Northern Lights tours of Iceland
If you are booking a multi-day Iceland package, a Northern Lights excursion is already included, so there is no need to book a separate tour or search a marketplace for one. Our self-drive, multi-day, and guided group packages all include accommodation, transport, and daily breakfast, and if the aurora does not show on your night out, you get a free follow-up excursion at no extra cost. Packages run from October through March, when nights are dark enough for a reliable chance of seeing the norðurljós.
Choose a self-drive tour if you want to check the forecast and chase clear skies on your own schedule, most self-drive trips can start any day you like. Choose a guided group tour if you prefer a local expert to handle the route and aurora-spotting strategy. Our Reykjavík-based team monitors conditions throughout your trip and is available around the clock if plans need to change.
This is different from booking a standalone Northern Lights tour or shopping a marketplace of single-night excursions. With an Iceland Tours package, the aurora hunt is one part of a longer trip that also covers your daytime sightseeing, accommodation, and transport, so you are not paying separately for a one-off tour on top of everything else.
- Northern Lights excursion included on multi-day and guided group tours
- Free repeat excursion if you do not see the aurora first time
- Choose from self-drive, multi-day, or guided group travel styles
- Secure your booking with just a 5% deposit
About our Iceland Northern Lights packages
Seeing the norðurljós is genuinely one of Iceland's most distinctive winter experiences. But chasing the aurora is also genuinely unpredictable, which is why our packages are built around giving you the best possible chance rather than making promises the weather cannot keep.
On a self-drive package, you have the freedom to head out whenever conditions look good, check the aurora forecast on your phone, and drive away from cloud cover if you need to. This is probably the most flexible way to hunt the lights, and our winter self-drive routes are designed to take you through areas with naturally low light pollution.
On a multi-day tour based out of Reykjavík, you will join a guided Northern Lights excursion on one of your evenings, with a free follow-up excursion offered if the aurora does not show. Your days are spent on some of Iceland's most visited attractions, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, ice caves, and geothermal pools included depending on the package.
On a guided group tour, a local guide takes care of everything from driving to aurora spotting strategy. You travel with the same group throughout, which suits those who want a more social experience alongside the landscapes.
All packages include accommodation, transport, and breakfast. You can add extra nights, glacier hikes, snowmobile excursions, or a Blue Lagoon visit at checkout.
If you are staying in Reykjavík only and have not booked a multi-day package, a standalone evening excursion is a reasonable way to see the lights on its own. But if you already have a self-drive, multi-day, or guided group package booked with us, the Northern Lights excursion is built in. There is nothing further to arrange.
- Free repeat Northern Lights excursion if conditions are not right first time
- Combine aurora hunting with ice caves, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and more
- Add extra activities and nights at checkout
- Lock in your trip today with just a 5% deposit
FAQs about Iceland Northern Lights tour packages
The Northern Lights are one of Iceland's most sought-after winter experiences, but they come with questions. Here are the answers to the most common ones. For a deeper look at the aurora and how to see it, check out our guide to the Northern Lights in Iceland.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural light phenomenon caused by solar wind particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field. They appear as ribbons of green, blue, purple, and occasionally red light across the night sky. The colour and intensity depends on solar activity and the altitude at which the particles enter the atmosphere.
Find out more about them in this guide to the Northern Lights.
The Northern Lights require darkness to be visible. The main season runs from October through March, when nights are long enough for reliable sightings. They can appear as early as late August and as late as mid-April, but the shorter nights at either end of the season make sightings less consistent.
Iceland has plenty to see and do in winter regardless of aurora conditions.
Any location with low light pollution gives you a good chance. In practice this means getting away from Reykjavík and the populated southwest. The areas around Lake Mývatn, the Snæfellsnes peninsula, and the more remote stretches of the Ring Road are all well suited. On a strong night, the lights can be visible from almost anywhere in the country.
Guided Northern Lights excursions take you to locations chosen based on that evening's cloud cover and forecast. If conditions are not right on the first attempt, our multi-day tour packages include a free follow-up excursion.
Find out more about the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Three conditions need to come together: a clear sky, sufficient darkness, and strong enough solar activity. Cloud cover is the most common obstacle. The Icelandic Met Office publishes an aurora forecast at en.vedur.is with activity levels on a scale of 0 to 9 alongside cloud cover predictions. A rating of 3 or above on a clear night gives a reasonable chance of a sighting.
