Northern Lights Tour with Photos, Snacks, Warm Snowsuits, Chairs

The best part of this Northern Lights outing is that it treats the wait as part of the experience. You leave Reykjavík for the dark southern countryside, then settle into a chair with hot chocolate, pastries, and a warm snowsuit while your guide watches the sky. If Heimir is leading your trip, expect clear explanations of the aurora and hands-on help with your camera.

I especially like the small group of up to 18 people and the included photo service. You are not packed onto a large coach, and you do not need to bring a professional camera to get a keepsake portrait beneath the lights. The chairs, tripods, WiFi, snacks, and hot drinks also make a long wait far easier.

The main drawback is simple: nature still makes the final decision. The tour can be postponed or canceled in poor conditions, and some departures have involved long waits or late returns. A few reports also describe trouble when the company’s vehicle developed a fault, so book early in your Reykjavík stay if seeing the aurora is a top priority.

Key points at a glance

• A forecast-led search: Your guide chooses the night’s location using weather, cloud cover, and geomagnetic forecasts rather than following one fixed roadside stop.
• Warmth for the wait: Winter jumpsuits, outdoor chairs, hot cocoa, and snacks let you stay outside longer in Iceland’s cold.
• Photos included: A professional photographer takes high-resolution pictures of the aurora and your group, with unlimited images included.
• Small-group setting: The maximum is 18 people, a more personal scale than the large coach trips common around Reykjavík.
• A free second chance: If the lights do not appear, you may be offered another outing, depending on availability.
• Pickup needs planning: Central Reykjavík accommodations may use designated bus stops because of city driving restrictions.

Leaving Reykjavík for darker skies

The tour begins at about 8:00 p.m. and lasts roughly four to six hours. The actual time outside at the viewing place can vary, since the guide may wait for a break in the clouds or for the aurora to become more active.

You leave the city lights behind and head toward Iceland’s southern region. This is not a sightseeing circuit with a long list of formal stops. The point is to reach a dark, open place where the sky has a better chance of showing the aurora.

That flexibility matters. The best viewing point changes with the night’s cloud cover and forecast. Your guide may move toward clearer skies, or remain in one good location rather than spending the evening driving from place to place. You may pass striking Icelandic scenery along the way, but the sky remains the main attraction.

I like this approach because it avoids promising a single magic location. The Northern Lights are not a scheduled performance. A flexible route gives you a better chance than a rigid itinerary, though it also means you should expect plans to change.

A three-hour wait that feels less like waiting

The main countryside stop is listed as about three hours, with no separate admission charge. That time can sound long until you remember what aurora hunting involves. The lights may appear within minutes, fade, return later, or remain hidden behind cloud for most of the night.

The supplied outdoor chairs are a meaningful feature, not a minor extra. You can sit back and watch the stars instead of standing beside a van in wet shoes. The chairs also help if you are photographing with a tripod, since you can keep your camera set up and remain ready for a sudden change in the sky.

The winter jumpsuit is another practical touch. Icelandic nights can be brutally cold, especially when you are stationary. Several accounts describe the suits as a major reason they could remain outdoors for a long period, though one useful warning came through clearly: wear plenty of layers underneath. A jumpsuit helps, but it does not turn winter into mild weather.

You can also step back into the vehicle to warm up. That gives you a sensible rhythm: watch the sky, take photos, have a drink, warm your hands, then head outside again when the aurora forecast improves.

Hot cocoa, cinnamon rolls, and Icelandic snacks

The food service gives the outing a friendly, almost campfire-like feel, even though you are standing beneath an Arctic sky. The spread includes hot cocoa, cinnamon rolls, pastries, dried fish, chocolate, and premium Icelandic vodka and snaps.

The hot drink is especially welcome after time outside. The pastries and chocolate are easy to eat while you wait, while dried fish gives you a taste of a distinctly Icelandic snack. Alcohol is included, but you should not feel that drinking is part of the required experience. The lights, the stars, and the company provide plenty to do.

This is one place where the tour’s higher price can make more sense. Many aurora outings provide transportation and little else. Here, the warm clothing, chairs, drinks, snacks, camera support, and photo service reduce the amount of equipment you need to pack and make a slow night much more comfortable.

Heimir’s aurora lessons and camera help

The guide is not only driving you into the countryside. The experience is built around explaining how the aurora works and why it appears when it does. Heimir is the guide most often associated with the trip, and his role combines aurora educator, host, driver, and photographer.

That matters during a quiet spell. Instead of simply telling you to wait, he can explain the forecast, the cloud cover, and the likely timing. One particularly useful detail from past outings is that the lights may not appear until after midnight, even when the trip began several hours earlier. A patient guide can make that delay feel purposeful instead of wasted.

Heimir also helps with personal camera settings. Northern Lights photography often requires a steady camera, long exposure, and careful focus, but you do not need to arrive as an expert. Tripods are supplied, and the guide can assist with your own camera. Some visitors also used phone stands to make the most of their smartphones.

You should still bring your own device if you want personal control over your photos. The included professional images are the safety net, not a reason to leave your phone or camera behind.

Professional portraits beneath the aurora

The photo service is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. The guide sets up professional equipment and takes pictures of people in the group with the Northern Lights overhead. High-resolution photos are included without a separate photography fee.

That solves a common aurora problem. The sky may look spectacular to your eyes, but a quick phone snapshot can show only darkness and a few blurry figures. A proper camera setup can capture both the people and the colored sky, giving you a useful record of the night rather than a vague green smudge.

