Akureyri Northern Lights tour: Evening coach search with pickup

Hunt the Aurora from Akureyri and photograph the lights when they appear

An evening Northern Lights tour from Akureyri picks you up from your hotel and drives to rural areas away from city lights to search for the Aurora Borealis. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide, warm drinks and biscuits, blankets, and WiFi on board. You get time to photograph the lights once they're spotted. The tour runs about two and a half hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening Northern Lights tour from Akureyri

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to rural areas
• Search for Northern Lights
• Enjoy and photograph the lights

The experience

Akureyri's position in North Iceland puts you close to the Aurora zone, but the town's electric lights work against you. This tour solves that by driving you out to darker rural areas where the Northern Lights are actually visible. You're picked up from your hotel in the evening, settled into a comfortable coach or minibus, and then the search begins. The guide navigates to spots with the best chance of seeing the lights, moving if needed to chase clearer skies.

Once the Aurora appears, the tour makes sure you have real time to watch and photograph it instead of rushing through. Warm drinks and biscuits keep you comfortable during the wait, and blankets are available if the cold builds up. WiFi on board means you can check conditions or share what you're seeing as it happens. The whole experience runs about two and a half hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in Akureyri.
• warm drinks and biscuits.
• blankets.
• WiFi on board.
• live English-speaking guide throughout the search.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 21:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 34

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Traveling Viking

Is this one for you?Small groups travel together on a shared coach, so you're searching for the lights with other travelers rather than alone. This works well if you want the social aspect of the hunt and don't mind sharing the guide's attention, or if traveling solo and wanting company during the wait for the Aurora.

Traveler reviews

4.69★★★★★★★★★★

13 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Northern Lights and why do they happen in Iceland?

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon caused by solar activity interacting with Earth's atmosphere. Iceland's position far north makes it one of the best places on Earth to see them, especially in the darker months from September through March. The lights appear as colored patterns swirling across the sky, most often green but sometimes red, purple or blue.

When can I actually see the Northern Lights on this tour?

The Northern Lights are only visible on clear, dark nights when solar activity is strong enough. This tour runs in the evening during the winter months when nights are longest, but visibility depends on weather and Aurora activity on any given night. The tour searches for the lights and moves to different locations if needed to find clearer skies.

What should I bring or wear for an evening Northern Lights hunt?

Warm clothing is essential since you'll be outside in an Icelandic evening, even with blankets provided on the coach. Layers work best so you can adjust as you move between the heated bus and outdoor viewing spots. A camera or phone with a good lens helps capture the lights, though the guide and other passengers often share photos afterward.

Does the tour guarantee I'll see the Northern Lights?

No tour can guarantee the Aurora will appear on any specific night, since visibility depends on weather conditions and solar activity. This tour increases your chances by driving away from city lights to rural areas and moving to different locations if clouds block the view, but the lights remain a natural phenomenon beyond anyone's control.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs about two and a half hours from hotel pickup to return. It departs in the evening when darkness falls, which varies by season in Iceland. The exact start time is confirmed when you book based on sunset times for your travel dates.