Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri: Hunt with a Local Guide

Chasing the aurora from the Akureyri countryside

A Northern Lights hunt from Akureyri takes you by minibus from town into the dark countryside with a local guide who shares Icelandic stories along the way. The tour runs two to three hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off; if the lights don't appear, you get a free retry the next evening (when a group tour is scheduled). Children from age three are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights hunt from Akureyri

• Pick up from Akureyri hotels
• Pass Akureyri Church landmark
• Travel to countryside for Northern Lights
• Listen to Icelandic tales from guide
• Chance to buy professional photos
• Return to Akureyri hotels

The Experience

You start in Akureyri and drive out past the town's landmark church into the countryside, where the guide hunts for clear skies and minimal light pollution. The route changes night to night depending on cloud cover and aurora activity—the guide reads the conditions and steers toward the best chance of seeing the lights. Along the way, you'll hear Icelandic tales and folklore that give shape to what you're watching for in the sky.

The guide is a local who has spent winters tracking the Northern Lights and knows the region's weather patterns and viewing spots. They'll explain what you're seeing when it appears—the colors, the movement, the science behind it—and answer questions as the night unfolds. If the aurora doesn't show, the free retry the next evening means you get another shot without paying again (as long as a group tour is running that night).

Hotel pickup and drop-off from anywhere in Akureyri are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself. Professional photos of the night are available to buy if you want them. The tour suits all fitness levels and runs in the dark, so dress warmly and bring layers—the guide will advise on what to wear when you book.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Akureyri.
• guided minibus tour led by a local Northern Lights expert.
• a free retry the next evening if no lights appear (when a group tour is scheduled).

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Imagine Iceland Travel

Is this one for you?The two- to three-hour window fits a free evening or an afternoon that clears by nightfall, leaving the rest of your day in Akureyri open. If you're arriving in town and want to hunt the lights the same night, this tour works; if you need a longer outing or a full-day commitment, this is a focused night hunt instead.

Traveler reviews

4.29★★★★★★★★★★

82 verified traveler reviews

5 ★61

4 ★5

3 ★4

2 ★3

1 ★9

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the best time of year to see the Northern Lights from Akureyri?

The Northern Lights are visible from September through March when the nights are long and dark enough. Peak season is typically December through February, though clear skies matter more than the month—a cloudless night in September can be better than a cloudy one in January.

What happens if the Northern Lights don't appear on the night I book?

You get a free retry the next evening at no extra cost, provided the tour operator is running a group tour that night. This gives you a second chance without paying again.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the meeting point?

No—the tour includes pickup and drop-off from hotels and guesthouses anywhere in Akureyri, so you don't need to organize transport to or from town.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes, children are welcome from age three. Dress them warmly in layers since you'll be outside in the dark for two to three hours waiting for the lights.

Will the guide take photos I can keep?

The guide can photograph the Northern Lights and you, but professional photos are sold separately—they're not included in the tour price. You're welcome to take your own photos as well.