From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

Seeing the Northern Lights is never a sure thing, but this tour gives you a sensible way to improve your odds. Your guide follows weather forecasts, checks several possible viewing areas, and uses a small minibus to reach darker places that may be awkward for a large coach. I especially like the free professional photos and the simple Icelandic comforts: wool blankets, hot cocoa, and kleina pastries.

I also like the small group size, capped at 19 people, and the guides’ clear enthusiasm for the aurora. Guides such as Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi, and Michaela have been praised for explaining the science, helping with photographs, and staying patient when the sky refuses to cooperate. The main drawback is basic but important: nature makes the final decision. Clouds, weak solar activity, and winter weather can produce a long, cold search with little or nothing to see.

Key points to know before booking

• Small minibus, maximum 19 people: Easier to reach quiet viewing areas than with a large coach, though space is still limited.
• Free photos included: Your guide takes portrait photos beneath the aurora when conditions allow and sends them afterward.
• Warm Icelandic touches: Borrow a wool blanket, then warm up with hot chocolate and kleina, a traditional Icelandic pastry.
• Flexible route: The guide chooses locations based on cloud cover, weather, darkness, and aurora forecasts.
• Four-hour evening outing: Pickup begins from 20:30 between October 1 and March 31, and from 21:30 during the listed late-season dates.
• A repeat attempt is possible: If you attend but do not see the lights, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability.

Why a small minibus helps in the dark

The tour begins with pickup from one of many points around Reykjavík. Hotel pickup is included, but downtown regulations mean the minibus cannot collect you at certain hotels. If your hotel is in the restricted central area, you will use the nearest designated bus stop instead. Check the exact meeting point before tour day, and arrive 30 minutes early. Icelandic tour buses do not wait long for people who are still searching for their coats.

The minibus carries no more than 19 people. That is not a private tour, but it is a more personal setup than a full-size coach. A smaller vehicle can also use roads and stopping points that are less practical for big buses. Several guides have driven north for an hour or more to find clearer skies, and the route may include more than one attempt at a viewing area.

Your guide is both driver and host. On the road, you will learn how the aurora forms, how cloud cover affects visibility, and why a promising forecast can still lead nowhere. The best guides keep expectations honest. Simon, Baldvin, Devin, Gummi, and Michaela are among the names associated with especially warm, energetic guiding, but the exact guide depends on the departure.

The journey itself is part of the experience. You may spend stretches looking through a dark window, checking the sky, and waiting for the guide’s next decision. That can feel slow if you expect a constant show, but it is how aurora hunting works. You are not driving to a fixed attraction with guaranteed opening hours. You are following a moving target.

The first stop: finding a dark patch of sky

The itinerary lists a secret stop rather than a named sight. That is useful in this case. The best location changes with the weather, and keeping the route flexible lets the guide respond to the night rather than follow a rigid sightseeing plan.

Your first stop may be close to Reykjavík or farther into the countryside. Past excursions have included areas near a thermal plant, Thingvellir National Park, and open countryside with very little artificial light. You might also find yourself near horses or a broad rural view, but the exact stop depends on cloud cover and the aurora forecast.

At the stop, the guide will help you get oriented. Give your eyes time to adjust before judging the sky. A faint aurora can look like a pale gray or whitish cloud at first, while a stronger display may show green, pink, red, or purple to the naked eye. A camera often records colors more strongly than your eyes can see, which is one reason the included photography is useful.

The viewing stop is also where the tour’s cold-weather planning matters. You can borrow an Icelandic wool blanket, and hot chocolate with a kleina pastry is served during the outdoor wait. These are modest extras, but they change the mood. Standing still in wind and cold is much easier with something warm in your hands and around your shoulders.

Bring proper clothing anyway. Wear warm layers, a wind-resistant outer layer, gloves, a hat, and comfortable shoes. The blanket is a loan item, not a replacement for winter clothing. You may spend time outside while the guide watches the sky, and Icelandic evenings can feel colder than the thermometer suggests.

Moving on when the clouds win

If the first location is covered by cloud, the guide may try another area. This is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. A single fixed viewpoint would leave you stuck with the weather directly overhead. A mobile search gives you at least some chance of reaching a clearer patch.

The route may involve driving through rain, darkness, or a mountain tunnel. That does not mean the outing is failing. The guide may be comparing several forecasts, checking satellite images, and watching for breaks in the cloud. Past guides have used phones and monitoring tools to compare locations while on the road.

Still, do not confuse effort with a guarantee. A determined guide can search longer and choose better positions, but no guide can create solar activity or move a cloud bank on command. If the sky is poor, your guide should explain what is happening and keep the group comfortable. That attitude matters. You should arrive with low expectations and high hopes.

On a good night, the second stop may be where the show begins. The lights can appear as a faint arc, then strengthen and move across the sky. They may last only briefly, or they may continue for much of the stop. The tour is built around waiting for that change, not simply taking you to a scenic place and sending you home at the first quiet moment.

Free photos, with a practical catch

The included photos are a major reason to consider this tour. Night photography is difficult, especially when you are cold and unfamiliar with camera settings. Your guide can position you beneath the sky and use a professional camera to capture both people and aurora.

This gives you a proper record of the evening instead of a collection of dark phone screens. On strong nights, the camera may reveal brighter colors than you noticed in person. Guides have also helped visitors with camera settings and explained where to look for the best view.

