REVIEW · REYKJAVIK
Reykjavik: Northern Lights Tour with Private Photographer
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Ultimate Iceland / Aurora Experts · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Aurora night gets a smart upgrade. This Reykjavik Northern Lights tour is built around one thing: better chances, better comfort, and photos you don’t have to wrestle with all night. The operator pairs expert spotting with a private photographer approach, plus warm winter gear and traditional Icelandic treats.
I especially like the way Heimir focuses on timing and movement, not just “wait and hope.” I also like that you get warm winter jumpsuits and outdoor chairs, so you’re not doing the usual stiff-armed freezing-at-the-edges thing.
One possible drawback: the whole experience is weather-dependent, and if the group timing gets thrown off (like a delayed van), you may wait longer for the warm gear and snacks.
In This Review
- Key things that make this Northern Lights tour work
- Private photographer, 93% sightings, and why the timing matters
- Small-group comfort: the jumpsuit-and-chair strategy
- Snacks, hot cocoa, and the Icelandic warming-up routine
- What the 5 hours usually feel like (pickup to dark-sky hunting)
- Re-runs: your safety net, with limits
- How the photo setup changes your night
- Price and value: is $229 worth it?
- Who this tour fits best
- Should you book this Reykjavik Northern Lights tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the Northern Lights tour?
- What’s the group size?
- Is pickup included?
- What language is the tour guide?
- What should I wear or bring?
- Are warm winter jumpsuits provided?
- Do I get professional photos from the tour?
- Do you provide camera tripods?
- Are Northern Lights guaranteed?
- What happens if I can’t see the lights?
Key things that make this Northern Lights tour work
- Heimir’s tracking game: smarter decision-making on when to wait, when to move, and when to pause
- Unlimited professional photos: you’re not capped at a handful of shots
- Warm jumpsuits + outdoor chairs on location: comfort when you’re standing still in the cold
- Tripods you can borrow + camera help: less phone-handshake drama, more keeper frames
- Small group size (max 18): you get attention without a wall of people
Private photographer, 93% sightings, and why the timing matters
Northern Lights tours can feel like a lottery. What makes this one different is the emphasis on process, not luck. The tour is marketed with a 93% sighting rate, and the practical “how” is tied to advanced forecasting: weather, cloud, and aurora predictions backed by satellite images. That matters because auroras aren’t just about darkness. Clouds, wind, and even how the sky behaves that hour can change what you’ll see.
The guide here is Heimir, who’s described as one of the best Northern Lights photographers in Iceland. In real-world terms, that means you’re not only hunting the lights—you’re also optimizing for what your camera needs to capture them. One common frustration on Northern Lights nights is coming home with a few blurry streaks (or worse, nothing). The tour’s setup tries to prevent that by combining guided spotting with photo support.
A good sign is that the approach seems to include patience when conditions are trending the right way. One traveler said the guide advised waiting about 30 minutes longer and that things started moving in the right direction. That’s the kind of judgment call that separates a basic tour from an operator that’s actually watching the sky.
The photo side is also handled in a way that removes a major stressor. You get an unlimited amount of professional photos from the tour, and the photographer is there to take them. You’re still welcome to shoot on your own, but you’re not forced to gamble your night on camera settings you don’t fully understand.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Reykjavik
Small-group comfort: the jumpsuit-and-chair strategy
Cold ruins photos. Cold also ruins patience. This tour tackles both with comfort gear you can actually use.
The operator is the only northern lights operator in Iceland (as stated) that provides warm winter jumpsuits and outdoor chairs on location. That’s huge for a Reykjavik night, because you’re typically out in the dark for long stretches. If you’re dressed “normally,” you’ll spend half the time thinking about your fingers instead of the sky.
Warm jumpsuits are not just about staying warm. They change your whole posture. You can stand, adjust, sit, and wait without that constant “I can’t feel my toes” energy. And the outdoor chairs help you stay steady. For long exposures, stability is everything.
