Reykjavik: Northern Lights ATV Quad Tour & Stargazing

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/17

Duration2h–3h

GroupUp to 10

PickupAt your hotel

Chase the Aurora on an ATV Through Iceland's Dark Countryside

You ride an ATV through Icelandic backcountry at night, positioned at Hafravatn Lake and Mount Hafrafell where Northern Lights are most likely to appear. While waiting for the aurora, you stargaze and hunt for shooting stars. Hotel pickup is included; riding gear, helmets and gloves are provided. The tour only runs when clear skies are forecast, and you'll need a valid driver's license and warm clothes.

2h–3h

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights ATV Quad Adventure

Pick up from Reykjavik hotel
Drive to basecamp near Reykjavik
Receive quad biking instructions
Ride ATV along rugged trails
Visit Hafravatn Lake and Mt. Hafrafell
Enjoy panoramic views of nearby towns
Wait for Northern Lights and shooting stars
Return to basecamp and end tour

The Experience

The ATVs are already running when you arrive at the basecamp, just 20 minutes from downtown Reykjavik. Your guide checks your helmet and gloves—the riding gear is provided, so you only need to bring a valid driver's license and layers of warm clothes—then you're heading out into the dark Icelandic night. The quad bikes take you on rugged trails toward Hafravatn Lake and Mount Hafrafell, where the sky opens up and the chances of catching the Northern Lights are best. The tour only runs on nights when there's a real possibility of clear skies, so you're not chasing ghosts; you're going when conditions actually favor the aurora.

Once you're positioned at the viewing spot, the waiting begins—and that's where the stargazing comes in. While you watch for the lights to appear, your guide points out constellations and you hunt for shooting stars together. It sounds like a lot of standing around, but there's something about being on a quad in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by Icelandic wilderness, that makes the wait feel less like waiting. If the Northern Lights show up, you'll want a phone with a good night mode or long-exposure capability—the guide will tell you which newer iPhones and Android phones can actually capture what you're seeing. The older phones won't cut it, so bring an iPhone 11 or better if you want to take the shot home.

The tour operates as a double ride by default, meaning two people share each ATV, but you can upgrade to a single ride for extra cost if you want your own machine. Either way, you're responsible for driving or riding—passengers can be as young as six, but the person on the handlebars needs a full driver's license. Hotel pickup is included from anywhere in the Reykjavik area, though downtown hotels have designated bus stops instead of direct pickup, which the operator arranges for you. If you'd rather skip the pickup, you can meet the group directly at the basecamp and save the back-and-forth.

Bring hand warmers, foot warmers, a scarf or neck buff, and the warmest socks you own. The cold on the quads is real, and you'll be out there for hours waiting for the lights. A phone with a good camera is essential if you want to document the moment—but honestly, some of the best memories from this tour are the ones you just watch with your own eyes.

What’s included

Hotel pickup from Reykjavik area (or meeting at basecamp 20 minutes from downtown).
ATV riding gear, helmet and gloves.
guided night ride on rugged trails to Hafravatn Lake and Mount Hafrafell.
stargazing and shooting star hunting while waiting for the Northern Lights.
choice of single or double ride on the quad.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Action Adventures

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to hunt the Northern Lights without arranging your own transport or worrying about finding the best viewing spot—the guide handles the route and timing, and you just show up with a driver's license and warm clothes.