Why Choose a Northern Lights Tour?
The Northern Lights are one of those things that people have dreamed of seeing for as long as they can remember. And they really are that special. Imagine gazing up at the night sky to see these shimmering extraterrestrial lights in the midst of a snow-covered landscape.
On a Northern Lights tour in Iceland, you no longer have to imagine. Our tours take you to the best spots to see this unforgettable sight. And along the way, our local guides will share the magic and science behind their awesome colours.
The Enchantment of Northern Lights
Perhaps you know that the Northern Lights are caused by activity on the sun already. When there are storms on the sun’s surface, solar particles fly across the Solar System and crash into Earth’s atmosphere. It’s those collisions that cause the incredible lights you’ll see.
But there’s so much more to learn—and there’s nothing like seeing the display for yourself. Join one of the best Northern Lights tours in Iceland to get the answers to your questions, expert photography tips, and great company to make the experience complete.
Northern Lights Tours with Icelandia
But there’s so much more to learn—and there’s nothing like seeing the display for yourself. Join one of the best Northern Lights tours in Iceland to get the answers to your questions, expert photography tips, and great company to make the experience complete.
At Icelandia, we offer tours to suit a range of styles and travel plans. For example, are you looking for a Northern Lights tour from Reykjavík? We can pick you up from your accommodation and take you out of town to where the conditions will be the best. It’s one of the most popular tours in Iceland.
Northern Lights Combo Tours
Alternatively, would you prefer to see the Northern Lights while exploring the incredible destinations along Iceland’s south coast? We offer Northern Lights tours to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Golden Circle.
Or combine a Northern Lights experience with a serene trip to a spa. Whether you choose the Blue Lagoon, the Sky Lagoon, or the Fontana Geothermal Baths, it promises a truly special evening.
FAQ:
Almost any camera phone these days is powerful enough to take decent pictures of the Northern Lights. In fact, many phone cameras are actually better than proper cameras!
To take a good photo, turn your exposure to the maximum, turn off the flash, and use night mode. Apps such as Nightcap, Cortex Camera, or the Northern Lights Photo Taker can help too.
The Northern Lights can be seen from Reykjavík, yes. And it’s a magical experience to see them by chance when you’re just enjoying your evening.
However, the city is not the best place to see the Northern Lights. That’s because light pollution can prevent them from appearing with their full strength. Instead, you want somewhere dark to enjoy them at their best.
It’s possible to see the Northern Lights in Iceland throughout the winter.
For the Northern Lights to be visible, you need two things: solar activity and a clear, dark sky. The darker the better—that’s why winters in very northern countries like Iceland are the best time to see them.
The ideal time to see the Northern Lights are the darkest months of the year: November, December, and January. However, you can see them from September through to April.
The scientific processes that cause the Northern Lights occur very often, if not pretty much all the time—throughout the night, day, winter and summer. However, often you can’t see them because of the cloud, the midnight sun, or because you’re not looking.
While every night might be an exaggeration, the Northern Lights are much more common than you might think!
There’s no way of guaranteeing that you’ll see the Northern Lights. It’s a natural phenomenon that’s affected by the weather, after all. But with Northern Lights tours, you do have a pretty good chance.
In Iceland, December is the month when the days are shortest and nights are darkest. That means it’s typically the favourite month for Northern Lights-hunters.
That said, you can have as much luck seeing the aurora borealis in any of the months of the winter. All you need is dark, clear skies.
It’s not at all rare to see the Northern Lights in Iceland! That’s why so many people come to the Land of Ice and Fire to enjoy the display.
In fact, you can see the aurora borealis almost every night if the skies are clear. You just need to know where to look!
The best way to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights is to join a tour. While you can sometimes see the phenomenon by yourself, when you’re led by an expert guide, they’ll be able to show you exactly where to look.
What’s more, if you don’t see the Northern Lights on your tour, we’ll give you a ticket to another tour on a day that suits you for free—to double your chances.
To see the Northern Lights at their best, it’s recommended that you find a place where light pollution is lowest. That’s why the best Northern Lights tours will leave cities such as Reykjavík—because you can see the aurora better where it’s darkest.
That said, you can see the Northern Lights from the city. And as weather conditions and cloud cover change every night, the best place to see the Northern Lights changes too.
The price of Northern Lights tours in Iceland depend on what you want to get up to and how you want to travel.
The most affordable option is the classic tour from Reykjavík, which takes you by coach to a destination where the conditions are best that evening. But if you want to travel by small group, or on a private vehicle, you will pay more.
The same goes for tours that take you to different destinations, such as the Golden Circle or the Blue Lagoon.
Check out individual tour pages for up to date prices.
When on a Northern Lights tour, plan to wear clothes that will best keep you warm. You’re going to be outside at night in the Icelandic winter, and to enjoy the experience to the fullest you won’t want to get cold.
The best idea is to wear lots of thin layers, plus a winter jacket and a windproof outer shell. And don’t forget to keep your feet warm! Icelandic woollen socks, for example, can be a good idea.