Group size matters here too. The tour keeps the group to a maximum of 18 people, aiming for a cozy setup where you don’t feel swallowed by a crowd. Crowds aren’t just annoying. They can limit where you can stand, how close you can get to a spot, and how easy it is for your guide to help everyone.
One caution from the experience data: a delayed arrival (reported as about 30 minutes due to a broken van) can affect when you receive the warm suits and snacks. The upside is that the tour still provides them, and other parts of the evening may include quick light checks on the way back. But you should be mentally ready for the cold-wait reality if timing slips.
Snacks, hot cocoa, and the Icelandic warming-up routine
You’ll get traditional Icelandic snacks and drinks during the tour. The list includes dried fish, cinnamon rolls, pastries, chocolate, hot cocoa, tea, and premium Icelandic vodka and snaps. That’s a nice mix: sweet, salty, hot, and a bit of the local spirit.
This kind of mid-night food program matters more than it sounds. A chilly night outside can drain your energy fast, and Northern Lights nights often involve waiting. Warm drinks also help with comfort and circulation, which is practical advice if you’ve ever tried to keep your hands steady while holding a camera.
From the experience notes, food and drink service happens near the middle-to-late portion of the tour depending on timing. One traveler felt snacks and warm drinks came a bit late after arriving, and wished they were provided earlier. So here’s the practical takeaway: even though the tour includes food, you’ll still want to dress like you might wait longer than expected.
The vodka and snaps aren’t required, but they show the tour’s theme: make the cold part feel like a proper Icelandic night out, not just a waiting room in the dark.
What the 5 hours usually feel like (pickup to dark-sky hunting)
The tour runs 5 hours and includes pickup and drop-off from hotels, larger guest houses, and cruise ship terminals in Reykjavik. There are some places where the bus can’t drive into the city center due to Reykjavik city regulations, so you may need to walk a little to the closest stop. The operator points you to a list of bus stops for specific accommodations, which is worth checking before you show up in the dark.
Once you’re picked up, you’ll head away from city lights—because that’s where auroras have the best chance of looking strong. The guiding team uses forecasting to choose the right moment and likely the right direction. From there, you spend time waiting in the cold, then adjusting if conditions shift.
A typical rhythm looks like this:
- Travel out from Reykjavik to reduce light pollution.
- Wait and watch while the sky and cloud conditions cooperate.
- Move or re-check if the aurora activity looks like it’s developing.
- Wrap up and return, sometimes with a last look.
That final step is important. One traveler said the driver stopped for a proper northern lights check on the way back after the tour. That’s not something you can count on every time, but it reflects an idea you should like: the team isn’t always done just because the schedule says it is.
Re-runs: your safety net, with limits
Northern Lights tours can be canceled at the last minute if conditions are poor. If the lights can’t be seen during the scheduled attempt, the tour offers unlimited re-runs until you witness the spectacle, and in the important details you’ll be told the retry is valid for two years from your original tour date. That’s a meaningful cushion if you’re unlucky with cloud cover.
Just keep expectations balanced: there’s still no guarantee. The tour sends an email by 18.30 latest on the day of the tour to confirm whether it can take place, which is a standard reality for Iceland sky-watching.
You can also read our reviews of more photography tours in Reykjavik
How the photo setup changes your night
If you’ve tried to photograph auroras with a phone, you already know the problem: phones aren’t built for low-light long exposure. This tour is built around giving you a better outcome without you needing a photography degree.
Here’s what’s clearly part of the plan:
- Unlimited professional photos taken during the tour
- Tripods you can borrow free of charge
- Assistance with your camera settings
- Free WiFi on board (helpful for quick coordination or sending files once you have them)
The value is in removing the guesswork. Even if you bring your own camera, setting it up correctly can be the difference between blurry and crisp. The tour’s “help with settings” means you’ll spend less time fiddling and more time pointing at the right patch of sky.
And you’re not only dealing with photography; you’re dealing with darkness. In one review detail, a traveler said the guide’s probability tracking was the only reason they saw the lights without a camera. That’s a reminder that the guide’s job isn’t just to photograph you—it’s to help you see.
