Northern Lights Tours

Chase the magical Aurora Borealis with expert-guided tours, cruises, and unforgettable Arctic experiences across Iceland, Finland, and Norway.

Tour Availability

Northern Lights tours run daily during the winter season (September to April), when the aurora borealis is most visible. Excursions are typically offered in the evenings, with flexible times depending on weather and solar activity.

Tickets & Tours

Compare the best Northern Lights tours, guided excursions, and special experiences, including glass igloo stays, aurora camps, and combo packages with dog sledding or snowmobile safaris.

   

Best Locations

Where can you see the Northern Lights?Most tours depart from Arctic destinations such as Tromsø (Norway), Rovaniemi (Finland), Reykjavik (Iceland) offering prime spots under the aurora-filled skies.

Discover Iceland Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik

Bestselling Aurora Tour in Reykjavik, Iceland

Join a 4-hour evening bus tour in Iceland and witness one of nature’s greatest wonders. Leave the bright lights of Reykjavik behind as you journey into the countryside in search of the magical Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

Includes 

  • Transportation
  • Professional guide
  • Hot Chocolate
  • Stops to take photos
  • Free follow-up tour if you do not see lights on your first attempt

Most Popular Small Group Experience with Extras

Boost your chances of seeing the Aurora on this evening tour from Reykjavík. Guided by real-time forecasts, you’ll visit the best viewing spots, enjoy hot chocolate with Icelandic pastries, and receive souvenir photos of your Northern Lights experience.

Includes 

  • Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries
  • Live commentary on board
  • Professional driver/guide
  • Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
  • Photos (if conditions allow)

Top-Value Combo with Blue Lagoon Admission

Enjoy Iceland’s perfect mix of adventure and relaxation with a soothing soak in the Blue Lagoon followed by an unforgettable Northern Lights hunt.

Includes 

Blue Lagoon

  • Admission to the Blue Lagoon
  • Silica mud mask at the Blue Lagoon
  • Use of a towel at the Blue Lagoon
  • Drink of choice at the Blue Lagoon

Northern Lights hunt tour

  • Professional English-speaking local guide during the aurora hunt
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (as per option selected)

Bestselling Combo with Golden Circle Highlights

Explore Iceland’s geological wonders on a guided bus tour, with an optional visit to Kerid Crater, before ending the day chasing the Northern Lights.

Includes 

  • Live guide
  • Transfers (across the different places)
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off (as per option selected)
  • Free Wi-Fi on board

Experience Finland Northern Lights Tours from Rovaniemi

Top Choice with Aurora Guarantee in Rovaniemi, Finland

Join Rovaniemi’s original Aurora hunters, tracing roots back 20 generations to the 1600s. Enjoy guaranteed Northern Lights, expert small-group guidance, brand-new 2025 4×4 vans, unlimited mileage, and professional photos of your experience.

Includes 

  • Unlimited mileage & time (typically 6–10 hours)
  • Professional photography (DSLR photos included)
  • Certified, first-aid trained Northern Lights guide
  • Pickup & drop-off from your accommodation in Rovaniemi
  • Thermal overalls for Arctic conditions
  • Hot drinks & light snacks

Most Magical Aurora Experience with Reindeer Ride

Ride through the snowy Lappish forest on a reindeer-drawn sleigh, with convenient pick-up and drop-off from Rovaniemi city center.

Includes 

  • English-speaking guide
  • Pick-up & drop-off from selected hotels in Rovaniemi city center
  • Reindeer sleigh ride through Lappish forest
  • Visit to a traditional reindeer farm
  • Winter clothes
  • Finnish snacks & hot blueberry juice

Authentic Aurora Experience with Arctic BBQ

Set out from Rovaniemi to hunt the Northern Lights. Relax by a lakeside camp, enjoy a traditional Lappish BBQ, and stay warm with hot tea as you await the aurora.

Includes 

  • Pickup and drop-off to selected hotels accommodations
  • English-speaking guide
  • Winter clothing
  • BBQ: Lappish bread, pork sausages, salmon soup, and blueberry tea

Explore Norway Northern Lights Tours from Tromsø

Top Choice Small Group Aurora Hunt in Tromsø, Norway

Set out from Tromsø on an evening bus tour to chase the Northern Lights and enjoy a full Arctic experience.

Includes 

  • Roundtrip transportation from the meeting point
  • Guide
  • Tea and hot chocolate
  • Marshmallows and snacks
  • Campfire experience
  • Includes 2 professional landscape photos
  • Thermal suits
  • Drop-off to your accommodation/hotel

Unique Arctic Adventure with Huskies

Witness the Northern Lights at a remote husky camp near Tromsø, guided by experts and complemented with a traditional Norwegian dinner.

