From Reykjavík: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

The best part of this Reykjavík night tour is the search itself. You are not planted at one fixed lookout and told to hope for clear skies. The guide checks forecasts and cloud cover, then drives away from city lights in a heated minibus. I like the hot cocoa and the promise of free digital photos, two small comforts that matter when you are standing outside in Iceland after dark. The free rebooking option is another strong point, since the aurora is nature, not a stage show.

The main caution is that the service can depend heavily on the guide. Some outings have produced beautiful photos and a great aurora, while others have involved long waits, little explanation, and no photos at all. You should also confirm what happens if the lights do not appear, since the advertised rebooking policy has not always been explained clearly.

Key points at a glance

• A 9 PM departure gives you a practical evening outing that fits after dinner in Reykjavík.
• A heated minibus makes the 3.5-hour search more comfortable than an open coach or long outdoor wait.
• The route changes with conditions, using cloud cover and aurora forecasts to seek a clearer sky.
• Hot chocolate is served outside the city, giving you a warm break while you wait for the aurora.
• Digital photos are included, though the quality and delivery depend on the guide actually taking them.
• Free rebooking protects your budget when the Northern Lights do not show, but ask the guide to explain the process.

What the $115 price really buys you

At $115 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the Northern Lights. You are paying for hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, transport, hot chocolate, and digital photos. The important part is the mobile search. A good guide can read the changing cloud cover, compare several forecast sources, and move the minibus when one area turns cloudy.

That service has real value in Iceland. A clear patch can appear a short drive away from a cloudy one, and Reykjavík’s city lights can weaken what you see. You are also spared the trouble of renting a car and driving unfamiliar roads at night in winter conditions.

Still, $115 is worthwhile only if the included extras work as promised. The photos are a major part of the appeal. They give you a chance to remember the colors and, more practically, to appear in the picture yourself instead of taking only blurry phone shots of a dim sky. Several outings have delivered lovely photos, but two recent accounts describe no photos at all. That is a serious gap between the promise and the experience.

The 4.2 rating from 54 reviews suggests a generally positive but uneven trip. I would book it for the transport, warm drink, and chance to rebook, not simply for the photo package. If photos matter greatly to you, ask before leaving how the guide sends them and when you should expect them.

Leaving Reykjavík around 9 PM

Pickup begins at the stated tour time and can take up to 30 minutes while the minibus gathers people. You should be ready at your designated pickup point at 9 PM, not just stepping out of your hotel at that time. Pickups begin at bus stops around central Reykjavík, followed by locations outside the center.

The starting point is listed as Miðborg, the central Reykjavík area. Since Icelandic tour buses often use designated stops rather than pulling directly to every hotel door, check your exact location carefully. A little patience at the start is normal. The full outing lasts about 3.5 hours, so you can expect to return around 12:30 AM, depending on the pickup process and driving conditions.

This timing works well if you want a late-night activity without giving up a full day of sightseeing. It does mean you should plan for a late bedtime. The Northern Lights are most often sought after dark, so an early evening departure would not make much sense.

The small-group minibus setup is one of the better features here. Compared with a large coach, it should make moving between possible viewing spots easier. The vehicle is heated, but you still need warm clothing because the actual viewing time takes place outdoors.

The 90-minute drive into darker skies

The first transport section lasts about 1.5 hours. This is not sightseeing in the usual sense. You are riding out of Reykjavík while the guide watches conditions and decides where the sky may be clearest.

That flexibility is the heart of the tour. The guide aims to avoid both city light and heavy cloud. The best location can change during the evening, so a fixed destination would be less useful than a moving plan. You might stop in one area, wait, then shift if another part of the sky looks better.

I like this approach in theory because it treats the aurora as a weather-dependent event. It also gives the guide a job beyond driving. The guide should explain what the forecasts mean, why the group is stopping, and how long the wait may last.

This is also where the tour can lose value. One outing involved about an hour at a spot near the city while the group waited, even though one person wanted to try another location. After the move, the guide stayed by the bus rather than helping with photos or phone settings. Another account said the guide selected a cloudy spot while clearer areas were nearby, then changed direction only after hearing from another guide that the lights had appeared.

You cannot demand perfect judgment from a natural event, but you can expect clear communication. If the guide stops, ask what the cloud cover looks like and how long the group plans to wait. That simple question may tell you whether the stop is part of a clear plan or just a holding point.

One hour beneath the Icelandic sky

The listed viewing stop lasts about one hour. This is the portion that makes the tour memorable, provided the sky cooperates.

Auroras can appear green, pink, red, or violet, but green is the color you are most likely to notice first. The display may be a faint band or a stronger moving curtain. Your eyes may see less color than a camera does, especially if the aurora is weak. That is why the guide’s photos can be useful, provided they are taken properly.

You will leave the heated minibus to watch the sky, so bring a warm coat, hat, gloves, and weather-appropriate layers. The supplied information does not promise heated outdoor shelters. The cocoa is a welcome detail, but it does not replace proper clothing.

The best outing described in the supplied feedback included several locations with little light pollution, a striking aurora, kind guiding, attractive photos, and hot chocolate at the end. That combination shows what this trip can do when the guide is active and conditions line up.

Do not expect a formal astronomy lecture. The guide speaks English, but the level of explanation may vary. One account praised the guide’s effort and the smooth organization, while another found the guide talkative but more focused on personal travel stories than on forecasts or aurora advice. A different outing had almost no explanation at all.

I would treat the guide’s role as practical rather than academic. You need someone who can choose a useful location, keep you informed, help with pictures, and move the group when conditions change. If you want detailed science, check how much commentary is offered before you book.

