"Axel was a great guide and very knowledgeable. He did everything possible for us to see the northern lights but sadly the cloud cover had other ideas. The trip was good in that they didn’t take you out unnecessarily as it was cancelled on 2 other nights, but there was a high KP index that night so it was worth going if we could find a break in the clouds. You could feel he felt sad for us not to see them and used every bit of knowledge to go to the best areas to see them. Thank you for all you did! Well just have to return and try again 😏"
CHECK THE SKY
Cloud and darkness decide the night
—
Cloud over tonight’s dark hours
—
Kp forecast tonight (NOAA)
—
Moon tonight
—
Dark enough tonight
A forecast, not a promise: cloud for Reykjavik from MET Norway, Kp from NOAA SWPC · Tours leave Reykjavik and drive out of the city lights, often towards Thingvellir or the Reykjanes peninsula. · month by month · checked
Geomagnetic latitude
64.1°
Corrected geomagnetic latitude (IGRF-13) of the nearest observatory, Leirvogur, published by ISGI, adjusted for the distance to Reykjavik. Source, checked October 2026.
Kp that brings the oval overhead (est.)
≈ Kp 1 estimated
NOAA SWPC’s rule of thumb: the oval’s edge sits near 66° geomagnetic at Kp 0 and moves about 2° per Kp step. Source, checked October 2026.
Dark enough for the aurora
September to March
Months with at least 4 hours a night of the sun 12° or more below the horizon; May to July is too light. Computed with JPL DE421, checked October 2026.
Best months, on clear dark hours
November, December and January
Dark hours a night times the share of cloud-free night sky (NASA POWER, 2001–2025), checked October 2026.
Clear dark hours in November
≈ 3.1 h a night
An average, not a forecast: 13.5 h of darkness with 77% typical night cloud. Checked October 2026.
Iceland · Reykjavik · Aurora season September to April
Northern Lights in Iceland: When to Go and Which Reykjavik Tour to Book
Iceland sits at the edge of the auroral oval, so on a clear dark night even a quiet Kp 1 is often enough. The tours leave Reykjavik after dark and drive out of the city lights to where the sky is clear.
From
US$113
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.4 / 5 3209+ Reviews
- 10 Aurora Destinations Compared on This Site
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Small-Group Premium Tour Includes
Northern Lights Bus's small-group tour from Reykjavik. No children under 8.
Highlights
- An aurora-hunting guide who reads the cloud and aurora forecast
- Bus transport out of the Reykjavik lights
- Stops to step outside and take photos
- Hot chocolate and refreshments
- An open ticket for a free retry for three years if you see no lights
What's Included
- Bus fare
- Aurora hunting guide
- Guided tour
- Hot Chocolate
- Refreshments
- Open ticket for 3 years for free retry if you don't get to see the Northern Lights on this scheduled tour
How a Night Works
From booking to the lights.
Book an Early Night
Book the first evening of your stay. If the lights do not show, the free retry is easiest to use with nights still left.
Meet in Reykjavik
The tour picks up in Reykjavik after dark; start times move with the season.
Drive to the Clear Sky
The guide picks the direction from the cloud forecast and drives out of the city lights.
Watch and Photograph
Stops let you step outside, set up a camera and wait for the lights to build.
Photo Gallery
On the Tour
Photos from the tour's own listing.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What the Tour Brings, and What You Bring
Northern Lights Bus includes
- Hot Chocolate
From the tour’s GetYourGuide listing, checked October 2026. Check dates for this tour →
Bring
- Layers under a windproof shell, a warm hat and gloves: you stand still for long stretches on an Arctic night
- Warm, waterproof boots with good grip on snow and ice
- A charged phone and a spare battery: cold drains batteries fast
- A head torch with a red light, so you keep your night vision
Month by month
When Reykjavik Is Dark and Clear Enough
Night cloud, hours of darkness and how often the Kp index reached 3 or more in the dark hours, month by month at Reykjavik.
| Month | Dark hours a night | Night cloud | Clear dark hours (est.) | Dark hours with Kp 3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January best | 14.2 h | 78% | 3.1 h | 18% |
| February | 11.8 h | 77% | 2.7 h | 25% |
| March | 8.6 h | 78% | 1.9 h | 31% |
| April | 3.7 h | 80% | 0.7 h | 31% |
| May | Too light | 76% | — | — |
| June | Too light | 79% | — | — |
| July | Too light | 80% | — | — |
| August | 1.8 h | 77% | 0.4 h | 24% |
| September | 7.3 h | 79% | 1.5 h | 30% |
| October | 10.8 h | 78% | 2.4 h | 27% |
| November best | 13.5 h | 77% | 3.1 h | 23% |
| December best | 14.8 h | 76% | 3.5 h | 19% |
Night cloud: NASA POWER climatology (CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT), January 2001 to December 2025, at the Reykjavik grid cell. Darkness: computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield (sun more than 12° below the horizon), averaged per night. Kp 3+: share of the 3-hour Kp windows from 2015-01-01 to 2025-12-31 that fell in the dark hours here, from GFZ’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0); September and March run higher, the equinox effect NOAA describes. Clear dark hours are an estimate, dark hours times the cloud-free share. Checked October 2026.
