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Experience the vibrant colors and geological formations of the Lava Tunnel at night before going on the hunt for the magical Aurora Borealis!
Starting from Reykjavík, we'll whisk you away to the breathtaking Blue Mountains. Here, you'll explore Raufarhólshellir, a mesmerizing lava tube cave shaped by an ancient volcanic eruption over 5000 years ago. Led by our knowledgeable guide, you'll learn about the cave's vibrant colors, intricate rock formations, and fascinating volcanic shapes.
After our cave adventure, we'll journey into the countryside to chase the elusive Aurora. Our experienced team will find the perfect spot for you to witness the Northern Lights, providing cozy blankets and warm treats for your comfort.
Join us for an unforgettable nighttime adventure in Iceland!
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On this tour you’ll visit the fourth-longest lava tube in Iceland and witness the natural phenomenon that is the Northern Lights.
First, your expert guide will collect you from your selected pick-up location in a minibus. You’ll then be transported to Raufarhólshellir lava cave, 45 minutes outside of Reykjavík, where you’ll admire the fascinating lava formations and colors on an hour-long excursion. We’ll go as far as 900 m (2952 ft) into the cave!
Next, we’ll explore some of Iceland’s beautiful landscapes in search of the Northern Lights. Our guides take photos every time the Northern Lights are spotted, so you’ll get your photograph taken with the Aurora Borealis. We’ll enjoy hot chocolate while admiring the sky.
Below, you'll find additional information about the tour.
Our journey kicks off as we rendezvous with our lava cave expert at the entrance of the Raufarhólshellir tunnel. Here, we'll receive gear and safety briefings before descending into the cave. The walk is relatively easy, with developed paths, footbridges, and natural terrain to traverse. While accessible to all ages and abilities, participants should be comfortable with uneven surfaces.
As we delve deeper, marvel at the kaleidoscope of colors adorning the walls—mineral deposits revealing emeralds, rubies, turquoise, and lilacs, each evidence of volcanic activity. Our expert guide will illuminate the geological processes that shaped this landscape.
Following our guided lava tunnel exploration, we'll board our bus and set out on the hunt for the elusive Northern Lights. Venturing into the starry expanse, our destination remains flexible, dictated by daily forecasts. Rest assured, we'll steer clear of city lights, possibly venturing to Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or other rural pockets in South Iceland to escape light pollution.
Traveling by minibus affords us access to offbeat locations inaccessible to larger buses. Throughout the journey, your guide will capture a complimentary photo of you with the aurora, ensuring this unforgettable moment is preserved. Capture the magic on film and cherish the memory forever!
After an adventure-packed evening, you'll be dropped off in Reykjavík at your selected drop-off location.
As the success of the Northern Lights tour is heavily dependent on weather conditions, it may be possible that the Aurora Borealis is not visible on your trip.
The Northern Lights are natural phenomena and we unfortunately cannot promise you will see them on our tours. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions, which are factors entirely out of our control.
For more information on the Northern Lights, please have a look at our Northern Lights information.
Unfortunately, there isn’t just one simple answer to this question.
Your camera doesn't have a single setting that will guarantee excellent pictures. But if you have manual controls, playing with different mixtures of ISO, aperture, and exposure settings is usually preferable. As a general rule, ISO settings of 800 to 3200, f/2.8 to f/5.6, and shutter speeds of 15 to 30 seconds have been found to be successful.
Keep in mind that ISO settings between 800 and 3200, f/2.8 and f/5.6, and shutter speeds between 15 and 30 seconds have produced excellent results.
Results from various combinations can vary greatly. You can take faster exposures with a higher ISO setting, but the photographs can turn up grainier as a result.
If the shutter speed is above 15 seconds it will result in a slight star movement.
In low-light situations, wider-angle lenses are typically more adaptable, while longer lenses provide you with more compositional alternatives. Make sure to take off any lens filters because they could cause image distortion. Most likely, using a manual setting for infinite focal length will get the greatest results.
For more tips, read our blog on photographing the Northern Lights.
Since the spectacle of the Northern Lights is very much weather-dependent, if no aurora is seen, you’ll have unlimited re-tries valid for up to 3 years. That’s right, you’ll be able to re-join the chase of Northern Lights until it’s a successful one!
What to do in this case? Our Customer Care is ready to help you and book your next re-try.
Please keep in mind that refunds are not issued when a tour takes place but no Northern Lights are seen. During a re-try, the tour is operated on a minibus.
Yes, the guide will take a photo of you with the Northern Lights behind you. These can be single or group photos and are free of charge.
The Northern Lights season is said to be from late August until mid-April. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing them, it is best to wait until the colder winter months, from mid-September until March.
Since it’ll be nighttime and winter when you chase the Northern Lights, it’s important to dress warmly! Be sure to dress in comfortable layers. Take an undershirt, a fleece sweater, and a jacket to go over everything. Don’t forget thermal underwear or leggings too!
We provide you with a headlight and a helmet.
Like always in Iceland, it’s best to dress in layers. Warm layers closest to you preferably wool/thermal underwear, pants, sweater, and on top waterproof outdoor clothing. We also recommend that you wear good hiking boots and gloves. Jeans have proven to be a bad choice.
This is a great question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated. This is because you may well be the first pick-up of the day. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide.
Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
View our pick-up locations in Reykjavík.
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited before and during our tours. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Raufarhólshellir is a relatively accessible lava tunnel with man-made paths and footbridges throughout much of the exploration. However, some parts remain as nature intended, with uneven terrain. All participants should be confident with walking on these surfaces.
Yes, we do. Langjökull Ice Cave is a magical experience, the tour has no minimum age and is a wonderful option for the whole family. Whale Watching with our partner company Elding has been a favorite with families traveling with young children, these guys have a great success rate in seeing whales (upwards of 98% in the summertime).
Another option would be the Landmannalaugar Safari. On this tour, you get to explore parts of the Icelandic highlands and bathe in natural hot springs. Most of our super jeep tours are also suitable for children over the age of six years old. If you would like a nice and relaxing experience we would also recommend the Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon tour.
Your safety is our number one priority! Keeping this in mind, Arctic Adventures reserves the right to adjust the itinerary and/or take different routes depending on conditions. Please read more information in our cancellation policy.
Yes, there is a specially trained and certified guide on each of our tours. The only exception to this is for our self-drive tours.
All of our tours are guided in English.
