Kolbeinn and Emil lead the search, with decades of experience maximizing your chances.
• Viking costumes and weapon replicas for portraits, even if you end up waiting for a while.
• Hot chocolate, cookies, and gingerbread to warm you up between Aurora chances.
• Unlimited retries until you see the lights, because forecasting is never reliable.

A Viking-Themed Aurora Hunt That Actually Fills the Waiting Time

Reykjavik’s northern lights season has one hard truth: you can do everything “right,” and the sky still might be stubborn. This tour is built around that reality, and it keeps you busy while you hunt.

The fun part is that it is not just standing in the cold and staring. You can try on Viking outfits and use museum replicas of Viking weapons for photo portraits. That matters because it gives you something to do, and it also solves a practical problem. When you are cold, your posture goes weird. Props and a photographer help you look like you planned it, even if the Aurora show is still on the way.

I also like that the hunt is not treated like a one-stop gamble. The guides keep moving and adjusting based on what the sky is doing.

Pickup in Reykjavik, Then the Minibus Ride Out to Darker Skies

This is a hotel pickup and drop-off tour, with lots of pickup points across the Capital Region area in Reykjavik. The operator lists 16 pickup locations, plus 16 drop-off locations, so you should be able to find one close to where you sleep.

One detail I appreciate: the pickup process is designed to be simple. The driver is meant to shout your name at the pickup spot, which reduces the common stress of searching for a bus in the dark.

Then you head out in a minibus with a maximum group size of 18. That is a big value point. Smaller vehicles help you reach quieter viewing areas that large buses cannot always access. It also tends to keep the group from feeling like a cattle call when the lights finally appear.

Still, there is a trade-off. In cold weather, you will layer up, and one review noted the minibus can feel cramped and offer limited space to store layers. If you run hot and hate tight spaces, pack accordingly and keep only what you need for warmth.

The 4-Hour Flow: Secret Photo Stops and Aurora Chasing

The experience runs about 4 hours, with a key secret stop built into the plan as a photo stop and sightseeing time. Since the Aurora cannot be predicted with accuracy, your schedule is really about positioning and timing, not following a museum timetable.

Here is what the tour experience feels like in practice:

• You start in Reykjavik with pickup, then drive away from city light.
• When the sky gives hints, the guide moves fast to where the conditions look best.
• If the lights are not steady yet, you wait and you stay entertained, with warm drinks and photo activities.

In several accounts, guides also repositioned more than once, and the group kept hunting until they felt they had the best chance. That matters because the Aurora can shift. One moment it is faint. The next moment it becomes curtains, waves, or sharp forms depending on the night’s activity.

If you are the type who gets frustrated by “waiting,” this tour handles that by treating waiting as part of the event. Viking gear, silly costume moments, and guided photo setups keep you engaged even if the Aurora takes its time.

Getting Real Photos: Pro Cameras, Retakes, and Viking Portraits

The standout “value per minute” here is photography. The tour includes a guide and a photographer, and you use high-spec cameras for high quality night pictures you can take home and print.

This is not just about getting you near the lights. It is about getting you in the frame the way night photography requires. Aurora photos are tricky because of low light, long exposures, and the need to balance your body with the sky. Having someone actively helping with camera settings and positioning is the difference between a blurry blob and a sharp portrait with the Aurora behind you.

Then there is the Viking portrait setup. You will try on Viking costumes and use weapon replicas for photos, often when the lights appear. The results can look dramatic, and sometimes they come out hilariously wrong in the best way, because you are in a dark, cold field trying to look heroic with Iceland weather doing its own thing.

A real practical win: multiple people described getting several photos, with guidance to make sure everyone gets a turn. If the lights are strong, the guide can also make quick adjustments so your portrait matches what the Aurora is doing.

Why the Guides Matter: Owners Kolbeinn and Emil, Plus a Strong Team

In this experience, the guides are not just “drivers with a playlist.” The owners of Aurora Viking, Kolbeinn and Emil, are primary guides and have decades of experience finding the lights.

That kind of experience helps in a way you can feel immediately:

• You are not just going to one generic lookout and hoping.
• You are making decisions based on what the sky and weather are doing that night.
• The guide keeps the group calm when the Aurora is slow, and keeps working when others might call it.

You also see the importance of teamwork. Names like Tomas and Kobe show up often in accounts, and one assistant photographer mentioned is Valeria. The pattern is consistent: the guide handles the hunt and explanation, and the photographer helps you get good results.

