Yes, of course. All our self-drive, guided small group and private packages are crafted to give you an amazing Iceland experience, but if you want to do something extra or want additional nights to enjoy the country then just talk to your travel consultant. They will be able to offer destination suggestions and modify your package according to your needs and preferences.

We recommend that you hold off on booking your flights until after you have heard from your dedicated travel consultant. This is typically no more than two working days after you have received your email confirmation of payment. By waiting until you have been introduced to your travel consultant you can book your flights in line with your personal itinerary.

If you have any questions, contact your consultant and remember when choosing dates, the prime northern lights viewing season is between October and March.

The northern lights, also called aurora borealis, are a magical sight to behold and have been capturing the imagination of humans for thousands of years – in fact, the Vikings believed that the lights were a glowing reflection from the shields and armour of the gods above.

There is a scientific explanation for them however: giant flares from the sun send blasts of charged particles to our planet and when they collide with atoms in our upper atmosphere, glowing emissions form. The movement, shapes, brightness and colours depend on the type of atoms involved as well as the intensity of the solar flares and the pull of Earth’s magnetic forces.

The northern lights are visible mainly between October and March each year in the Nordic region – this is because the winter nights are dark enough for us to see the lights. The aurora borealis can happen at any time of the year, but with the extra-long summer daylight hours due to another phenomenon called the “midnight sun”, it’s too bright at night to see the northern lights in summertime.

Check out our guide to sunrise and sunset times in our travel guide.

You can see the northern lights all across Iceland during the darker winter months because the country sits within a zone called the “Northern Lights Belt”. It reportedly has stronger auroral frequency and you can even search online for the best “auroral forecast” in the belt.

There are conditions you can control to have a better chance of viewing them though. Firstly, wherever you are on your journey, you will have a higher chance of seeing the lights if you’re far away from town and city lights (due to light pollution). As well as this, be patient as the lights don’t conform to a schedule – they may appear after a few hours or they may not.

Icelandic weather is famous for being ever-changing and there’s even a popular term called “gluggaveður”, or window-weather, because what may look like a warm day from inside could be very cold when outside. With this in mind, we suggest that you prepare for your trip by bringing plenty of thermal layers. Chasing the northern lights is a chilly business, so be sure to wrap up warm, wear a hat and bring these essentials on your trip:

• Fleece jacket/lightweight wool sweater
• Rainproof/windproof jacket
• Rain pants
• Sturdy walking shoes with a good tread/grip
• Gloves
• Scarves
• Hat (toque/beanie)
• Thermal underwear
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Warm socks
• A flask for a warm drink like hot chocolate

The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and can occur throughout the year in Iceland. However, whether you’ll be able to view them or not is a different matter. A range of reasons can hinder the clarity of the lights such as light pollution from nearby towns, the night not being dark enough or heavy cloud cover.

Even if you have the right conditions for a viewing, it’s a natural marvel and may not appear when you want it to. To raise your chances, visit between October through March when the nights are long in Iceland (during the winter solstice in late December, darkness can extend for approximately 19 hours).

The best way to see the lights really depends on the travel style that suits you and the type of vacation you want. If you would like to see Iceland at your own pace and with flexibility, then a self-drive tour is best. With a rented car you’ll have more opportunities to stop for photos at the viewpoints that aren’t always noted on the map, giving you more opportunities to see the lights. You also have more freedom to go further afield for excursions and viewings.

If you’d rather an expert tour guide show you the best spots and times to see the northern lights, then a guided small group tour could be ideal. On a small group tour you’ll be in the company of like-minded travellers, which is popular for our many solo guests and for our those who don’t feel comfortable driving in the Icelandic winter conditions. They also get the bonus of a local Icelandic guide to share their knowledge and experience of Iceland.

If you want to be accompanied by an expert driver/guide but want to customise your trip and set the pace to suit your needs, then a privately guided tour would be ideal for you. This option blends both the flexibility of self-drive and the expert guidance of a small group tour. You get to enjoy a personal one-to-one travel experience but also keep the autonomy of self-drive tours. And it’s great if you’re travelling with family or friends as you will have a personal guide to answer all your questions about Iceland.

In Iceland, these are the summer months and the chances of seeing the northern lights are low as the nights are not dark or long enough to see them. We would suggest travelling to Iceland in the colder winter months (October - March) so you have an improved chance of viewing them.

If you’re in luck and have seen the beginnings of an aurora light show then you will want to capture the memory by photographing or recording it. Here are our top tips on capturing the lights: