Northern Lights tours of Iceland
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, and for good reason. Long winter nights, low light pollution across most of the country, and a landscape that makes the aurora feel like it belongs there rather than just passing through. On a clear night away from Reykjavík, the experience is genuinely hard to forget.
All of the packages below include accommodation, transport, and daily breakfast. You can choose from self-drive tours where you set your own pace, multi-day tours based out of Reykjavík with a guided Northern Lights excursion included, or fully guided group tours that take you across the country with a local expert leading the way.
The Northern Lights season runs from late August through to April, with the darkest and most reliable months being October through March. Whatever time of year you visit, there is plenty more to fill the days while you wait for dark.
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Use promo code SAVE10 to save 10% on select Northern Lights tours with travel dates through October. Chase the aurora borealis across Iceland's winter landscapes for less. Offer ends soon!
- 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 one of those things that stays with you. 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.
- 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 phenomenon found in Iceland and other Arctic countries. They’re caused by the solar wind – streams of particles given off by the Sun – interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field.
You’ll notice them as colorful ribbons of blue, green, purple, and sometimes red light dancing across the sky. They’re a breathtaking sight and one that’ll stick in your mind.
Find out more about them in this guide to the Northern Lights.
The Aurora are actually there all year round, but to be able to see them you need darkness. This means you’ll want to visit in the winter months of October to March to maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland.
They start to become visible in the fall, from the very end of August onwards, and can be spotted as late as April, during spring in Iceland. The only thing is the nights are shorter, so there’s less pure darkness, meaning it can be trickier to see the Aurora during that time.
Luckily, there’s plenty to do in Iceland in winter. It’s a great time to visit, Northern Lights or not!
Any spot with low levels of light pollution should be good for hunting the Aurora. To find one, you’ll need to head out into the countryside, away from the city lights.
Of course, the Northern Lights are even more gobsmacking if you’re standing in an incredible landscape. Find out all about the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
You can also join Northern Lights tours led by experienced tour guides. They’ll take you out to an ideal hunting location and give you photography tips! You can even join the next excursion for free if you don’t spot them the first time around.
To see this natural light show, you need 3 things:
- Clear conditions
- A dark night sky
- High levels of solar activity
Whilst you’re in Iceland, make sure to keep your eye on the weather forecasts for the right conditions. The weather doesn’t affect the intensity of the lights themselves, but you won’t be able to see them if there’s cloud cover.
If you get the right conditions, you might be lucky to enough to spot the magical Northern Lights twirling overhead.
The Northern Lights are best seen with your own eyes, but it’s definitely possible to take a great picture of them with the right gear. You’ll need an SLR camera or a phone that allows you to take long exposures.
For the lights to show up on film, you should adjust the exposure time on your camera to at least 30 seconds or even a few minutes. It’s also worth bringing a tripod to keep the image nice and steady.
Capturing the lights on camera can make them look more vivid. With a bit of trial and error, you can get that jaw-dropping snap!
The Northern Lights season falls during Icelandic winter, when there is a whole bunch of exciting stuff to see and do:
- Explore glittering ice caves under the surface of a glacier
- Marvel at icicle-clad waterfalls on the south coast
- Relax and unwind in the warming 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
- Spot snow-capped mountains in the distance
- 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.
In Iceland in winter, you can expect to see snow and ice on the mountaintops and on the ground. You’ll also feel a wintry wind, so make sure to wrap up warm!
Temperatures are low too, but not as low as you might expect. In December in Reykjavík for example, the average is around 1°C (34°F). It’ll be a few degrees colder in the countryside though.
The weather in Iceland turns on a dime. So don’t worry if the sky is looking overcast, it probably won’t be long until it clears up.
On these chilly winter nights, it’s lovely to stew in the Blue Lagoon or a local ‘hot pot’ (hot tub) after a day’s exploring. There are also plenty of natural hot springs if you’re after a wilder experience.
We offer a wide range of Northern Lights tours in Iceland. With all of our trips, you get:
- Accommodation
- Local transport
- Breakfast
- Detailed itinerary
- 24/7 helpline whilst you’re in Iceland
What’s more, all of the bus tour packages on this page include a Northern Lights excursion, with the chance to go out again if you don’t spot the Aurora.
Some of these packages also include activities such as ice caving or lava caving. Use the filters above to find these adventure-packed trips.
Start by exploring the trips above. There are plenty of different ways to travel, including self-drive tours, multi-day tours from Reykjavík, guided group tours, and private tours.
On a self-drive trip, you can set your own pace and stop as little or as often as you like. This means you have the freedom to spend hours chasing down the Northern Lights if you want to.
On a multi-day trip, you’ll be joining different bus tours from Reykjavík each day. This includes a Northern Lights excursion on one evening. And you get the chance to go out again if you don’t catch the lights.
On a privately guided trip, your driver-guide will take you around all the main attractions. This also means you’ll get to chase the Northern Lights in a lesser-visited spot and get tips from a local pro!
Not sure how long your trip should be? Check out this guide to how many days you need in Iceland in winter.
Absolutely! With Iceland Tours, it’s easy for you to choose your preferred rental car (self-drive trips only) and accommodation level.
You can also extend your Iceland Aurora tour with extra nights before or after. You can add excursions on these days to see even more of Iceland’s incredible wintry landscapes, or simply chill in town. And you can make all of these changes yourself at checkout.
If you want to customize your trip further, you can get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help. Please note a customization fee applies in this case, see our terms and conditions for details.
It’s good to book your Iceland Northern Lights vacation a few months in advance. That way, you have plenty of time to get ready. This also means you can secure your trip with a low deposit of just 5%.
We accept bookings up to a week before your planned start date. If you book with less than 30 days’ notice though, you would need to pay the full trip price when you book.
Booking ahead is also a good idea to ensure there is good availability for your planned travel dates. Places can be limited, especially for Christmas and New Year’s tours, so don’t delay!
Make sure you stay warm and comfortable in Iceland’s wintry weather by taking these things with you:
- Sturdy walking boots
- Warm winter coat
- Cozy thermal layers, such as sweaters and fleeces
- Waterproof trousers
- Wooly scarf, hat, and gloves
- Sunglasses (for low winter sun)
- Moisturizer and lip balm
- Swimming gear
The humidity in Iceland is low all year round, but especially in winter. Moisturizer will help keep your skin soft and comfortable.
It’s a good idea to throw in a pair of sunglasses, particularly if you’re driving. The winter sun tends to stay fairly close to the horizon.
Find out more about what to pack for Iceland in wintertime.