Northern Lights And Stargazing Small-group Tour With Local Guide

Saever did a great job.He is very enthusiastic .

Terrible. Windy conditions with a lot of light pollution coming from passing vehicles. Guide did not plan the viewing spot well. It was so difficult to view the aurora when we were trying to stand still in the windy conditions and so many vehicles passing by us. Most companies would move to next location when it was not suitable (like cloudy sky or too windy) but the guide just stuck to one spot for the whole tour duration. The professional photos taken of us by the guide were also bad. Some photos had our faces looking blurry because of the unsteady tripod during the windy weather. I do not recommend this because it was also very expensive for the suboptimal experience.

Terrible location planning. Bad photography skills. Paid hefty sum for this subpar tour. Do not book with them. We were taken to a roadside with lot of vehicles passing by. Their beam lights were very distracting to our aurora viewing experience. The weather conditions were very very windy and chilly at night. It was so difficult to appreciate the aurora show when we couldn't stand still in the windy spot with light snow. They should have taken us to a stable spot with less wind. The reputable tour operators would not hesitate to move us to other better spots if the weather conditions turn bad or sky becomes cloudy. We were just stuck at one spot for the whole tour duration. We saw a few other vehicles briefly stopping by to check out the aurora but they quickly moved to other better spots whereas we were still stuck at one spot for the whole duration! The guide also offered to let us view the stars through their specialised telescope. But still, we couldn't appreciate the stargazing experience due to the winds. The professional photos taken of us by the guide were also subpar with too much red light reflection on our faces. Some of the photos looked blurry because of the wind which destabilized the guide's camera tripod. I think the guide is named Dxxx something.. But definitely not Þröstur which everyone was raving about. It could have been better if it is done by Þröstur.

Simply the best tour we did in Iceland. Þröstur’s knowledge, passion and personality are second to none, building excitement and bringing boundless energy and expertise to the hunt for the lights! Add the star-gazing and to die for hot chocolate and what else could you ever need! The ONLY choice when picking a Northern Lights tour! Thank you Þröstur

Top notch experience. The group is small (capped at around 10 I believe) so it’s really intimate. Þröstur was our guide and he was so engaging and knowledgeable. Also just an incredibly kind and genuine person who really cared about the group having a great visit to Iceland overall, not just on the tour. We were very fortunate with clear skies and two amazing rounds of the aurora, and while not seeing them would of course have been disappointing, I would still have nothing but positive things to say about the experience. And they offer re-tries if you don’t see the lights. They also wait til much later in the day than other companies to evaluate viewing conditions and decide whether to go/no-go for the evening, which is great. They’re not looking to make a quick buck and don’t want to waste anyone’s time (themselves included). The stargazing was a fascinating enhancement, and the professional photos taken of the group were incredible. This tour is pricey relative to other Northern Lights options but if it’s within your budget, this is the company to use (I’m sure their other non Northern Lights tours are also fantastic). The intimate group size and caliber of guide alone make it worthwhile- a truly well curated and premium experience.

A truly unforgettable experience! The Northern Lights tour was perfectly organized and exceeded all expectations. The guide was extremely professional, friendly, kind, and very knowledgeable, always happy to answer all our questions and explain everything in a clear and engaging way. During the evening, the guide shared many interesting anecdotes and taught us about the constellations visible in the sky, making the waiting time even more fascinating. We also had the chance to observe the stars and the moon through a telescope, which was a truly exciting and special experience. To top it all off, we were treated to delicious hot chocolate and a traditional local dessert, both absolutely excellent and the perfect way to warm up while enjoying the moment. This experience goes far beyond simply watching the Northern Lights: authentic, well-organized, and highly recommended! ⭐🌌☕✨

Strongly recommend this activity, the hunters genuinely care about giving you the best experience possible! We unfortunately didn’t see the northern lights through this company (not out of lack of effort, just because they didn’t make an appearance anywhere). We were only in Iceland 3 nights, the first night was a no show, the company were quick to offer us a space on the next night, which we took, but unfortunately they were a no show again. On our last night the company was fully booked BUT the owner went above and beyond for us, asking a friend he knew would offer a good experience (through another company) to take us with their group. So grateful he did, because the northern lights came out. Honestly cannot thank you enough! You made our trip and my partners birthday!

