So, you’re going on a trip to Iceland. How exciting! Now, if you’re visiting in the Fall, Winter, or Spring, you may be hoping to spot the elusive Aurora Borealis, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth. A bucket list item for many individuals. The biggest question is whether taking a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland is worth it.
The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights are one of the draws of traveling to Iceland. This spectacular display happens when particles from the sun or solar winds interact with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Because Iceland is so far North (and has many hours of darkness) it often gets front row seats to this natural phenomena.
Well, my husband and I visited Iceland last winter and had the opportunity to test this very question. We went Aurora chasing on a tour as well as on our own. So, I can tell you the pros and cons of taking a tour vs. going on your own.
But, I’ll spoil the answer right now, the truth is booking a tour depends on the type of traveler you are and expectations. Now read further to help guide your decision about booking a Northern lights tour!
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Deciding Whether a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland is Worth it
What to Expect on a Northern Lights Tour
There are a bunch of wonderful Northern Lights tours in Iceland. You can book anything from a large bus to a small group tour in vans.
Many of the tours offer hot drinks to warm you up, knowledgeable guides to tell you about the lights, and they know some of the very best spots. Plus, many of the tours guarantee a refund or will rebook you if you don’t see any lights!
We did a small group tour on our trip with Get Your Guide and while we enjoyed learning tips for chasing the Aurora, we didn’t end up seeing anything. I would say that’s just luck of the draw. We decided not to re-book because we figured we had the tools to do it on our own.
So, the next two nights we chased the lights on our own and got to see them both times. I’ll never forget pulling over on the road and seeing ribbons of green and purple in the sky! That next night, we found an even more picturesque spot and it was everything I’ve ever dreamed of. There’s nothing quite as awe inspiring as seeing the Northern Lights.
Pros for Taking a Tour
So, now let’s get into the pros of taking a guided tour:
🚐 They will drive in icy and dark conditions, so that you don’t have to. The roads in Iceland can get very dicey, especially in the winter time.
❄️ Tours will look up forecasts and weather conditions. They’ll often know the best spots based on the aurora forecasts.
😊 Guides are generally very knowledgable about the Northern Lights and can teach you things that you didn’t know.
📸 They will also help you figure out camera settings or instruct you on how to get the best photos of the Northern Lights on phones and cameras.
☕️ Some tours provide cozy extras like hot chocolate. Ours gave us all hot chocolate and a shot of the local alcohol.
Cons to Taking a Tour
Now that we’ve talked about the pros, let’s touch on reasons you may dislike a tour:
💵 The first and most obvious one is that tours can be expensive. If you do it on your own, you won’t need to pay extra.
😴 Tours go late into the night (past midnight!) and I’m not going to lie, I was falling asleep by the end. They really don’t give up even when the aurora doesn’t show.
🚗 Less flexibility! If you go on your own, you can drive farther from Reykjavik into darker areas and control when exactly you are out there.
👫 You’ll be with a lot more people, so you may not get an ideal spot.
What Travelers May Enjoy a Northern Lights Tour
In my opinion, travelers that should book a Northern Lights tour are individuals that don’t mind spending the money, don’t want to drive on their own, and those who want to learn about the Northern lights.
We really enjoyed having a tour for our first night and then going on it our own for nights afterwards. That way we got the guidance we needed, learned about good Aurora conditions, and could venture to further spots later.
But, if you want to go on an adventure by yourself, then you can chase the aurora on your own! It’s great for those who have cars and staying for multiple nights in Iceland.
When we went on our own, we loved being able to explore ourselves and it was that much more satisfying when we actually got to see them! I’ll never forget the magic of it all.
✨ You can book our small group tour here!
Alternatives to Taking a Tour
If you don’t want to take a Northern Lights tour, then you will still have the chance to see them!
I recommend downloading the Aurora App to see the aurora forecast and find out where you may be likely to view them. Then, you can drive to a spot if you have a car.
Don’t have a car and don’t want to spend money on a tour? Then, you can stay at a spot further from the city of Reykjavik in a dark sky area. I’ve even heard of people seeing them from the Blue Lagoon! The world is your oyster.
🚙 Find a great guide to renting a car in Iceland here!
Northern Lights Viewing Tips
If you do decide to go on your own here are a few quick tips to spot the Northern Lights:
🏙️ Go to places with less light pollution, out of the city! Find a dark sky. We went to Thingveller National Park to see the lights.
☁️ Clear skies are the best for seeing the lights. You can use the Aurora App to see the forecast for skies and avoid going out on cloud covered nights.
🌙 Peak viewing hours for the Northern Lights are usually between 10 pm and 3 am! But, you can check on the apps.
Packing Guide for Northern Lights Chasing
Now that you’ve decided to chase the Northern Lights, you’re going to need to pack for your adventure. Nights in Iceland can go far into the negatives with crazy wind chills. So, its important that you pack plenty of layers to stay warm on your adventure!
You can read more here: The Only Iceland Winter Packing List You’ll Need!
Packing List:
- Warm Base Layer
- Thermal Underwear
- Snow Pants
- Warm Fleece
- Down Jacket
- Neck Gaiter or Buff
- Beanie
- Gloves
- Merino Wool Socks
- Snow Boots or Insulated Boots
- Tripod for Camera
- Camera
Northern Lights Photography Tips
I’m sure that you’re if you’re out chasing the Northern Lights, then you are going to want some tips to help you capture the Aurora! Here are a few to remember:
- If you’re using a phone, adjust the exposure time to 10 seconds
- On your camera, use a wide aperature (f4 or lower), a high ISO (4000-8000) and slow shutter speed (3-10 seconds)
- Use a tripod to keep the photo still!
Final Tips to Decide Whether You Should Take a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland!
For us, the most magical moment was simply watching the purples and greens dance across the sky. Standing in the freezing dark as the lights put on a show all around us. It truly showed me that whether you take a tour or not, seeing the aurora will be a special moment you’ll never forget.
So, now that you know all the considerations, you can make an informed decision about taking a Northern Lights tour in Iceland.
I think the biggest deciding factors should be whether you enjoy group settings or being independent, what your budget is, and how many nights you have there! With all of that in mind, you can make the decision that’s right for you.
I hope you see the spectacular nights. Good luck aurora chasing!
Let me know if you enjoyed this post in the comments!
👇 Dive into more posts on winter in Iceland here 👇
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