Off the main road, under the lights
Iceland’s super jeeps, with their huge tyres, are built for snow and gravel tracks that buses cannot use. On an aurora hunt that means quieter viewpoints and a sense of adventure. Here is what a 4x4 northern lights tour offers and when it is worth the price.
The best-reviewed off-road aurora hunt on GetYourGuide. If you mainly want a small group on paved roads, see the minibus tours below it.
Super jeeps and 4x4s can leave paved roads and reach viewpoints away from where the coaches park. This tour adds treats, hot cocoa and photos of the group under the sky. It is one of the more expensive hunts, but the small group and the off-road reach are what you pay for.
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The best-rated hunt in this comparison. Small group, a photographer-guide, professional photos included and a free retry if the lights do not appear. It costs about twice the big bus, and many reviewers say it was worth it.
Check availabilityA super jeep is a 4x4 modified with oversized tyres and raised suspension. In winter it can drive on snowy tracks and gravel roads where a coach or even a minibus would get stuck. On an aurora hunt this gives the guide more choice: a frozen lake, a hill above a valley, the end of a farm track with no other vehicles in sight.
The group is small, so the guide can stay as long as the show lasts. Many jeep tours also include photos and snacks, and the ride itself is part of the fun.
Not automatically. The aurora is in the sky, so any tour that reaches a dark, clear spot has the same chance. The jeep helps on nights with patchy cloud when the best gap is somewhere off the main roads, and it makes the night more private. If your only goal is to see the lights cheaply, a bus does that; if you want the night to feel like an adventure, choose the jeep.
Jeep rides on rough tracks can be bumpy, so they are less suited to people with back problems or very young children.
In October 2026 the main 4x4 aurora tour started at about $150 per adult on GetYourGuide. Private super jeep tours are priced per vehicle and cost more.
Around four hours, longer if the lights are active.
Yes. They are driven by guides trained for Icelandic winter roads, and tours are cancelled in storms.
The 4x4 tour listed here includes photos of the group under the lights, along with treats and hot cocoa.