I was quite overwhelmed booking a Northern Lights tour as there's about 100 of them however found Happyworld through my hostel website. I was keen for a small group (we had 4 people which was perfect) and had a comfortable car to drive into the wilderness to catch a glimpse of the lights. Got the go ahead email on the day as communicated prior, pick up was efficient from my accommodation. My guide Prostur was excellent, a local with loads of knowledge and experience of the Northern Lights and also star gazing which was an amazing part of the experience. While we waited for the lights to become more prominent, we enjoyed the stars and even got to see Jupiter. It was an unreal experience, the location chosen for viewing was perfect and we were the only ones there. The advice about preparing for the cold is spot on but we also sat in the car for a little bit before the lights fully appeared. Definitely one of the highlight events of my time in Iceland.

So pleased we chose Happy World for a Northern Lights tour. Prostur is clearly hugely knowledgeable about astronomy and the Northern lights. Full of stories and a great host. Our driver Ricky great fun and enthusiastic. OK we were lucky to get a fantastic display, but I'm not sure without their expertise we would have found such a good spot. We have the most amazing photo taken by Prostur now framed at home. (they send a free link of all the photos taken with their pro equipment the next day). Plus loved the astronomy session with telescope, and great to have the hot chocolate and pastries on a freezing night!

I'll be honest I don't go for reviewing much HOWEVER when I feel something is really brilliant I will make an exception! You are never guaranteed to see the Northern lights even if all the data says you will, so I looked for a tour that had something else as well. I love learning so the fact that we were going to be looking at stars/Planets whilst we waited for the Northern lights really appealed. Prostur who took us out is Icelandic born and bred(not all tour guides are). He regaled us with amusing stories , showed us planets and stars. We learnt loads and had a great laugh...and yes we saw the Northern Lights as well! We had such a fantastic experience we booked them for two private tours as well. A decision I do not regret for one moment. Totally made our trip to Iceland. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

Our guides were fantastic. Knowledge, friendly and engaging. I rate this excursion a 5 of 5 despite having not been able to see the lights. But the HUNT for the lights was a great deal of fun and our guides managed to still show us distant stars as well as some of the unique geological features that make up this beautiful land.

Absolutely incredible. Our guide, Pröster, was friendly, kind, knowledgeable and professional. He not only took us to an isolated and excellent viewing spot, but he shared tales of folklore and local ghost stories, too. He showed us Saturn, the moon and a couple of constellations on his telescope and took fantastic pictures, all while chatting and keeping the group entertained. He set reasonable expectations for the northern lights in October and explained to us the science behind it. Nevertheless, we saw an INCREDIBLE aurora with absolutely stunning pictures and videos to match. On the ride back, he even helped us make some plans for our remaining days in Iceland. The tour was phenomenal mostly thanks to his personality and ability to host us. HIGHLY recommend his services.

I've taken this tour multiple times over the past seven years, and it is always a great time. Our guide Throstur was so personable and knowledgeable, and he did a wonderful job getting the group engaged in the hunt to find the aurora. On our night, it was cloudy in Reykjavik, and it took some time and some great driving to find a clear area. But when we got there, the Lights came out all around us and was so great to see. Throstur took wonderful photos for the group, and also kept us warm and happy with hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries. Thanks so much, Throstur, and I look forward to doing it again in the future!

Our guide, Adrian, picked us up and took us to our hike in Denali. Adrian was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the plants and animals on our hike. I learned so many neat things about the environment and native people. Totally enjoyed this hike with, Adrian!

Wonderful tour, our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, pick up was right on time, I was very impressed how they used the various weather data to find the breaks in the cloud cover! We got a great view of the aurora around 12:30 am and the hot chocolate and snacks were the cherry on top of an unforgettable night.

