Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

Two Iceland classics, one long day. The Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik pairs a relaxing geothermal soak with an evening search for the aurora. I like the included Blue Lagoon Comfort Package, which covers entry, a towel, a silica mud mask, and one drink. I also like that a local guide leads the Northern Lights outing, with round-trip transport from Reykjavik included.

The main catch is that this is not one continuous guided tour. You visit the Blue Lagoon, return to Reykjavik, then join the Northern Lights trip later. That break can be useful, but poor communication about the change of buses and the waiting time has left some people frustrated. At about $315 per person, you are paying for convenience and two major Iceland experiences, not for a meal or a guaranteed aurora.

Key points before you book

• Four hours at the Blue Lagoon: Your Comfort Package includes admission, a towel, a silica mud mask, and a drink.
• The day is split into two outings: After the lagoon, you return to Reykjavik before setting out again for the Northern Lights.
• The aurora is never guaranteed: Cloud cover and weather can cancel the view, even when the tour runs as planned.
• BSÍ is the main meeting point: The bus terminal is at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, and you should arrive 30 minutes before departure.
• Transport is a major part of the value: WiFi on board and return transfers are included, but food and extra drinks are not.
• Plan for a late night: One disappointing experience ended around 3 a.m., so do not schedule an early flight or demanding activity the next morning.

What this Iceland combination actually includes

This package brings together two very different outings. The first is a planned visit to the Blue Lagoon, with about four hours set aside for the spa. The second is a guided Northern Lights trip, usually held later in the evening when darkness gives you a chance of seeing the aurora.

That distinction matters. You are not being guided around the Blue Lagoon by the same person who leads the evening aurora search. The lagoon visit is largely self-directed, while the Northern Lights portion is the guided part of the experience.

I like this setup for visitors with limited time in Reykjavik. You can cover one of Iceland’s best-known bathing spots and make an organized attempt to see the aurora without arranging separate buses, tickets, and excursions yourself. The tradeoff is a less compact day, with a return to the city between the two activities.

The experience lasts about eight hours, but the exact rhythm can depend on departure times, transfer arrangements, and conditions for the evening outing. Allow extra patience for the transport side of the day. A few people found the changeover confusing, particularly when returning from the lagoon and waiting for the correct bus or hotel drop-off.

Four hours at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the calmer half of the experience. You receive the Comfort admission ticket, then have roughly four hours to use the bathing area and enjoy the included extras.

Your package includes:

• Admission to the Blue Lagoon
• A towel
• One silica mud mask
• One drink of your choice
• Return transport from Reykjavik

The silica mask and drink give the basic entry ticket a little more value. You do not need to pay separately for those items, though food is not included. If you expect to spend the entire four hours at the site, budget separately for anything you want to eat or any additional drinks.

The setting can feel especially memorable in cold or wet weather. One account describes rain and snow, outside temperatures around freezing, and a very cold head while moving through the outdoor water. That is a useful warning rather than a reason to skip it. The water may feel pleasant once you settle in, but getting in, getting out, or standing with your head above the water can be chilly.

I would bring a warm hat and keep your towel close. The supplied towel is included for use at the lagoon, but you should not assume that it will solve every cold-weather problem. If you dislike cold air, summer may be more comfortable. One person found the experience enjoyable but thought it would be even better in warmer weather.

The Blue Lagoon itself received the strongest praise in the available feedback. It was described as beautiful, peaceful, and spectacular. That tells you where much of the tour’s emotional payoff comes from. Even if the Northern Lights fail to appear, the lagoon can still provide a satisfying Iceland experience.

The staff experience has been less consistent. Some people found the arrival process friendly and reassuring, while another felt that staff gave too many orders. Your impression may depend on crowd levels and the pace of entry. Follow the facility instructions, but expect the lagoon to operate as a busy, organized attraction rather than a quiet private pool.

Why the Northern Lights portion is a gamble

The evening outing is guided and designed to improve your chances of seeing the aurora. That is helpful because the guide can take you out in search of suitable conditions instead of leaving you to guess where to go from Reykjavik.

Still, no tour can promise Northern Lights. Cloud cover ruined the view for several people, and that was correctly recognized as a problem caused by nature rather than by the operator. The tour can be well organized and the guide can do everything right, yet the sky may remain cloudy.

One highly positive account praised the reliability of the bus pickup and the Northern Lights guide. Another described the guide as good and amusing. Those comments suggest that the evening portion can be engaging even when the sky does not cooperate, but you should book it for a reasonable chance, not a certain sighting.

The length of the night deserves attention. One unhappy participant did not reach bed until about 3 a.m. The late finish may be tied to the search conditions and routing, but the practical point is simple: this can be a very late activity. I would avoid pairing it with an early airport transfer, a morning flight, or a major day tour the following day.

If the Northern Lights do not appear, the value calculation changes. You still receive the Blue Lagoon visit and transport, but a large part of the package has not delivered its hoped-for highlight. Check the operator’s policy before departure if the weather cancels the Northern Lights outing. The stated policy says you will be offered another date or a full refund when poor weather causes cancellation.

