Northern Lights Day Trips from Reykjavik

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that forms only in some places in the north of the planet Earth. Seeing these lights is one of the things you must do when visiting Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Iceland. Their appearance depends on the weather conditions at the time, but I am sure you will find a plan that allows you to see them.

Excursions and tours to see the northern lights depart from Reykjavik. You can go by boat, 4x4 vehicle or bus. In all plans you will have to get as far away as possible from the light pollution of the city. Sometimes it is not possible to appreciate these magical lights, that is why you can always take a trip to a museum and see a very realistic replica of this natural spectacle. Do you dare to know the tours you can take?

Are you one of those people who love the night sky? Then you are like me and you will surely love this excursion. With this plan you will not only be able to observe the northern lights of the magical sky in Reykjavik, but also its stars and constellations. This tour has an approximate price of 50 € and a duration of 3 or 4 hours.

To start this journey, a bus will pick you up at the established meeting points or at the place where you are staying. There you will be able to enjoy the WiFi of the bus and you will be given a tablet. On it you will find a special audio guide that you can set up in the language of your choice. In addition to important facts about Iceland and its sky, you will see a series of tips for taking pictures of the night sky.

During the tour you will be accompanied by guides who will answer any questions you may have. They will also give you tips and provide you with tripods to adjust your camera and take the pictures you want. It is worth mentioning that you should bring your own camera, preferably a professional one, to capture the beautiful natural spectacle.

Along with the tablet and the tripod you will receive astronomical binoculars. With them and with the help of a star map included in the tablet, you will be able to find the stars and constellations in the sky. Remember that for these excursions you should dress warmly because the night is usually cold. If you forgot your coat you can rent one.

Interesting details

• Price: about 50 €.
• Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
• Means of transportation: a bus with WiFi.
• Advantages of this option: if you want to take a unique souvenir that you will enjoy for the rest of your life, this excursion is ideal for you. You will be able to take all the pictures you want and observe the northern lights in all their splendor.
• Disadvantages of this option: to go on this excursion you need a professional camera to take the pictures you want. Otherwise, you will not be able to fully enjoy the experience.

Do you feel like an adventurer? Then get ready for an adventure! I invite you to sign up for a Super Jeep tour where, with the help of your guide, you will search for the best place to see the Northern Lights in Reykjavik. This tour usually has an average price of 130 € and lasts approximately 3 hours.

With the 4x4 vehicle you will be able to cross difficult to reach terrain to get as far away as possible from civilization and its lights. Finally, in a natural environment you will see the luminous phenomenon. In the meantime, your guide will make interesting comments about the event and answer any questions you may have.

This tour starts with your pick-up from your hotel in Reykjavik. You will board the Super Jeep from this point along with the other tourists. There are usually groups of about 10 people. In the vehicle you can enjoy snacks and hot drinks to make you feel comfortable. In addition, the transportation includes WiFi so you will always be connected.

If you like to travel in vehicles you can also opt for a bus trip to visit Reykjavik, which complements the northern lights. Are you up for it?

Interesting details

• Price: around 130 €.
• Duration: 3 hours more or less, may also depend on traffic.
• Means of transportation: Super Jeep with WiFi.
• Advantages of this option: the Super Jeep can take you to far away places in order to find the ideal spot to observe the Northern Lights. In addition, you will enjoy hot drinks and snacks along the way.
• Disadvantages of this option: as you drive away in the Super Jeep, the road is likely to be very bumpy. This will cause the vehicle to move more than usual. In any case, this is not a major drawback and overall, the ride is quite comfortable.

If you want to live a unique experience when you undertake the search for the northern lights, then I recommend a boat tour. Boat tours and cruises in Iceland are very popular because they allow you to appreciate the beauty of the landscape in an unforgettable way. Normally these excursions have an average cost of 90 € and last about 5 hours.

Your adventure will start from the old port of Reykjavik. From there your guide will take you and your group to a point in the Atlantic where you can appreciate the natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights. For this you will have to cross Faxaflói Bay. After about 15 to 20 minutes, you will have sailed far enough away from the city lights.

When your guide sees fit, they will stop at a point in the sea where you will be surrounded by mountains and excellent panoramic views of Iceland's capital. Upon arrival at the observation point, your guide will tell you fun facts about the Northern Lights. You will also hear the myths and legends that used to be told before the true origin of the Northern Lights was discovered.

If you get too cold during the tour, you can enter the ship and have a hot drink at the bar. There you can watch a special video explaining interesting details about Iceland and the polar lights. Don't worry about taking perfect pictures and enjoy your experience. A designated ship's staff will take pictures of the moment and deliver them upon request via mail.

If you want to see the Icelandic sea again, you can make a plan to visit Reynisfjara black sand beach from Reykjavik. This place always amazes all the tourists who visit it.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 90 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transportation: boat with bar and comfortable facilities.
• Advantages of this option: in this excursion you can have an immersive experience and enjoy the nature of the sea and the sky while observing the phenomenon of lights.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you are a person who tends to get seasick easily on boat trips, you may have to choose another option. Also, as it is an excursion at sea, the cold at night may be more intense.

