Award Winning Private Northern Lights Tour with All Inclusive

The promise here is a private hunt for the northern lights, not a fixed sightseeing loop. Your guide leaves Reykjavik’s glow behind and chooses where to search according to the night’s weather, cloud cover, and aurora forecasts.

I like two things in particular: you get warm jumpsuits, drinks, and snacks, so you can focus on the sky rather than your packing list; and camera help and photos take some pressure off getting the shot yourself. Guide Heimir is also praised for his enthusiasm and ability to tailor the outing.

The trade-off is real: auroras are never guaranteed, and three possible search areas do not mean you will visit all three. The tour costs $1,380 for up to six people, so it makes most sense if your group values privacy, flexible routing, and included support.

At a glance

• Route follows the forecast: Your guide chooses a dark location based on weather, cloud cover, and geomagnetic forecasts.
• Three areas are possible: The search may head to the Southern Region, Reykjanes Peninsula, or Thingvellir National Park. These are options, not guaranteed stops.
• Warmth is part of the plan: Winter jumpsuits, hot drinks, liquor, and Icelandic sweet treats are included.
• Photo help is included: You can use a tripod and get camera assistance, with photos provided.
• Private for your party: The $1,380 price covers a group of up to six, with pickup offered in Reykjavik.
• A no-show sky has a backup: If the aurora does not appear, you are offered a second tour free.

A private search, not a scheduled show

The northern lights do not run on a timetable, which makes a flexible route more useful than a promise to visit a particular viewpoint. You start at 8:00 pm and leave Reykjavik’s city lights behind, heading toward whichever area looks most promising that night.

That can mean the Southern Region, the Reykjanes Peninsula, or Thingvellir National Park. The plan depends on conditions, and your guide may travel through striking natural scenery along the way. The goal, though, is the sky: a dark spot with the best available chance of seeing aurora, not ticking off a set of attractions.

That distinction matters. A location listed as a possible stop is not a guarantee that you will go there, or that you will stop at all three. A northern lights tour is a moving search, and clouds in one direction may make another route the wiser choice.

The outing lasts about three to five hours. That range leaves room to adjust the search, but it also means you should keep the evening open. The itinerary describes roughly an hour for each named area, yet those are not three fixed one-hour visits. Think of them as possible zones for the hunt.

Choosing between the Southern Region, Reykjanes, and Thingvellir

Your guide’s decision is the heart of the tour. Weather and cloud cover can change the usefulness of a location, while geomagnetic forecasts help with the aurora outlook. A good plan is therefore specific to that evening rather than set days in advance.

The Southern Region is one possible search area. The tour description does not promise particular landmarks or a set route there, so the value is its potential for darker skies away from Reykjavik, not a guaranteed scenic stop. If the aurora appears, you may have a memorable view; if it does not, the drive is still part of the search.

The Reykjanes Peninsula is another option. Again, the guide chooses based on conditions, and the focus remains on finding a suitable patch of dark sky. You might pass natural sights along the way, but you should not book this as a peninsula sightseeing tour with a fixed list of stops.

Thingvellir National Park is also named as a possible destination. The same practical rule applies: it is a place the guide may use when the night’s conditions favor it, not a promised destination. If you have your heart set on seeing a particular area, ask the operator before booking whether the route can accommodate that wish. The tour’s central purpose is to chase the lights, and a forecast-led choice may take priority.

This flexibility is an advantage, but it asks you to be comfortable with uncertainty. You are paying for a guide to make a fresh decision, not for a particular road trip. If you want a fixed daytime itinerary, this is not the right model. If you want someone else to watch the conditions and choose where to look, it is a practical way to spend an aurora night.

Warm suits, hot chocolate, and less camera stress

Cold can turn a long wait outdoors into a short one. The included winter jumpsuits help you stay outside without having to pack a full set of bulky outerwear just for this outing. They are a useful comfort feature, not a substitute for dressing sensibly underneath: the tour information does not specify sizes, layers, or the exact warmth rating, so ask about fit if you have a concern.

Hot drinks, liquor, and Icelandic sweet treats add a welcome pause during the search. The details do not specify which drinks or snacks are served, so treat them as a thoughtful inclusion rather than a full meal. Eat beforehand if you will need dinner during the evening.

