From Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour

The best part of this Reykjavik Northern Lights tour is the hunt itself. You leave the city, follow changing weather reports, and stop where the sky offers the best chance of an Aurora display. On a good night, the lights may ripple overhead for an hour or more. On a poor one, you still get a clear lesson in how much luck matters in Iceland.

I like two things here: the free second attempt if the lights do not appear, and the guides’ practical help with cameras and phone settings. Guides such as Alex, Birta, Freda, and Daisy have been praised for keeping the long wait lively, while drivers have sometimes made extra hotel drop-offs after the official tour.

The main drawback is simple: this is a large bus outing, not a quiet private search. You may wait outdoors in severe cold, and there is no promise of an Aurora. A rating of 3.7 from 761 reviews reflects that honest tradeoff: the operation can be excellent when the sky cooperates, but nature gets the final word.

Key points before you book

• The free repeat visit matters: If you see no Northern Lights, you can join again without paying for another tour.
• The departure point is central: Meet at the departure side of Reykjavik’s BSI bus terminal, with optional pickup available.
• The bus goes where conditions look best: Stops change with cloud cover, weather, and Aurora forecasts.
• Guides add real value: You get English commentary, sky-watching advice, and help with long-exposure camera settings.
• The cold is serious: Some outings have taken place near minus 10 to minus 16 degrees Celsius, so layers and warm footwear are essential.
• A 9:00 PM departure has a small bonus: Waffles and hot drinks may be available to buy on-site.

Leaving Reykjavik for a darker sky

The tour starts at the BSI bus terminal, a practical departure point in the capital. If you arrange pickup, be ready 30 minutes before departure, and look for a bus marked Reykjavík Excursions.

Once aboard, your English-speaking guide explains what creates the Aurora and what you should watch for. Guides have included Alex, Birta, Freda, Daisy, and others, with several praised for mixing useful facts with humor and energy. One guide even sang an Icelandic song during the ride, which gives you an idea of the warm, informal tone this outing can have.

The journey itself can take about an hour before reaching a darker viewing area. That is not wasted time. Reykjavik’s city lights make faint Auroras harder to see, so getting away from artificial light gives your eyes and camera a better chance.

You may travel with several buses operating at once. One account described 10 coaches running on the same night. That makes the tour easy to organize, but it also means you should not expect a small-group wilderness trip. The bus is warm and comfortable, with free Wi-Fi, yet the viewing stop can feel busy.

How the changing stops work

There is no fixed sightseeing route. Your guide and driver choose from different locations based on cloud cover and other conditions on the night. This flexibility is useful because a beautiful forecast over Reykjavik does not help if the clouds sit over the city.

You might stop in an open field or near a national park. The point is not to visit a famous attraction in daylight. The point is to find a dark patch of sky with the best possible chance of seeing the Aurora.

At the stop, you may spend a long time standing outside. The bus usually remains available for warmth, and one account describes the driver leaving the heat on so people could step inside. Still, you should treat the bus as a refuge, not a replacement for proper winter clothing.

On one especially cold outing, the temperature reportedly reached minus 10 degrees at the viewing area. Another visitor described minus 16 degrees. Those figures are a useful warning. Reykjavik can feel manageable while you walk through town, then the open countryside can feel much harsher once you stop moving.

Waiting for the Northern Lights

Aurora tours require patience. The sky may look empty for 45 minutes, then a faint streak can appear, followed by a much stronger display. One reported outing began with a few weak patches before producing about an hour of full activity. Another saw the lights for more than 30 minutes, and some nights lasted for hours.

Your guide will help you understand the difference between a thin cloud, a star, and the first pale trace of Aurora. Guides have also helped with camera exposure settings, a useful service if you arrive with a phone or camera and do not know how to photograph a dark sky.

The human eye may see a pale green or gray band before a camera records stronger color. That can be confusing if you expect the sky to look like a polished photograph. Your guide’s advice helps set realistic expectations and gives you a better shot at preserving the moment.

There is also an important emotional detail here: the lights do not perform on schedule. You might see a brief flicker near the end of the stop, or a strong display that moves across the sky for an hour. The waiting is part of the experience, but it is also the reason some people leave disappointed.

What happens if you see nothing

The free rebooking policy is the strongest safety net this tour offers. If the first outing produces no Northern Lights, you can join again free of charge. That turns a single risky evening into a second chance, which is particularly useful if you have several nights in Reykjavik.

You should still read cancellation and tour-update emails closely. A trip may be canceled because the weather gives you no reasonable chance, and one visitor missed a cancellation message because it went to a junk folder. Check your spam folder before walking to the bus terminal.

A repeat visit is not merely a refund substitute. A new night brings a new forecast, new cloud cover, and different Aurora activity. Several people needed a second attempt and then saw the lights. If your schedule allows it, booking early in your stay gives you room to try again.

If you are in Reykjavik for only one night, the free repeat promise is less useful. You may not have another evening available. In that case, think of the $69 price as a chance to see the lights, not as a guaranteed ticket to an Aurora show.

The guides make the long ride worthwhile

The guide can make or break a night when the sky stays dark. A good guide tells you what is happening without pretending to control it. The strongest examples from this operation include Alex, Birta, Freda, and Daisy, who have been praised for clear explanations, humor, enthusiasm, and patience.

