Northern Lights Tours in Europe
Lapland's calling with Arctic magic everywhere. Picture enjoying Snowmobile Safari speeding through Lappish wilderness, visiting Santa Claus Village meeting Santa at the Post Office crossing the Arctic Circle, experiencing Husky Safari with sleigh rides warming up around open fires, and heading into wilderness at night for great chances to spot Northern Lights. Is there anything more magical than this?
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The experience was fantastic. It was a great way to get acquainted with Iceland. Our guide Petur is an expert on the country, its history and all of the sites that you are seeing. He genuinely enjoyed sharing his country with our tour group. The accommodations were nice, clean and comfortable. The trip exceeded my expectations!
Iceland Northern LightsI’m a couple of months late on this review, but I just couldn’t let my Iceland trip with GAdventures slip by without sharing my experience! I went with my then-boyfriend during Valentine’s week, and it was truly an unforgettable adventure. First of all, Lili – our guide – was an absolute gem. She was so sweet, thoughtful, and had the cutest French accent. What amazed me the most was how she managed to juggle so many roles throughout the trip. She wasn’t just a tour guide; she was our driver, our certified emergency medic, our history buff, and even our personal chef, whipping up simple meals for us. From the very start, Lili set the tone for the trip, sharing her inspiring story of how she ended up moving to Iceland permanently. By the end of the trip, it was easy to see why she fell in love with this magical place. Speaking of Iceland, wow, what a stunning country. It’s so different from the US in the best ways – no military, no guns, and just this peaceful vibe that’s hard to explain (even in the cities!). The landscapes are straight out of a dream, with breathtaking glaciers, hydrothermal geysers, and the clearest water that you can even drink straight from your bathroom tap. We also finally got to see the Northern Lights, which was everything, and the Blue Lagoon was the cherry on top. One of the most inspiring parts of the trip was seeing how deeply Icelanders care about sustainability and protecting their environment. It’s such a refreshing change from what we’re used to, and it really made me reflect on how we could do more to preserve our planet. If only we could take a page from their book! Now, about the Northern Lights… While the trip was amazing overall, I do wish there had been more focus on actually finding the Lights. The tour was titled "Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle," so I thought we'd be chasing them every chance we got. But unfortunately, there wasn’t much emphasis on it. Lili was incredible in getting us to all the other destinations, but with the Northern Lights being such a highlight of the trip, I expected a bit more effort to make sure we caught them. In the end, we ended up booking a separate tour to hunt for them, and some of the other members of our group got lucky with clear skies and shared their beautiful pictures with us. My boyfriend, determined to see them up close, even rented a car for a late-night adventure on our last night to find the Lights. He did, and it was definitely worth it! All in all, this trip was amazing, and I’d highly recommend GAdventures. I’ll absolutely consider booking with them again, but I’d make sure to double-check that the trip’s focus aligns with the experience I’m looking for. Definitely a trip of a lifetime!
Iceland Northern Lights & Golden CircleThe accomodation in Reykjavik, ïsland Hotel, is way too far out from the centre given that folks on this tour don't have transportation. It's an ~ 80 minute walk to the centre. Unfortunately due to weather, the day 1 Northern Lights boat trip was cancelled, so we were not able to take it. I applied for the refund, from Arctic Adventures, who did refund the money, however, they sent it to Tourradar. My expection is that refund be sent to me promptly, however, to date it hasn't been. Our guide Helga was an excellent driver, friendly and very informative. The minibus we had had at least two seatbelts that didn't work, and on day 2, a rock shattered the L first row window outer pane, leaving only one pane. This bus should have been changed for safety both within and out of the bus. What happened is the entire pane of glass broke off bit by bit as we drove. Our Geirland accomodation was okay, but given that we were in the land of hot springs, a hot tub at the accomodation would have been reasonable. There was also no access to a fridge for those who did not want to eat at the restaurant. The glacier hike with our excellent guide Ola - friendly and super helpful - was fantastic.
5 Day - Northern Lights, Golden Circle, South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Ice Cave
10 best Northern Lights Europe tour packages
Compiled by
NadineEurope travel expert at TourRadar
- Northern Scandinavia in Winter
- Winter Scandinavia and Northern Lights Small Group Tour
- Winter in Scandinavia
- Iceland Northern Lights
- Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle
- 5 Day - Northern Lights, Golden Circle, South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Ice Cave
- 8 Days Northern Lights Exploration – Small Group
- 8 Days Guided Iceland Circle & Northern Lights
- Iceland's Fairy Tale: Aurora Borealis, Geysers and Waterfalls
- Iceland's Classic Northern Lights
Clear skies at Abisko National Park, Kiruna's wilderness, and Tromso's Arctic setting provide ideal Northern Lights viewing opportunities. Arctic Snowhotel visits and Sami cultural experiences fill daytime hours.
Duration 8 days Destinations Finland, Sweden, Norway Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From
- US$5,330
Duration 12 days Destinations Denmark, Norway, Sweden Age Range Ages 12+ Operator Firebird Tours From
- US$6,208
Duration 13 days Destinations Finland, Norway, Sweden Age Range Ages 30+ Operator Bunnik Tours From
- US$11,965+$240 upfront costs
Iceland Northern Lights
“Seeing the immense and beautiful Skogarfoss waterfall. The dramatic landscape is amazing.”
