From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

The sky can put on quite a show. This four-hour Northern Lights hunt from Reykjavik combines a small minibus, flexible routing, warm Icelandic blankets, hot chocolate, kleina pastries, and free professional photos. I like the way the guides keep checking weather and aurora conditions instead of simply driving to one fixed viewpoint. I also like the personal touch: guides such as Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi, and Michaela are praised for explaining the science while working hard to get everyone a good view.

The main drawback is simple: nature makes the final decision. Clouds, moonlight, and solar activity can spoil the evening despite excellent planning. You may spend hours searching and see only a faint glow, or nothing at all. The free rebooking option helps, but it does not turn the Northern Lights into a guaranteed attraction.

• Small-group minibus: A maximum of 19 people can reach darker, narrower locations that may not suit a large coach.
• Forecast-led route: The guide chooses stops according to cloud cover, darkness, and aurora forecasts.
• Free night-sky photos: Your guide takes professional pictures of you beneath the lights and sends them afterward when the aurora is visible.
• Warm Icelandic comforts: Borrow a wool blanket and enjoy hot chocolate with kleina, a traditional Icelandic fried pastry.
• Four hours of searching: The evening may include more than one stop, with the guide sometimes staying out longer when conditions look promising.

Why the Small Minibus Matters Outside Reykjavik

A Northern Lights tour is not a sightseeing loop with a guaranteed stop. It is a search. That makes the vehicle important.

This tour uses a minibus with room for no more than 19 people. That is still a group, but it is far more manageable than a full-size coach. A smaller vehicle can use roads and pull-offs that are less practical for large buses. It also makes it easier for the guide to speak with people, organize photos, and keep the group moving when the forecast changes.

Several guides have been praised for making the ride part of the experience. Simon explains how the aurora forms and keeps expectations realistic. Wojtek uses camera information from different locations while explaining the science and the stories connected with the lights in various cultures. Einar, who has more than a decade of guiding experience, is known for his enthusiasm and persistence.

That personal energy matters during a slow search. You may spend a long stretch riding through darkness or waiting beneath a cloudy sky. A guide who can explain what is happening, point out useful signs, and keep the mood upbeat makes the uncertainty easier to handle.

The minibus is described as warm, clean, and comfortable. Still, you should not treat it as a substitute for proper clothing. The stops take place outside, often in cold wind, and you may stand around while the guide watches the sky.

Pickup Across Reykjavik Requires Some Planning

Pickup is offered from a long list of hotels and designated bus stops around the capital. These include Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, City Hall, the Culture House, Tjörnin pond, Skarfabakki Harbour, and several hotels such as Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, Hotel Reykjavik Grand, Hotel Cabin, and The Reykjavik EDITION.

Downtown hotel pickups can be affected by local traffic rules. If your accommodation is in the central area, you may need to walk to the nearest approved bus stop rather than wait outside your hotel. Check the exact meeting point before the evening, then arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

This is worth taking seriously. Reykjavik pickup zones can be busy, and a late arrival could mean missing the minibus. Wear your warm clothes before you leave your accommodation, rather than planning to change after pickup.

The return follows the same general network of hotels and stops. The exact drop-off point may not be identical to your pickup point, so confirm it with the guide if you have a late dinner, show, or other booking afterward.

The Route Changes With the Sky

The listed sightseeing plan is deliberately simple: pickup, a secret stop or stops, a guided search, and return to Reykjavik. The phrase secret stop does not mean a formal attraction with exhibits or facilities. It means the guide selects a dark location based on the conditions that night.

This flexibility is one of the tour’s better features. A fixed destination would be less useful if clouds rolled in from that direction. Instead, the driver may head away from the city, toward clearer skies and less artificial light. One outing went north for roughly one to one and a half hours. Another included stops near a geothermal plant and at Thingvellir National Park.

You might stop once, twice, or several times. One guide took the group to two places, then stayed at the more promising site. Another continued searching through heavy cloud and rain before finding a clear patch. In strong conditions, the group may remain outside longer than planned. One particularly good evening continued past 2 a.m.