Includes 

  • English-speaking expert
  • Transfers from Tromso to the husky camp
  • Interaction with Alaskan huskies
  • Warm thermal overalls
  • Traditional Norwegian dinner
  • Northern lights viewing at a remote camp

Bestselling Classic Aurora Experience

Join an evening bus tour to witness one of nature’s greatest wonders. With expert guides leading the way, you’ll head to the best spots to chase the Northern Lights.

Includes 

  • Guide
  • Transportation
  • Thermal suit
  • Hot drinks
  • Photo workshop and portrait photo
  • Hotel drop-off

What Are the

Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are one of the planet’s most fascinating natural displays. This dazzling phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These interactions release energy in the form of colorful light, creating shimmering curtains of green, purple, pink, and sometimes red across the Arctic sky.

How Do Northern Lights Form?

The sun constantly emits a stream of particles known as the solar wind. When this stream reaches Earth, its magnetic field directs the particles toward the polar regions. There, they interact with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the upper atmosphere, producing the glowing lights we see as the aurora borealis. 

  • Green light: Caused by oxygen about 60 miles above Earth.
  • Red or pink hues: Result from high-altitude oxygen.
  • Purple and blue colors: Produced by nitrogen.
  • Find below our essential visitor information, tips, and frequently asked questions.

Why Are the Northern Lights Best Seen in the Arctic?

The aurora is best seen in regions around the magnetic poles, making Iceland, Finland, Norway, and other Arctic destinations the perfect places for a Northern Lights adventure.

Best Places to See Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are visible in several Arctic destinations, but some locations stand out for their accessibility, reliability, and magical settings. Whether you want to watch the sky dance above glaciers, reindeer forests, or Arctic fjords, these are the top places to make your once-in-a-lifetime dream of seeing this natural wonder come true:

Iceland

Iceland, a land of fiery volcanoes and glacial wonders, invites travelers to chase the Northern Lights across its dramatic landscapes. From Reykjavik, travelers can easily join evening tours that escape the city’s glow to chase the aurora. Popular spots include Thingvellir National Park and the South Coast, often combined with visits to the Blue Lagoon or Golden Circle. Iceland’s mix of volcanic terrain and the dancing aurora makes for an unforgettable adventure.

Finland

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Here, you can enjoy the spectacle from a glass igloo, a lakeside camp, or even while riding on a reindeer sleigh. Finland offers a perfect blend of Arctic wilderness, warm hospitality, and guaranteed aurora hunting experiences.

Norway

Norway is one of the most reliable countries in the world to see the Northern Lights. Tromsø, known as the “Gateway to the Arctic,” is a top destination for Northern Lights seekers. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, it provides excellent visibility and a wide range of tours, from husky sledding to cruises. Norway’s long winter nights and dramatic landscapes create an ideal backdrop for the aurora borealis.

Best Time to See the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible when the night sky is dark, clear, and solar activity is strong. While the aurora can technically occur year-round, it is only visible when skies are dark enough: making the long nights of winter the prime season. 

  • The best viewing window generally runs from late September to early April, with peak months in October, February, and March, when nights are long but not always cloud-covered.
  • The best time of night is typically between 9:00 PM and 2:00 AM, when auroral activity is at its highest.

Clear skies away from city lights greatly improve your chances, which is why guided tours often drive out of towns and use real-time Northern Lights forecasts to find the most active spots.

Here’s when and where you’ll have the best chance:

  • Iceland

  • Finland

  • NOrway

Iceland

  • Viewing season: late September – mid-April
  • Best months: February and March, when nights are long and skies are clearest
  • Popular spots: Thingvellir National Park, South Coast, valleys near Reykjavik + Northern Lights cruises: that set off from the city, offering a magical way to see the aurora reflected on the Arctic waters. → Discover Northern Lights Cruises Tickets
  • Weather: Highly changeable; clear skies, snow, or rain in a single night

Tip: → Check out Iceland Northern Lights Tours from Reykjavik

More Magical

Northern Lights Experiences

After exploring most popular tours in Iceland, Norway, and Finland, discover these unique experiences that make your Northern Lights trip even more memorable: from Santa Claus visits and reindeer sleigh rides in Lapland to cruises under the Arctic skies.

Northern Lights Cruises

For a truly unique way to see the aurora, step aboard a Northern Lights cruise. From Tromsø’s Arctic fjords to Reykjavik’s coastline, cruises take you far from city lights, offering uninterrupted skies and the magical reflection of the aurora on the water. Heated lounges, panoramic decks, and expert guides make the journey as memorable as the destination.

