Northern lights tours: compare road and boat options
Choose an aurora outing by transport, comfort, meeting point and the selected ticket's terms. Darkness and a partly clear sky matter alongside activity; neither a forecast nor a tour guarantees a sighting.
Northern Lights Tours tours
7 tours
- Runs September to April only
Northern Lights ToursExperience the Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
- Runs September to April only
Northern Lights ToursForest Lagoon & Northern Lights
- Runs September to April only
Northern Lights ToursLava Show & Northern Lights Cruise
- Runs September to April only
Northern Lights ToursNorthern Lights Cruise & FlyOver Iceland
- Runs August to April only
Northern Lights ToursNorthern Lights Small Group Tour with Hot Cocoa & Free Photos
Northern Lights ToursSnowmobiling and Golden Circle Iceland Super Jeep Tour
- Runs September to April only
Northern Lights ToursWhales & Auroras
About northern lights tours in Iceland
Road or boat: choose the experience
A road tour can choose a viewing location using that evening's forecast, within safe driving conditions. A boat trip offers a different outing from the harbour. Compare motion sensitivity, outdoor waiting, pickup and the operator's actual group size. Do not infer better sighting odds from vehicle size or describe the harbour as free of light pollution.
EastWest's small-group northern lights tour and Northern Lights by Boat are two different Reykjavík options. Check the selected departure and rate. A tour beginning in Akureyri or a multi-day South Coast itinerary is not an interchangeable Reykjavík evening departure.
Cancellation and no sighting are different
Check what happens if the operator cancels before departure, and what happens if the outing operates without a display. EastWest's published no-sighting reattempt depends on availability. Special Tours publishes a return-ticket policy for its standard boat product; backup-plan tickets can have different refund terms. Read the conditions attached to your chosen rate rather than assume every tour offers the same refund or retry.
Read the forecast and plan for waiting
The Icelandic Met Office forecast combines cloud information and activity. Darkness and partly clear skies are needed; an activity number alone does not establish a sighting at your location. Dress for time outdoors, confirm minimum ages and access, and follow the operator's departure updates.
Make the cost and timing decision
Read our northern lights cost comparison before choosing a local attempt, self-drive or paid tour. Read viewing from Reykjavík for the local option. Use the calendar for your actual date and party quote. Leave flexibility in your stay if you hope to use a reattempt.
Sources and checks
Sources checked by FAR Travel editorial. Conditions and operator terms can change; confirm your selected booking before payment.
- Icelandic Met Office: aurora forecast — Darkness, cloud cover and activity forecast; no sighting guarantee
- Special Tours: Northern Lights by Boat — Standard boat itinerary, meeting point and no-sighting policy; other ticket types differ
- EastWest: Northern Lights tour — Minibus itinerary and availability-dependent reattempt
- SafeTravel Iceland — Travel alerts and outdoor safety
Frequently asked questions
Does a northern lights tour guarantee a sighting?
No. Darkness, clouds and auroral activity affect visibility. A tour or a high forecast number cannot guarantee a display.
Will I get a refund if my tour sees no lights?
Do not assume so. An operated trip without a sighting is different from cancellation by the operator. Some products offer a reattempt instead; availability, booking steps and validity depend on the selected ticket.
Is pickup included?
Check the actual product and rate. A harbour meeting point is different from hotel pickup, and optional transfers can cost extra.
Are boat tours suitable for children?
Minimum ages differ by product and activity. Also consider waiting in the cold, late hours, motion sensitivity and boarding access. Confirm the requirements for every member of your party.