Northern Lights can be seen in North Iceland from the end of August to mid- April. Enjoy the clear skies by simply looking upwards towards those dancing, flickering veils of light in green, white or red, or take a guided northern lights tour to excellent observation and photography locations. These tours can include a visit to geothermal bathing areas, evening boat tours, snow cat tours or sightseeing in unique locations. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights are 66% during a three nights stay in North Iceland, and 90% for a five nights stay.
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights – also called Aurora Borealis – are among the most spectacular shows on earth, frequently seen in North Iceland and its surroundings on clear and crisp nights. The Northern Lights occur high above the surface of the earth where the atmosphere has become extremely thin, at an altitude of 100-250 km. This phenomenon occurs in the outermost layer of the atmosphere, created by electrically charged particles that make the thin air shine, not unlike a fluorescent light. The Northern Lights can be seen in aurora belts that form 20-25 degrees around the geomagnetic poles, both in the north and the south.
What causes this spectacular phenomenon, so characteristic of our Northern Lights here in Iceland? Well, electricity is the answer — and of course it all goes back to the sun. Tiny particles, protons and electrons caused by electronic storms on the sun (solar wind) are trapped in the earth’s magnetic field where they begin to spiral back and forth along the magnetic lines of force – circle around the magnetic pole, so to speak. While rushing around endlessly in their magnetic trap, some particles escape into the earth’s atmosphere where they begin to hit molecules and these impacts cause the molecules to glow, thus creating the auroras.
White and green are usually the dominant hues but sometimes there are considerable colour variations, as the pressure and composition of the atmosphere varies at different altitudes. At extremely high altitudes where the pressure is low, there tends to be a reddish glow produced by oxygen molecules when they are struck by the tiny particles of the solar wind. At lower altitudes, where there is higher pressure, the impact-irritated oxygen molecules may glow with a greenish tinge and sometimes there is a reddish lower border created by particles colliding with nitrogen molecules in the immediate vicinity.
The phenomenon is easily explained by modern science. What our ancestors may have thought when they gazed into the brightly-lit winter sky is quite another matter. But by all means don’t let any scientific explanation spoil your appreciation of the beauty of the Northern Lights. They are a truly impressive spectacle, whatever their cause.
Five tips on how to prepare for the Northern Lights
Travelling to Iceland to see the Northern Lights? Excellent choice! Iceland is one of the best places in the world to witness this natural wonder. Here are five important tips to keep in mind to make the most of your Northern Lights adventure.
1. Dress warmly and be patient - Sometimes you have to wait for the Northern Lights to appear in the sky. Autumn, winter and spring nights can get cold!
2. Keep an eye on the cloud cover forecast - To see aurora, we need darkness and clear or partly clear sky. The sky doesn’t need to be perfect but be sufficiently dark. Aurora season is from late-August until late-April.
3. Be outside at the right time - Aurora is on average most frequently in the Icelandic sky around 11 pm. So make sure you are outside from roughly 10 pm to 01 am at least.
4. Don’t rely on the Kp-index - One of the biggest mistakes people make when chasing Northern Lights is relying too heavily on the Kp-index. It doesn’t predict how bright and intense the aurora will become.
5. Keep an eye on the real time space weather data - Instead of the Kp-index, one of the most important number to watch is called the Bz value. Simplified, when Bz is negative or south, aurora is on. When positive or north, aurora is weak or even off. The lower the number, the more chance of seeing beautiful northern lights.
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Chase the Northern Lights in North Iceland
Have you ever looked up on a cold winter night and wished the sky would put on a show just for you? Up here in North Iceland, the aurora borealis tends to do exactly that. With clear skies, wide-open landscapes and minimal light pollution, it’s one of the most magical spots in the country to witness those shimmering curtains of green, pink and violet.
Why here?
From late August to mid-April, the long nights and crisp air give you a solid chance of seeing the lights. What makes North Iceland special is the silence, the space and the fact that you’re not fighting city-lights. One moment you might be standing by fjords, the next under a sky so dark you can see the Milky Way beside the aurora. 
Let someone who knows take you there
You absolutely can head out on your own if you’re self-driving and comfortable reading forecasts and weather. But the best experience often comes when you join a local tour — they know where to go, when the sky clears and how to make the evening feel comfortable (warm boots + hot drink = happy you).
Handy tips for your night out
Dress really warm—thermals, windproof outer layer, gloves and warm boots will keep you comfortable.
Check local aurora & cloud forecasts beforehand. Clear skies = big difference.
Bring a tripod & set your camera to manual if you want great photos (wide lens, high ISO, long shutter).
Go early in your trip if you can—if the lights aren’t strong one night you might get a second chance.
And most importantly: enjoy the moment. Even if the aurora stays faint, standing in silence under a dark winter sky is its own reward.
In short
If you’re planning a trip to see the northern lights, North Iceland offers one of the best backdrops. Pick a night, pick a guide, bundle up…and watch the sky dance.