Santa Claus Village & Reindeers

Lapland is the only place where you can meet Santa Claus in his official village and enjoy magical encounters with his reindeer. From visiting Santa himself to joining festive activities and tasting local food, this is a must for families and dreamers of all ages.

Don’t miss the chance to visit the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Reindeer Sleigh Ride

Glide through snowy Lapland landscapes on a reindeer sleigh ride, a traditional way to travel under the Arctic sky. Warm up with hot drinks, enjoy the silence of the forest, and experience the Northern Lights just as locals did for centuries.

Explore top-rated Reindeer Sleigh Ride tours

Husky Experience

Feel the thrill of Arctic adventure with a husky sled ride across snow-covered Lapland. Guided by professional mushers, glide through silent forests and frozen lakes under the Northern Lights. This unforgettable experience combines speed, teamwork, and pure winter magic.

6 Fascinating Facts About the Northern Lights

  • Old Legends

Ancient Vikings believed the aurora was light reflecting off the shields of the gods.

  • Different Colors

Green is the most common, but pink, red, violet, and even blue can appear.

  • Silent Beauty

Though usually quiet, rare reports suggest the aurora can produce faint crackling sounds.

  • Best Season

Visible from late September to early April in the Arctic Circle.

  • Solar Connection

Strong auroras happen during periods of high solar activity.

  • Global Phenomenon

While the north hosts the Aurora Borealis, the south has its twin, the Aurora Australis.

Which Northern Lights Tour Suits You?

Not all travelers are the same and neither are Northern Lights tours. Depending on your travel style, interests, and how much time you have, certain tours will fit you better than others. 

Here, you’ll find the best types of experiences for every kind of traveler:

Families

Perfect for families who want comfort and shorter evening trips. In Iceland, easy bus tours from Reykjavik are child-friendly, while in Finland, cozy camps with BBQs and hot drinks make the wait fun for everyone.


 Recommended Tickets:

Couples

A romantic choice for those looking to share the aurora in magical settings. Think glass igloos in Lapland, or husky tours with a traditional dinner in Norway.


 Recommended Tickets:


Solo Travelers

Great if you’re traveling alone and want a social experience. Small-group tours in Tromsø create friendly atmospheres, while Iceland’s guided hunts are perfect for learning and capturing photos.


 Recommended Tickets:

Photography Lovers

Ideal for travelers chasing that perfect shot. Expert guides bring you to remote locations and help capture the aurora’s glow with professional tips.


 Recommended Tickets:

Adventure Seekers

For those who want more than just watching. Combine the aurora with husky sledding, snowmobiling, or reindeer safaris for a true Arctic thrill.


 Recommended Tickets:

Bucket-List Travelers

If seeing the Northern Lights is your once-in-a-lifetime dream, choose tours with guaranteed sightings or overnight stays in glass igloos under the Arctic sky.


 Recommended Tickets:

Short-Stay Visitors

Perfect if you’re in the Arctic for only a few days. Quick evening tours from Reykjavik or Tromsø let you experience the aurora without taking too much time from your trip.


 Recommended Tickets:

Know Before You Go on Northern Lights Tours

Northern Lights Forecasts & Indices

  • Check cloud cover first; clear skies matter more than high aurora indices.
  • KP index (0–9) suggests auroral reach, not a guarantee. A modest KP can still look spectacular in the far north.
  • Short-term “nowcasts” and real-time solar wind data help guides choose locations.

[Source: Space Weather Conditions]


Weather Realities

  • Iceland: fast-changing conditions, wind, and coastal clouds.
  • Lapland (Finland): generally more continental and often clearer in winter.
  • Norway (Tromso): coastal weather; guides may drive long distances to find gaps in clouds.

Check the Aurora Forecast


What to Wear & Bring

  • Dress in breathable layers: thermal base, insulating mid-layer, windproof/waterproof outer shell.
  • Insulated boots with warm socks, hat, neck gaiter, and proper gloves/mittens.
  • Hand/foot warmers, lip balm, and moisturizer. Microspikes help on icy ground.
  • Compact backpack with water and a thermos. Alcohol is usually discouraged for safety.

Cold-Weather Phone & Camera Tips

  • Spare batteries (cold drains power quickly); keep them warm in inner pockets.
  • Tripod is essential for sharp long exposures.
  • Manual settings starting point: ISO 800–3200, f/1.4–f/2.8, 2–10 s shutter (adjust to brightness).
  • Manual focus at infinity (use live view on a bright star or distant light).
  • Avoid bright white lights; use a red headlamp to preserve night vision.

