Reykjavik: Small Group Northern Lights Tour

The sky can put on quite a show. This three-hour outing takes you from Reykjavik to a darker spot outside the city, where an English-speaking guide checks the conditions and gives you the best practical chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis. I like the small group of up to 19 people and the warm bus with blankets, Wi-Fi, and a guide who can help with night photography.

I also like the free second attempt if the lights do not appear the first time. That matters because the Northern Lights are never guaranteed. The main drawback is simple: the tour can be canceled or rescheduled when weather or visibility is poor, and a return trip may place you on a much larger outing rather than another small group.

Key things to know before you book

• A three-hour search from Reykjavik: You leave the city by bus and spend time in a dark area chosen for that evening’s conditions.
• Small by coach-tour standards: The listed maximum is 19 people, a more manageable group than a full-size excursion bus.
• The free repeat visit has limits: If you miss the lights, you can join again, but the second outing may not have the same small-group format.
• Winter clothing is essential: Bring warm layers, a hat, gloves, and hiking shoes. Blankets are supplied, but they do not replace proper clothing.
• The lights are a natural event: Green and pink are common colors, but clouds, weather, and solar activity decide what you see.
• Meet at BSI Bus Terminal: You should be there 30 minutes before departure, not at the last minute.

Leaving Reykjavik for a darker sky

Your evening begins at the BSI Bus Terminal, where you meet the guide and the rest of the group. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. This is useful time to find the correct bus, check in, and get settled without turning the start of the night into a small sprint.

The bus is warm and comfortable, with free Wi-Fi. Blankets are included, which is a welcome touch in Iceland’s winter darkness. Food and drinks are not included, so eat beforehand and bring anything you need for the three-hour outing.

The first part of the ride is not the main event, but it serves an important purpose. Reykjavik’s city lights can wash out a faint Aurora. Your guide chooses a quieter, darker area away from the strongest glow, based on the forecast and conditions that night.

That decision is one of the main reasons to use a guided tour instead of simply walking outside your hotel and hoping. A guide can respond to changing conditions and select a location with a better chance of clear skies. This does not guarantee a sighting, but it gives your evening some direction.

The group is capped at 19 people, which is relatively small for a bus excursion. You are still sharing the experience with other people, and everyone may want a clear view or a good place to take pictures. Still, the group size should feel more orderly than a major coach tour with several dozen passengers.

Waiting for the Aurora in Iceland

Once you reach the viewing area, the tour slows down. There is no scheduled parade of sights here. You wait, look upward, and let the sky decide what happens next.

The Northern Lights form when particles from the sun interact with the upper atmosphere near the Magnetic Pole. In Iceland, they can appear from late August through April, with the best-known colors being light green and pink. The display may look like a faint haze, a curved band, or a brighter ribbon that shifts across the sky.

You should set your expectations carefully. A photograph can show colors more strongly than your eyes do, especially when the lights are faint. At other times, the Aurora can be easy to see and may change shape while you watch. The experience is less like viewing a fixed attraction and more like waiting for a natural performance with no promised start time.

That uncertainty is not a flaw in the tour, but it is a real part of the purchase. You are paying for transport, local guidance, and a better search strategy, not for a guaranteed light show. The tour provider plainly notes that sightings depend on weather and conditions.

Your guide can also offer basic advice for taking Aurora pictures. This is useful because night photography is not as simple as pointing your phone upward. Ask for help if you want to try. You will have time to admire the sky and take photos before boarding the bus back to Reykjavik.

What the small group really adds

A maximum of 19 people sounds modest, but it is worth understanding what it does and does not mean. You get a more limited number of people sharing the bus and viewing stop, which can make instructions easier to hear and the outing less crowded.

It does not mean a private experience. You will still need to share the dark-sky location, and other people may be taking photographs around you. The size is best viewed as a comfort improvement rather than a promise of solitude.

One important wrinkle concerns the free repeat visit. If the Aurora does not appear, you may join the tour again at no extra charge. That is one of the strongest parts of the offer, especially for a costly Iceland evening. But the repeat outing may be placed on a large-group tour instead.

A previous second attempt included about ten large coaches at the same location. That is a very different feel from a 19-person departure. If you need the small-group format on the second night, ask the operator what is available rather than assuming the same arrangement will carry over.

Is $115 a fair price?

At $115 per person, this is not a cheap way to spend an evening. Iceland is expensive, and the price needs to be judged against what you are buying.

You receive bus transport from Reykjavik, an English-speaking local guide, Wi-Fi, blankets, and a guided search for darker skies. The free repeat visit also gives the price more protection than a one-shot ticket. If clouds spoil the first attempt, you are not simply left with an empty evening.

The value is strongest for people who do not want to rent a car or drive unfamiliar Icelandic roads at night. You can sit on the bus while the guide decides where to go. You also avoid having to research forecasts, road conditions, and possible viewing areas yourself.