Although the Lights did not cooperate on our tour night, we were entirely satisfied with our experience with Happy World Tours. You learn everything you need to know about an operation when things don't go your way (due to no fault of the company itself). Our guide, Ollie(sp?) was knowledgeable, friendly and worked hard getting us to the best dark & secluded spot for viewing...we drove past many big tour busses stopped in parking lots. Who wants to stand around with hundreds of other people next to tour busses running in a parking lot? Ollie shared plenty of history and info on the area, the Lights, and the starry sky, and he went out of his way to make sure we felt safe and comfortable. Although the Lights did not appear, the delicious hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies were a bonus. Perhaps most importantly, this tour company absolutely went to great lengths working with us to rebook another tour before we departed Iceland. This says a lot about the tour operator's quality and integrity. Ultimately, my sisters and I decided to wait and rebook on our next visit to Iceland. We will be back and can't wait to try again with the guys at Happy World Tours!

We did the tour on Feb 11 in 2025 and the whole experience was great - the cars were comfy and on time, our guides (Vikingur and the Canadian guy) were super friendly and knowledgeable. Time was never wasted - we saw the aurora already on the way and after stopping at a really great location - the guide setup the equipment and took many amazing photos of us when the next aurora events happened. Between the aurora events - the guides told us a lot of interesting facts about aurora and the stars and Iceland, they also setup the telescope for us, served delicious cookies and hot chocolate, and answered all our questions. I couldn't ask for a better experience. Thank you, HappyWorld!

We did the tour on Feb 11 in 2025 and the whole experience was great - the cars were comfy and on time, our guides (Vikingur and the Canadian guy) were super friendly and knowledgeable. Time was never wasted - we saw the aurora already on the way and after stopping at a really great location - the guide setup the equipmemt and took many amazing photos of us when the next aurora events happened. Between the aurora events - the guides told us a lot of interesting facts about aurora and the stars and Iceland, they also setup the telescope for us, served delicious cookies and hot chocolate, and answered all our questions. I couldn't ask for a better experience. Thank you, HappyWorld!

The guides were very friendly and very well educated, not just about the northern lights, but also about the stars and other planets which we got a chance to look at with a telescope! Very much recommended if you want to see the northern lights!

The tour was amazing. Dominik was a fantastic guide and the lights were incredible. Also saw Jupiter and Saturn! The hot chocolate was great, too!

I realize they can't control the weather or what we might see, but this felt like a huge waste of money. The guide barely spoke English, so we didn't know what was happening most of the time. They drove us to an area that the app showed did not have northern lights (to be fair, the areas with northern lights were showing as cloudy, but I'd rather wait for a break in the clouds than hope the northern lights would suddenly appear much lower). Our night happened to be bitter cold. We ended up with the tiniest speck of northern lights (enough to take photos), really just visible through the photos. They never even offered a re-run another night (not that we would have taken it). I felt like they kept us out way longer than needed (back after 3 am) in an effort to avoid having to re-do it another night, even when it was obvious to all involved that there would be no success that night. If you have a rental car and the app, I would recommend being in control of your own fate instead of doing this tour. Having the pic is cool, but definitely not worth the expense! I felt bad for the guide, as it wasn't his fault, but it was pretty miserable. We were lucky later in our trip when we stayed down in Hvolsvollur and had great conditions right outside of our AirBnb, and saw tons of them on our own, on New Year's Eve! Sorry to say, I wouldn't even consider a tour like this unless you don't have a car.

A very memorabe night. The lights came out beautifully and, although as cold as can be, we stayed and took photogrpahs and ejoyed the beauty. Wonderful! Woiuld highly recommend this tour.

My Wife and I had an incredible time on the tour! While we didn't get to see the Northern Lights as clearly as we had hoped, the experience was still fantastic. The tour guide was entertaining and provided a wealth of information. Even if you don’t see the lights—since it’s not guaranteed—you still get to enjoy the stars and learn about them. Overall, it was a memorable experience!

Tristan and Sarah were awesome guides. We had such a great time with the small group tour and saw the Northern Lights in all their glory. We were the only group in the area and felt safe and well taken care of the whole time. I am SO GLAD that we didn’t do a big bus trip. This was worth EVERY PENNY. If you’re on the fence, just book it and you won’t be sorry!

Was one of the best nights of our life! Our guide was awesome and so friendly! Safe driver! Found the best spot for the northern lights! Kept us warm with hot chocolate and a snack! Also, we got amazing photos from our tour guide!