There is a tradeoff. More driving means less time standing under the sky, and the four-hour duration is an estimate rather than a strict promise of aurora activity. Yet a guide who changes position gives you a better chance than one who waits stubbornly at the first stop.

What Happens at the Photo Stops

The guide generally chooses a dark viewpoint with enough open sky for aurora watching. You may first receive a short explanation of what to look for: cloud cover, the direction of the aurora, the difference between a faint gray-green glow and a strong display, and the role of camera exposure.

At the photo stop, the guide takes pictures of each person or group with a professional camera. These photographs are included in the price, which is a useful advantage. Night photography is difficult with a phone, especially when you are trying to appear in the frame while keeping the stars and lights sharp.

Guides such as Devin and Gummi are singled out for taking strong photos and helping with camera settings. Devin has also been praised for patiently handling individual photo requests. The camera may capture brighter colors than your eyes can see, particularly during a weak display.

You should keep your expectations sensible. The photos are a valuable souvenir, but they are not a guarantee that the aurora will appear. If the tour does not see the Northern Lights, photos are not delivered. If the sky produces only a faint glow, the camera may show more than your eyes do, which can be both helpful and slightly surprising.

Bring a fully charged phone if you want your own pictures. Keep it in an inside pocket when possible, since cold drains batteries quickly. Let the guide handle the main portrait session so you can pay attention to the sky instead of staring at a screen.

Hot Cocoa, Kleina, and Wool Blankets

The food and drink are modest, but they make a real difference.

You receive hot chocolate and an Icelandic pastry called kleina. Kleina is a sweet, fried dough treat, and it is especially welcome after standing in the cold. The hot chocolate has been described as rich and unusual in flavor, with some guides preparing their own version.

Wool blankets are available to borrow while you wait. Icelandic wool is well suited to cold weather, and wrapping one around your shoulders gives you another layer without requiring you to pack bulky gear. It also turns a bare roadside wait into a more pleasant outdoor break.

Do not mistake these touches for full catering. This is a snack, not dinner. Eat beforehand if you need a proper meal, especially because departure is late and the route can change. Comfortable shoes are also essential. You may stand on uneven ground, wet paths, or cold roadside surfaces.

The best moment can be surprisingly ordinary: you step away from the minibus, accept a warm cup, pull a blanket around yourself, and then notice a pale arc moving above the horizon. The comforts help you stay outside long enough to catch that moment.

The Northern Lights Are Never Guaranteed

This is the most important part of your decision.

The aurora needs the right mix of solar activity, clear or partly clear skies, and darkness. A skilled guide can read forecasts, drive toward clearer areas, and avoid city light, but no company can control the sun or Icelandic weather.

Some nights bring a spectacular display that fills much of the sky. On one outing, the group arrived just before the entire sky lit up. Another evening produced green, pink, red, and purple tones. At other times, cloud cover reduced the lights to a weak glow, or blocked them completely.

A good guide will not pretend otherwise. Michaela prepares people for the possibility of seeing little, while still searching hard for a better opening. That honest approach is valuable because it keeps the experience enjoyable even when conditions are poor. You may learn how forecasts work, hear about local beliefs, and understand why a camera can record color that is difficult to see with the naked eye.

If you attend but do not see the lights, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to space. If the company cancels before you attend because of bad weather, you receive a full refund. If you already took the tour and it was unsuccessful, the remedy is rebooking rather than a refund, and the rebooking can be used for up to two years.

I would book this early in your Reykjavik stay if your schedule allows. That gives you a chance to try again. A final-night booking can still work, but it removes your safety net.

Timing and the Best Season to Try

The tour operates during the darker part of the year, with departure times changing by season. From October 1 through March 31, departures begin from about 8:30 p.m. From August 15 through September 30 and April 1 through April 18, departures begin from about 9:30 p.m.

