Northern Lights tour packages in Iceland

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon found in Iceland and other Arctic countries. They’re caused by the solar wind – streams of particles given off by the Sun – interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field.

You’ll notice them as colorful ribbons of blue, green, purple, and sometimes red light dancing across the sky. They’re a breathtaking sight and one that’ll stick in your mind.

Find out more about them in this guide to the Northern Lights.

The Aurora are actually there all year round, but to be able to see them you need darkness. This means you’ll want to visit in the winter months of October to March to maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland.

They start to become visible in the fall, from the very end of August onwards, and can be spotted as late as April, during spring in Iceland. The only thing is the nights are shorter, so there’s less pure darkness, meaning it can be trickier to see the Aurora during that time.

Luckily, there’s plenty to do in Iceland in winter. It’s a great time to visit, Northern Lights or not!

Any spot with low levels of light pollution should be good for hunting the Aurora. To find one, you’ll need to head out into the countryside, away from the city lights.

Of course, the Northern Lights are even more gobsmacking if you’re standing in an incredible landscape. Find out all about the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.

You can also join Northern Lights tours led by experienced tour guides. They’ll take you out to an ideal hunting location and give you photography tips! You can even join the next excursion for free if you don’t spot them the first time around.

To see this natural light show, you need 3 things:

• Clear conditions
• A dark night sky
• High levels of solar activity

Whilst you’re in Iceland, make sure to keep your eye on the weather forecasts for the right conditions. The weather doesn’t affect the intensity of the lights themselves, but you won’t be able to see them if there’s cloud cover.

If you get the right conditions, you might be lucky to enough to spot the magical Northern Lights twirling overhead.

The Northern Lights are best seen with your own eyes, but it’s definitely possible to take a great picture of them with the right gear. You’ll need an SLR camera or a phone that allows you to take long exposures.

For the lights to show up on film, you should adjust the exposure time on your camera to at least 30 seconds or even a few minutes. It’s also worth bringing a tripod to keep the image nice and steady.

Capturing the lights on camera can make them look more vivid. With a bit of trial and error, you can get that jaw-dropping snap!

The Northern Lights season falls during Icelandic winter, when there is a whole bunch of exciting stuff to see and do:

• Explore glittering ice caves under the surface of a glacier
• Marvel at icicle-clad waterfalls on the south coast
• Relax and unwind in the warming hot springs
• Watch the Strokkur geyser erupt on the Golden Circle route
• Join a glacier snowmobiling or hiking tour
• See icebergs drift out to sea at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
• Spot snow-capped mountains in the distance
• Go whale watching off the coast of North Iceland
• Walk between the tectonic plates in Þingvellir National Park
• Dive into culture at Reykjavík’s museums and galleries

For even more ideas, see this guide to Iceland winter must-sees and must-dos.

In Iceland in winter, you can expect to see snow and ice on the mountaintops and on the ground. You’ll also feel a wintry wind, so make sure to wrap up warm!

Temperatures are low too, but not as low as you might expect. In December in Reykjavík for example, the average is around 1°C (34°F). It’ll be a few degrees colder in the countryside though.

The weather in Iceland turns on a dime. So don’t worry if the sky is looking overcast, it probably won’t be long until it clears up.

On these chilly winter nights, it’s lovely to stew in the Blue Lagoon or a local ‘hot pot’ (hot tub) after a day’s exploring. There are also plenty of natural hot springs if you’re after a wilder experience.

We offer a wide range of Northern Lights tours in Iceland. With all of our trips, you get:

• Accommodation
• Local transport
• Breakfast
• Detailed itinerary
• 24/7 helpline whilst you’re in Iceland

What’s more, all of the bus tour packages on this page include a Northern Lights excursion, with the chance to go out again if you don’t spot the Aurora.

Some of these packages also include activities such as ice caving or lava caving. Use the filters above to find these adventure-packed trips.

Start by exploring the trips above. There are plenty of different ways to travel, including self-drive tours, multi-day tours from Reykjavík, guided group tours, and private tours.

On a self-drive trip, you can set your own pace and stop as little or as often as you like. This means you have the freedom to spend hours chasing down the Northern Lights if you want to.

On a multi-day trip, you’ll be joining different bus tours from Reykjavík each day. This includes a Northern Lights excursion on one evening. And you get the chance to go out again if you don’t catch the lights.

On a privately guided trip, your driver-guide will take you around all the main attractions. This also means you’ll get to chase the Northern Lights in a lesser-visited spot and get tips from a local pro!

Not sure how long your trip should be? Check out this guide to how many days you need in Iceland in winter.

Absolutely! With Iceland Tours, it’s easy for you to choose your preferred rental car (self-drive trips only) and accommodation level.

You can also extend your Iceland Aurora tour with extra nights before or after. You can add excursions on these days to see even more of Iceland’s incredible wintry landscapes, or simply chill in town. And you can make all of these changes yourself at checkout.

If you want to customize your trip further, you can get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help. Please note a customization fee applies in this case, see our terms and conditions for details.

It’s good to book your Iceland Northern Lights vacation a few months in advance. That way, you have plenty of time to get ready. This also means you can secure your trip with a low deposit of just 5%.

We accept bookings up to a week before your planned start date. If you book with less than 30 days’ notice though, you would need to pay the full trip price when you book.

Booking ahead is also a good idea to ensure there is good availability for your planned travel dates. Places can be limited, especially for Christmas and New Year’s tours, so don’t delay!

Make sure you stay warm and comfortable in Iceland’s wintry weather by taking these things with you:

• Sturdy walking boots
• Warm winter coat
• Cozy thermal layers, such as sweaters and fleeces
• Waterproof trousers
• Wooly scarf, hat, and gloves
• Sunglasses (for low winter sun)
• Moisturizer and lip balm
• Swimming gear

The humidity in Iceland is low all year round, but especially in winter. Moisturizer will help keep your skin soft and comfortable.

It’s a good idea to throw in a pair of sunglasses, particularly if you’re driving. The winter sun tends to stay fairly close to the horizon.

Find out more about what to pack for Iceland in wintertime.