Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour w/Pro Photos – Small Group

The aurora hunt starts with Vikings. I like the small-group minibus and the owner-led team that keeps moving to maximize your chances, and I love that you get pro photos with Viking portrait moments. One thing to weigh is the cold and the occasional cramped feel on the ride while everyone layers up and waits.

This is a 4-hour evening built around one goal, seeing the Aurora Borealis from outside Reykjavik’s city glow. The owners, Kolbeinn and Emil, run the hunt with decades of experience, and they openly plan for the reality that forecasts can miss. You’ll warm up with hot chocolate and gingerbread or cookies, plus Viking costumes and replica weapons for fun, sometimes goofy photos.

Key highlights I’d circle

• Owner-led aurora hunting with Kolbeinn and Emil, aiming to find lights when others fail
• Small-group access (max 18) using a minibus that can get off the usual routes
• Pro photo support for night shots you can print and keep, not just phone screens
• Viking costume and replica weapon portraits for a memorable, themed aurora look
• Hot chocolate breaks plus cookies or gingerbread while you wait for the sky to cooperate

A Viking-Style Aurora Hunt From Reykjavik (4 Hours, Max 18)

Reykjavik’s aurora tours can blur together fast. This one tries to make the wait part fun instead of just standing there hoping. You’re picked up for an evening outing that blends aurora hunting with picture moments, Viking-style, plus simple comfort breaks like hot chocolate.

The big practical win is the small group size. With up to 18 people, you’re not fighting for space. You can get positioned for photos, and you’re more likely to actually follow the guide’s instructions without the chaos of bigger buses.

The theme matters for a reason beyond cuteness. When the lights finally show up, you’ll want quick, clear steps: where to stand, how to pose, when to look up, and when to switch camera settings. The Viking outfits and portrait setup give the whole group something to focus on, while the sky does its own unpredictable performance.

Hotel Pickup, Minibus Timing, and Why It Changes Your Odds

In the capital area, the difference between seeing auroras and seeing a gray sky often comes down to timing and darkness. This tour uses a minibus and multiple Reykjavik pickup points, which helps you roll out quickly and keeps the group compact.

Here’s what you’ll feel right away:

• You get hotel pickup and drop-off, so you aren’t coordinating transport after a late night.
• The driver will shout your name at the pickup location.
• The minibus format can reach spots that large coaches often cannot.

That last part is key. When you’re trying to get away from city lights and toward darker sky, route flexibility is not a luxury. It’s a tool. If clouds hang around one area, the team can pivot and try again.

One minor caution comes from real-world comfort. On one night, the bus felt a bit cramped, and there wasn’t much room for layers. The solution is easy: dress in thin, warm layers you can compress and carry as needed, and plan to keep your cold-weather gear ready to go when you stop.

What You Do With the Aurora: Pro Photos, Costumes, and Replica Weapons

This tour is not just walking outside and hoping your phone captures streaks. You get high spec cameras and a photographer who helps with getting night images that look good back home.

The photo concept is built into the experience in a smart way. You’ll do Viking portrait-style pictures with costumes and replica weapon props, with the aurora in the background when it’s there. That matters because the best aurora moments move quickly, and guides who plan photo timing usually produce better results than groups that improvise.

Also, the Viking props are not heavy cosplay baggage. They’re more like photo “supporting actors.” One review described how the camera and costume setup can produce amazing shots and, sometimes, hilarious ones when the timing and conditions don’t cooperate perfectly. Either way, you get a story, and you’re not just collecting screenshots.

If you care about getting more than a basic green smudge, this is one of the better value formats. Professional night photography guidance plus themed portrait staging is a stronger combo than most catch-the-lights tours that only offer general advice.

The Real Drivers: Kolbeinn and Emil, and the Aurora Hunt Mindset

Reykjavik is full of Northern Lights tours. What separates the good ones is not the promise, it’s the patience and the repositioning when conditions shift.

This experience is owner-led. Kolbeinn and Emil guide the hunt, with decades of experience finding the lights. Their stated approach is to maximize your odds by being ready to move and keep trying when the first spot underwhelms.

And they plan for the emotional reality. Because no one can accurately predict the aurora with certainty, the tour includes entertainment while you wait. Viking weapon and outfit photo time, plus hot drinks and snacks, keep the energy up. That reduces the “standing around with nothing happening” feeling that can sink an aurora night for some people.

A very practical detail from the vibe of the reviews: the guides don’t treat the stop list like a checklist. They keep looking and adjust when the sky shows signs, including repositioning when lights return or intensify. One review even highlighted a second hunt location after the first attempt looked weaker.

A Step-by-Step Evening You Can Picture

You’re starting in Reykjavik, then moving out into darker sky for aurora hunting. The full program runs about 4 hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off built in.

Pickup, quick briefing, and getting ready

You’ll be picked up from one of the many listed areas across the city. Your driver finds you at the stop by shouting your name. From there, you’re on the road with everyone layering up in the cold.

