Experience the Land of Ice and Fire on an Iceland escorted tour. With your expert local guide taking care of logistics, you can sit back, relax and enjoy Iceland’s dramatic scenery.
Our guides bring you closer to the real Iceland. They’ll take you to iconic sites and lesser-known wonders, sharing their insider insights along the way. As evening draws in, they’ll take you on exciting excursions to see the northern lights, too.
On an Aurora Nights tour, you can count on well-planned itineraries and exceptional accommodation. You’ll share your experience with like-minded travellers and create memories that are sure to last forever.
Explore our Iceland escorted tours


Escorted tours in Iceland: FAQs
Why choose an escorted tour in Iceland?
On our escorted tours in Iceland, you get to see the best of the country. Escorted by a guide who knows the country inside out, you learn about the history, culture and geology of this incredible island.
For the duration of your trip, your guide handles logistics and practicalities. So you can focus on relaxing, meeting new people and enjoying that incredible Icelandic scenery.
Our guides are also skilled at tracking down the northern lights. They’ll take you to places where the aurora is most likely to appear, sharing their knowledge of solar science along the way.
What’s included in an Iceland escorted tour?
Our Iceland escorted tours include:
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation
- Escorted bus tour with an English-speaking guide
- Half-board or full-board dining
- Guided activities and entry to museums
- A guided aurora hunt each evening
Please note that our Iceland escorted tours don’t include flights. But if you’d like advice on the airlines and airports to use when travelling to Iceland from the UK or USA, just let us know. We’re happy to help.
What can I see and do on guided tours in Iceland?
On our guided tours in Iceland, you explore the Land of Ice and Fire alongside a knowledgeable local guide. Depending on the tour you choose, you can enjoy a selection of the following activities:
- Experience the thrill of climbing a volcano crater. Or descend deep underground into a glacier cave.
- Sample Icelandic cuisine. Try fresh seafood, cinnamon pastries, rhubarb cake and — if you dare — fermented shark.
- Explore Reykjavik, Iceland’s vibrant capital city. Then savour a complete change of pace at historic fishing villages out in the wilderness.
- Embark on exciting, aurora hunting adventures and get expert tips on how to photograph the northern lights.
- Immerse yourself in Iceland’s incredible scenery. Thundering waterfalls, fjords, glacial lagoons, black sand beaches and turf-roof houses.
- Unwind in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon. Or in the outdoor hot tub back at your hotel.
- Get to know the real Iceland on visits to the Lava and Volcano Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft.
- Explore South Iceland and the Golden Circle. Or venture further north to the remote, untamed beauty of the Westfjords region.
How many people are there on your Iceland group trips?
We only run small group tours in Iceland. There are various group sizes, up to a maximum of 22 people.
If you’d prefer, we can arrange a bespoke trip. We plan private escorted tours for couples, families and groups of friends.
Will I definitely see the northern lights on my Iceland tour?
We can’t guarantee that you’ll see the northern lights on your escorted tour in Iceland. However, we do everything we can to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora borealis.
We stay at remote hotels, in places with very little light pollution. We provide aurora wake-up calls so you never sleep through the northern lights.
You’ll also venture out each evening with your northern lights guide. Our guides are skilled at tracking down clear, cloudless skies where the northern lights shine brightest.
When is the best time to book Iceland group trips?
If you want the best possible chance of seeing the northern lights, we recommend travelling to Iceland between September and early April. Autumn and winter days have more hours of darkness. This makes it much easier to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
Why book with Aurora Nights?
When you book Iceland group trips with Aurora Nights, you can count on:
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- Exceptional experiences — the very best accommodation on the island and bespoke activities, with small group tours as standard
- Experienced local guides
— our guides in Iceland 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
Whichever northern lights holiday to Iceland you choose — an escorted tour, a classic short break, an exclusive aurora break or a self-drive tour — the Aurora Nights team will make it a trip you’ll remember forever.
How do I book my Iceland escorted tour?
To book an escorted tour in Iceland, start by contacting the Aurora Nights team. You can send us an email, give us a call or fill in our website form. We’ll chat about dates, budget and your travel wish list to find exactly the right tour for you.
Northern lights tour reviews
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.
We enjoyed both the hotels that were arranged by weekend a la Carte Aurora nights. The Porsmork trip was very enjoyable, both guides were fantastic and informative.
The Northern Light hunt trip out of Reykjavik with Superjeep was an adventure and we got to see the lights, worth braving the cold at -6.
Fantastic service, with every detail taken care of and communicated to your agencies and hotels. Would definitely recommend and will be using again.
My wife and I had an awesome and memorable trip to Iceland thanks to Alex at Aurora Nights. Alex tailored the itinerary to exactly what we wanted to see and chose excellent hotels to stay at. We totally enjoyed the city of Reykjavik and the many beautiful waterfalls. He went above and beyond to not only recommend sights to see around the Golden Circle and Ring Road, but also mapped it out so we were prepared to drive through the country during unpredictable weather and road conditions. And we were especially pleased to see the Northern Lights on our visit. Alex was very flexible to make changes to our plans and choosing the wonderful Sky Lagoon to replace our tickets for the Blue Lagoon due to the closure from the volcanic activity. We highly recommend Alex and Aurora Nights.
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.
My daughter and I had an amazing time on our trip, we didn’t want it to end! Everything went according to plan, each excursion was well organized and everyone involved with each activity, as well as everyone at the lodge was kind, friendly, positive and happy, which makes such a difference to your whole experience. The food at The Abisko Mountain Lodge was also incredibly good. Our room was large, comfortable and well-furnished. The bathroom too was also spacious and well-equipped. The outdoor clothing provided was of very good quality which kept us warm, and the staff members are happy to change items if they are not quite the right size for you. This is my second trip with Weekend a la carte and I’m sure there will be more as I have complete trust in them. I highly recommend Aurora Nights, it was fabulous.
This was a bucket list trip. The company are specialists and I’ve valued their advice. Everything from the when to go for the best opportunity to see the lights and equipment needed and provided.Our activities included, the Ice Hotel, night photo shoot, snowmobiling, guided walk and the sky station meal. All excellent and well run by knowledgeable experts and guides. The Abisko Lodge is warm comfortable and relaxing the food is excellent and the staff welcoming, friendly and very helpful. I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a different and exciting experience.
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.
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