Looking north
The Sky Over Reykjavik, Facing North
Computed charts of the stars where the aurora usually appears, on a new-moon night. The aurora itself is not drawn: no chart can forecast it.
Tour or on your own?
Iceland on Your Own, or With a Tour?
- Do you have a car and the confidence to drive dark, icy rural roads at night?
- Can you read a cloud forecast and pick the clear side of the country on the night?
- Will you stand outside in the wind for an hour or more without a warm bus to go back to?
Yes to all three
Go on your own
On a strong night the aurora can be seen over Reykjavik itself, but the city lights wash out weaker displays, so drive somewhere dark and check the cloud forecast before you go.
No to any of them
Book the tour
A guide who reads the forecast and drives to the clear sky, a warm bus between stops, and on the two Northern Lights Bus tours a free retry if you see nothing.
Check dates →The Top Three Side by Side
Prices as listed on GetYourGuide, October 2026.
| Feature | TOP PICK Small-Group Premium Northern Lights Tour… | Northern Lights Bus Tour with Hot Cocoa | Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos - Small… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From US$113/per person | From US$81 (Oct 2026) | From US$165 (Oct 2026) |
| Rating | 4.4/5 (3,209 reviews) | 4.2/5 (15,264 reviews) | 4.8/5 (466 reviews) |
| Operator | Northern Lights Bus | Northern Lights Bus | Aurora Viking |
| Free Cancellation | Yes, up to 24 hours ahead | Yes, up to 24 hours ahead | Yes, up to 24 hours ahead |
| Check Availability | View This Tour | View This Tour |
Other Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours
The most-booked bus with a free retry, a small group with professional photos, and the yacht from the old harbour.
MOST BOOKEDFrom Reykjavik: Northern Lights Bus Tour with Hot Cocoa
See the light display of the Aurora Borealis
PRO PHOTOSReykjavik: Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos - Small Group
Experience the elusive Aurora Borealis
BY BOATReykjavik: Northern Lights Yacht Tour
Enjoy beautiful views from three panoramic decks
The Iceland Northern Lights Guide
When to Go and Which Tour to Book
The dark months, the cloud and nine Reykjavik tours compared.
Iceland is one of the easiest places in the world to try for the northern lights: Reykjavik is a short flight from Europe and North America, and it sits at 64.1° corrected geomagnetic latitude, at the edge of the auroral oval, so about Kp 1.0 is enough on NOAA’s rule of thumb, a quiet night. The catch is cloud. NASA’s night-cloud climatology puts typical night cloud over Reykjavik at 76% in December, so on most trips the tour that drives to the clear patch matters more than the night you pick. The best value for that job is Northern Lights Bus’s small-group premium tour, from US$113 as of October 2026, with a free retry for three years if you see no lights.
Check dates for the small-group tour →
When the lights are possible
From September to March Reykjavik gets at least four hours of darkness a night, peaking near 14.8 hours in December. Our measure of the odds, the dark hours that are also cloud-free on average, peaks in November, December and January at about 3.5 hours a night in December (an estimate, not a forecast). September and March have shorter nights but more geomagnetic activity: in 2015 to 2025, 30% of dark hours in September and 31% in March had a Kp index of 3 or more, against 18% in January. Month by month figures are in the chart above.
The Reykjavik tours compared
| Tour (operator) | From | Rating (reviews) | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group premium tour (Northern Lights Bus) | US$113 | 4.4 (3,209) | Small group, free retry for 3 years, no under-8s |
| Northern lights bus tour (Northern Lights Bus) | US$81 | 4.2 (15,264) | The most booked; free follow-up tour if no lights |
| Small group with pro photos (Aurora Viking) | US$165 | 4.8 (466) | Professional photos of you under the lights |
| Minibus with photos (EastWest) | US$162 | 4.6 (733) | Free photos, wool blankets, rebook free if no lights |
| Northern lights yacht (Sea trips Reykjavik) | US$104 | 4.4 (1,375) | Three decks out of the harbour, warm blankets |
| Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon and northern lights (BusTravel Iceland) | US$329 | 4.8 (275) | A full day ending with the evening hunt |
Prices in US dollars, ratings and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026; they change with the date you pick.
Which one suits you
Best value
Small-group premium
A smaller group than the big bus, with the same free retry if the lights stay away.
Check dates →Lowest price
The big bus
The most-reviewed northern lights tour on this site, with a free follow-up tour if you see nothing.
See dates →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.
Can you see them without a tour?
Yes, on a strong night you can see the aurora from Reykjavik’s darker edges, and the forecast is free. What a tour adds is the drive: a guide who reads the cloud forecast every evening and takes you to the clear side, a warm bus between stops, and on the Northern Lights Bus tours a free retry if the sky stays shut. With typical night cloud this high, that drive is usually what turns a trip into a sighting.
