Reykjavik Private Northern Lights Tour with Pro Photographer

A professional photographer hunts the Northern Lights with you and hands over the photos.

A private Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik with a professional photographer guide who uses top-of-the-line cameras and gives you free photos if the aurora appears. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours, includes hot chocolate and local cinnamon buns, and comes with one free re-try if weather or luck doesn't cooperate on the first night. Pickup is included. The guide speaks English or Polish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights private tour and photography

• Meet professional photographer guide
• Hunt Northern Lights with off-road options
• Enjoy hot chocolate and cinnamon buns
• Receive free professional photos
• Reschedule or retry if no aurora seen

The experience

You're chasing the Northern Lights in winter, and the difference between a snapshot and a keeper comes down to camera settings and timing. This tour pairs you with a guide who is a professional photographer, not a guide who happens to know cameras, but someone who shoots the aurora as their primary work. They bring the gear that matters: top-of-the-line equipment that captures what your phone can't, and they'll walk you through adjusting your own camera if you want to shoot alongside them. If the aurora shows, you get a minimum of five photos with the lights in them, delivered to you after the tour.

The hunt itself runs 3 to 4 hours, and the guide uses real-time weather data to chase the best conditions across the Reykjavik area: sometimes that means staying put, sometimes it means driving to clearer skies. You'll stand in the dark Icelandic landscape watching for the green glow, and the guide reads the activity and the sky to position you where the lights are most likely to break through. Hot chocolate and local cinnamon buns come along, which matters when you're waiting outside in winter. If the weather forecast is poor before you start, you can reschedule or cancel for a refund instead of spending the night chasing clouds.

The 95% success rate is built on experience and small groups. You're not one of twenty people crammed into a van. If you don't see the lights on the first night, you get one free re-try (though a second attempt might be offered as a small group of up to six people rather than fully private, and may use a different vehicle). Pickup from your Reykjavik location is included, and the guide speaks English or Polish.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Reykjavik location.
• a professional photographer guide speaking English or Polish.
• a minimum of five photos with the Northern Lights if they appear.
• hot chocolate and local cinnamon buns.
• one free re-try tour if you don't see the aurora on your first night.
• assistance with your own camera settings.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 20:30 and 21:00

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Icelandic Roamers

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the Northern Lights photos without managing the camera work yourself. The guide handles the technical side and hands you the images. Choose it also if you value a private group and real-time weather tracking over a larger van tour, since the small size and professional judgment are what build the 95% success rate.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Polish.

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 24h before the start.

What does the 95% success rate mean, and what happens if I don't see the Northern Lights?

The 95% success rate reflects the tour operator's track record of spotting the aurora on a given night during the winter season. If you don't see the lights, you receive one free re-try tour at no extra cost, though a second attempt may be offered as a small group of up to six people instead of private, and may use a different vehicle than your original booking.

Do I get the photos even if I bring my own camera?

The professional photographer provides a minimum of five photos with the Northern Lights if they appear, delivered after the tour. The guide will also help you adjust your own camera settings if you want to shoot alongside them, so you can capture your own images as well.

How long does the tour last, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 3 to 4 hours. The specific start time depends on darkness and weather conditions, which the guide monitors in real time to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora.

What's included in the tour, and what should I bring?

The tour includes pickup from your Reykjavik location, the guide's professional photography expertise, a minimum of five photos if the aurora appears, hot chocolate, and local cinnamon buns. Bring warm winter clothing, as you'll be standing outside in the Icelandic night. The guide can advise on layers when you confirm your booking.

Can I reschedule or get a refund if the weather looks bad?

If the weather forecast is poor before the tour begins, you have the option to reschedule for another night or cancel for a full refund instead of going out.

Is this tour suitable if I've never seen the Northern Lights before?

Yes, the tour is designed for all fitness levels and works well for first-timers. The guide is a professional photographer who knows how to position you and explain what you're watching for, and the small private group means you get personalized attention.