From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Hot Cocoa & Photos

The promise here is not a guaranteed light show. It’s a guided search for one, with your driver checking conditions and taking the minibus away from Reykjavik toward a better chance of clear, dark sky. If the aurora appears, you can watch it overhead and get photos of yourself beneath it.

I like two details in particular: the small minibus, capped at 19 people, and the warm pause outdoors with Icelandic wool blankets, hot chocolate and kleina, a local fried pastry. The free photos are useful, too, since capturing yourself and the lights can be tricky in the dark.

The main drawback is simple: the weather and aurora are beyond anyone’s control. You could spend four hours chasing clouds and see no lights. If that happens, you can try again on another tour, subject to availability, but you do not receive a refund after taking the tour.

• A moving search, not a fixed viewpoint: Your guide chooses locations based on weather forecasts and sky conditions.
• A small-group ride: The minibus carries no more than 19 people and can reach places larger buses may not.
• Warmth is part of the plan: Blankets, hot chocolate and kleina help make waiting outside more comfortable.
• Photos are included: Your guide takes pictures of you with the aurora when it is visible.
• No aurora, no photo delivery: The free photos depend on the lights appearing during your tour.
• A second attempt may be possible: If the tour runs but the aurora stays hidden, you can rebook without charge, subject to availability.

A four-hour chase from Reykjavik

The Northern Lights are not a stage show with a curtain time. Your guide can study forecasts, drive toward clearer skies and choose a darker place to stop, but no one can promise the lights will appear. That uncertainty is part of the experience, and it’s worth accepting before you book.

The tour is built around that search. You meet at a designated Reykjavik pickup point, ride out in a minibus and stop at a location chosen for the night’s conditions. The itinerary calls the stop a secret, which makes sense for a route that can change with the weather rather than follow a fixed sightseeing circuit.

Four hours gives the guide time to try more than one location if needed. Several tour accounts describe moving between spots when cloud cover blocked the first view. One group drove north for roughly an hour to seek clearer sky; another made several stops before finding a useful opening. These are examples, not a set route. Your own night may involve a different drive and fewer or more stops.

It helps to think of the outing as an evening of searching, learning and waiting, with a chance of a spectacular payoff. If you need a guaranteed sight, this is the wrong kind of activity. If you can enjoy the process even when nature says no, the changing sky and the hunt itself can still make a memorable night.

Guides who read the sky and explain the science

Your guide does more than drive. Guides such as Baldvin, Devin, Simon, Gummi and Michaela have been praised for explaining how auroras form, how forecasts work and what to watch for in the sky. The guide assigned to your departure can vary, so don’t book on the assumption that you’ll have one particular person.

A good guide can make the uncertain parts easier to understand. Cloud cover, the aurora forecast and the darkness of a location all matter, but none turns the lights into a sure thing. You may hear how the guide weighs those factors while choosing where to go. One tour account describes a driver checking information from cameras at different locations; others describe guides adjusting the route as conditions changed.

The strongest descriptions of the experience pair clear explanations with patience and humor. Guides have helped with photo requests, pointed out where to look and kept the group informed when conditions were poor. That practical attention matters. In a dark field, a little direction can help you focus on the sky rather than wonder whether you are looking in the right place.

The guides’ determination has limits, of course. They can work to improve your chances, but they cannot control clouds or aurora activity. The best mindset is to treat their expertise as a way to make a smart search, not as a guarantee.

What happens at the stop

Once the minibus reaches a suitable location, you’ll step outside to watch and wait. Depending on the sky, the guide may choose another place rather than stay at the first stop. Some tours have found the lights at the first location; others have needed more than one attempt. The precise plan is shaped by that night’s conditions.

If the aurora appears, you may see a faint band or a more active display moving across the sky. The experience can look different from photographs, and the strength of the lights can change. Some tour accounts describe seeing colors with the naked eye, while others describe a display that was subdued by cloud cover. A camera may capture brighter color than you can see directly, so don’t judge the night only by what your phone records.

Your guide takes photos of you with the lights at no extra charge when the aurora is visible. This is a welcome part of the package: you can spend more time looking up instead of trying to set up a camera in the cold. Guides have also helped people with photo requests and camera settings. Still, photos are not delivered if the tour is unsuccessful and the Northern Lights cannot be seen.

There is no promised number of stops, viewing time or level of aurora activity. A group may move several times, or settle in one place when the conditions are good. One account describes staying out past 2 a.m. because the display was so strong, but that is not a standard schedule to count on. The stated duration is four hours.

Hot chocolate, kleina and borrowed wool blankets

The included refreshments are a small touch with real practical value. Standing outside on a cold Icelandic evening can feel very different from watching the sky through a warm bus window. A cup of hot chocolate and a kleina, an Icelandic fried pastry, give you something comforting while you wait.

I’d still dress as if the blankets were not enough. Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes, as advised, and plan for cold conditions. The blankets are available to borrow, but they are an extra layer, not a substitute for dressing properly. You may spend a substantial part of the outing outdoors, and the wind and temperature can make waiting feel longer.