Dress warm and be patient. Lights were stunning. Picked up at hotel, ride out was comfortable, driver very kind

Thrusther and Sara were great and personable guides. You can tell they are very passionate about their tours. They took us to the absolute middle of nowhere, off-roading where no one else was able to go, to get us amazing views of the lights. We trusted them to only take us out if they thought there was a very good chance of seeing the lights- and boy did they deliver!

Amazing experience. Probably one of the best adventures I’ve ever been on. Amazing view of the northern lights and would do this again in a heartbeat.

I'll preface this with the note that our initial tour was cancelled due to completely cloudy conditions; the operator provided ample notice via email and a link to easily reschedule/refund. Checking the weather forecasts we had low hopes that the next night (our last in Iceland) would be any different, but we crossed our fingers and rescheduled. Next day as the evening neared, we received an email that the tour was a GO! There would be some breaks in the clouds during the tour window. Tour Guide Dominik picked us up at our hotel and we were off, meeting up with another van (helmed by Szymon) and heading west toward Keflavik. Dominik was truly "hunting" the Northern Lights, peering out the window and in communication with the other van as we drove. He asked us to all have some hope for a good outcome, and in about 30-45 mins we arrived at the entrance to a field. A short walk (~200 yds) down a path and Dominik announced that "we have some Northern Lights". Camera and telescope were set up and he used a laser pointer to draw our eyes to points of interest. The lights were subtle at first but as our eyes adjusted and the clouds cleared, the intensity and number of auroras increased. We had an amazing show with perfect timing for the break in clouds, with lights appearing both at the horizon and in long streaks high above us. Throughout, our guide took pictures with his nice camera and offered to take as many of us as we wanted. Through the telescope we got to view not just Jupiter but its moons as well, and a detailed look at "The Seven Sisters" (Pleiades constellation). The viewing ended with delicious hot chocolate and a cookie, then loading back up in the van and a quick drive back to the hotel. A link to download the photos was emailed 2-3 days later as promised. The guides were professional and ensured we had the best viewing experience possible, and this turned out to be the tour of a lifetime! Thank you Happyworld!

Excellent well organised tour with a great guide called Dominic. We saw the lights thanks to the company’s expertise and knowledge. Comfy 4x4, star gazing, hot chocolate, and a great light display despite a lot of cloud cover!

Great tour & tour guide, it makes it much better in a smaller tour group, would definitely use happy world again!

Amazing! So beautiful! Our guide Dominic was great! He was on time, courteous, and very knowledgeable. Base camp was a lovely beginning stop and then Dominic took us to the perfect spot! The aurora was very active at a KP 4 and it was magnificent. Dominic took epic photos for us and was super quick with returning them via email to us on same night!! Highly recommend this tour!

This was a fantastic trip out, well organised, with an experienced and fun tour guide who gave us interesting facts about the northern lights and astrology throughout, had a high quality professional camera that was available to take photos of people throughout the whole night with the northern lights behind us. Drove us to a great spot away from light pollution, with shielding from the strong winds. We were able to see so many stars in the night sky, big dipper formation and even Jupiter! We got sent the photos in just a few short hours after the trip had dropped us off in the early hours of the morning, so woke up to a full album of fantastic photos. Highly recommend this tour group for seeing the northern lights.

We loved this tour. We were only in Iceland for a few days and the weather forecast was unfavorable; the date we booked originally was cancelled but we were able to easily reschedule for no additional cost and went two days later. We didn’t follow other giant buses to the usual sites, we got a little private spot of our for our small group and were able to see the lights a bit, got our photos taken and a wonderfully detailed and informed explanation of what we were looking at. Then yummy hot chocolate! The enthusiasm and passion from our guides were infectious and we had a great time from start to finish. Would highly recommend!

An absolutely fantastic tour! The tour organizers went above and beyond to ensure a seamless pick-up as the tour starts rather late in the day. All the details have been coordinated so that the tour guide knew exactly the spot to see the Aurora. It was a rather short and comfortable drive. It was indeed a memorable experience and the photos turned out just stunning! The tour guide provided cookies and hot chocolate, which was wonderful to have on a cold (but not a freezing!) night. Overall, a great adventure. In fact, it was so special we are planning to return for more Aurora sightings in March of 2025!

