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

The lights hunt can feel impossible. This one turns it into a small-group photo mission with pro gear and Viking fun, all led by people who chase auroras for a living. I love that the crew uses a minibus to reach darker spots that big buses miss. I also love that you get high-quality aurora photos paired with Viking portraits instead of just standing in the cold. The one drawback to plan around: the aurora is never guaranteed, and you’ll still need to wait in winter weather.

You’re in good hands with Aurora Viking’s owners, Kolbeinn and Emil, plus local guides who focus on maximizing your odds. Expect hot chocolate, pastries, and playful distraction while you wait—because the sky can take its time. Just know the tour does not promise a sighting on the night you go out, and there’s no refund if you don’t see the lights, even though you can join again for free.

Key things I’d mark on your mental map

• Uncheated retries: unlimited extra nights until you see the lights
• Minibus size: up to 18 people, so you’re not packed shoulder-to-shoulder
• Pro night-photo help: a photographer using high-spec cameras for stronger results
• Viking-themed portraits: costumes and weapon replicas for photos with the aurora behind you
• Entertainment during the wait: hot chocolate, cookies, and silliness with replica gear
• Chasing strategy: the guides reposition fast when conditions improve

Entering Reykjavik’s Northern Lights hunt with a small-group advantage

Reykjavik is great for aurora trips because you’re near both the city lights and the dark countryside you need. The hard part is getting away from the bright glow quickly once the sky starts cooperating—or finding a darker pocket when it doesn’t.

This tour keeps the group tight, with a minibus setup for a maximum of 18 people. In practice, that matters. You spend more time together on a manageable hunt, and it’s easier for the guides to move everyone as a group without turning the night into a logistical circus. Plus, smaller vehicles can often get to viewpoints and pull-off spots that don’t work as well for larger coach buses.

The crew’s focus is simple: maximize your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis. The owners, Kolbeinn and Emil, are described as leading the effort, and the guides all have decades of experience finding lights when other trips struggle. That “hunt” mindset shows up in how they talk and move—like they’re always checking the next best option rather than following one fixed plan and calling it done.

Do you still need patience? Yes. The aurora is weather-dependent and unpredictable. But you’re not sitting in one place hoping. You’re actively looking, stopping, re-positioning, and trying again.

Viking costumes and replica weapons: more than a gimmick for your night photos

The Viking theme is the kind of idea that could go cheesy. Here it works because it’s built around what you’re actually there for: night-sky portraits.

You’ll have access to Viking costumes and weapon replica props sourced from a local museum. Then the photographer helps you turn that into photos where the aurora actually becomes the background, not just a dim glow you missed. Some nights your photos will look like movie stills. Other nights—when the timing is off or the wind has other plans—you’ll get shots that are funny enough to keep anyway. Either way, it gives you something to do besides shiver and scroll.

One extra detail I like: the guides connect the aurora theme back to Viking culture. You’ll learn about the stories and beliefs Vikings associated with the northern lights—so the costumes don’t feel pasted on. They’re there to help you understand the setting, not just to dress you up.

If you’re a serious photographer, this part can still be useful. Changing into the costume gives you clearer photo targets—pose, framing, contrast—while the aurora does its thing. If you’re not a photographer, it still adds energy. It breaks the “stand in silence” vibe and keeps the group smiling while you wait for the sky.

The pro-photo setup: what “high quality” means at night

Northern lights photography is different from daytime travel photos. At night, small mistakes get amplified: focus slips, exposure gets wrong, and your results become grainy or flat. That’s where the photographer matters.

You’ll travel with both a local guide and a photographer, plus high-spec cameras designed for night conditions. The goal is to capture strong aurora details and make sure you end up in the frame for at least one great shot—something a solo phone snapshot rarely guarantees.

In the real-world experiences shared, guides like Emil, Kobe, Tomas, Johan (Joey), BG, Trond, and Kobe/Emil are repeatedly praised for getting people their photos rather than blasting through stops. People describe multiple repositioning moments to get the best background, and attention to making sure everyone gets a turn for photos with the lights behind them.

So what should you expect from the photo side?

• You’ll get professional photos meant for keepsakes and printing.
• You’ll likely get multiple attempts at different compositions, especially if conditions improve after an initially slow start.
• You won’t just point a camera and hope. The photographer’s job is to handle the technical side and the timing side.

Also, don’t ignore the human factor: the photographer and guide help you stay warm enough and organized enough to actually make it through the session. If someone in your group gets nervous about posing in the cold, they’re the kind who will coach you through it.

The “we wait, we still have fun” strategy (hot chocolate and timing)

Aurora hunting is rarely a clean one-and-done show. Sometimes the lights appear quickly. Sometimes you wait. Sometimes clouds roll in right when you think it’s happening.

This tour tries to solve that boredom problem. The operators explicitly treat entertainment as part of the experience, especially if the aurora takes time. You’ll have hot chocolate and cookies, and there’s also gingerbread mentioned for warming you up.

It sounds minor, but it’s not. In a cold outing, warmth isn’t just comfort—it’s how you keep your hands usable for photos and your face calm enough to enjoy the moment. Multiple accounts describe hot chocolate that people really look forward to, and some mention blankets and cabin warmth on the minibus during the wait.

There’s also a playful side to the waiting strategy. Viking gear turns the waiting period into a photo mini-session. When the aurora is faint, you can still get a fun set of images and feel like the night has momentum. If the sky bursts into activity, you’re already ready—clothes on, poses practiced, camera set—so you don’t waste the best seconds.