A combined excursion to the Golden Circle and the Northern Lights is perhaps one of the best tours you can do in Reykjavik. It will take you more than 10 hours and about 97 €. This tour will take you to explore natural monuments such as Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir. At nightfall you will be able to observe the Northern Lights from a point of your tour guide's choice.

The Golden Circle is a tourist route located 40 km from Reykjavík and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. If you are planning a visit to Thingvellir National Park, this can be an ideal option for you, since you will not only visit this park, but you will also see the Gullfoss waterfall and visit the geothermal area of Geysir and Strokkur.

In addition, your guide will tell you interesting details about these fascinating sites. To top it all off, you will see the aurora borealis. The place where you will be able to see them is not specified well in advance, as it can change depending on the weather, cloud cover and other factors. However, it should be a place away from light pollution.

To start your trip your guide will pick you up in a bus with WiFi and USB connection. Normally the transportation passes by the place where you are staying in Reykjavik. Please note that these tours start in the morning in order to enjoy the full day.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 97 €.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Means of transportation: private bus.
• Advantages of this option: with this tour you will be able to explore several natural monuments and end your tour appreciating the beauty of the northern lights.
• Disadvantages of this option: this plan will take all day, so you will have to plan your time better.

If you are looking for what to do in Reykjavik in winter, then this tour is ideal for you. Take a trip to the Perlan Museum, a modern building worth adding to the list of things to do with kids in Reykjavik. Here you can see all the wonders of Iceland in one place.

The Perlan Museum offers different exhibits that you can enjoy. Your guide will take you to this museum and once there he will point out the exhibitions that you should not miss, as well as explaining important details of each one.

Among the exhibitions, "Glaciers and Ice" stands out and offers you a unique experience. However, keep in mind that you can also visit the Glaciers of Iceland if you have time. In any case, in the museum you can even enter an ice cave. If you want to experience this in a natural setting, you can take an ice cave tour from Reykjavik. Keep in mind that these plans can take a whole day.

Another part you can't miss is the "Wonders of Iceland" and of course, the northern lights planetarium. If you can't go to a natural site to see them or if the weather conditions are not ideal, this can be a special plan to not leave Iceland so disappointed. You will also be able to access the 360° observation platform with views of Reykjavik and its surroundings.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 97 €.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: private bus.
• Advantages of this option: your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in the capital and take you to the museum. Places for certain attractions inside the museum must be reserved in advance. This job is done by your guide so that you don't have to worry about anything and can get straight to enjoying your visit.
• Disadvantages of this option: the downside of this tour is that you will not see all the wonders of Iceland live, but it is good to keep it in mind in case you do not manage to see the Northern Lights and must return home.

Excursions in Reykjavik focus on the natural phenomena and monuments of Iceland's capital. These excursions are no exception, as the Northern Lights are the main attraction. They occur when it is dark enough, that is, there is no light pollution and also when the sky is clear.

What happens in this scenario is that the particles charged by the sun make an impact with the Earth's magnetosphere. This causes the solar winds to move throughout that sphere, which causes the energy to accumulate. At one point so much energy is concentrated that it ends up shooting out and these radiations collide with the ionosphere, which causes the northern lights.

This phenomenon hides many things that you may not know, which is why it is the subject of all kinds of speculations and artistic fascinations. To clarify all these doubts, the ideal is to be accompanied by a guide with scientific knowledge.

Expert guides should choose an ideal time for you to appreciate this phenomenon. Sometimes the visit may have to be cancelled due to weather conditions. However, in addition to this natural phenomenon, you will be able to enjoy the natural monuments along the way. If you like the idea, you can choose one of the best tours to the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik, a natural site worth exploring.

If you choose a jeep tour, you'll be able to go much farther until you reach a totally dark area ideal for viewing the Northern Lights. The bus trip may take you to a more well-known area. On the other hand, the boat tours are my favorite because in addition to seeing the spectacle in the night sky, you will see the bay of Reykjavik in the background.

When traveling to Reykjavik, regardless of the time of year, you need to be prepared with certain types of clothing. Pack a waterproof jacket, trekking clothes and shoes in your suitcase. As the hikes are usually at night, I recommend you bring gloves, a hat, sunscreen, your camera or smart phone and a bottle of water.

It is also good to bring snacks and water bottles. Not all excursions include this service and they are usually long excursions. In any case, along the way you will surely find places where you can have something to eat or drink. If you are interested, you can take one of the best gastronomic tours in Reykjavik.

To see the Northern Lights you can go, mainly, to three different destinations in the world and each one has a special time of the year to see them. One of the favorites of all is Iceland.

I advise that when you travel to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, be prepared for any eventuality. Remember that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon that depends on weather conditions. Therefore, the possibility of seeing them is relative and your trip may be cancelled the same day.

In any case, it is good for you to investigate the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland from Reykjavik. At the end of August and until mid-April, it can be a good time to see them. Although in the rest of the seasons and especially in December, January and February can be ideal because when the sky is clear. They usually appear between 21:00 and 2:00 hours.

When choosing your excursion, make sure that your guide takes you to a remote place where you are more likely to see the natural phenomenon. These sites can be in the area of the Golden Circle. You can also go to the Skógafoss waterfall in the south of Iceland, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in the Vatnajökull Glacier National Park or the Godafoss waterfall in the north of Iceland, one of the best waterfalls to visit in Iceland.