Northern Lights Small Group Guided Tour from Reykjavik

The best thing about this northern lights hunt is that the destination is not fixed. Your guide checks the weather and cloud cover, then heads for the place offering the best chance of seeing the aurora. Guides such as Kalli and Sol have also been praised for explaining the science, spotting faint lights quickly, and allowing extra time for photographs.

I like the included pickup and the chance to make more than one stop. I also like the carbon-neutral operation and onboard WiFi, useful touches during a late, cold outing. The main drawback is that the small-group label may not always match the experience. The vehicle can hold up to 19 people, and several vans may gather at the same parking area.

Key points at a glance

• The route changes with the weather: You do not simply drive to one fixed viewing site every night.
• The tour leaves at 9:30 p.m.: Be at your pickup point 30 minutes early, or meet at BSÍ Bus Terminal.
• Guides can make the difference: Kalli and Sol have been singled out for clear explanations and extra viewing stops.
• The group may feel larger than expected: A maximum of 19 applies to the vehicle, but other company vans may use the same site.
• Photography takes planning: A tripod and the right camera settings can produce much better aurora photos.
• The lights are never guaranteed: Poor weather can cancel the outing, and clear skies do not promise an aurora display.

Chasing the Aurora from Reykjavik

The northern lights are not a scheduled performance. They depend on darkness, clear skies, solar activity, and a little luck. This tour handles one part of that problem well: it gives an experienced local guide the job of choosing where to go.

That matters in Iceland, where clouds can cover one area while nearby skies remain clear. The route changes from night to night, so you may travel farther or stop at a different site than someone taking the same tour on another evening. The aim is not sightseeing along a fixed route. It is a focused attempt to find open sky.

The tour lasts about three hours. It begins at 9:30 p.m. and finishes back at the meeting point. Pickup is offered, but you need to be ready at your assigned point 30 minutes before departure. Vehicles carry the Reykjavik Excursions logo, which helps you identify the correct bus or van in the evening.

What the Three-Hour Itinerary Really Means

There is only one formal departure point, BSÍ Bus Terminal at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10 in Reykjavik. If you are not using a hotel pickup, this is where you begin and end the activity.

After boarding, you drive away from the city toward the area the guide considers most promising. The exact route is not fixed. Cloud cover and weather conditions decide the viewing location, and that flexibility is more useful than a promise to visit a famous spot that may be covered in cloud.

Some evenings include two viewing stops. Sol, one of the named guides, was praised for making two stops to improve the chance of seeing the lights. Kalli also received praise for taking the group to a quieter, remote section where the bus was alone and for allowing extra time to take pictures.

Other outings may feel less active. One complaint described reaching a single parking area and waiting on the bus for much of the three-hour period when the guide believed the lights would not appear. That is an important point: the guide can search for suitable conditions, but cannot create an aurora or guarantee that moving farther will help.

If the sky is heavily covered, you may spend more time waiting than walking or photographing. Dress for cold weather and bring patience. The tour is a night hunt, not a short transfer to a guaranteed viewing platform.

Guides Kalli, Sol, and the Human Element

A good guide can turn a faint green smear into an exciting sight. A poor guide can leave you cold and unsure what you are looking at. The clearest praise here goes to guides who explain the science, point out the aurora as soon as it appears, and give people enough time to watch and photograph it.

Kalli was praised for patience, especially when the group needed extra time with cameras. He also took the group away from the main cluster of buses, which made the viewing feel more personal. Sol was praised for explaining what was happening and making two stops rather than giving up after the first location.

Another strong experience included detailed explanations of the physical forces behind the aurora. That is useful if you want more than a quick glimpse. The northern lights can look faint to the naked eye, especially when clouds or city light interfere, so an explanation helps you understand what you are seeing.

Guide quality is not fully predictable, of course. The tour uses different staff, and the experience can depend on the person assigned that night. I would book this expecting a professional local guide, but I would not assume every guide will carry a camera, provide photographs, or offer the same level of explanation.

Small Group, or Several Vans in One Place?

The advertised maximum is 19 people. That is smaller than a large coach tour and should make boarding, stopping, and getting an answer from the guide easier.

Still, a small vehicle does not always mean a quiet viewing site. One serious complaint described several company vans arriving at the same small parking area, creating a crowd of roughly 60 people. Other accounts describe the opposite, including a remote stop where only one bus was present.

This is the biggest uncertainty in the product. You may get a calm site with plenty of room, or you may share the same dark patch of ground with other groups. The guide chooses the location based on conditions, but parking areas can attract more than one operator when the forecast looks promising.

If solitude is your top priority, ask at pickup whether the guide expects to use a shared site and keep your expectations flexible. If you mainly want transport, local guidance, and a reasonable shot at the aurora, a maximum of 19 in your own vehicle is still a useful advantage.

How Much Value Do You Get for $120?

