Tour description
The Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, are one of the most spectacular shows on this earth and can frequently be seen in Iceland from September through March on cold, clear and crisp nights. If the weather conditions are right, we'll go away from the city lights and find a dark place in the wilderness to enjoy the Northern Lights.
What’s included
- Super Jeep and expert driver guide
- Guided tour
- Free hotel pick up in Reykjavik 10-20 minutes before
Info
- Season: 20 September - 20 March, on clear nights
- Duration: 2,5 - 4 hours
- Departures: Daily at 8:30 pm (20:30 h)
- Pickup: 8:10-8:20 pm
Per vehicle
Cruiser (up to 4 persons): ISK 101,563, Excursion (up to 6 persons): ISK 122,688, Excursion XL (up to 9 persons): ISK 153,563
Details
There is no fixed itinerary for this tour. What decides where we go is the cloud cover and darkness; we need clear skies and as much darkness as possible.
Away from the glow of the city, we hunt for the majestic, otherworldly, and elusive, Northern Lights, but please note that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights exist in the outermost layer of the atmosphere. They are created by electrically charged particles that make the thin air shine, not unlike a fluorescent light. They can be seen in auroral belts that form 20-25 degrees around the geomagnetic poles, both the north and the south.
The Northern Lights are also called Aurora Borealis; derived from Aurora, the Roman goddess of the Dawn, and Boreas, the Greek god of the North Wind. The name 'Northern Lights' was first chronicled in Old Norse in 1230.
Here are couple of helpful links:
Aurora forecast where you can see the cloud cover and aurora forecast for Iceland a couple of days ahead;
Auroral activity map where you can see how the NOAA agency estimates the current aurora levels. Iceland is on centre right, just above the red circle marked ‚60‘ and remember that the Earth rotates.
This is the information we use to estimate whether we go or not on a particular night – but please note: both are predictions and estimates, not facts - and beyond our control, as is the weather.
Important Note
● This tour is highly dependent on weather conditions and for that reason we only decide the same day whether we go or not - it is therefore essential that we can reach you the same day, either by calling your hotel or by email if you have email on your phone. If we cancel all your evenings due to weather, you get a full refund. If we go and don't see the Northern Lights, you get a free tour the next night.
● Due to the fact that sightings of the Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis are subject to both the level of the auroral activity and favourable weather conditions, it is highly advisable to allow 2-3 nights in your schedule for "hunting" the Aurora. It is important to be flexible regarding the timeframe for a Northern Lights tour, in order to maximize your chances of seeing this spectacular, but sometimes elusive natural phenomenon.
● The decision regarding whether a Northern Lights tour will go ahead or not on a particular night is usually made around 18:00 (6 pm). The reception staff in many Icelandic hotels will have this information, and you can also telephone the tour provider directly. The tour provider's phone number can be found on you tour voucher.
● For your safety, the tour operator reserves the right to change tours due to weather, road and snow conditions.
● Our article on the Northern Lights can be found here.
Images / Video