Unpredictable and awe-inspiringly beautiful, the Northern Lights are nature’s most dazzling display.
Our Northern Lights trips take you to some of the world’s best locations for witnessing this spectacular event. Whether it’s heading to Iceland’s remote Lake Myvatn, cruising among Greenland’s glaciers, watching the lights dance across the Canadian Rockies or traveling by dogsled into Finland’s northern wilds, Northern Lights tours with Intrepid give you the best seats in the house for one of this galaxy’s most stunning natural performances.
The Northern Lights or “Aurora Borealis” is a phenomenon that draws travellers to the windswept wilds of the some of the northernmost places on the planet. Those lucky enough to witness Mother Nature’s light show are in for a uniquely breathtaking experience. Best seen as high latitudes when the sky is dark and clear, the Northern Lights will wow even the most seasoned adventurers.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to
share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that
include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip
or reveal personal details.
Filter by rating
Northern Lights Escape
Ric · Traveled March 2024
Our Iceland trip with Stefan exceeded all of our expectations--and we went in with very high expectations. Everything was well organized and well executed. The scenery is beyond description. But what really makes a trip successful is the people. Our tour guide, Stefan, was exceptional and the others in our tour group were fun and considerate. The trip could not have been better. The Northern Lights were our primary reason for the trip. We saw the lights and so much more. On a scale of 1-5, I give this trip and our guide Stefan a 10.
Review submitted 12 Mar 2024
Northern Lights Escape
Carole · Traveled March 2024
The March Northern Lights Tour did not disappoint. From seeing the Northern Lights on the first night out, to beautiful ice rocks at Diamond Beach, the black sand of Black Sand Beach, stunning waterfalls, hiking an ice cave, and so much more, this was a wonderful tour of the Southern area of Iceland. I would highly recommend using Intrepid for tours. The small group number made it much more enjoyable. I only wish Stefan could be the tour guide on all your tours. He was knowledgeable, organized, accessible and just plain fun to hang out with.
Review submitted 10 Mar 2024
Northern Lights Escape
Georgina · Traveled March 2024
The trip overall was excellent, Margret was fantastic - great local knowledge, very entertaining and made the trip so enjoyable. We were able to see the main highlights of Iceland in a relatively short time without feeling rushed. Hiking into a glacier cave, visiting beautiful waterfalls and staying in locally run guesthouses made this trip very special.
Review submitted 09 Mar 2024
Northern Lights Escape
ANNETTE · Traveled March 2024
This trip was absolutely incredible! Our tour guide Margret was the best - she was so knowledgeable about the country and its history, and her pleasant and witty personality made the trip even more enjoyable. The transport was perfect with USB charging facilities and wifi.
We saw so much of Iceland, from the stunning waterfalls to the impressive geysers and the highlight of the trip - a glacier hike. There was never a dull moment and we always had plenty of opportunities to stop for snacks and drinks. The accommodation we stayed in was perfect, and we were even lucky enough to see the northern lights.
This was my first solo traveling tour, the entire experience was seamless and stress-free, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the beauty of Iceland. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure. Thank you, Intrepid, for an amazing experience!
Review submitted 08 Mar 2024
Northern Lights Escape
Joanne · Traveled March 2024
Our tour guide Margret really made this trip special with her great organising and good sense of humour. Trip highlights included ice cave, glacier walk and glacier lagoon as well as countless waterfalls and beaches along the way. We were also fortunate to see the Northern Lights multiple times.
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
The Northern Lights are at their peak from late September to late March.
The best places to see the Northern Lights are all located in the “Auroral zone” – an area that stretches around the Northern Hemisphere at a latitude of about 66 to 69 degrees north – including parts of:
The Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with elements in our atmosphere (such as nitrogen and oxygen), creating brightly colored dancing displays of light.
While Northern Light displays can never be guaranteed, as they are a natural phenomenon, our local leaders do their best to ensure you get to see nature’s greatest spectacle.
Yes, the Northern Lights can be predicted to some extent.
The activity level of the Northern Lights depends on many things (of which some are predictable and some are somewhat random), including sunspots, coronal holes, solar flares and geomagnetic activity.
If you’re not an astronomer, your best bet is to check the local Aurora forecast – a KP-index number of 3 or higher means you have a good chance of seeing the Lights.
Yes, you can see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. Humans can most easily see the green and white of the lights at night. A camera, however, does not have the same limitations as the human eye, so the colors may appear brighter and more brilliant in photos.
Of course! There is no magic recipe for capturing the Northern Lights. Still, you’ll want to set your camera on a tripod and ensure it has a manual mode functionality, so you can adjust the aperture and shutter speed to capture the spectacular display best.
We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations.
We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.