Northern lights over still water on a private northern lights tour from Reykjavík

Private and luxury Northern Lights tours in Iceland

The most comfortable way to see the northern lights in Iceland is a private tour: your own local guide picks you up in Reykjavík and drives wherever the sky is clearest, for as long as you want to stay. Private tours cost from 80,000 ISK for up to 4 people, for the whole group. If you'd rather not pay for a private car, a yacht cruise from the Old Harbour (from 12,990 ISK per person) or a small-group super jeep tour (from 25,990 ISK) are the most comfortable shared options. Tours run from September to April.

Updated October 2026 · Written by locals at Iceland Travel Guide

All Northern Lights tours · Northern Lights on your honeymoon

Booked with a local travel agency in Iceland · Ask a local

The private tour at a glance

Price: 1–4 people 80,000 ISK · 5–8 people 174,900 ISK · 9–12 people 219,900 ISK · 13–18 people 299,900 ISK (per vehicle, whole group)
Season: September to April, when the sky is dark enough
Start: Pick-up at your hotel in Reykjavík, 21:00–22:00. Airport pick-up possible.
Duration: Usually 4–5 hours, longer if you want to stay out
Who guides: A local guide, born and raised in Iceland, who checks the cloud and aurora forecast and drives you to the clearest sky
Age: No minimum age, good for families
Rating: 5.0 from 21 reviews
Cancellation: If the tour can't run because of the weather, you choose a new date or a full refund

Book the private Northern Lights tour

Choose your Northern Lights tour

Private tourReykjavíkNorthern Lights Private Tour from Reykjavik4–5 hoursPick-up in ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)Private tour from80,000 ISKSee tour

Private tourNorth IcelandPrivate Northern Lights Tour from AkureyriAbout 3 hoursPick-up or meet on locationNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)Private tour from209,900 ISKSee tour

Day tourReykjavíkNorthern Lights CruiseLuxury Yacht Excursion1.5–2.5 hoursMeet in downtown ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person12,990 ISKSee tour

Day tourSmall groupReykjavíkNorthern Lights Super Jeep4–5 hoursPick-up in ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person25,990 ISKSee tour

Day tourSmall groupNorthern Lights Photo TourAbout 4 hoursNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person15,990 ISKSee tour

Day tourLarge groupReykjavíkSky Lagoon & Northern LightsSky Lagoon PackageAbout 6.5 hoursPick-up in ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person27,999 ISKSee tour

Day tourLarge groupReykjanesBlue Lagoon & Northern Lightsadmission includedAbout 8 hoursPick-up in ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person32,499 ISKSee tour

Day tourSmall groupSnæfellsnes & WestInto the Glacier & Northern Lights from ReykjavikAbout 9 hoursPick-up in ReykjavíkNorthern Lights season (Sep–Apr)From, per person46,990 ISKSee tour

Compare private and premium Northern Lights tours

Tour	Price from	Group	Duration	Age	Best for
Private Northern Lights tour from Reykjavík	80,000 ISK per group (1–4)	Only your group	4–5 hours	All ages	Couples, families, photographers who want flexibility
Private Northern Lights tour from Akureyri	209,900 ISK per group	Only your group (up to 15)	About 3 hours	All ages	Guests staying in North Iceland
Northern Lights luxury yacht cruise	12,990 ISK per person	Shared yacht with a warm indoor lounge	1.5–2.5 hours	7+	A relaxed evening without a long drive; free retry if no lights
Northern Lights super jeep tour	25,990 ISK per person	Small group	4–5 hours	6+	Getting further from the city lights in a small group; free retry
Northern Lights photo tour	15,990 ISK per person	Small group (up to 19)	About 4 hours	8+	Help with camera settings, free photos
Sky Lagoon & Northern Lights	27,999 ISK per person	Larger group	About 6.5 hours	12+	A spa evening, then the aurora hunt
Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights	32,499 ISK per person	Coach	About 8 hours	6+	Blue Lagoon (Comfort) plus the aurora hunt
Into the Glacier & Northern Lights	46,990 ISK per person	Small group	About 9 hours	6+	An ice tunnel by day, the aurora at night

Prices are taken from the same data as the tour pages. Private tour prices are per vehicle for the whole group.

Why go private?

You decide when to leave. On a bus tour everyone goes home at the same time. On a private tour you stay as long as the lights are dancing, or go back early if the children are tired.
Your guide chases the clear sky. Your guide reads the cloud and aurora forecasts and drives to wherever the sky is clearest, sometimes an hour or more from Reykjavík.
Only your group. No crowded viewpoints, no strangers' flash photography, and time to set up the perfect photo.
A guide born and raised in Iceland. We are a small, family-run local travel agency in Iceland, and our private tours are led by our own guides.

Two people pointing up at the northern lights on a private tour

“Our private tour allowed that flexibility, no fixed group schedule. We were driven to remote spots to avoid light pollution.”Carlos M., Private Northern Lights tour

Questions people ask

How much does a private Northern Lights tour cost in Iceland?

From 80,000 ISK per vehicle for 1–4 people, 174,900 ISK for 5–8, 219,900 ISK for 9–12 and 299,900 ISK for 13–18. The price is for the whole group, not per person.

Is a private Northern Lights tour worth it?

If you are 3–4 people, a private tour costs about the same per person as some premium shared tours, and you get your own guide, your own schedule and no crowds. For couples it's a special, once-in-a-lifetime evening.

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

From September to April on clear, dark nights. The most common hours are between 21:00 and 02:00.

What if we don't see the northern lights?

The northern lights are never guaranteed. Your guide does everything possible to find a clear sky. If the forecast is so poor that the tour can't run, you choose a new date or a full refund.

Can children join?

Yes. The private tour has no minimum age, and your guide can head home whenever the children are tired.

Can we be picked up from the airport or outside Reykjavík?

Yes. Airport pick-up can be added. For other places, ask us and we'll plan it.

Will the guide help with photos?

Yes. Your guide can help with camera and phone settings and take photos of you with the lights.

What should we wear?

Warm layers, a waterproof jacket, a hat, gloves and warm boots. You will be standing outside in the cold.

Is the yacht cruise a good luxury alternative?

Yes, for a shorter evening. The yacht has a warm indoor lounge and an outdoor deck, and you can join again for free if you don't see the lights.

Do you have private Northern Lights tours in North Iceland?

Yes, from Akureyri, for up to 15 people.