The Northern Lights may appear from late August into spring, but August conditions can be tricky. One visitor tried three times during a five-day stay in August without success because of clouds and limited darkness. That is not a fault with this particular outing. It is simply a reminder that an August trip offers less dependable darkness than midwinter.

Winter brings longer nights and better darkness, but it also brings colder temperatures and a greater chance of difficult weather. Pack warm layers, gloves, a hat, and sturdy footwear. The supplied blankets help, but you still need to dress for an outdoor evening.

Is the $169 Price Fair?

At $169 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. You are paying for a four-hour guided outing, transport from Reykjavik, a smaller vehicle, route decisions based on changing conditions, hot chocolate, kleina, blankets, and professional photos.

The photos are the biggest value addition. A separate private photography session would cost more, and many people struggle to take a usable self-portrait in the dark. The guide also saves you from working out where to drive, which roads to use, and how to interpret a shifting forecast.

The price makes less sense if you already have a rental car, strong night-driving experience, and several spare evenings. Even then, you would need to handle fuel, navigation, weather decisions, parking, and photography yourself. You also would not have a guide explaining the aurora during the search.

I see this as a good middle ground between a large coach tour and a private excursion. The group is small enough to feel reasonably personal, but the price remains below a fully private trip.

Who Will Like This Experience Most?

I would recommend it to first-time aurora hunters, couples, families with older children, and anyone who wants good photos without carrying camera equipment. It also suits people who prefer a guide to make the driving decisions while they watch the sky.

Children must be at least five years old. The tour is not wheelchair accessible or stroller accessible, and infant seats are not available. Anyone with mobility limitations should ask the provider for current advice before booking, since the stops may require standing or walking over uneven outdoor ground.

This is less suitable for anyone who needs a fixed schedule or guaranteed sightseeing. The route may change, the return can run late when the lights are strong, and the central event may not happen at all.

Should You Book EastWest’s Northern Lights Tour?

I would book it if you want a well-organized search with a small group, an active guide, and useful extras that make cold waiting easier. The strongest reason is the guide effort. Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi, Michaela, Einar, and others are repeatedly praised for their humor, aurora knowledge, photography, and determination to keep searching.

I would not book it expecting a guaranteed green sky. Book it expecting a carefully managed chance. Choose an early evening during your stay, arrive early at the correct pickup stop, dress more warmly than you think necessary, and leave room in your schedule for a late return.

With a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 695 ratings and 88 percent of customers giving transport a perfect score, the tour has a strong record. The sensible verdict is simple: book this if you value effort, comfort, and photos, but keep your expectations realistic because the Northern Lights answer only to nature.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts four hours, although the return may be later when the lights are particularly strong and the guide decides it is worth staying out longer.

What time does the tour depart?

From October 1 through March 31, departures begin from about 8:30 p.m. From August 15 through September 30 and April 1 through April 18, departures begin from about 9:30 p.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from selected hotels and bus stops around Reykjavik, including Hallgrimskirkja, Harpa, City Hall, Tjörnin, Skarfabakki Harbour, Hotel Reykjavik Grand, Hotel Cabin, and other listed locations.

How early should I arrive at the pickup point?

You should be at your designated pickup location 30 minutes before departure begins.

Is hotel pickup available everywhere in Reykjavik?

No. Some downtown hotels cannot receive direct pickups because of local regulations. You may need to use the nearest approved bus stop.

Are professional photos included?

Yes. Free photos are included when the Northern Lights are visible during the tour. If the tour is unsuccessful, photos are not delivered.

What food and drink are included?

You receive hot chocolate and kleina, an Icelandic donut or fried pastry. Wool blankets are also available to borrow.

What should I wear?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. The tour takes place outdoors during cold evening and winter conditions, so you should dress in layers and bring suitable footwear.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

If you attend but do not see the lights, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability. This option does not provide a refund.

Can children or wheelchair users join?

Children under five cannot join. The tour is not wheelchair accessible or stroller accessible, and infant seats are unavailable.