FAQ

1) What are northern lights?

In short, aurora are created by the collision of electrons originating from the sun with different gases in the atmosphere of the earth. This collision causes light to be released which we then see as flickering light curtains.

2) Why is Iceland the perfect spot to see them?

Iceland is located at the so called Aurora Oval which is the area of high aurora activity and Iceland enjoys a much milder climate than most other places with similar visibility of northern lights.

3) Where in Iceland is the perfect spot to see northern lights?

This depends highly on the current weather conditions. In general northern lights are better visible when one escapes the light pollution of the city.

4) How are the different colors created?

The color the northern lights display can vary, although green is by far the most common color. The color they display depends on the type of gas that is involved in the process as well as the energy level the sun particles embody. While green, yellow and red colored aurora are associated with exited oxygen, blue and purplish colors are caused by interaction with nitrogen.

5) Will the light of the moon affect the visibility of northern lights? 

In general, no it will not really have affects on  your viewing. If it is a full moon it might have an affect on the visibility, but only in the case when the Aurora is of weak nature.

Source: www.natalia-robba.com

6) Can one forecast Northern Lights ?

It takes the solar particles around 1to 2 days to make their way from the sun to earth. Forecasts going further than that are not really reliable. Short-term aurora forecasts can be found on the website of the Icelandic Met Office. However, it is important to note that this forecast is not always fully reliable.

Source: www.natalia-robba.com

7) What happens if the tour gets cancelled?

As the success of the Northern Lights Explorer tour is heavily dependent on weather conditions, we reserve the right to cancel departures up until 18:15 on the day of the tour. If the tour goes ahead and no northern lights are seen, we offer guests the chance to join another evening’s departure free of charge, which is subject to availability!

8) What happens if the tour gets ahead and no northern lights can be seen?

If the tour goes ahead and no northern lights are seen, we offer guests the chance to join another evening’s departure free of charge, which is subject to availability!

9) Are there different northern lights tours available from Reykjavík?

Arctic Adventures offers two one day trips called Northern Lights Hunt and Northern Lights Explorer

as well as a multiple day trip called Northern Lights Voyager that are available from Reykjavík.

10) Are there different northern lights tours available from Akureyri?

Arctic Adventures offers two different day trips from Akuryeri called Northern Lights Akureyri and Northern Lights and Nature Baths.