Northern Lights Super Jeep Adventure

If you want the best possible chance of seeing the northern lights from Reykjavik — and you want to see them properly, without a crowd — the super jeep tour from Mountaineers of Iceland is the gold standard. It costs more than a bus tour, but the experience is in a completely different league.

Why Choose a Super Jeep

The mathematics alone make the case. A bus tour carries 40 to 50 passengers. A super jeep carries six. That means your guide is essentially your personal aurora hunter for the evening, adjusting the route in real time, answering your questions, helping you with photography, and making sure everyone gets the experience they came for.

Then there is access. The modified super jeeps — massive 4x4 vehicles on 38-inch tyres with lifted suspension — can go places that buses simply cannot reach. Mountain plateaus, highland tracks, remote coastal headlands: these are the locations where the sky is darkest, the foregrounds are most dramatic, and the crowds are nonexistent. On a good night, you may not see another person for hours.

The Evening Unfolds

Pickup begins from central Reykjavik hotels, typically around 21:00. The guide has already been monitoring aurora forecasts, cloud cover maps, and wind patterns throughout the day. By the time you climb into the jeep, there is a plan — though it may change five times during the evening as conditions evolve.

The drive itself is part of the adventure. The super jeep handles rough terrain with ease, and watching the city lights fade in the rearview mirror builds anticipation like nothing else. When the guide finds the right spot — dark sky, clear horizon, active aurora — the jeep stops and the show begins.

At the Viewing Spot

Hot chocolate and Icelandic snacks appear from the back of the jeep. The guide sets up a tripod for guests who want help with long-exposure photography. And then you wait, eyes scanning the northern horizon for that first faint green glow.

When the aurora arrives — and on a strong night, it arrives with force — the intimacy of the small group transforms the experience. There is no jostling for position, no strangers walking through your camera frame, no announcements over a PA system. Just you, five other travellers, and the sky doing something extraordinary.

Is It Worth the Extra Cost

At ISK 19,900, the super jeep tour costs roughly two and a half times more than a bus tour. For travellers who see the northern lights as a bucket-list experience rather than a nice-to-have, the premium is justified. The smaller group, remote locations, personal attention, and overall sense of adventure make this the definitive way to chase the aurora from Reykjavik.

Like the bus tours, Mountaineers of Iceland offers free rebooking if the lights do not appear, so you are not risking your investment on a cloudy night. Book for the first evening of your trip to leave room for rescheduling.