What you pay, and what you get
Aurora tours from Reykjavik range from about $80 for a seat on a big coach to well over $150 for a 4x4 or a small group with photos. Here is what each price level buys, what is included and how to avoid paying for things you do not need.
| Tour | From (per adult) | Hours | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern lights tour with lifetime retry | $79 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Bus tour with hot cocoa | $81 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Comfort coach with local hunters | $86 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Yacht tour | $103 | 2 | 4.4 |
| Small-group premium minibus | $113 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Guided tour with photo shoot | $120 | 5 | 4.3 |
| 4x4 tour with treats and photos | $151 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Minibus with hot cocoa and photos | $162 | 4 | 4.6 |
| Golden Circle and northern lights | $163 | 9 | 4.1 |
| Small group with pro photos | $165 | 4 | 4.8 |
Starting prices on GetYourGuide in October 2026; some were discounted at the time. Children usually pay less.
Usually not included: dinner, alcoholic drinks, tips (not expected in Iceland, but appreciated) and warm clothing, although boat tours often lend overalls.
The difference is almost entirely group size. A full coach spreads the cost of the driver, fuel and guide over many guests; a minibus or jeep spreads it over a handful. Photos and longer hunts add a little more. The chance of seeing the lights is decided by the sky, not the price, so paying more buys comfort, attention and pictures, not a better aurora.
Renting a car can be cheaper for a family, but you have to read the forecasts yourself, drive on dark, icy roads and find a safe place to stop, which is not always easy at night. For most visitors, especially on their first trip, a guided tour with a free retry is better value.
Starting prices per adult seen on GetYourGuide in October 2026. Live prices change with the date and demand.
A budget bus hunt whose main selling point is the guarantee: if the lights do not show, you can rejoin on another night, and the operator advertises that the retry does not expire. Reviews are more mixed than the other buses here, so book it for the price and the safety net, not for the comfort.
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The most-booked aurora tour in Iceland by a long way. A large heated coach takes you out of the city to whichever dark spot has the clearest sky that night, the guide explains what you are looking at, and hot cocoa keeps you going while you wait. It is the cheapest guided option and a sensible first hunt; the trade-off is sharing the viewing spot with a full coach.
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A newer coach tour that sits between the big bus and a minibus: a comfortable coach, Icelandic guides who chase the forecast and a small local gift. Good value if you want a guided hunt at a bus price but would like a little more attention.
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Two hours on a yacht in Faxaflói Bay, sailing away from the city lights with Reykjavik glowing behind you. You walk to the boat instead of riding a bus, there is a heated cabin with drinks for sale, and when the sky is active the view across the water is hard to beat. The catch: a boat cannot drive away from clouds, and the trip is cancelled in rough seas.
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The most popular small-group hunt from Reykjavik. A minibus with a limited number of guests means the guide can take smaller roads, move quickly when the forecast changes and stop where a coach cannot. Expect more personal attention and help with camera settings. A good step up from the big bus without a big jump in price.
Check availabilityA slightly longer hunt of around five hours with a photo session under the lights included. A middle-priced option for travellers who want photos and a bit more time out in the dark.
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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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A highly rated minibus hunt that includes portraits of you under the aurora, taken by the guide with professional gear and sent after the tour. Ideal if you want a photo of yourself with the lights but do not want to fight with tripod settings in the cold.
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A long day and night in one: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall in daylight, then an aurora hunt on the way back once it is dark. Best for short stays when you want to tick off both in a single booking. It makes for a long day, around nine hours.
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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 availabilityIn October 2026 tours started at about $79 to $95 for a bus, $103 for the yacht, $113 to $165 for small-group minibus tours, about $151 for a 4x4 tour and about $163 for the Golden Circle combo, per adult.
The bus tours are the cheapest guided options, starting at about $80. They also usually include a free retry if you do not see the lights.
For most visitors, yes: guides know where to find clear skies, and the free retry reduces the risk of paying for nothing.
Usually. Many operators offer lower prices for children and teenagers; see the booking page for age bands.