The value is weaker if you already have a rental car, feel comfortable driving, and are willing to chase the Aurora on your own. One unhappy experience with this outing involved an inconvenient return and a 20-minute walk to a hotel at about 1 a.m. That does not mean every return works that way, but it is a useful warning: confirm where the bus will leave you and how you will get back to your accommodation.

You may also see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik itself on a strong night. A darker location can make the display brighter, as happened for one successful outing, but city viewing is possible when conditions are right. The tour is paying for a better chance and less guesswork, not exclusive access to the sky.

Weather cancellations and the free second chance

Weather can cancel this tour twice, as it did for one booking before a third attempt finally ran. That may sound frustrating, but canceling in poor conditions is better than sending a bus into a night with no reasonable chance of clear viewing.

Check your email before departure for updates. You should also ask your hotel receptionist whether the tour is running as planned. Icelandic weather can change quickly, and the operator may adjust the departure based on the forecast.

The second-chance policy is generous in principle. If you go out and see nothing, you can try again without paying another tour fee. The catch is that the repeat trip may be assigned to a larger group, so the backup plan is valuable but not identical to the original booking.

For a short visit to Iceland, schedule this tour early in your stay if possible. The supplied information does not promise a particular rescheduling window, so giving yourself extra nights provides more room for a canceled departure or a second attempt.

How to dress for three hours outside

Take the clothing advice seriously. Bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and hiking shoes. Even with blankets and a heated bus, you may spend a long period standing outside while waiting for the sky to change.

Wear layers so you can adjust between the warm bus and the cold viewing area. Gloves matter when you are holding a phone or camera. Hiking shoes are recommended because the stop is a dark outdoor location, and sturdy footwear is more useful than smooth city shoes.

Food and drinks are not included. Have dinner first, since the tour can run into the evening and you may be outside for a while. A warm drink of your own may also be useful, although you should not count on refreshments being supplied. One outing ran short of cups for hot chocolate, leaving two people without a drink, so included or promised refreshments should not be treated as a core feature.

Children under three cannot join. The tour is otherwise aimed at people who can manage a late, cold outdoor wait and a three-hour bus excursion.

Photography without missing the moment

Aurora photography can become its own little project. It is easy to spend the entire stop adjusting a camera and forget to look up. I suggest watching first, then taking a few pictures, then putting the device away for a minute.

Ask the guide for basic camera advice. The guide may be able to help you make better use of the darkness and your phone or camera settings. The exact results will depend on your equipment and the strength of the display, so do not judge the success of the night only by your pictures.

A dark location improves the chance of capturing the lights clearly, just as it improves what you see with your own eyes. The outing that produced a successful sighting also found the lights later in Reykjavik, but the display was stronger away from the city. That is a useful distinction: city viewing may work, yet getting beyond the light pollution can make the experience more impressive.

Who will get the most from this tour?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Reykjavik, do not want to drive at night, and prefer a guide to make the location decisions. It also suits first-time Aurora hunters who want some help with photography and do not want to plan the search alone.

The tour is a good match for couples, solo visitors, and small parties who want something more contained than a full coach outing. The free repeat visit is especially helpful if your schedule allows another evening.

I would hesitate if you have only one night in Iceland and cannot tolerate a weather-related cancellation. I would also compare the price with a rental car if you already plan to drive and are comfortable handling dark roads and changing weather.

Families with very young children should note the age restriction. Older children may enjoy the lights, but the cold, late timing, and waiting period can be tiring. Since the tour lasts three hours and food is not included, plan the evening around a proper meal.

Practical verdict: book or skip?

Book this Northern Lights tour if you want a guided, relatively small-group search from Reykjavik and value a free second attempt. The successful outings show what the trip can deliver: a friendly guide, a darker viewing site, and a stronger display than the city offered.

Skip it if you want a private experience, guaranteed sightings, or complete control over your return to the hotel. The price is reasonable for transport and guidance, but it is not a bargain if you already have a car and the confidence to search independently.

My advice is to book early in your Iceland stay, dress for real cold, check your email before leaving, and confirm the return arrangements. Think of the $115 as payment for a well-planned chance to see the Aurora, not a ticket to a guaranteed show.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour meet?

You meet at the BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik. Be ready there 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours, including the bus journey to a dark viewing area and the return to Reykjavik.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How many people are in the small group?

The tour has a maximum of 19 people.

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. The tour depends on weather and viewing conditions, so sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see the lights?

You can join the tour again free of charge if you do not see the Northern Lights the first time. The repeat outing may be operated as a large-group tour.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and hiking shoes. Blankets are included, but food and drinks are not.

Can children under three join the tour?

No. Children under three are not permitted to participate.