Explore the natural beauty of Iceland, the land of ice and fire. Discover volcanic landscapes by day. And watch the aurora borealis dance across the sky by night.
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Northern Lights Holidays to Iceland
A northern lights holiday to Iceland is an experience like no other. Thermal springs. Shimmering ice caves. Thundering waterfalls. And nights spent chasing the northern lights with our expert aurora guides.
The Aurora Nights team is ready to tailor-make your northern lights trip to Iceland. But what does the perfect adventure look like to you?
Embarking on super-jeep tours across lava fields? Diving into Reykjavik culture and cuisine? Soaking in a starlit hot tub out in the Icelandic wilderness? Whatever type of trip you have in mind, our team can make it happen.
Iceland
Aurora holidays Iceland
Classic short breaks in Iceland
Short but spectacular. Short Iceland breaks combine dramatic volcanic scenery, super-jeep adventures and breath-taking northern lights tours.
Escorted tours Iceland
On escorted tours in Iceland, just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Explore Iceland’s natural wonders, guided by our aurora experts.
Exclusive aurora holidays in Iceland
Opt for a luxury holiday to Iceland and experience the northern lights as a VIP, with private activities and high-end accommodation options.
Self-drive tours in Iceland
Ready for an adventure? Then self-drive tours in Iceland give you the freedom and flexibility to explore this stunning country at your own pace.
Aurora Nights
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question? We are always happy to help.
Is Iceland a good place to see the northern lights?
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. It’s located just south of the Arctic Circle and has lots of wild regions with minimal light pollution. Add in Iceland’s dark winters and you have an aurora hunter’s dream.
A northern lights tour in Iceland has other benefits, too. There’s so much to see — in both south Iceland and north Iceland. So you can pack your days full of activities until night falls and the northern lights appear.
Can you guarantee that I’ll see the northern lights in Iceland?
Unfortunately not. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and run to their own schedule. However, we plan your trip so you have an excellent chance of seeing them.
You’ll stay at hotels that offer aurora wake-up calls. And embark on night time northern lights super-jeep tours. What’s more, our guides are all expert aurora hunters.
They use their local knowledge and the weather forecast to track down the northern lights, often finding the only cloud-free spot for miles around.
What can I see and do on northern lights tours in Iceland?
Besides aurora chasing, there’s lots to see and do on a northern lights holiday to Iceland. Depending on your tour and the time of year you visit, you can enjoy your choice of the following adventures:
- Travel Iceland’s famous Golden Circle on a northern lights circle tour, discovering Strokkur Geyser, Gullfoss Waterfall and the Kerid crater lake.
- Go snowmobiling over glaciers and the frozen ocean. Or travel the old-fashioned way, taking a husky sled across the snowy landscape.
- Bathe and swim in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon — or go beyond the tourist trail to find hot springs in Askja and Myvatn.
- Soak up the sights and sounds of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, and dine at one of the city’s incredible seafood restaurants.
- Feel the spray on your face at Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Or enjoy mesmerising views as you venture behind the cascade at Seljalandsfoss.
- Get up close to Icelandic wildlife. See orca on a whale-watching boat tour. And look out for Iceland’s beautiful wild horses as you travel around the island.
- Take a super-jeep tour through otherworldly landscapes. The black sand beach of Vik, an iceberg lagoon, the wilderness of Westfjords, and the towering, mossy mountains of Thorsmork Valley.
What accommodation options are there on your Iceland northern lights trips?
Iceland is home to some excellent accommodation. Hotels with on-site spas and outdoor hot tubs. One that overlooks the Blue Lagoon. There’s accommodation out in the wilderness. And boutique hotels right in the heart of Reykjavik.
Whether you’re travelling for an extra special occasion, as a family or as a group, our selection of Iceland accommodation is sure to blow you away.
When is the best time to visit Iceland?
If you want to see the northern lights, September to March is a good time to visit Iceland. During autumn and winter months, the nights are long and dark — perfect for aurora spotting.
You can also choose when to visit based on the activities you want to enjoy. For instance, we don’t recommend self-driving around the north of Iceland in winter. But this snowy time of year is perfect for husky sledding.
We can even organise Christmas and New Year northern lights trips to Iceland, for an extra special festive season.
Tell us what you’d like to do on your Iceland northern lights trip, and we can recommend the best month to visit.
Why book your Iceland northern lights trip with Aurora Nights?