At $120 per person, this is not a cheap evening outing. The price covers the bus fare, a professional local guide, WiFi onboard, and the work of selecting a viewing area each night. Hotel pickup adds convenience, especially when you are staying away from central Reykjavik or do not want to find your way to BSÍ late at night.

The value depends almost entirely on the result and the quality of the guide. A successful outing with clear skies, a strong display, two stops, and helpful photography advice can feel well worth the price. A night spent in one parking lot under cloud can feel expensive, even if the company made a reasonable decision based on the forecast.

Food and drinks are not included. Plan to eat beforehand and bring water. A warm drink may be available on some outings, but it is not listed as an included feature, so do not count on it.

The carbon-neutral operation, made in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies, may also matter to you. It does not change the viewing odds, but it adds a responsible element to a bus-based activity.

Photographing the Northern Lights

Your phone may record more color than your eyes can see, but you need to prepare before leaving Reykjavik. One useful tip from the experience is to research the correct camera settings in advance. Standing in the dark while trying to find night mode, focus, or exposure controls can cost you the best moment.

Bring a tripod if you have one. It helps keep long exposures still and can make a major difference for photographs or time-lapse clips. One guide even set up a tripod for the group and shared images afterward through a Google folder. That is a thoughtful extra, but it should be treated as a kindness from that guide, not a guaranteed part of the package.

A camera is not essential for enjoying the aurora. Some displays appear as a pale gray or green glow, while a camera may record stronger color. You will get more from the outing if you spend some time simply watching rather than checking every frame.

Weather, Cancellations, and the Chance of Nothing

The operator makes clear that this activity depends on weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That is different from a tour going ahead under clear skies but failing to find visible lights. In that case, the experience may still run even if the aurora does not appear.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and the cutoff uses local Icelandic time.

A separate risk is communication. One person reported a pickup more than 45 minutes late with no clear update. Another described a last-minute cancellation after arriving at the departure point by taxi. These appear to be service problems rather than normal features, but they matter because a late evening tour leaves little spare time.

Keep your phone available before pickup and allow extra time to reach the meeting point. If the company cancels, ask promptly about the replacement date or refund. Do not assume taxi costs will automatically be covered.

Getting Warm, Comfortable, and Ready

You will be outside at night in Iceland, sometimes beside an open parking area with little shelter. Wear warm layers, a wind-resistant outer shell, gloves, and a hat. Good footwear matters if you need to walk away from the bus for a better view.

The bus provides a place to warm up while the guide watches the sky. WiFi is included, though the connection may not be the main reason you book this outing. It can help pass time during a wait or let you send a quick message when the tour ends.

Because food and drinks are excluded, eat before departure. Bring a small snack if you need one, but keep it simple and easy to carry. The activity is only about three hours, yet late-night cold makes that time feel longer.

Who Will Enjoy This Tour Most?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Reykjavik, want a guide to handle the route, and do not want to rent a car for a night drive. It also suits first-time aurora hunters who want basic explanations and help spotting faint activity.

It is a good fit for photographers who prepare in advance and for couples or families who value pickup and a set return to Reykjavik. The maximum vehicle size is manageable, and a strong guide may give you time for several photo attempts.

I would be more cautious if you need a private, quiet experience. The possibility of multiple vans at one site means the small-group promise may not deliver a secluded setting. I would also hesitate if your schedule has no room for a weather-related change or a night when the lights do not appear.

If seeing the aurora is a once-only priority, consider leaving more than one night available in Iceland. This tour can improve your odds, but no operator can guarantee the sky.

Should You Book the Reykjavik Excursions Aurora Hunt?

Book it if you want a practical, guided search from Reykjavik, value included pickup, and accept that nature controls the outcome. The best version of this outing includes a clear sky, a flexible route, a guide like Kalli or Sol, and enough time outside to watch the lights properly.

Before booking, accept three limits: the tour may use one main stop, several vans may share a site, and you may see nothing. The price is fair when the guide works hard, moves to better conditions, and gives useful help with the aurora. It is harder to justify if you expect privacy, a guaranteed show, or a polished photography session.

My advice is to book it early in your Iceland stay rather than on your final night. That gives you a better chance to use another evening if weather cancels the trip or the first attempt produces only a weak glimpse.

FAQ

Where does the northern lights tour start?

The tour starts at BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavik. Hotel pickup is also offered, and the pickup vehicle has the Reykjavik Excursions logo.

What time does the tour depart?

The scheduled departure time is 9:30 p.m. You should be ready at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure.

How long does the activity last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and ends back at the meeting point.

Is the viewing location fixed?

No. The location changes according to the weather and the place most likely to offer a chance of seeing the northern lights that evening.

What is included in the price?

The price includes bus fare, WiFi onboard, and a professional local guide. The tour is also operated as a carbon-neutral activity in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel yourself for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.