Northern Lights Holidays to Iceland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.