I paid a higher cost over some other excursions offered for what I thought would be a premium service. Turned out not to be the case unfortunately on all sorts of levels. I did see the lights so taken that into account with my rating.

A passionate and very knowledgeable guide made this trip. Although we weren’t lucky enough to have one of the ‘classical’ shows you see photos of, we saw the aurora with our own eyes which was amazing.

Beware: False Promises, arrogance and incompetence This is my second one-star review to this company! I visited Iceland solo in January 2023 for a Northern Lights tour with this company. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a thing and in between we had some kind of misunderstanding. My experience wasn’t very positive, so I left a one-star review to share my disappointment. The company promised a free re-run if conditions weren’t favorable. After more than a year I am planning to travel Iceland again with my partner. So I asked them about the re-run and would bring them a new customer. I give myself a hope that I could still have a positive experience with them. However, when I reached out to claim the free re-run, I was ignored. After seeing them post on Instagram, I decided to comment, asking for a response. Their reply came two days later, and instead of offering help or solutions. I was met with a dismissive and rude message stating that they didn’t want me back on their tour because of my negative review a year ago. It’s clear this company is more interested in saving face than actually providing good customer service. They refuse to honor their promises, punish customers for honest feedback, and are completely unprofessional. If you’re expecting a “free re-run” or any kind of resolution for a bad experience, think again! I’m incredibly disappointed in how I was treated and I won’t be going back. If you’re hoping for transparency or accountability, look elsewhere. I certainly won’t recommend this company to anyone. Their lack of accountability and arrogance is stunning. They’ve shown themselves to be both arrogant and unprofessional.

Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgeable. The lights were beautiful. Hot chocolate was perfect. Thank you so much!

Picked up on time at hotel. Driver:guide very friendly and informative. Took us off road to find the Best Northern Lights!! The sky came alive with the Northern lights. Stunning. Had warm hot chocolate, traditional treats and had blankets for the chill. Dress in layers - nothing is too much.

Our guide, Dominic, had the perfect location to view the northern lights. He took multiple photos of us with the northern lights. It was everything we wanted in a tour.

I don’t like to write bad reviews, but, in my opinion, don’t waste your money on this “small group” tour. It was definitely not worth $225 per person. I don’t mean to be mean, but the guy who ran the thing was kinda of a jerk. The guy who drove our vehicle was great (Ollie)…but the guy running the show “used a rude harsh tone” when I used my flash light to walk my 82 year old mother across unstable ground. He told us not to use flashlights or anything cuz that would ruin the experience (as our eyes would not adjust). That is complete BS! The night before this Viator outing, my mom and I had been part of an 11 day tour. We were in Hella. Our hotel was out in the middle of nowhere. We were complete amateurs and got amazing shots. I used my iPhone 15 Pro Max and got stunning, clear, photos and videos of the Northern Lights and people with the Northern Lights in the background, with JUST MY iPhone. The quality of my photos and videos were amazing compared to the quality of what our tour guide sent us via email. I will gladly send you a side by side comparison if you write me and send me your email. I was so unimpressed by the quality of this guys photos and videos that I felt compelled to write this review. That, and his attitude. He later apologized for being a jerk and sounding so harsh, but he made a very poor first impression. Anyway, all that to say…don’t waste $225 on this guy. I saw other tours for more than half the price. And, they had better reviews. If I could go back, I would book with another group … not this guy. Once again, I don’t like writing poor reviews, but honestly, there is nothing to rave about with this tour. Spend less money and go with another tour. Or, rent a car and drive outside of the city and get shots on your own…just be sure to have a “night mode” on whatever phone camera model you own. Or, download and app that will give you that capability. Peace!