Safety & Health

  • Surfaces can be icy; walk carefully. Follow guide instructions at road pull-offs.
  • Motion sickness can occur on winding roads; consider medication if needed.
  • Extreme cold can affect asthma or circulation issues; inform your guide if you have conditions.

Families & Accessibility

  • Shorter, comfort-oriented tours and camps suit young children best.
  • Ask about seat availability for child seats, indoor shelter access, and walking distances.
  • Some tours can accommodate limited mobility; confirm terrain and vehicle steps.


FAQ - About Northern Lights Tours

Which country has Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights can be seen in countries close to the Arctic Circle, such as Norway, Finland, Iceland. Each destination has its own charm, but our Northern Lights Tours cover the most popular Arctic hotspots in Europe.

→ See our List with the Best places for Northern Lights Tours

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights?

The best places are Tromsø in Norway, Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, and Reykjavik in Iceland. These regions combine accessibility, reliable sightings, and unique Arctic landscapes. Check our comparison of best Northern Lights destinations to plan your trip.

→ Read More About Best Places to See Northern Lights

What month is best to see the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are best viewed between late September and early April, with February and March offering particularly clear skies. Visit our Best Time to See the Northern Lights guide for detailed country-by-country insights.

→ Learn More About Best Time to See Northern Lights

Can animals sense auroras?

While no scientific proof confirms animals "sense" auroras, Arctic wildlife like reindeer and huskies continue their natural behavior during displays. What they certainly notice is the long polar nights that make auroras possible.

Which tour agency is best for the Northern Lights?

Rather than a single agency, it’s best to choose based on location and experience type. Our curated Northern Lights Tours highlight trusted operators in Iceland, Finland, and Norway, with options ranging from bus tours to husky and reindeer adventures. 

How much does a Northern Lights tour cost?

Prices vary by country and tour type:

  • Bus tours: from €50–80 per person
  • Small-group minibus tours: €120–150
  • Husky or reindeer combo tours: €150–250
  • Luxury glass igloo stays: €400+ per night

→ Check tickets and tours section for updated pricing.

Is it worth doing a Northern Lights tour?

Yes, Northern Lights tour is really worth it. Local guides use live Northern Lights forecasts and know the best dark-sky areas, dramatically increasing your chances of seeing the aurora. Plus, many tours include extras like BBQs, hot drinks, husky sledding, or professional photos.

Which country is best for Aurora Borealis?

Each Arctic destination has strengths: Iceland combines landscapes, Finland offers unique igloo stays, and Norway is the most reliable for consistent displays. Explore our country comparison guide to choose your best fit.

What month is best to see the Northern Lights in Finland?

From late August to early April, with September, February, and March offering the best balance of darkness and clearer skies.

→ Learn Details About Northern Lights in Finland

What are the best months to see the Northern Lights from Norway?

In Norway, the season runs from late September to early April. February and March are considered peak months for clear skies and long nights.  

→ Click for More Details About Northern Lights in Norway

Which is better, Tromsø or Lapland?

  • Tromsø (Norway): More tours, social atmosphere, fjords.
  • Lapland (Finland): Cozy, romantic, family-friendly with reindeer and husky experiences.

What month is best to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

From late September to mid-April. Winter nights are long, though weather can be unpredictable.  

→ Find out More Information About Northern Lights in Iceland

Can the Northern Lights be seen in Reykjavik?

Yes, but city lights reduce visibility. Most tours leave Reykjavik to darker areas like Thingvellir National Park.  

→ Book Now for Best Northern Lights Reykjavik Tours

Exceptional Experiences Beyond Northern Lights

  • Katla Ice Cave Tours – Step inside Iceland’s volcanic underworld and witness the surreal blue ice formations created by nature.
  • More details and tickets here
  • Blue Lagoon Tickets – Relax in Iceland’s world-famous geothermal spa surrounded by volcanic landscapes.
  • Book your entry tickets here
  • Silfra Snorkeling Tours – Float between two continents in crystal-clear glacial waters at Thingvellir National Park.
  • Find out more here
  • Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Tours – Cruise among floating icebergs and admire Iceland’s most photogenic glacier lagoon.
  • See all tours here
  • Reykjavik Whale Watching – Set sail from Iceland’s capital for an unforgettable encounter with humpback and minke whales.
  • Link coming soon
  • Sky Lagoon Tickets – Unwind in a luxury oceanfront geothermal spa with infinity views over Reykjavik Bay.
  • Link coming soon
  • Whale Watching Tromsø – Experience Norway’s Arctic waters as you spot humpbacks, orcas, and the Northern Lights above.
  • Read more information here