This is where the minibus setup pays off. A compact group is easier to manage when it’s time to pull over quickly, do a photo pose, or reassemble fast after a stop.

Photo stop and sightseeing moment

There’s a secret stop described as a photo stop with sightseeing. In practice, that means a moment to get the “I’m really in Iceland” view while also preparing for night photography. The guides use these stops to set up for better angles, reduce glare from nearby lights, and keep everyone in the right rhythm for the aurora timing.

Viking portrait time while you wait

At several moments during the hunt, you’ll switch into Viking costumes and do replica-weapon portrait photos. This is one of the smartest parts of the schedule because it uses the wait time productively. When the sky is slow, you’re still creating photos. When the lights finally show, you’re already set up and ready to act fast.

Some groups get sky drama quickly. Others wait longer while clouds move through. Either way, you get structured activities so the night feels like more than a gamble.

Multiple viewing tries, including second locations

Aurora nights rarely go in a straight line. If the sky cooperates right away, you might get lights on your first productive stops. If not, the guide team moves to other areas and keeps searching.

Several guide names showed up repeatedly in the experience accounts, including Tomas, Kobe, Johan (Joey), and Trond, with consistent themes: patience, repositioning, and careful photo placement so everyone gets a turn. The recurring pattern is that the guide actively manages timing, rather than simply arriving at a location and waiting passively.

Hot chocolate and cookies to keep you functional

When cold starts biting, hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread are part of the plan. One review even mentioned hot chocolate being homemade, which is the sort of detail that makes a small group tour feel more personal.

It’s a practical comfort break too. When you’re warm, you can stay outside longer and keep taking pictures instead of going numb and giving up. In the reviews, people also noted the van interior staying warm, which helps you cool down without feeling miserable.

Return drop-off

After the hunt, you head back to the Reykjavik drop-off points, again spread across the city. The whole evening is designed to be easy to logistically manage, especially if you’re trying to do multiple activities in a short time window.

Price and Value at $148: What You’re Really Paying For

At $148 per person for a 4-hour night, you might wonder if it’s worth more than the cheaper aurora basics. Here’s where value shows up for this particular tour.

You’re paying for:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off, which saves time and transport hassle late at night
• A guide plus a photographer, which is a step up from tours that just point and instruct
• Costumes and replica weapon props, which create a themed photo experience without you needing to bring anything
• Hot chocolate and cookies or gingerbread, a small cost item that helps you last outside longer
• Unlimited retries until you see the aurora at no extra charge once you’ve booked

That last one is the standout financial logic. Aurora viewing is luck plus conditions, and forecasts are never perfect. If your first night is cloudy, you’re not stuck paying for a one-and-done gamble. The trade-off to know is that there is no refund if auroras are not seen on your booked night, but you can join again free of charge until you see them.

So the value is about reducing risk. You’re still buying a chance to see the sky, but you’re not buying a single fixed outcome.

Who This Tour Fits Best, and Who Might Prefer a Different Style

This tour is a great match if you:

• Want pro photos with actual night photography support
• Like a structured experience where you’re not just standing in the dark for hours
• Enjoy themed moments, especially Viking costumes and portrait-style pictures
• Appreciate a small group setting with a driver and guides who manage the hunt actively

It may feel less ideal if you:

• Get uncomfortable in small vehicles while everyone is layered up
• Want a silent, minimal experience with no planned activities while waiting

One clear limitation from the provided details: it is not suitable for children under 7. If you’re traveling with younger kids, you’ll need another option.

Should You Book Aurora Viking’s Northern Lights Tour?

If your main goal is seeing the aurora and leaving with photos that look great, I think this is one of the stronger ways to spend a Reykjavik evening. The combination of small-group minibus access, owner-led hunting with Emil and Kolbeinn, and the free retry approach until you see the lights makes it a smart choice when weather is unpredictable.

Book it if you want more than a basic aurora outing. The Viking costumes, replica weapon props, and hot chocolate make the night feel like an experience even when the sky needs time.

Hold off or compare if you are sensitive to cramped transport or you only want a low-key, quiet night. Otherwise, for most people who come to Iceland mainly for the lights, this one offers solid value and a plan that keeps working.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Northern Lights tour?

The tour runs for 4 hours.

What group size and transport should I expect?

This is a small group tour, with a maximum group size of 18 people, using a minibus.

Is the tour suitable for children?

It is not suitable for children under 7 years old.

What is included for photos and activities?

You get a guide and photographer, high spec cameras for night-time photography, Viking costumes, Viking weapon replicas, hot chocolate, and cookies.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing.

What happens if there are no Northern Lights sightings?

There is no refund if the Northern Lights are not seen on the evening you join. You can join again free of charge until you see the lights.

Is there free cancellation, and is the guide available in English?

Yes, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the live tour guide speaks English.