Iceland aurora tours with children
An aurora night runs long and late in the cold, and children feel it sooner than adults. Our three tours handle families differently, from a firm minimum age to a lava cave that keeps the first half of the night busy. This guide covers the limits and how to plan around them.
Age limits on our three tours
Only one listing sets a firm minimum age. The other two list none on GetYourGuide, which does not mean a toddler will be welcome, so families should ask the operator before booking a young child.
| Tour | From | Minimum age | Length | What fills the waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Viking | ~$165 | Not suitable under 7 | About 4 hours | Viking costumes for photos |
| Nordur Travel | ~$167 | None listed, ask the operator | 4 hours | Pastries, cocoa, hand warmers |
| Arctic Adventures | ~$200 | None listed, ask the operator | 4 to 5 hours | A lava cave before the hunt |
Nordur Travel's listing mentions families directly. Arctic Adventures says its tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, since the cave involves walking on uneven surfaces.
A late night for small people
Aurora tours leave in the evening and run four to five hours, so most get back after midnight. The exact start time shows when you pick a date on the listing.
For a child used to an early bedtime that is a lot. The hours are not evenly spread either. Much of the night is driving, then a long stop where everyone stands outside and waits.
Many parents find the waiting harder than the hour. Plenty of families let children nap in the afternoon and keep the next morning free, so the day after does not fall apart.
The minibus helps, because a tired child can sleep between stops in a warm seat. Bring a small pillow or a spare layer to rest on, and pack snacks of your own, since Nordur's listing says meals are not included.
Cold and standing still
Winter nights around Reykjavík often sit near freezing on the coast and drop lower inland. Wind makes it feel much colder, and children lose heat faster than adults while standing still.
Dress them in wool layers under a windproof jacket, with a hat over the ears and insulated boots with grip. Two pairs of gloves let you swap a wet pair. Our page on what to wear goes layer by layer.
Keep a spare pair of socks and mittens in a bag on the bus, since snow gets into everything once children start playing in it. A warm drink between stops helps more than one more layer.
None of our three listings mentions lending thermal suits. Nordur hands out two hand warmers per person and Arctic Adventures brings blankets, which help, but they do not replace proper clothing.
A cave for the first half of the night
Waiting for the sky is the hardest part for children. Arctic Adventures' evening, from ~$200, solves part of that by starting in the Raufarhólshellir lava tube, a tunnel formed in an eruption over 5,000 years ago.
Everyone wears a helmet and head torch, and crampons are added in winter. A certified caving guide leads the way along a walkway between walls streaked by minerals, so the evening has a sure first half even if the aurora never shows.
When the evening needs something certain
The lava tube comes first, then the aurora hunt with hot cocoa and chocolate. The free retry covers the northern lights part only. Ask about ages before booking with young children.
The trade-offs are the highest price on our list and a group of up to 28. It also has the fewest reviews, with 4.7 from 90+ on GetYourGuide. Our guide to where the tours drive has more on the cave.
Treats and costumes for the wait, plus photos
Aurora Viking, from ~$165, lends out Viking dress-up and replica weapons from a local museum so guests can pose for night portraits. For children from age 7, dressing up as a Viking under the sky turns a quiet spell into the part they remember.
All three tours serve hot chocolate. Aurora Viking adds gingerbread or biscuits, and Nordur Travel, from ~$167, brings Icelandic pastries. Small comforts like these carry a child through a long stop.
Each guide also takes photos of the guests under the lights. A family picture with the aurora behind you is hard to take yourself, as our guide to aurora photography explains.
Which tour suits which family
With children under 7, Aurora Viking is out, so the choice is between Nordur Travel and Arctic Adventures once the operator confirms the age. Nordur keeps it simpler, with one aim for the whole evening and a 4x4 minibus that heads for dark countryside.
With older children who get bored easily, the cave makes the night feel like an outing even under cloud. With teenagers keen on photos, Aurora Viking brings a dedicated photographer and holds 4.9 from 590+ reviews on Viator.
What children pay
The prices on our site are regular adult fares. Ticket types for children, if the tour offers them, show when you choose a date and check availability on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Compare the total for the whole family there, not the adult price alone. Both sites offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and our page on tour prices lists what each seat includes.
Planning the week around one clear night
The northern lights are never guaranteed, and a cloudy evening with tired children is harder than one alone. Book on your first or second night, so a free retry still fits into the trip.
The retry rules differ by operator, and our guide to cloudy nights sets them side by side. Autumn and spring bring milder evenings, which our page on the aurora months weighs against the longer winter darkness.
On an off night, a short walk to a dark spot near the city can be enough for small children. Our guide to seeing the lights on your own covers where to go.