The guide also takes time to photograph each group. The number of people on a departure is capped at 18, so this should be more manageable than a large coach outing, though the exact pace depends on how many people are present and how active the aurora becomes.

If you are serious about photography, keep your expectations realistic. The guide can help with settings and provide tripods, but clear skies and strong auroral activity are still beyond anyone’s control. One account noted that a good camera revealed colors that were harder to see with the naked eye. That is normal. Cameras can collect light over several seconds and often show more color than your eyes do in real time.

Why the small group matters

A maximum of 18 people is small by Iceland excursion standards, even if it is not a private tour. You have a better chance of hearing the guide’s explanations, getting camera help, and receiving a personal portrait without the commotion of a full-size bus.

The small scale also suits the nature of the outing. You are not rushing through several attractions. You are watching, waiting, warming up, and watching again. A quieter group makes it easier to enjoy the stars when the aurora is not yet visible.

Still, this is not a silent private stargazing session. Other people will be sharing the chairs, refreshments, vehicle, and photo time. If you want total control over the schedule, a private booking would be a different type of experience, but that is not what this product offers.

Rescheduling can help, but it can also disrupt your plans

The company watches conditions closely and may contact you on the day of the tour if another evening offers a better chance. Several accounts describe a scheduled departure being moved to a clearer night at no extra cost. That is good judgment, especially if the original date is covered by clouds.

If the lights do not appear, a free retry may be available, depending on space and the operator’s schedule. The stated policy also offers unlimited re-runs in the rare event that conditions prevent a view, but practical availability matters. You need enough nights left in Reykjavík to use that second chance.

This is why I would book the tour near the start of your stay, not on your final evening. One departure was canceled because of a vehicle problem, and another account described repeated cancellations and limited communication. Those problems may be uncommon, but a one-vehicle operation has less backup if mechanical trouble strikes.

The weather cancellation policy is fair: if poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Pickup from Reykjavík needs a close look

Pickup and drop-off are available from select Reykjavík locations, including some hotels and cruise terminals. Central Reykjavík has restrictions on where tour buses may stop, so you may be asked to walk to a designated bus stop rather than wait outside your accommodation.

If you are staying outside Reykjavík, pickup is available from the BSÍ Bus Terminal. Check this before booking, especially if you have heavy luggage, limited mobility, or a late dinner planned. The tour starts around 8:00 p.m., and the return time can move later if the group waits for the aurora.

The experience is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable spending time outdoors in cold conditions and sitting or standing while the sky is monitored.

Is $212 a fair price?

At $212 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the Northern Lights. Basic bus tours can cost less, so the value depends on what you want from the night.

I think the price is easier to justify if you care about comfort and photos. You receive transportation, a small group, warm winter clothing, chairs, tripods, hot cocoa, several snacks, camera help, WiFi on board, and professional high-resolution images. Buying or renting similar cold-weather gear and arranging a photo session separately could quickly narrow the gap.

The value is also tied to the guide’s decision-making. A good aurora outing is not just a drive to the countryside. It involves reading cloud patterns, watching forecasts, choosing when to move, and keeping the group comfortable during uncertain waits. If the guide does that well, you are paying for judgment as much as transport.

On the other hand, no package can guarantee a display. You may spend several hours beneath clear stars and see only a faint glow, or nothing at all. The retry policy helps, but only if another night is available during your stay.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to you if the Northern Lights are near the top of your Iceland wish list and you want more than a seat on a bus. It suits couples, families, and solo visitors who would rather have photos taken for them than manage a camera all night.

It is also a good fit if you are visiting during the coldest part of winter. The snowsuit, chairs, hot drink, and warm-up breaks make a real difference. The tour works well for anyone who wants an explanation of the aurora, not just a drive to a dark field.

You may want another option if your Reykjavík schedule is extremely tight, you are leaving the next morning, or you cannot tolerate a long wait in cold weather. I would also think twice if communication and backup vehicles are major concerns. Book early in your stay, keep one or two evenings flexible, and confirm your pickup point.

Final call: book it for comfort and photography

I would book this tour if you want a careful, small-group aurora search with unusually good practical support. The professional photos, warm jumpsuits, chairs, and snacks turn an uncertain night into a more comfortable outing, while the guide’s forecast work gives you a sensible chance of finding clear skies.

Just remember what you are buying: a well-equipped search, not a guarantee. Leave room in your schedule for a rescheduled departure, dress in layers even with the supplied suit, and check pickup instructions before the day. If the Northern Lights appear, the combination of dark countryside, stars, warm cocoa, and photos can make this one of your most memorable Iceland evenings. If they do not, the retry policy gives you a useful second chance, subject to availability.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four to six hours. The main countryside viewing stop is listed as about three hours, but the exact timing can change with weather and aurora conditions.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 p.m.

Is pickup available from Reykjavík hotels?

Pickup and drop-off are available from select Reykjavík locations. Some hotels in central Reykjavík cannot receive tour buses directly, so you may need to walk to a designated bus stop. If you stay outside Reykjavík, pickup is available from BSÍ Bus Terminal.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

A free retry may be offered, depending on availability. The operator also states that unlimited re-runs may be available when unforeseen conditions block the view.

Are winter clothes provided?

Yes. Warm winter jumpsuits are included. You should still wear warm layers underneath, since the tour involves spending time outdoors in cold conditions.

Are photos included in the price?

Yes. Unlimited high-resolution photos from the tour are included. The guide also offers help with your own camera settings and provides tripods.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.