It's 10pm, you're in a field outside Reykjavík with a wool blanket over your shoulders and hot chocolate in your hand, and everyone is staring north. That's the northern lights hunt. EastWest keep it small: a minibus with no more than 19 passengers.

How this northern lights tour from Reykjavík works

The route is planned around the latest weather forecasts, and your driver-guide heads for wherever the sky looks most promising. A small group can skip the crowded spots and pull over where the view is best. The tour runs about 4 hours.

Nobody can guarantee the aurora, and EastWest don't pretend to. What they do offer: if you don't see any northern lights on your tour, you can join again another day for free, subject to their availability.

What's included

• Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries
• Professional local driver-guide
• Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
• Free photos (if conditions allow)
• Icelandic wool blankets
• Wi-Fi on board

Dietary restrictions can't be accommodated on this tour.

Good to know before you go

Pickup starts 30 minutes before the departure time, so be ready at your stop from the start of that window. City traffic rules mean buses can only stop at designated locations. If your hotel isn't on the list, or you're unsure where to wait, contact EastWest. On the day, they email in the afternoon to confirm whether the tour runs, so check your spam folder too.

The tour isn't wheelchair or stroller accessible, and infant seats aren't available. Toilets are few and far between once you leave town, so go before you board. EastWest may use photos from the tour for marketing. Let them know in advance if you'd rather not appear.

Pro tip: dress for standing still, not for walking. Thermal socks, a hat, gloves and a scarf, plus a waterproof outer layer. The blanket helps, but it can't do everything.