Even on nights when conditions start rough, the consistent theme is persistence. Some accounts describe guides refusing to stop just because time ran short, continuing to wait and search until the Aurora showed itself.

Chasing the Aurora While You Stay Warm (Hot Chocolate, Cookies, Gingerbread)

Cold weather does two things. It makes you miserable, and it messes with your ability to focus. This tour takes that seriously.

Hot chocolate is included, and cookies are included too. The tour description also mentions gingerbread, and you can expect warming breaks while you wait for the sky to cooperate. That gives you something immediate and comforting, not just a long “sit and freeze” plan.

One thing I like about this approach is that it makes comfort part of the system. You are not trying to power through. You warm up, then you go back out for photos.

Some accounts also mentioned extra warmth items like blankets in the vehicle. That is not listed in the core inclusions, so treat it as a nice bonus that you might find rather than something guaranteed.

What the Viking Props Add to Your Experience (Beyond Being Funny)

Yes, Viking costumes sound like a gimmick. In the context of an Aurora hunt, they actually do useful work.

First, they give your photos a strong theme. Most Aurora photos are either a lone person silhouetted or a crowd of people holding phones up at awkward angles. Viking outfits and props turn you into part of the story.

Second, they solve the awkwardness problem. When you are freezing, you need something to focus on besides how cold your hands are. Costume changes, posing, and swapping roles with a photographer creates movement. That keeps the mood light, and you stand a better chance of looking relaxed when the Aurora suddenly appears.

Third, they help you embrace the unexpected. Sometimes the Aurora arrives fast. Sometimes it shows up in bursts and you have to be quick. Props keep you engaged even if the show is more on-and-off than one steady display.

Price and Value: Is $148 Worth It?

At about $148 per person for a roughly 4-hour small group tour, you are paying for more than transportation to a viewing spot. You are paying for three things that matter in the real world.

1) Small group size and access

Up to 18 people, in a minibus, with access to places big buses cannot reach. That helps you avoid the most common problem with Aurora tours, which is being trapped in a crowded pickup point where the lights are blocked by other groups and city glow.

2) Photography support

A photographer plus pro night cameras changes the outcome. If your goal is to go home with printable Aurora photos, not just a few blurry shots, that is where the value lives.

3) The retry logic

The unlimited retries until you see the lights are a big deal in Aurora terms. You cannot buy certainty. What you can buy is a plan that does not throw your money away when the first night is cloudy or the sky stays quiet.

There is a caution, though. The info says there is no refund if the Aurora is not seen on your scheduled night. You can join again free of charge, but you are still the one taking on the scheduling reality of Iceland weather.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This Aurora Viking tour with pro photos is a strong match if you:

• Want high quality Aurora images and not just a likely-to-fail phone experience.
• Like a guided plan that keeps working until the sky shows something.
• Enjoy playful photo moments, including Viking costumes and weapon replicas.
• Prefer small groups, not large bus crowds.

It is not a great match if you:

• Do not handle cold waiting well and do not want a minibus that can feel tight for layered clothing.
• Need a refund guarantee if you see nothing, because the policy is retry-based rather than refund-based.
• Are traveling with children under 7, since the tour is not suitable for them.

Final Call: Should You Book This Aurora Viking Tour?

If your top priority is leaving Reykjavik with stronger Northern Lights photos and a plan that actively searches, I think this is a smart booking. The combination of pro photography support, Viking portrait fun, and persistence led by owners Kolbeinn and Emil is exactly what you want in an experience driven by chance.

If you hate uncertainty, this is still not a “sure thing” tour. Aurora Borealis viewing is weather roulette. But you are buying a system built for that roulette, including unlimited retries until the lights show.

My quick advice: book it if you can be flexible for at least one retry night. If you have only one night in Reykjavik and you cannot rearrange, then make sure you are okay with the possibility of rescheduling or rejoining rather than getting a refund.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour duration is 4 hours.

What does the tour include?

It includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide and photographer, use of Viking costumes, use of Viking weapon replicas, hot chocolate, and cookies.

Is pickup from my Reykjavik hotel included?

Yes. Hotel pickup is included, with multiple pickup locations across Reykjavik, and the driver will shout your name at the pickup location.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing.

Can I retry if I do not see the Aurora on the night I book?

Yes. The tour offers unlimited retries for free until you see the lights. There is no refund if no aurora sightings occur, but you can join again free of charge.

Is this suitable for young children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 7 years.