Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik

There is something almost primal about standing in a dark Icelandic field, breath visible in the freezing air, waiting for the sky to come alive. The Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik Excursions is the most popular and most affordable way to experience the aurora borealis from Iceland's capital, and for good reason — it simply works.

How the Tour Works

The evening begins with a hotel pickup from designated stops in central Reykjavik, usually between 21:00 and 22:00 depending on the time of year. The pickup window can stretch over 30 minutes, so patience is required. Once everyone is collected, the coach heads out of the city to locations carefully chosen by the guide based on cloud cover, aurora forecasts, and local knowledge.

The guide — typically a seasoned Icelander who has been chasing northern lights for years — monitors conditions in real time and communicates with other guides across the region. If the forecast shifts, the bus moves. This flexibility is a genuine advantage of the bus format: the driver can cover a lot of ground quickly, chasing breaks in the cloud cover that a stationary observer would miss entirely.

The Experience

When the bus stops and you step out into the Icelandic darkness, give your eyes five to ten minutes to adjust. The northern lights often start as a faint green glow on the horizon before intensifying into curtains, arcs, and ribbons of colour. On a strong aurora night, the entire sky can pulse with green, purple, and pink light. It is utterly mesmerising.

Between stops, the guide shares the science behind the aurora and tells stories from Icelandic folklore about the lights. The bus is warm and comfortable, which matters more than you might think after standing outside in minus ten degrees.

What Makes This Tour Worth It

At ISK 7,900, this is the most budget-friendly northern lights tour available from Reykjavik. The free rebooking policy — up to three attempts if the lights do not appear — removes most of the financial risk. You are essentially guaranteed a sighting if you have enough nights in Reykjavik.

The trade-off compared to a super jeep tour is group size. The bus carries up to 50 passengers, which means less personalised attention and slightly more waiting during pickups and at viewing spots. But for most travellers, particularly those on a budget, the value is hard to beat.

Tips for the Best Experience

Bring your own hot drinks in a thermos — the bus does not provide refreshments. A tripod and a camera with manual settings will dramatically improve your aurora photos, though modern smartphones with night modes also produce decent results. Arrive at your pickup point early and keep your hotel booking confirmation handy.

If the lights are active during your visit, this tour delivers exactly what it promises: a well-organised, affordable, and genuinely exciting hunt for one of nature's most spectacular displays.