Beverly, traveled in April
Hotel Laki offers optimal aurora viewing in Europe's northernmost reaches. Days feature visits to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Diamond Beach, and Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, while expert guides assist with night photography techniques.
Duration 5 days Destinations Reykjavik, Seljaland, Eyjafjallajokull, Skogafoss, Reynisdrangar Cliffs, Reynisfjara, Myrdalsjokull, Jokulsarlon, Hvolsvollur, GullfossSee all destinations Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $3,040
9% Off- US$2,770
Iceland Northern Lights & Golden Circle
“Absolutely fantastic. 5 Stars all the way”
Amanda, traveled in March
The remote European locations near Alftrod guesthouse provide ideal Northern Lights viewing conditions. Thingvellir National Park's dramatic landscapes, ancient lava caves, and the raw power of Gullfoss waterfall await with expert local guides.
Duration 5 days Destinations Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, Dover, Gullfoss, Solheimajokull, Skogafoss, Seljaland Age Range Ages 12+ Operator G Adventures From $2,239
20% Off- US$1,791
5 Day - Northern Lights, Golden Circle, South Coast, Jökulsárlón & Ice Cave
“Fast paced and fun. You must be fit and ready to tackle the environment.”
Georgina, traveled in March
The lights illuminate multiple locations: Reykjavik harbor cruise, Kirkjubæjarklaustur's dark skies, and Vatnajökull glacier region. Expert guides monitor forecasts for optimal viewing conditions.
Duration 5 days Destinations Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss, Seljaland, Vik, Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Jokulsarlon, Skaftafell, FjadrargljufurSee all destinations Age Range Ages 6+ Operator Arctic Adventures From
20% Off- US$1,663
8 Days Northern Lights Exploration – Small Group
“The hotels and transport were very good and the process was easy. We saw the northern lights 5 nights and twice they were dancing.”
LOWANNA, traveled in January
Northern Lights await across Europe's northernmost country, with 6 dedicated evenings of aurora hunting. The journey includes Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Vatnshellir cave, and the Blue Lagoon while staying at strategic viewing locations.
Duration 8 days Destinations Keflavik, Reykjavik, Borgarnes, Borgarfjörður, Grábrók Volcano, Snæfellsnes, Grundarfjordur, Kirkjufell Mountain, Arnarstapi, Thingvellir National ParkSee all destinations Age Range Ages 8+ Operator GJ Travel From
20% Off- US$3,724
What our customers ask about Northern Lights Tours in Europe
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Europe?
The Northern Lights viewing season stretches from September to March in Europe with peak visibility during the darkest winter months. Data shows September leads with an 88% success rate followed by October at 74% and November through February ranging from 60-62%. Places like Finland's Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offer guests unobstructed views from glass igloos while Iceland's Hotel Stracta in Hella provides excellent viewing spots from their spacious grounds away from light pollution.
What are the best European destinations for viewing the Northern Lights?
Key viewing locations include Iceland's South Coast Finnish Lapland Northern Norway and Swedish Lapland. Each area offers something different - visitors can watch the lights dance above Vatnajökull National Park's glaciers in Iceland or from specialized glass igloos in Finland's Ivalo. Norway's cities of Tromsø and Alta serve as popular bases with properties like the Scandic Alta positioned near the Northern Lights Cathedral. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The locations in Northern Norway were perfectly chosen for aurora viewing especially around Alta where we had three spectacular shows."
What type of accommodation is available on Northern Lights tours?
Lodging options span from glass igloos in Finnish Lapland to modern hotels and local guesthouses. You'll find places like the Aurora Village in Ivalo with its glass-roofed cabins the GLO Hotel Art in Helsinki and countryside properties such as Hotel Borgarnes in Iceland. Properties are selected based on their location for aurora viewing. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned: "The glass igloo experience at Aurora Village was incredible - we could watch the Northern Lights right from our bed!"
What activities are typically included in Northern Lights tours besides aurora viewing?
Tours pack the daylight hours with local experiences. Iceland's programs take visitors to the Golden Circle Blue Lagoon and waterfalls like Gullfoss and Skógafoss. Finnish tours include dog sledding reindeer farm visits and snowmobile rides. Norway's itineraries feature stops at fishing villages like Sommarøy and Tromsø's Polar Museum. As confirmed by a TourRadar traveler: "The husky sled ride was a thrill and I loved those dogs! The landscapes were just stunning and we never felt waterfalled out."
What cultural experiences are included in Northern Lights tours?
Tours emphasize connections with local Sami communities. Programs such as Wild Sweden's tour in Jokkmokk let visitors experience reindeer farms share meals in traditional lavvu tents and learn about Sami culture. A TourRadar traveler remarked: "Meeting Anna's Sami family outside Jokkmokk was a highlight. We shared traditional meals in their lavvu learned about reindeer herding and gained genuine insight into their Arctic lifestyle while waiting for the aurora to appear."
How many nights should I plan for a Northern Lights tour?
Successful tours typically run 5-8 days giving multiple chances to spot the lights. Iceland's Northern Lights Exploration spans 8 days while Finland's Aurora Borealis & Glass Igloo experience takes 5 days. Weather patterns change daily so longer stays increase viewing opportunities. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights 3 out of 4 nights during our tour in Tromsø."
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