Hot cocoa, chocolate, and the waiting game

Fresh hot chocolate is included and is served during the night. A chocolate bar is also listed among the highlights, while one account describes hot cocoa with a cookie. The exact snack may vary, so think of the reliable promise as a warm drink rather than a full refreshment stop.

This matters more than it sounds. Waiting outside in Icelandic winter weather can feel long, especially if the sky stays blank. A hot drink gives you a reason to pause and warm up before returning to the minibus.

The cocoa also adds a friendly touch to an otherwise uncertain activity. You may spend much of the evening checking the sky, standing quietly, and waiting for a faint glow to strengthen. A small treat helps make that wait feel like part of the night rather than wasted time.

Do not confuse this with a dinner outing. No meal is included, and accommodation is not part of the service. Eat beforehand if you need more than a drink and small snack.

The photo promise needs attention

The included digital photos are one of the tour’s strongest selling points. Night photography is tricky. A phone often records a dark sky with a weak green smudge, while a camera on a tripod can capture both you and the aurora more clearly.

A good guide can take several portraits, position you safely, and send the files after the tour. One successful outing produced beautiful pictures, which made the experience feel complete. You should receive the photos digitally, but the information does not specify the delivery method or exact timing.

The weak point is consistency. One person received no photos and no help setting up a phone. Another account also described a guide who did not take pictures of the group. In one case, the aurora was visible above Hallgrímskirkja while passing near central Reykjavík, but the guide did not stop for photographs.

That means you should be direct. Before leaving the viewing point, ask the guide to take your photo. If you are using your own phone, ask for help with settings. Do not assume the camera work will happen automatically just because it is included.

The guide may also need time to photograph each person or group. If the aurora appears suddenly, the first priority will be getting everyone outside and looking up. Still, the photo service should not be forgotten.

What happens when the aurora does not appear

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon. No company can guarantee them, and even strong forecast scores do not ensure a visible display. White clouds, faint activity, and city glow can all make the night disappointing.

The advertised safety net is free rebooking on the next available night if the lights do not appear. That can make the $115 price easier to accept, especially if you have several nights in Reykjavík. If you are in Iceland for only one evening, rebooking will not help.

The policy needs careful attention. The activity information says free rebooking is available, while one account says the guide did not mention it and expected a voucher valid for two years instead. Since those details do not match, ask for the exact terms before departure. Find out if you must request the rebooking that night, how long the credit lasts, and if the next available date depends on space.

A failed aurora outing is not automatically a bad tour. One person gave a positive account of a replacement outing even though the first attempt failed, while another found the second guide less motivated. The quality of the follow-up can vary just as much as the weather.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this trip if you want a simple evening plan from Reykjavík and do not want to drive at night. It suits first-time visitors who need pickup, transport, a guide, and a warm drink in one package.

It is also a good fit if you have at least two nights in the capital. That gives the rebooking policy practical value. You can try again if clouds block the sky on your first outing.

The tour is less suitable if you have only one night and need a guaranteed result. There is no such guarantee for the aurora, and the photo service has not been reliable on every outing. Serious photographers may also prefer arranging their own camera setup, since the included photos are a convenience rather than a dedicated photography workshop.

Families and couples may like the hot cocoa and personal photos, but everyone should be ready for a late return and outdoor waiting. Bring more clothing than you think you need. The minibus is heated, but the aurora is seen outside.

Practical details before you reserve

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Iceland plans are still shifting.

The guide speaks English. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but pickup can take up to 30 minutes while the group gathers. Be at your designated central Reykjavík stop by 9 PM.

Bring warm, weather-appropriate clothing. You should also bring a phone with enough battery for photos, though the included digital pictures are supposed to come from the guide.

The tour provider is Troll .is. Since no individual guide names are supplied, you cannot request a particular guide from the information available. That matters because the guide’s effort appears to make a large difference, especially with explanations, location choices, and photos.

Should you book this Northern Lights outing?

I would book it if you value convenience and have enough time to rebook. The heated minibus, moving search, hot chocolate, pickup, and included photos create a fair package at $115 when the guide is engaged and the aurora appears.

I would not book it expecting certainty. The sky may stay cloudy, the aurora may be too faint to see well, and the photo service may not happen unless you ask. Before setting out, confirm the rebooking terms and remind the guide that you want the included pictures.

My final call: this is a sensible, mid-priced option for a flexible Reykjavík visitor, but its value depends on guide performance. Book it with realistic expectations, warm clothes, and at least one extra night in town.

FAQ

What time does the Northern Lights tour begin?

You should be ready at your designated pickup location at 9 PM. Pickup begins at the tour start time and may take up to 30 minutes while the group is collected.

How long does the activity last?

The full tour lasts 3.5 hours. The schedule includes about 1.5 hours of transport to the viewing area, one hour at a viewpoint, and about 1.5 hours returning to Reykjavík.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, with pickups beginning at bus stops around central Reykjavík and then continuing to locations outside the center.

Is hot chocolate included?

Yes. Hot chocolate is included and is served during the outing. The highlights also mention a chocolate bar, while one description refers to a cookie, so the exact small snack may vary.

Are photos included?

Yes. Digital photos of you beneath the Northern Lights are included and are taken by the guide. Ask the guide directly for your pictures during the viewing stop, since the photo service has not happened consistently on every outing.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

The activity offers free rebooking if the aurora does not appear. Since the supplied information gives different details about how long the rebooking credit may last, ask the provider or guide to confirm the exact terms before the tour.