The return to Reykjavik is the part to understand

The most important planning detail is also the easiest to miss: you return to Reykjavik after the Blue Lagoon before continuing with the Northern Lights trip.

That can create a long gap between activities. You may need to get off one bus, wait, find the next departure, and follow a different transfer arrangement. Some bookings may include pickup at a designated location, but the stated starting and ending point is BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik. Your confirmation should be treated as the final word on where you need to wait.

Arrive at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure. Vehicles are marked with the Reykjavik Excursions logo, which should make the initial meeting easier. The tour includes WiFi on board, a small but useful feature during the transfers.

Drop-off deserves extra care. A confusing return from the Blue Lagoon led one person to take a bus to the terminal, then wait about an hour for another bus that could take them to their hotel. If you are staying outside the immediate city center, ask exactly where each leg ends before you set out.

I would save the operator’s contact details, read every pickup instruction, and avoid assuming that a hotel pickup automatically means a hotel drop-off after every section. The experience provider is Reykjavik Excursions, but the combo arrangement can still involve separate vehicles and schedules.

Is $315 a fair price?

At $315 per person, this is not a bargain spa visit. The price makes more sense if you want both experiences and value an organized transfer over building the day yourself.

You receive Blue Lagoon entry, the Comfort extras, return transport, an evening guided outing, and onboard WiFi. You also avoid the trouble of arranging two separate excursions in a country where transport connections can take time and planning.

The value is weaker if you only care about the lagoon. You might find the price hard to justify for four hours in the water, particularly since lunch and other food are not included. It is also weaker if you require a guaranteed aurora, since the Northern Lights depend on weather and cloud cover.

The package suits you best when:

• You have a short stay in Reykjavik.
• You want the two headline experiences in one booking.
• You prefer organized transport.
• You are comfortable with a late evening.
• You accept that the aurora may not appear.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed spa day with no schedule changes, dislike bus transfers, or have an early departure the next morning. A separate Blue Lagoon visit would give you more control over timing, while a separate Northern Lights trip might make the evening arrangement easier to understand.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend this combination to a first-time Iceland visitor who wants to cover familiar highlights without renting a car or arranging every transfer. The lagoon is simple to enjoy on your own, and the guided aurora search gives you a better organized attempt than staying in Reykjavik and hoping to spot lights from the city.

Couples and friends may like the contrast between warm water during the day and a dark-sky search at night. Solo visitors can also benefit from the included transport and guide support, though one account felt the price did not match the value and wished lunch had been included.

Families should note that children aged five and younger are not permitted. Most other participants can take part, and the maximum group size is listed as 100 people. That is a sizeable possible group, so you should not expect a small, private outing.

The tour is also carbon neutral through cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. That will not change the schedule or the weather, but it may matter to you when comparing organized excursions.

How to make the day run better

Read the pickup details twice. The official meeting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal, but pickup is offered, and your booking may assign a different location. Be there 30 minutes early and look for the Reykjavik Excursions logo.

Bring food or plan money for it. Food and drinks beyond the included lagoon beverage are not part of the package, and the long day can make that omission noticeable.

Dress for a cold evening even if the Blue Lagoon is warm. The Northern Lights outing takes place outdoors, and cloudy weather can mean standing around while conditions are checked. The supplied towel is for the lagoon, not a substitute for proper outdoor clothing.

Keep the middle of the day flexible. Because you return to Reykjavik before the Northern Lights portion, do not arrange another activity that depends on a precise connection. This is especially important if you book more than one excursion during a short stay.

Finally, keep your expectations honest. The Blue Lagoon is the dependable part. The aurora is the bonus that may turn a good day into a remarkable one, but it cannot be ordered like a drink at the swim-up bar.

Cancellation and weather details

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. That policy addresses weather cancellations, but it does not make a cloudy operating night a guaranteed refund situation, so clarify the terms if the aurora is your main reason for booking.

Should you book the Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour?

Book it if you want convenience, have limited time, and regard the Blue Lagoon as the main event with the Northern Lights as an exciting possibility. The included Comfort Package, transfers, and guided evening search make the $315 price defensible for someone who wants both experiences handled in one purchase.

Think twice if you need clear door-to-door logistics, cannot tolerate a late night, or expect lunch and a guaranteed aurora for that price. Confirm your pickup point, understand the return to Reykjavik between outings, and leave the next morning free.

My practical verdict: a strong choice for first-time visitors who accept uncertainty, but not the best fit for anyone seeking a quiet, simple spa day or a sure Northern Lights sighting.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavik, at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavik. Your booking may designate a different pickup location, so check the pickup details carefully.

How early should I arrive?

You should be at your designated pickup point 30 minutes before departure.

What is included at the Blue Lagoon?

The Comfort Package includes admission, a silica mud mask, use of a towel, and a drink of your choice.

Is food included?

No. Food and additional drinks are not included in the tour price.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights depend on weather and cloud conditions, so the tour can operate without producing a sighting.

Do I stay at the Blue Lagoon until the Northern Lights tour?

No. After the Blue Lagoon visit, you return to Reykjavik before continuing with the Northern Lights outing.

Are children allowed?

Children aged five years and younger are not permitted on this tour.

What happens if poor weather cancels the experience?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.