When you book northern lights tour packages with Aurora Nights, you can count on:
- Tailored trips — our travel experts can create a bespoke northern lights holiday package, suited to your interests, budget and schedule
- Exceptional experiences — the very best accommodation on the island and bespoke activities, with private or small group tours as standard
- Experienced local guides — our guides in Iceland can show you a lesser-seen side of the country and are skilled at tracking down the northern lights
- A hassle-free holiday — you book your flights, we take care of everything else – so you can focus on the excitement, not the organisation
Whether you book a classic short break, an escorted tour, an exclusive aurora break or a self-drive tour to Iceland, the Aurora Nights team will make it a trip you’ll remember forever.
What should I wear on a trip to Iceland?
People in Iceland dress for comfort and warmth so practical clothing is all you’ll need to bring.
In autumn, temperatures are around 7°C. In winter, temperatures regularly drop below freezing. The weather is also very changeable — it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day.
So bring thermals, lots of layers, a waterproof jacket, walking boots, hats, gloves, sunglasses and sun cream. For some Iceland trip experiences, specialist clothing and equipment are provided.
Read more: What to wear on a northern lights trip
Can I book a Reykjavik northern lights holiday?
Absolutely. We can plan your Iceland northern lights trip to include a day, a night or a whole week in Iceland’s capital.
But bear in mind, it’s rare to see the northern lights in Reykjavik because of all those city lights. You have to travel out into the countryside to get the best aurora displays.
We can help you plan a trip that maximises your chances of seeing the aurora and includes the unique Icelandic culture of Reykjavik.
Can I combine a trip to Iceland with other destinations?
With Aurora Nights, you can tailor a northern lights trip exactly to your requirements. From weekend breaks to once-in-a-lifetime adventures.
If you want to book an epic aurora trip, we can plan a getaway that includes Iceland and any of our other destinations:
- Northern lights holidays in Swedish Lapland
- Northern lights holidays in Finland
- Northern lights holidays in Norway
Just tell us which countries you’d like to visit and we can suggest an itinerary.
How do I book my Iceland northern lights holiday?
Start by contacting the friendly Aurora Nights team. You can send us an email, give us a call or fill in the website form. We’ll chat about dates, accommodation, activities and budget. Then plan the Iceland aurora holiday you’ve been dreaming of.
Reviews
See what our clients say
An excellent holiday which was enjoyed by all. The super jeep ride on the second day to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano was memorable and thanks to our driver Margaret who proved to be a really good guide. We thoroughly enjoyed the facilities in the hotel Ranga. The staff were very helpful and we managed to see the Northern Lights. The Hotel Reykjavik Centrum was very nice with amazingly helpful staff. All in all, the whole holiday was brilliant.
Brian Coombs
Overall very good. Staff excellent and helpful. Accomodation basic but was what we expected. Tour guides very good (nature walks, snow mobiles, dog sleighs). Sky station disappointing as we never got to go up due to the weather and this seem to be a recurring feature.The alternative walk at night and meal was a let down as a result.Overall would recommend to others.
John Kirby
Cannot thank this company enough. Our break to Iceland was the second time we’ve let them organise everything for us and once again they didn’t disappoint. Everything ran seamlessly and the organised tours were wonderful. This company knows what they are doing. If you want to experience the geysers, the volcano, the northern lights and all the other exciting things that Iceland has to offer then this is the company to use.
Carol Wrack
Brilliant short break. Hotel Ranga was lovely, excellent food. Managed to see the Northern Lights as well! Iceland on the whole was quite expensive but a lovely place to visit, the people were very friendly.
Linda Palmer
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The Abisko Mountain Lodge was fantastic, every member of staff was friendly welcoming and charming. Accommodation, upgraded room was excellent. The food in the lodge definitely deserves the high reviews. Good breakfast, great hime made lunch soups and extremely tasty evening dinners.
The included trips were great. The only let down was the camera night, couldn’t see the lights no one fault, but we were walked through thigh high snow to be left on a frozen lake for the duration of the trip. There was no warning of the difficult walk and we had a 91 year old with us and I have hip problems! That said the guide was great, as were the ones on the skimobile and husky rides. We went up to the sky station in a snow storm with high winds, added to the experience!
Would go back in a heart beat.
We had little communication with Weekend a la carte, no need as all communications were clear and contained all the information we needed. Very informative emails
Would use again if going back
June Day
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
A fantastic short break which fulfilled all expectations. Well organised with a polished delivery, we could not have asked for more. The accommodation was perfect for us and the guides knowledgeable and helpful. Every day was packed with adventure, each lasting longer than scheduled but we were never rushed; the guides took pride in showing and explaining their beautiful country. We would certainly use Weekend a la carte again and recommend them to others.
Carol Mumford
Fantastic trip with great hosts & made even more special by seeing the Northern Lights twice!!
Wendy Naphine
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Book with Aurora Nights, the northern lights holiday experts. We plan once-in-a-lifetime trips to Swedish Lapland, Iceland, Norway and Finland.