You should still bring a fully charged phone if you want your own pictures or need to follow up on the photo link later. Keep in mind that photos are delivered only if the Northern Lights are visible. If the tour does not find an aurora, no photographs will be provided.

The photos are not a substitute for seeing the sky directly. A long-exposure image can make the lights look more intense and colorful than they appeared to your eyes. That is normal. I would treat the pictures as a valuable bonus, while the real prize is the moment you look up and see the aurora moving above you.

Cocoa, kleina, and the value of comfort

Hot chocolate and kleina are included in the price. Kleina is a traditional Icelandic twisted pastry, usually fried and lightly sweet. It is the sort of snack that makes sense on a cold roadside stop: easy to eat, filling enough to help, and connected to local food rather than a generic packaged treat.

The cocoa has been described as having an interesting, authentic flavor, and some guides prepare the drinks and pastries themselves. You should not book the tour for the snack alone, but it is a thoughtful part of the evening. Northern Lights tours can involve long pauses, and small comforts make those pauses feel intentional instead of wasted.

The wool blankets work in the same way. They let you stay outside longer without constantly retreating to the minibus. Even so, you may prefer to step inside between viewings. The vehicle is described as comfortable, warm, and clean, which gives you a place to thaw out while the guide checks conditions.

How much value do you get for $169?

At $169 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for transport from Reykjavík, a four-hour guided outing, route planning, a small vehicle, drinks, a pastry, borrowed blankets, and professional photos. The value depends on how much of that support you want.

If you rent a car, you could search independently for less per person, especially with several people sharing fuel. But then you must drive on dark Icelandic roads, interpret weather and cloud forecasts, find legal stopping areas, manage the cold, and take your own photos. A rental car also gives you no rebooking option through the tour company if the first attempt fails.

Large coach tours may cost less, but a 19-seat minibus is easier to manage and may reach quieter spots. You will also have a guide explaining the aurora rather than simply transporting you to a parking area. For a first visit to Iceland, that combination can justify the higher price.

The free photo service adds real value. A professional night portrait can cost extra elsewhere, and it removes the pressure of trying to photograph yourself while wearing gloves in freezing weather. The hot chocolate and pastry are small in financial terms, but they improve the four-hour experience.

The important limitation is the refund policy. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. If the company cancels before you attend because of poor weather, you receive a full refund. If you go out and do not see the lights, you can rebook free of charge, subject to availability, but you do not receive a refund. A rebooking voucher may remain valid for up to two years after a participated but unsuccessful tour, subject to the stated conditions.

Timing, seasons, and the best expectations

The tour operates during the darker part of the year, with departures listed from 20:30 between October 1 and March 31. From August 15 to September 30 and April 1 to April 18, departures begin from 21:30. The exact starting time can vary, so check availability for your date.

August deserves special care. A late-August outing may be possible, but the nights are not as dark as they are in midwinter, and cloud cover can still ruin the view. If the aurora is your main reason for visiting, give yourself several possible nights rather than placing all your hope on one departure.

I would book this tour early in your Reykjavík stay, not on your final evening. That leaves room to rebook if clouds cancel the departure or if you attend but see nothing. The rebooking option is useful only if you still have time in Iceland, so keep that in mind when planning.

The activity lasts four hours, but an exceptional display may keep the group out longer. That is not something to count on, and your return time can be affected by the route and conditions. Avoid scheduling an important late-night commitment immediately afterward.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

This outing suits you if you want the Northern Lights experience without driving yourself. It is especially good for first-time visitors who want the science explained, help with photography, and a guide making decisions about the route.

It also suits couples, friends, and families with older children who can manage a cold late evening. Children under five are not accepted. The tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible, and infant seats are unavailable. People with mobility limits should check carefully before booking because the experience includes getting in and out of a minibus and spending time outdoors.

You should choose another plan if you need a guaranteed attraction, a fixed schedule, or a warm indoor evening. You should also think twice if you dislike waiting in darkness or if you have only one night available. The tour team can improve your odds, but the aurora remains beyond human control.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts four hours, including the minibus ride, outdoor viewing stops, guiding, photography, and refreshments.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins from 20:30 between October 1 and March 31. From August 15 to September 30 and April 1 to April 18, pickup begins from 21:30. You should be ready at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from the listed locations. Some downtown Reykjavík hotels cannot receive direct pickup because of local regulations, so you may be directed to the nearest designated bus stop.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

If you attend the tour but the aurora is not visible, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability. No refund is provided for an attended but unsuccessful tour, and photos are not delivered if the lights are not visible.

What is included in the price?

The $169 price includes the minibus ride, an English-speaking guide, pickup and drop-off, hot chocolate, a kleina pastry, wool blankets to borrow, and free photos when the Northern Lights are seen.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. Dress for cold winter evenings, since you will spend time outside waiting and watching the sky.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour if you want a well-supported aurora search with a small group, a flexible route, and useful extras that make cold waiting easier. The free photos and guides who explain both the science and the practical side of aurora hunting are the best reasons to choose it over a basic coach ride.

Book it early in your Iceland stay, leave room for a second attempt, and keep your expectations realistic. If you need certainty, no Northern Lights tour can provide it. If you can accept a little weather-driven adventure, EastWest gives you a comfortable and thoughtful way to chase the sky.