Chasing the lights: secret stops, fast changes, and darker horizons

The tour includes a secret stop described as a photo stop with sightseeing. In practice, think of this as a moving plan: you’ll leave Reykjavik, head toward darker viewing areas, then stop where the conditions look best.

You can feel the chasing approach in the details people shared. Some nights start cloudy, then clear up. Other nights, the guides react quickly if there’s a sudden improvement—like a change in aurora activity happening as they’re heading to another spot. That kind of last-minute decision is hard to do on crowded mega-tours where you can’t shift the group as quickly.

You’ll likely have more than one viewing moment during the 4 hours. People describe stops where the lights appear in different colors—green with occasional red or orange—and a few mention long enough stretches to actually watch it “dance” across the sky. When the aurora is active, it’s often not constant; it comes in pulses. That’s why being willing to re-position helps.

One more practical point: you’re not just chasing color. You’re chasing clarity. The guides aim to get you away from city light pollution so the aurora stands out for both eyes and camera exposure. That’s what makes the difference between seeing a faint hint and seeing real structure—spikes, arcs, and motion.

Price and value: where $148 makes sense and where it might not

At $148 per person for a 4-hour small-group night, this isn’t the cheapest aurora option. But it’s also not buying just “a ride to the dark.” You’re paying for several layers that add up:

• Pickup and drop-off from multiple Reykjavik-area stops
• A guide and photographer, not just a driver
• Viking costumes and weapon replicas for portraits
• Hot chocolate and cookies/gingerbread
• A strategy designed around finding the aurora, not simply waiting near Reykjavik

The biggest value kicker is the unlimited retries promise: you can join again for free until you see the lights. That turns the price into something closer to a “try until it works” ticket, which is a big deal in Iceland, where weather is the boss.

Now, the consideration: there is no refund if there’s no aurora sighting on the night you attend. So you need to be okay with the risk of a missed night, even with retries available.

Also, small-group doesn’t mean room for everything. One account describes the bus feeling cramped, and winter layering is real. If you hate tight spaces, wear layers that are easy to remove and store—because you’ll likely be shifting positions outside and back into the vehicle repeatedly.

Getting ready: how to dress so the cold doesn’t steal your attention

This is a winter night. Your comfort affects your photos, your patience, and your mood.

The only clear must from the tour info is: bring warm clothing. Beyond that, I’d plan like you’re going to be outside for stretches you can’t predict—minutes that might become longer if the aurora delays.

My practical checklist:

• Wear layering so you can adjust when you’re standing versus riding
• Bring gloves you can actually use with camera settings or with the phone you’ll rely on for quick framing
• Plan for wind. In Reykjavik winters, “cold” often means “cold plus movement”
• If you’re doing Viking portraits, be ready for quick costume changes and posing while holding still

One smart mindset: don’t treat the night like a quick sightseeing stop. Treat it like an overnight-wait experience squeezed into a few hours. When you dress for that, the hot chocolate and photos start feeling like bonuses instead of survival.

Who this tour fits best (and who might prefer something else)

This tour is a great match if you want:

• A small-group aurora experience with less crowd chaos
• Photo help so you don’t miss the best moment waiting for your settings
• A playful, Viking-themed twist that turns waiting into fun
• The chance to retry for free until you see the lights

It also makes sense if this is your first winter in Iceland and you want a guide-driven strategy rather than winging it with a car. People mention drives out toward darker areas and even farther routes when needed, which is the kind of planning that’s hard to DIY.

What about families? The tour says it’s not suitable for children under 7. So if you’re traveling with younger kids, you’ll need a different option. If your child is 7+ and can handle winter cold, this kind of guided hunt with distractions can work well.

If you’re the type who hates waiting in the cold no matter what—this might not be your comfort zone. Even the best aurora hunter can’t control clouds. But the tour’s entertainment and retry approach are designed to soften that reality.

Should you book Aurora Viking’s Northern Lights tour with pro photos?

If your main goal is seeing the Aurora Borealis and coming home with images that feel like the night truly happened, I think this is a strong pick. The combo of small-group access, photographer-driven night shots, and the Viking portrait setup is a lot more “prepared” than most aurora outings. Add unlimited retries, and the risk shifts in your favor.

I’d book it if:

• You’re willing to dress for cold waiting
• You want better odds than a fixed single viewing spot
• You value pro photo results over basic sightseeing

I’d hesitate if:

• You expect a guaranteed aurora on the first night only
• You hate tight vehicle space and long cold pauses
• You’re only available for one evening and you won’t be able to use the free retry if needed

If you can be flexible, you’re buying a structured aurora hunt with real follow-through. And in Iceland, that kind of effort is exactly what you hope to find.

FAQ

What’s included in the Aurora Viking Northern Lights tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide and photographer, Viking costumes, Viking weapon replicas, hot chocolate, and cookies.

How long is the tour?

It lasts 4 hours.

How many people are in the group?

The small-group format is capped at 18 people max, using a minibus for a more personal experience.

Do I get Northern Lights photos?

Yes. The tour includes a photographer and the use of high-spec cameras designed for high quality night time pictures of the aurora and Viking portraits.

What if there are no Northern Lights on my night?

There’s no refund in the case of no aurora sightings. However, you can join again free of charge until you see the lights.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from multiple Reykjavik-area stops.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing. The outing is cold, and you’ll be outside while hunting for the lights.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

It’s not suitable for children under 7.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.