We took this tour over a week ago and are STILL talking about it!!! It was beyond amazing and anything we’ve ever imagined. I had been following the weather forecast for weeks before we arrived in Reykjavik hoping to get a clear day to see the Northern Lights. It was overcast the whole day and our tour was scheduled that night. Lucky for us, our AMAZING guide Asthor and his wonderful assistant Dominic delivered the great news that not only was our tour “a go,” but the activity level was a whopping 5, which is good as activity rarely goes over 3. Asthor had a leg injury and was hobbling around with a cane, but that didn’t stop him from doing everything in his power to give us the best experience, and he more than delivered! The lights were absolutely dancing for us and we were able to take hundreds of photos! He and Dominic took photos of everyone with the lights as the backdrop and everyone we showed photos to thought it was the coolest thing ever! He also brewed up some homemade hot chocolate to warm us up and left no stone unturned. This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and it’s all thanks to Asthor and Dominic and Happyworkd! This is a MUST DO if you’re going to Reykjavík!

Our guide came to the hotel on time and he is friendly. He was very knowledgeable about where to find the northern lights and he knows a lot about the science behind the aurora borealis. And they served us delicious hot chocolate drink. It was a cold night and the hot chocolate helped warm us up. We got to see a magnificent show of the northern lights. Our guide and his assistant Dominic took a lot of our pictures. We were also able to get hundreds of pictures in our cell phone.

The Northern Lights and Stargazing Small-Group Tour was incredible. Our guide was exceptional—knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging. They provided fascinating insights into the stars and the auroras, making the experience both educational and awe-inspiring. With a small group and hot drinks provided, the tour was comfortable and personalized. Lucky to witness Northern Lights, they were breathtaking, and our guide ensured we had the best views. Highly recommend this tour for a memorable night under the stars!

Although we did see Northern Lights which was amazing, we were not impressed by the manners of our guide. He came across a little rude and inappropriate in the way that he spoke to some of the people in our group. Hence, giving this experience 4 stars only.

Look no further for your Northern Lights tour! We had an *exceptionally excellent* experience with Happyworld. I had done a bunch of research before selecting a tour company and honed in on Happyworld mainly due to the comparatively small group size, reasonable price, and flexibility to rebook at no additional cost in case the Lights don't cooperate. In addition to these logistical advantages, Happyworld provides clear and timely day-of communication, does thorough daily meteorological research before making a go-no decision, and keeps you comfortable and engaged during the tour. To boot, Ástþór was a *tremendous guide* - as entertaining as he is informative! - and he did a fantastic job of capturing our experience through photography (see a few attached examples). Our overall Northern Lights journey comprised three nights: - Night 1: We ventured out, but the Lights weren't very strong. It was still nice to be out under the stars! - Night 2: True to their world, Happyworld allowed us to rebook for free, but in the early evening informed us that the meteorological conditions weren't conducive to seeing the light and cancelled the trip. We appreciated their not wasting our time, as well as providing suggestions for alternative activities in Reykjavik. - Night 3: Once again, true to their world, Happyworld allowed us to rebook for free. This time those Northern Lights *absolutely exploded* for us. We spent several hours in a field outside of Reykjavik watching the lights move and dance, ebb and pop, change color. The spectacle was well worth the wait - truly magical! - and very much enhanced by Ástþór's enthusiasm and narration. HIGHLY RECOMMEND chasing the Northern Lights with Happyworld!

Such an amazing experience! Tour staff was so helpful and very eager to help do everything they could do to ensure we saw the northern lights. They were very honest and forthcoming with information and even had to reschedule us for another night with better chances to see the northern lights. So glad they did because the next night was just magical! Highly recommend. Very friendly guys, nice 4x4 ride. Great all around!!!

HappyWorld's Northern Lights and Stargazing tour in Iceland, led by Asthor, delivered an unforgettable experience despite challenging weather conditions. Asthor's determination to find optimal viewing spots for the Northern Lights was evident as he navigated to locations with minimal light pollution, ensuring a breathtaking spectacle under the night sky. His expertise in photography added to the experience, capturing stunning images of the Aurora Borealis for us to cherish. The tour was further enhanced by Asthor's thoughtful touch of serving homemade hot chocolate. Additionally, his knowledge of astronomy during the stargazing segment was impressive and a great addition. Overall, would highly recommend HappyWorld's excursion for those seeking a great Northern Lights experience, especially if you want to see the stars too!