Witness the amazing natural spectacle

Word to the wise: The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October throughout March to April, and is usually best viewed at around midnight.

Named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas, the Aurora Borelias or Northern Lights are created by the interaction between solar winds and the earth's magnetic fields. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to view this stunning phenomenon, but even in peak season, the spectacle is never guaranteed.

If conditions are favourable (ie. the skies are clear, and the Aurora activity is considerable), tours depart every night from Reykjavik at around 8pm, with most companies offering a place on the following night's tour if you don't see the lights. For the best chance, it's wise to opt for a company that uses jeeps, rather than buses, which have the capability to travel further afield to reach the best vantage point. Among the best, is SuperJeep, which has a success rate of over 80 per cent. The search could take you anywhere from a windy mountaintop to a rugged beach, and staff photographers are on-hand to take your picture with the lights, or assist you with your own camera.