Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

The best part of this combo is the contrast: warm, milky-blue geothermal water by day, then a chilly search for green lights after dark. I like the four-hour Blue Lagoon visit, which leaves time to soak at your own pace, and the included return transfers, mask, towel, and drink, which simplify the spa portion.

One catch: this is not one continuous excursion. You return to Reykjavik after the lagoon and join a separate evening tour, so the handoff and any wait between trips matter. And the aurora is never promised; clouds can spoil the show.

Key points before you book

• The Blue Lagoon gets about four hours, with Comfort admission, a silica mud mask, towel, and one drink included.
• The combo has two parts: a Blue Lagoon transfer and visit, followed by a return to Reykjavik and a separate guided northern lights outing.
• The northern lights depend on the sky. The guide can help you search, but clouds and other conditions can prevent a sighting.
• Transfers are included, but pickup details deserve a close read. Be at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure.
• At $315 per person, the value depends on using both parts. Food is extra, and a no-show from the aurora could leave the day feeling expensive.
• The experience runs in English, with a maximum group size of 100. Children five and younger are not permitted.

Two Iceland classics, with a pause in between

This package joins two very different Iceland experiences: a long, restful visit to the Blue Lagoon and a guided evening search for the northern lights. It can be a sensible choice if you have limited time in Reykjavik and want transport and admission arranged for both.

But plan for a split day, not a single tour that carries you from the lagoon straight into the aurora hunt. After the Blue Lagoon, you return to Reykjavik. The northern lights excursion takes place later, so you may need to wait in town before heading out again. That gap can be useful if you want a meal or a rest, but it can also feel like lost time on a short trip.

The full experience is listed at about eight hours. The Blue Lagoon portion alone takes four hours, and the evening outing may run late. One account described getting back around 3 a.m., so don’t plan an early start the next morning unless you are comfortable with a short night.

Four hours to enjoy the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the part of this package with the clearest schedule and inclusions. Comfort admission covers entry, a silica mud mask, towel use, and one drink of your choice. The transfer from Reykjavik and return ride are included as well.

Four hours gives you room to take the visit slowly. The lagoon is outdoors, and Iceland’s weather is part of the experience. In cold or wet conditions, the contrast between the air and the water can be striking. You may find that you prefer shorter dips and a warm-up indoors rather than staying in the water the whole time.

A useful practical detail: the Blue Lagoon stop is not presented as a guided sightseeing visit. You are there to enjoy the facilities on your own, while the local expert guide leads the northern lights portion. If you expect a guide to accompany you through the lagoon, adjust that expectation before booking.

The included drink and mask add a little value, but they do not turn the admission into an all-inclusive spa day. Food and other drinks are not included. If you expect to want a meal, bring money for it and allow for the fact that this is a long day with two separate outings.

The Blue Lagoon receives the strongest praise in accounts of this tour. Its warm water and dramatic setting are the reason many people would be glad they came, even if the aurora never appears. Still, it is a popular attraction, not a quiet, remote bathing spot. Go for the geothermal experience and the chance to relax, rather than expecting solitude.

The return to Reykjavik is part of the plan

The main logistical point is the transfer between the two activities. After your Blue Lagoon visit, you return to Reykjavik, then take part in the evening northern lights trip. That structure is easy to miss if you read combo as one uninterrupted day out.

Pickup is offered, and the listed starting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10 in Reykjavik. Be at your designated pickup location 30 minutes before departure. Vehicles carry the Reykjavik Excursions logo, which helps you identify the right bus.

Do not assume that hotel pickup and drop-off work the same way for every leg. Pickup and drop-off arrangements have caused confusion, including waits for a bus that continues beyond the terminal to a hotel. Check the instructions for your exact pickup point and each transfer before travel. If you are unsure where to go after the Blue Lagoon or how you will get back to your accommodation, ask the operator before departure rather than trying to sort it out late at night.

WiFi is available on board, a small comfort during the rides. The tour also describes itself as carbon neutral in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. That is a useful detail for people weighing transport choices, though it does not change the basic fact that the day involves multiple bus journeys.

The northern lights are a search, not a show

The evening outing is the more uncertain half of the package. A local expert guide leads the search and the tour is designed to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora. That means you have someone directing the outing, but it does not mean the lights will appear on cue.

Cloud cover is a recurring risk. A clear forecast is not something this package can guarantee, and even a well-run trip can end without a sighting. Treat the aurora as a possible bonus, not a promised part of the price. If seeing the lights is your main goal, think about how much flexibility you have to try again on another night.

The late finish also deserves attention. Depending on how the evening unfolds, you may get back very late. That can be tiring, particularly after four hours at the lagoon and a wait in Reykjavik. Keep the next morning free if you can, and bring warm clothing for standing outside while the guide searches.

The tour is conducted in English. No individual guide names are provided, so you cannot select a particular guide in advance. A good guide can make the search more enjoyable with clear direction and a sense of humor, but the sky remains the final authority.

Is $315 good value?

At $315 per person, this is a substantial outlay. The price buys Comfort admission to the Blue Lagoon, the mask, towel, one drink, return transfers for the lagoon, and a guided northern lights outing. It also saves you from arranging each component separately.

The value is strongest if you want both experiences and would otherwise pay for transport and admission on your own. The Blue Lagoon takes up a generous four-hour block, and you get a guided evening search rather than simply hoping to spot lights from the city. WiFi on the bus and the stated carbon-neutral cooperation are additional features, though they may not be deciding factors for everyone.

It is weaker value if you only want the Blue Lagoon, already have transport, or are counting on a successful aurora sighting to justify the cost. Food is not included, and the wait between outings may add inconvenience rather than value. One person may find the price fair for a packed day; another may wish lunch or a more seamless schedule were part of the package.

The overall rating is 4.3 out of 5 from 45 ratings. That gives a useful snapshot, but the individual experience hinges on two things no package can fully control: clear transfer instructions and favorable weather. Be sure you are happy with the itinerary even if the aurora does not show.

Who will enjoy this combination?

I would consider this for a first Iceland visit when you want two headline experiences and have only one open day. It suits people who are comfortable with a long outing, do not mind a late return, and can accept that the northern lights are uncertain.

It is less suitable if you have a tight evening schedule, need a guaranteed hotel drop-off at a precise time, or want a guided tour throughout the Blue Lagoon. It is also not available to children aged five and younger. The maximum group size is 100, so expect a large operation rather than a small private outing.

The booking can be canceled for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and cancellations inside it are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this if you want the Blue Lagoon and a guided aurora search in one arranged package, and you can treat the northern lights as a chance rather than a certainty. The lagoon is the dependable highlight, with four hours, a mask, towel, drink, and transport included.

Skip it if you want a smooth, continuous tour or need certainty about the aurora or your late-night drop-off. Before paying, confirm your pickup point, the return-to-Reykjavik gap, and how the final ride works for your accommodation. Those details will shape your day as much as the headline attractions.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about eight hours. The Blue Lagoon visit takes four hours, followed by a separate evening northern lights outing.

What is included at the Blue Lagoon?

Comfort admission, a silica mud mask, use of a towel, one drink of your choice, and return transfers from Reykjavik are included.

Is the northern lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The tour is intended to maximize your chances, but weather and cloud cover can prevent a sighting.

Do I stay with one tour group all day?

No. You return to Reykjavik after the Blue Lagoon and join the separate northern lights tour later.

Where does the tour start?

The listed starting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, Reykjavik. Pickup is offered, so check your designated location and arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks beyond the drink included at the Blue Lagoon are not included.

Can children join the tour?

Children aged five and younger are not permitted.