Aurora Borealis, Hunting for the Northern Lights

Aurora Borealis is a private evening Super Jeep tour run by Boreal from Reykjavik. A Boreal driver-guide does the driving and guests ride as passengers, so this is a guided outing rather than a self-drive trip. The tour runs from September to April, lasts 3 to 4 hours and covers 50 to 150 km, with pick-up on request. It takes from one to ten passengers in a single private party.

Boreal is clear about what has to line up. To see the northern lights you need to get away from city lights and moonlight, find a cloud-free sky and have solar wind heading towards the Earth, all at the same time and in the same place. The operator says that takes some experience and a bit of luck, and it states plainly that northern lights sightings cannot be guaranteed.

For that reason departures only happen on promising evenings. The Super Jeep goes searching on lonely mountain trails in the darkness, and the route varies with the season, road, snow, weather and northern lights conditions. Boreal recommends good shoes, warm wind and waterproof clothing, a camera, a tripod, and drinks and food, because meals are not included.

The tour is given in English, with other languages on request, and departures from hotels outside Reykjavik are available on request. Prices are published in Icelandic krona for the whole private party rather than per person: ISK 80,000 for one passenger, ISK 85,000 for two, ISK 90,000 for three and up to ISK 160,000 for ten. Contact Boreal for availability and to confirm the evening.