The cocoa and pastry also help make the stop feel less like standing around for a forecast to improve. They are not the reason to book, but they add warmth and a distinctly local snack to an activity that otherwise depends on the sky. The blankets, drinks and food are included in the $169 price.

Why the small minibus is useful

The group limit of 19 is a meaningful feature. It keeps the outing smaller than a large coach tour and gives the guide a more manageable group to gather at stops and help with photos. One person who joined a similar small-bus outing noted that it could reach places larger vehicles could not. That flexibility can be useful when the goal is to find a clear, dark patch of sky rather than visit a standard attraction.

The minibus ride also gives the guide time to explain the plan and talk about the aurora along the way. Transport has been described as comfortable and warm, a welcome contrast to the cold stops outside. But don’t mistake a smaller vehicle for a private tour. You’ll share the ride with other people, up to the stated maximum.

Pickup and drop-off are included, with 24 listed pickup and drop-off options around Reykjavik. Downtown hotel pickup can be restricted by local regulations, so you may be directed to a nearby bus stop instead. Check your specific meeting point and be ready 30 minutes before departure; pickup begins before the stated tour start time.

The $169 price and what it buys

At $169 per person, this is more than a ride out of town. The price includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, minibus transport, hot chocolate, kleina, a borrowed wool blanket and free photos when the lights are visible. That bundle makes the cost easier to assess, especially if you value the guide’s forecasting decisions and help with photography.

You are paying for a better-organized search, not for the Northern Lights themselves. The aurora is free, unpredictable and sometimes hidden by clouds. A tour can improve your odds of reaching a suitable viewing area, but it cannot sell certainty. That distinction is the key to deciding whether the price feels worthwhile.

If you have a rental car and are comfortable planning your own route, you may prefer to search independently. But this tour makes sense if you want someone else to handle the driving, monitor conditions, choose stops and take photos. The chance to rebook after an unsuccessful outing, subject to availability, adds value if your schedule has room for another attempt.

The tour is rated 4.7 from 695 reviews, and transport has received particularly strong marks, with 88 percent of reviewers giving it a perfect score. The clearest strengths are the guides’ effort, the small vehicle and the care taken with photos and comfort. None of those can improve the aurora itself, but they can make a night of uncertain skies more pleasant.

Picking a night and preparing for the cold

The listed departure windows are 9:30 p.m. from August 15 to September 30 and from April 1 to April 18, and 8:30 p.m. from October 1 to March 31. Check the available start times for your date, since the tour schedule varies by season. The Northern Lights are not visible in every set of conditions, so if your trip allows it, leaving more than one evening open gives you another chance to go.

Arrive at the designated pickup point 30 minutes before the departure time. If your hotel is not among the listed locations, or you are unsure which stop to use, contact EastWest for guidance. Downtown restrictions mean that the closest listed pickup may be a bus stop rather than your hotel door.

Bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes. The tour is not wheelchair accessible or stroller accessible, infant seats are not available, and it is not suitable for children under five or people with mobility impairments. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance. If the company cancels because of poor weather and you have not taken the tour, you receive a full refund.

If you go out but do not see the lights, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability. There is no refund after attending an unsuccessful tour. If the company cancels for poor weather after you have already taken a tour, you may rebook for up to two years, subject to availability, but you will not receive a refund.

Who should book this tour

This outing suits you if you want a guided, small-group search and appreciate help with transport, forecasts and photos. It’s also a good fit if you can handle a late evening and cold outdoor waits, and you’re willing to treat the aurora as a possibility rather than a promise. The cocoa, pastry and blankets soften the experience, but good clothing remains essential.

You may want another plan if you need guaranteed results, have mobility needs that make outdoor stops difficult, or cannot keep a late schedule. The tour is also less appealing if you would rather drive yourself or prefer a fixed attraction with a predictable timetable.

I’d book it if seeing the Northern Lights is high on your Iceland wish list and you have room to try again if the first night is cloudy. Go for the guide-led search, the smaller minibus and the free photos; hope for the lights, but let the sky make the final call.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights tour?

The tour lasts four hours. The exact stops and route depend on the conditions that night.

What is included in the price?

The $169 price includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, minibus transport, hot chocolate, a kleina, wool blankets to borrow and free photos when the Northern Lights are visible.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The aurora depends on natural conditions, and the tour cannot guarantee a sighting.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

If you take the tour but do not see the lights, you can join another tour free of charge, subject to availability. You do not receive a refund for an unsuccessful tour, and photos will not be delivered if the lights are not visible.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup starts 30 minutes before the departure time. Listed start times are from 9:30 p.m. for August 15 to September 30 and April 1 to April 18, and from 8:30 p.m. for October 1 to March 31.

Where can I be picked up?

There are 24 pickup locations around Reykjavik. Some downtown hotels cannot be served because of local regulations, so you may need to meet the minibus at a nearby bus stop.

What should I wear or bring?

Wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes. Wool blankets are available to borrow, but you should dress for cold evening conditions.

Is the tour suitable for children or people with mobility needs?

It is not suitable for children under five or people with mobility impairments. The tour is not wheelchair accessible or stroller accessible, and infant seats are unavailable.

Can I cancel before the tour?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.