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Operated by: Crystal Cave Tours

Höfn: Northern Lights Hunt & Glacier Lagoon — Group Tour

Join a guided group aurora hunt departing from hotels between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. Chase the northern lights across Southeast Iceland's dark skies, with hot cocoa, warm blankets, stargazing, and professional group photos included in this 5-hour evening experience.

Duration
5 hours
Starts From
Höfn
Pickup
Pickup required
Difficulty
EASY
Season
All year
Passengers
Min 1 · Max 16
Travel method
Mini Bus / Car

About this experience

Set out on a guided group northern lights hunt across the dark skies of Southeast Iceland, departing from major hotels between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. This 5-hour evening tour is operated by Crystal Cave Tours, a team of passionate local guides dedicated to sharing Iceland's most spectacular natural phenomenon.

Because the aurora borealis is entirely governed by nature, your guide monitors cloud cover and solar activity each evening to choose the best possible viewing location. The route is flexible — you may stop at several spots as conditions evolve, and if a particularly promising location is found, the group will settle in and wait. Patience is part of the experience, and it is almost always rewarded.

While you wait beneath the stars near Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, wrap up in warm blankets and help yourself to Icelandic hot cocoa, chocolate, and snacks. Your guide will set up a camera to photograph the group, ensuring everyone has a professional aurora image to take home. Photos are delivered via a shared link within 7 days of the tour.

This tour runs subject to weather conditions. The operator assesses conditions each afternoon and notifies all guests by email whether the tour will proceed. Pickup and drop-off are included within the 5-hour duration, and your pickup time may vary depending on the route order.

Highlights

  • Guided group aurora hunt across Southeast Iceland's dark skies
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
  • Professional northern lights group photos delivered within 7 days
  • Icelandic hot cocoa, chocolate, and warm blankets included
  • Free WiFi on board the tour vehicle
  • Flexible route chosen nightly based on cloud cover and aurora activity

Experience details

Your evening begins with hotel pickup from your accommodation between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. Note that pickup order varies by route, so your collection may not be immediate — your guide will reach you as efficiently as possible.

Once underway, your expert English-speaking guide navigates toward the clearest skies in the area, adjusting the route in real time based on cloud coverage and aurora forecasts. You may stop at one or several locations near the Jökulsárlón area throughout the evening.

  • Settle in with warm blankets, hot cocoa, and snacks while stargazing
  • Your guide sets up a camera and photographs the group during the aurora display
  • Photos are emailed to you via a shared link within 7 days if the aurora is captured
  • The total tour duration is approximately 5 hours, including pickup and drop-off

The tour is weather-dependent. Each afternoon the operator reviews conditions and confirms by email whether the tour will run. Please monitor your inbox for this confirmation.

Why choose this tour

Crystal Cave Tours began as a single guide's passion for sharing Iceland's natural wonders, and that personal approach still defines every tour. Operating from the Höfn and Glacier Lagoon area, the team has an intimate knowledge of Southeast Iceland's skies and landscapes — an advantage when chasing an unpredictable phenomenon like the northern lights.

Everything you need for a comfortable evening outdoors is taken care of: hotel pickup, warm blankets, hot cocoa, snacks, free WiFi on the bus, and professional aurora photography. There is no need to rent a car, navigate unfamiliar roads in the dark, or bring your own camera equipment. The guide handles the logistics so you can focus entirely on the sky above.

What’s included

Pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon English-speaking expert guide Northern lights group photos (emailed within 7 days if aurora is captured) Icelandic hot cocoa, chocolate, and snacks Warm blankets Free WiFi on the bus

Frequently asked questions

Where does the northern lights tour depart from?
Hotel pickup is included from accommodations between Höfn and Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. Your exact pickup time and order will vary depending on the route. Drop-off to your accommodation is also included within the 5-hour tour duration.
Are northern lights photos guaranteed?
Your guide sets up a camera and photographs the group during the hunt. If the aurora is successfully captured, photos are delivered via a shared link to the email address provided at booking within 7 days of the tour. Sightings depend on nature.
What should I wear on the northern lights tour?
Dress warmly in multiple layers with a weatherproof outer layer, headwear, gloves, and a scarf. Hiking boots or sturdy footwear are required. Shoe spike grips are strongly recommended from October through April. Warm blankets are provided on the tour.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes — a children's price category is available for guests aged 1 to 8 years. There is no mobility assistance available on this tour; all guests must be able to get in and out of the vehicle independently.
Can the tour route change on the night?
Yes. The end location is not fixed in advance. Your guide selects and adjusts the route based on real-time cloud cover and aurora activity. You may stop at one or several locations, and the group may wait at a promising spot for the lights to appear.

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