The photo setup is another practical plus. Tripods and camera assistance are included, and photos are provided. That can help if you do not know how to set up a camera for night photography, or if you would rather watch the sky than spend the whole evening fiddling with a phone.

Professional photos also remove some of the pressure to capture the lights yourself. One guest specifically praised the photos and the relief of not having to rely on a phone or buy a professional camera. That is a useful distinction: you can still bring your own camera, but you do not have to make photography the main event.

Guide Heimir is praised for his enthusiasm and skill, including tailoring the experience and moving toward a promising spot. That kind of attention can matter on a private tour, where the guide is working with one group rather than trying to keep a larger bus together. Still, a guide can choose a route and help with equipment, but cannot order the aurora to appear.

What the private price buys your group

At $1,380 per group of up to six, the price is substantial. It is not a per-person fare, so the cost per person changes sharply with group size: divided among six, it works out to $230 each; for two, it is $690 each. Those figures do not include any extras not specified in the tour information.

The value comes from bundling the vehicle and guide for your own party, hotel-area pickup, warm jumpsuits, refreshments, camera help, tripods, and photos. You are also buying flexibility: the route is chosen for the night rather than dictated by a large group’s fixed schedule. For a family or group of friends, that can be a worthwhile trade for a less personal shared excursion.

The guarantee of a second tour if the lights do not appear improves the value, particularly because the main attraction is outside anyone’s control. Before booking, clarify with the operator how that second outing is arranged and what availability looks like during your stay. The information promises a free second tour, but does not spell out the timing or conditions for using it.

A lower-cost shared tour may suit you better if price is the main concern and you are comfortable sharing transport and attention with other people. This private option makes more sense when personal space, tailored routing, and hands-on camera help matter enough to justify the group rate.

Pickup, timing, and the practical details

Pickup is offered from hotels, cruise terminals, and many guesthouses in Reykjavik. The tour is private, so only your group participates. Confirm your exact pickup point and time with the operator, especially if you are staying at a guesthouse or arriving by cruise ship. The listed start time is 8:00 pm.

The tour is described as lasting about three to five hours. That is a meaningful spread, so do not plan a tight commitment immediately afterward. Conditions and the search route affect the length, and the tour’s purpose is to keep looking when it makes sense rather than end after a short, fixed drive.

Booking is often made well ahead: the stated average is 58 days in advance. That is a useful signal if your dates are fixed, though it is not a guarantee of availability or a rule that you must book that early. If you are traveling during a limited window, reserve early and keep another evening available if you can.

Most travelers can participate, according to the tour details. The experience requires good weather; if poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made later than that are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book this aurora hunt

I would consider this tour if you have a group of up to six, want a private evening, and value the included comfort and camera support. It is especially appealing if nobody in your party wants to navigate an unfamiliar route in winter darkness or figure out night photography alone.

It may also suit you if the northern lights are a priority and you have enough flexibility to use the free second tour if needed. The promise of another outing does not guarantee a display, but it gives you another chance without paying for a second tour.

I would pause if you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget. The group price is hard to justify when shared transport would do, and there is no guarantee that the sky will cooperate on either night. Also think about whether your group will be happy spending several hours on a search whose route and outcome are uncertain.

Before you pay, confirm pickup details, ask how the second tour works, and check that the jumpsuits and camera support fit your needs. Those are simple questions, but they help you judge whether the all-inclusive package is genuinely useful for your group.

Should you book?

Book this if you want a private, forecast-led aurora search with warm suits, refreshments, camera help, and photos included. The strongest reasons are the flexibility and the extra support, especially for a group that wants to share the experience without splitting into a larger tour.

Skip it if the price is the deciding factor, if you need a fixed sightseeing route, or if you cannot leave room in your schedule for weather changes. The lights remain a gamble. The tour reduces some of the planning and comfort hassles, not the uncertainty of the sky.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 8:00 pm.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts approximately three to five hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers a private group of up to six people.

Which locations will the tour visit?

The guide may choose the Southern Region, Reykjanes Peninsula, or Thingvellir National Park. The route depends on the weather, cloud cover, and geomagnetic forecasts, so none of these locations is guaranteed.

What is included?

The tour includes pickup, winter jumpsuits, hot drinks, liquor, Icelandic sweet treats, tripods, camera assistance, and photos.

What happens if the northern lights do not appear?

You are offered a second tour free if you do not see the aurora.