Freda, in particular, has been described as lively and well-informed during the drive and excited when the lights finally appeared. Daisy helped explain what to look for and how to set up a camera. Another guide encouraged the group to wait a little longer, and that extra patience led to a short Aurora display after most other buses had left.

That last point matters. Your guide decides when the group returns to the bus, within the limits of the schedule and conditions. A guide who keeps watching the sky can sometimes give you a better chance than one who treats the stop as a quick photo break.

The experience can also include small acts of care. During one bus breakdown, guides Kelli and JP arranged another bus, set out a bonfire, and offered hot chocolate while the group waited. That is not something you should count on as part of the standard itinerary, but it shows how staff may handle an unexpected delay.

The bus, timing, and return to Reykjavik

The stated duration is 3 to 4 hours, though the exact length depends on driving time, the viewing location, and how long the group waits. A 9:00 PM departure is specifically associated with waffles and hot drinks for sale at the viewing site.

The bus includes free Wi-Fi, though reception in the countryside can vary. You will want to bring a charged phone, but do not rely on internet access for the whole night. Your real entertainment is the guide, the sky, and the strange pleasure of standing in the dark with a group of hopeful strangers.

The official end point is back at the BSI meeting point. Drivers have sometimes dropped people close to their hotels on the return journey, but that is a courtesy rather than something to plan around. If you are staying far from BSI, check your route back before departure.

Some people have found the driving uncomfortable on dark or icy roads. You are paying for a guided search rather than hiring a car, so you avoid the work of reading forecasts and driving into unfamiliar countryside. The tradeoff is that you follow the group’s timing and route.

What to wear for a night outside

Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes, but think beyond a normal winter coat. You may stand still for a long time, and standing in cold air feels much worse than walking through Reykjavik.

I would use several layers, warm socks, insulated footwear, gloves, and a hat that covers your ears. Thick soles help keep the cold from rising through your shoes. If you have hand warmers, they could be useful, though they are not listed as an included item.

The viewing surface may be a field or another open area, so comfortable shoes matter. You will not be spending the whole evening inside a heated visitor center. The bus can offer warmth between sky checks, but you should be ready to stay outside when the activity begins.

Freshly baked waffles and hot drinks may be available for purchase on the 9:00 PM departure. These are not included in the $69 price, so bring a payment method if that small comfort appeals to you.

Is $69 good value?

At $69 per person, this is one of the simpler ways to search for the Aurora from Reykjavik. The price includes the bus, a local English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, and the possibility of a free repeat tour. It does not include refreshments, and it does not buy certainty.

The value depends on how you use the tour. If you have no rental car, limited winter-driving experience, or only a few nights in Iceland, paying someone else to monitor conditions and handle the route makes sense. You also get help understanding the sky and photographing it.

The price looks less attractive if you want a private setting or a very small group. The operation can involve many coaches, and several buses may reach the same general viewing area. A small-group tour will likely feel more personal, but this option is cheaper and offers the useful free rebooking policy.

I see the repeat visit as the key financial benefit. A no-show on a paid one-night excursion is hard to swallow. Here, you can try again without buying another ticket, provided your schedule lets you do so.

Who should book this Northern Lights tour?

This tour suits first-time visitors who want a straightforward evening outing from Reykjavik. It is also a good fit if you prefer not to drive in winter or study cloud forecasts yourself.

Families may like the guide-led format and the simple transport. The cold and late timing can test younger children, however, so pack carefully and decide if they can manage a long outdoor wait.

Photography beginners should find the camera advice useful. The guides can explain exposure settings, and you can learn by watching the sky rather than simply snapping a quick picture from a bus window.

You should think twice if you dislike waiting, crowded coach tours, or uncertain plans. You may spend much of the night standing in the cold and still see nothing. The free second attempt helps, but it cannot create clear skies or Aurora activity.

Booking details worth remembering

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and lets you reserve now and pay later. Check the available starting times when you book, as the duration is listed as 3 to 4 hours rather than one fixed length.

Pickup is optional. If you use it, be ready 30 minutes before the stated departure time and find the bus marked Reykjavík Excursions. The standard departure point is the departure side of BSI bus terminal.

Check your email before leaving for the terminal. Weather changes can affect the plan, and cancellation notices may land in your junk folder. If you do not see the lights, contact the operator about the free repeat visit and arrange it while you still have time in Iceland.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an affordable, well-organized Aurora search with a real second chance. The strongest reasons are the flexible route, useful photography help, warm bus, and free rebooking when the sky stays empty.

Skip it if you want a quiet private outing or cannot spare another evening in case the first attempt fails. For most visitors with two or more nights in Reykjavik, though, $69 is a sensible gamble. Bring serious winter clothing, keep your expectations realistic, and let the sky decide how memorable the night becomes.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour start?

The tour starts on the departure side of Reykjavik’s BSI bus terminal. Optional pickup is available, and you should be ready 30 minutes before the departure time if using pickup.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about 3 to 4 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour has a live English-speaking guide.

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. Sightings depend on weather and Aurora activity, so the tour cannot guarantee that you will see the lights.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You can join the tour again free of charge if you do not see the lights on your first attempt.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing in several layers and comfortable shoes. You may spend a long time outside in very cold winter conditions.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Refreshments are not included. On the 9:00 PM departure, freshly baked waffles and hot drinks may be available to buy on-site.