Northern Lights Tours Compared

Once you’ve picked your dates, the next question is how to hunt the Northern Lights. The goal is always the same — dark, clear skies — but the tour types get you there in very different ways. Here’s how they compare.

Which Northern Lights tour is right for you?

• Best value with a guide: a coach hunt.
• Best balance of price and flexibility: a small-group tour.
• Best for chasing clear skies: a super jeep.
• Best different angle: a boat tour.
• Most flexibility: a private tour.

Coach (large-group) hunts

The budget-friendly classic.

• Best for: travellers keeping costs down who still want an expert guide.
• Why: the lowest price, with a guide who tracks the forecast and drives to the clearest skies.
• Trade-off: larger groups and set viewing stops.

Small-group tours

The flexible middle ground.

• Best for: travellers who want a more personal hunt and help with night photography.
• Why: smaller numbers mean the guide can adapt quickly and give everyone attention.
• Trade-off: a little more than a coach.

Super Jeep tours

The clear-sky chasers.

• Best for: those who want the best shot at a sighting and don’t mind paying for it.
• Why: a 4×4 can leave the paved roads for remote, dark locations and reposition around weather the coaches can’t reach.
• Trade-off: higher price, smaller group.

Boat tours

The aurora from the water.

• Best for: travellers who want a different perspective, away from all land-based light.
• Why: sailing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour gives an open, dark horizon over the sea.
• Trade-off: dependent on calm conditions, and it’s cold out on the water — dress warmly.

Private tours

Total flexibility.

• Best for: families, photographers, or groups who want their own schedule and pace.
• Why: your own guide and vehicle, free to chase the best skies all night.
• Trade-off: the highest price per person, though it can balance out for a group.

How to choose

• On a budget? A coach hunt.
• Want the best odds? A super jeep.
• Want something different? A boat tour.
• Travelling as a family or after photos? Private or small-group.
• No sighting? Whatever you book, check whether the operator offers a free second attempt — many do.

Frequently asked questions

Bus or super jeep for the Northern Lights — which is better? A coach is the better value and perfectly capable on a clear night; a super jeep is worth the extra if you want the best chance, since it can reach remote dark spots and dodge cloud.

Are Northern Lights boat tours good? They offer a genuinely different view — an open, dark horizon from the sea — and avoid land light entirely. Just dress for the cold and expect them to depend on calm conditions.

What happens if the Northern Lights don’t show? Sightings are never guaranteed. Many operators offer a free second attempt on another night if the aurora doesn’t appear — always confirm the policy on the specific tour before booking.

Compare and book

See live availability for coach, small-group, super jeep, and boat departures on our Northern Lights tours page. New to the aurora? Start with the best Northern Lights tours in Iceland, or check the best time to see them first.