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Swirling green aurora borealis lights dance in the night sky over a snowy mountain landscape in Iceland.

Iceland Northern Lights Tours made for you

Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Iceland aurora trip, with a winter journey designed just for you

Northern lights tours in Iceland, the land of fire and ice

Winter transforms Iceland into something magical. As snow blankets the island and darkness settles in for much of the day, a different kind of beauty emerges. One that’s occasionally lit by aurora displays that appear suddenly in the night sky, shifting green and purple and moving with hypnotic irregularity.

Unlike photographs that freeze a single moment, watching the lights in person reveals their true nature: dynamic, unpredictable and constantly changing. To give yourself the best chance of seeing them, you’ll plan your northern lights tour with one of our expert travel designers. They know where to go, when to travel and how to make the most of the conditions.

Remote Northern Iceland is a wonderful place to start, with clear dark skies and close proximity to the Arctic Circle. This part of the country sits beneath the auroral oval, where northern lights activity is often at its strongest.

To see the aurora in Reykjavík or Southern Iceland, you might join a northern lights boat tour from Reykjavík’s old harbour, or travel to Þingvellir National Park in search of darker skies. Around Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the scenery becomes even more dramatic, especially when the aurora reflects across still waters scattered with drifting icebergs.

In the Golden Circle, there’s also a great choice of remote accommodation where you can watch for the northern lights. Depending on where you stay, you might spot them from an outdoor hot tub, a private terrace or wide cabin windows, far from the glow of Reykjavík.

  • Bright blue and green northern lights stretch across the sky over the illuminated cityscape of Reykjavik, Iceland.
  • Large frozen icicles and thick columns of ice cling to a steep rocky cliff during winter in Iceland.
  • A long exposure shot of a waterfall and the Kirkjufell mountain under a colorful green and pink aurora sky.
  • Two boats navigate a body of water in front of massive snow-covered mountains in a cold coastal landscape.
  • Green northern lights illuminate the night sky above a lagoon with icebergs and distant mountains in Iceland.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our specialists

See the aurora reflected in Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

Witness the northern lights reflected in Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Southern Iceland

Cruise the Reykjavik coastline under the night sky

Cruise along the coastline from Reykjavik to gaze up at the night sky

Soak in the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

Soak in the steaming waters of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa

Stay in a remote lodge with a private hot tub

Stay in a remote lodge with outdoor hot tubs in Southern Iceland

Snowmobile from Deplar Farm after dark

Set out on a snowmobile from Deplar Farm in Northern Iceland

A word from one of our experts

Although the northern lights can never be predicted, winter is always my favourite time to visit Iceland. The country's famous geothermal activity creates surreal scenes – steam rises from hot springs while the surrounding landscape is frozen, ice caves form beneath glaciers, and in remote areas the dark skies are like nowhere else in the world.

Dan Rhodes Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Iceland

There are many incredible places to stay in Iceland to glimpse the northern lights. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip inspiration

Get inspired with our Iceland example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

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Where to go

Meet your Iceland team

When to visit

Winter is the best time for northern lights tours in Iceland. This is when the nights are longest and darkest – to maximise your chances, visit between early September and late April. Ideally, an Iceland aurora trip will coincide with high solar activity and clear skies.

Northern lights tours

October–March

Whale watching

February–March

Frozen waterfalls and ice caves

December–February

Soak in the Blue Lagoon

Year round

When Is the Best Time to Visit Iceland? Read more

Northern lights travel guides

Plan your trip to see the northern lights in Iceland

Whatever you want from your northern lights adventure in Iceland, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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