A camera that allows manual settings gives the best results. Set your exposure time to at least 15 to 30 seconds, use a wide aperture, and keep the ISO as low as possible while still capturing light. A tripod is essential to avoid camera shake on long exposures. Most modern smartphones also have a night or pro mode that can produce reasonable results with a tripod.
The Northern Lights season coincides with winter, when Iceland also offers:
- Ice cave tours inside glaciers
- Walk behind or alongside icicle-covered waterfalls on the south coast
- Geothermal swimming pools and hot springs
- Watch the Strokkur geyser erupt on the Golden Circle route
- Join a glacier snowmobiling or hiking tour
- See icebergs drift out to sea at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
- Go whale watching off the coast of North Iceland
- Walk between the tectonic plates in Þingvellir National Park
- Dive into culture at Reykjavík’s museums and galleries
For even more ideas, see this guide to Iceland winter must-sees and must-dos.
Temperatures in Iceland in winter are cold but not extreme by northern European standards. In Reykjavík, December averages around 1°C (34°F), dropping a few degrees in rural areas. Snow and ice are common on higher ground and in the north.
Wind is the main factor to prepare for. Layering is more effective than a single heavy coat, and waterproof outer layers are worth prioritising. The weather can change quickly, which is one reason our team monitors conditions throughout your trip.
Geothermal pools are open year-round and are worth building into your itinerary alongside aurora hunting, including the Blue Lagoon.
All Iceland Tours Northern Lights packages include:
- Accommodation
- Local transport
- Breakfast
- Detailed itinerary
- 24/7 helpline whilst you’re in Iceland
All multi-day tour packages include a guided Northern Lights excursion, with a free follow-up excursion if conditions are not suitable on the first attempt.
Some of these packages also include ice caving or lava caving. Use the filters above to find these activities included.
Browse the packages above and filter by travel style, duration, and any activities you want included. Self-drive tours, multi-day tours from Reykjavík, guided group tours, and private tours are all available.
On a self-drive package, you set your own pace and can follow aurora forecasts in real time. On a multi-day tour, you join guided day excursions and a Northern Lights hunt on one evening, with a repeat excursion available if needed. On a guided group tour, a local guide handles driving and aurora spotting strategy throughout the trip.
Not sure how long your trip should be? See this guide to how many days you need in Iceland in winter.
On self-drive packages, you can choose your rental car and accommodation level at checkout. You can also add extra nights in Reykjavík before or after your trip, and additional activities such as glacier hikes or snowmobile excursions.
If you would like further customisation beyond what is available at checkout, get in touch and we will be happy to help. A customisation fee applies in this case. See our terms and conditions.
Booking a few months in advance is recommended, particularly for winter travel. Accommodation in more remote areas fills up quickly during peak aurora season, and guided group tour departures have fixed dates that can book out early.
We accept bookings up to one week before your planned start date. If you book with less than 30 days' notice, the full trip price is payable at the time of booking rather than the 5% deposit.
Christmas and New Year's tours book up particularly early so plan ahead if those dates are on your wishlist.
Check the forecast before each day out and adjust layers accordingly. Conditions can shift quickly, particularly in coastal and highland areas:
- Sturdy walking boots
- Warm winter coat
- Thermal layers, sweaters, and fleeces
- Waterproof trousers
- Scarf, hat, and gloves
- Sunglasses (for low winter sun)
- Moisturizer and lip balm
- Swimming gear
Wind and low temperatures are the main conditions to prepare for. Layering is more effective than a single heavy coat, and waterproof outer layers are worth prioritising.
Find out more about what to pack for Iceland in wintertime.
Yes. Every Iceland Tours self-drive, multi-day, and guided group package that runs during aurora season includes a Northern Lights excursion, alongside accommodation, transport, and breakfast. There is no need to book anything separately or look for a standalone tour.
Not if you already have one of our multi-day, self-drive, or guided group packages booked. The excursion is included, and if conditions are not right on the first attempt, you get a free follow-up excursion. A standalone tour makes more sense only if you are staying in Reykjavík without a package booked.
Both give you a genuine chance, the difference is who is in control. On a self-drive trip, you check the forecast and decide in real time whether to head out, which suits travelers who want to chase clear skies on their own schedule. On a guided tour, a local guide makes that call and handles the driving, which suits travelers who would rather not plan around the weather themselves.