See the small-group tour dates →
For a closer look at the boat and the combined day tours, read the best northern lights tour from Reykjavik, northern lights boat tours from Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon and northern lights tours. If you are weighing Iceland against Norway, see Norway or Iceland for the northern lights.
Guest Reviews
What Recent Guests Say
4.4/5
from 3209 verified reviews
"Tour guide Axel was enthusiastic and welcoming. He made the most of our time by stopping at 2 different locations, even thogh the first one provided an excellent show. The second one was even better! During travel we were given insight as to how the lights came to be, which we found interesting and informative."
"Did the tour on the night of 25th September with Devin (hope I got your name right). The forecast was “low to moderate” chance of seeing the lights and there was decent cloud cover so I was a bit anxious we wouldn’t see them but felt reassured that there were unlimited retries offered with this company (also learnt that the forecast is never accurate). He was patient and persisted in finding the lights even when I had given up hope - lo and behold we were extremely lucky to see them at the end of the night around 1am. Truly a religious experience. The bus is comfortable, max 19 people with free wifi, and Devin gave us interesting facts about Iceland and northern lights along the way (although he has a very soothing radio talk show voice so made it hard to stay awake at times. Thanks to BusTravel for letting me check off a huge bucket list moment!"
"Daniel was an amazing guide and extremely knowledgeable on how to find the northern lights, going in it was a cloudy rainy day but he really pulled through and we got an excellent show"
"ChatGPT said that it would be pretty tough today because there were too many clouds, but since I had come all this way, I made a reservation. Before I knew it, we had moved to a place with fairly clear skies, and I was able to see the aurora twice. If you've come all this way, you should book here. Daniel is a pro at finding the aurora. Amazing!"
"The highlight of our trip to Iceland! Devin was an amazing tour guide, very knowledgeable & funny! Everything was brilliant - transport, commentry, location & hot chocolate. So glad we booked the small group tour and was lucky enough to see an amazing Northern Lights Display!"
"Our guide, JP, persistently searched for the Northern Lights & was successful! We only had to stop a couple of times because he had a “suspicion” that turned out to be absolutely correct. We all got out & saw something peeking through but the longer we stayed there the more we could see. The brilliant green light peeking across one side. JP helped us take photos, showed us where to look and stayed out until the lights disappeared…or so we thought. After we all loaded up, he saw something & told us to get back off and we were rewarded for another beautiful Northern Lights sighting! JP rocked, great night!"
"We had a fantastic time on our tour, it got off to a slow start with not seeing any Aurora, but our guide was restless in ensuring we got to see the lights, and eventually we did! Would recommend"
Read all 3209 verified reviews
See All ReviewsPick a Night, See the Price
Most northern lights tours on this site cancel free up to 24 hours ahead, and several offer a free second tour or a refund if the lights do not show. Check the terms of the tour you pick before you pay. Starting from US$113 per person.
Check AvailabilityFAQ: Northern Lights in Iceland
The tours, the odds and the season, with figures checked October 2026.
Yes, it sits at the edge of the auroral oval, and cloud is the limit. At 64.1° geomagnetic latitude about Kp 1.0 is enough on NOAA's rule of thumb; NASA's climatology puts typical night cloud near 76% in December, which is why the tours drive to find clear sky. See the month-by-month data.
Several do. Northern Lights Bus's two Reykjavik tours include a free retry if you see no lights, with an open ticket for three years, and EastWest lets you rebook free, subject to availability, as listed in October 2026. Check the terms of the tour you pick in the booking calendar.
On a strong night, yes, but the city lights wash out weaker displays. The tours drive out of the light pollution to darker spots, chosen on the night from the cloud forecast.
September to March, when the nights at Reykjavik get at least four hours of nautical darkness. Darkness, not the aurora, sets the season this far north: from May to July the sky never gets dark enough. Computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield for the town, checked October 2026.
November, December and January, on this site's measure: the most dark hours that are also cloud-free on average. That is the night length times the share of clear nights in NASA POWER's 2001-2025 night-cloud climatology. September and March also see more Kp 3+ activity, the equinox effect NOAA describes. Checked October 2026.
About Kp 1 brings the edge of the auroral oval over Reykjavik, an estimate. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center puts the oval's edge near 66 degrees geomagnetic latitude at Kp 0, moving about 2 degrees per Kp step; Reykjavik sits near 64.1 degrees geomagnetic. Higher Kp means brighter, more active displays, and cloud matters more than the number on most nights.
Still have questions? Email us at info@northernlightsdestinations.com
Kp index: GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Matzka et al. 2021), CC BY 4.0 · Oval rule of thumb: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center · Geomagnetic pole: NOAA NCEI (WMM2025) · Night cloud: NASA POWER Project, January 2001 to December 2025 · Tonight's cloud: data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0); Kp forecast: NOAA SWPC · Sun and moon: JPL DE421 via Skyfield · Aurora data checked October 2026.