Also, unlimited photos reduce the post-night stress. You’re not stuck picking which shots you want. You get the full set from the professional side, and that’s what you’ll most likely frame, share, and keep.
Price and value: is $229 worth it?
At $229 per person for a 5-hour experience, this tour sits in the mid-to-higher range compared to basic Northern Lights trips. But when you break down what’s included, the price starts to make more sense.
You’re paying for several specific, tangible things:
- A professional photographer doing the photo work for you
- Unlimited photos from the tour
- Warm jumpsuits and outdoor chairs on location
- Camera tripods you can borrow plus help with settings
- Traditional Icelandic snacks and hot drinks
- Premium Icelandic vodka and snaps
- Pickup and drop-off across Reykjavik areas and terminals
- A small group cap of 18
If you compare it to a cheaper group tour, what usually gets cut is comfort gear, photo support, or the attention-to-the-sky part. Here, the pitch is that you don’t just get transported—you get guided and equipped.
That said, the value depends on timing. One traveler reported a late start (about 30 minutes) due to a broken van and felt warm suits and snacks were delayed until later in the trip. Another traveler noted the van was brand new, which suggests the fleet can vary by season or vehicle assignment. So if you’re the kind of person who hates waiting, be aware that any bus-based tour has that risk.
One more consideration: one low rating mentioned a cancellation and that a refund wasn’t received. That doesn’t happen every time, but it’s a reminder to keep an eye on communication if plans change.
Who this tour fits best
This is a great match if you:
- Want photos that look like you actually know what you’re doing
- Feel cold easily and want warm jumpsuits and chairs instead of layering like an escape artist
- Prefer a smaller group (max 18) and a guide who can help
- Like the idea of someone actively working the sky, not just standing in a field
It may not be the best fit if you:
- Want zero waiting time no matter what. Northern Lights nights are still nights of waiting.
- Are traveling with very small kids. The tour is not suitable for children under 5 years.
If you’re a solo traveler, couples, or a small family with older kids, the small-group setup can make it feel more personal. If you’re a beginner photographer, the tripod help and settings assistance are the kind of support that pays off quickly.
Should you book this Reykjavik Northern Lights tour?
Book it if you want the best chance of walking away with two wins: seeing auroras and getting photos you’re proud to show off. The combination of Heimir’s guidance, unlimited professional photos, and comfort gear (jumpsuits + chairs) makes this one of the more “I’m going to enjoy the night even if it’s cold” options.
Skip or rethink if you:
- Are very sensitive to delays and might feel annoyed if timing slips on the road
- Need the lights to be guaranteed (no tour can promise that)
My practical advice: check the weather email the day of, dress for cold even with the provided gear (hat, warm layers, gloves, hiking shoes), and keep your attitude flexible. Iceland rewards people who show up ready to wait and watch.
FAQ
How long is the Northern Lights tour?
The tour lasts 5 hours.
What’s the group size?
The tour keeps the group to a maximum of 18 passengers.
Is pickup included?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels, larger guest houses, and cruise ship terminals in Reykjavik, with some restrictions in the city center.
What language is the tour guide?
The live tour guide is in English.
What should I wear or bring?
Bring warm clothing, a hat, hiking shoes, and gloves.
Are warm winter jumpsuits provided?
Yes. Warm winter jumpsuits are included, along with outdoor chairs at the viewing location.
Do I get professional photos from the tour?
Yes. You’ll receive an unlimited amount of professional photos from the tour, and the guide assists with camera settings.
Do you provide camera tripods?
Yes. There are extra camera tripods you can borrow free of charge.
Are Northern Lights guaranteed?
No. Northern Lights can’t be guaranteed, since viewing depends on weather and conditions.
What happens if I can’t see the lights?
If unforeseen circumstances prevent viewing, a free retry can be organized. The retry is valid for two years from the date of your original tour. The tour can also be canceled last minute if conditions are poor.
