Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

The best of Iceland comes with a weather clause. This combo pairs a soak at the Blue Lagoon with an evening northern lights hunt, making good use of one day in Reykjavik. I like the included Comfort Package, with a silica mud mask, towel, and drink, and I also like having round-trip transport arranged. The main catch is that these are really two separate outings, with a return to Reykjavik between them, and the evening can run very late.

At $315 per person, this is a sizeable spend. It can make sense if you want convenience and have limited time, but the value depends heavily on clear transfers and favorable skies. The Blue Lagoon is dependable; the aurora is not.

Key points to know before booking

• The Blue Lagoon portion lasts about four hours: You get admission, a towel, a silica mud mask, and one drink.
• The northern lights are weather-dependent: Cloud cover can block the view, and no sighting is guaranteed.
• Plan for a break in Reykjavik: You return to the city after the lagoon before joining the evening guided aurora tour.
• Pickup instructions matter: The stated meeting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal, and you should arrive 30 minutes before departure.
• Transport has been praised, but drop-offs can confuse: A clear plan for getting back to your hotel is important.
• The day may finish very late: One experience ended close to 3 a.m., so this is not an easy outing before an early flight.

Two Iceland icons in one long day

This experience brings together two of Iceland’s most popular activities: bathing in the Blue Lagoon and searching for the northern lights. That pairing is appealing because the two experiences feel very different. One is a planned, comfortable visit with a fixed entry time. The other depends on clouds, solar activity, and the patience of your guide.

The advertised duration is about eight hours, but you should treat that as an estimate rather than a strict end time. The evening northern lights outing may involve waiting for conditions or driving farther in search of clearer skies. At least one booking ended around 3 a.m., which is a serious point to consider if you have a busy schedule the next morning.

The arrangement also deserves attention. You do not remain with one continuous group all day. You visit the Blue Lagoon, return to Reykjavik, and then continue with a separate guided northern lights tour. That setup is practical, but it needs to be understood before you pay.

Getting to the Blue Lagoon from BSÍ

The listed starting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10 in central Reykjavik. Pickup vehicles carry the Reykjavik Excursions logo, and you are asked to be at your designated pickup location 30 minutes before departure.

Some pickup arrangements may use a hotel or another approved location, but the key advice is simple: check your exact pickup instructions carefully. One of the less happy experiences came from confusing return arrangements after the lagoon. The ride to Reykjavik went to the bus terminal, followed by an extra wait for a vehicle serving the hotel.

That does not mean every transfer will be troublesome. Several parts of the transport service have been praised as reliable, and one person specifically felt at ease because the bus pickup worked well. Still, if your accommodation is not right by BSÍ, do not assume the final drop-off will be as direct as the first pickup.

WiFi is included on board, which is useful for checking messages, weather updates, or your next reservation. The group can reach up to 100 people, so this is a coach-based outing, not a small private expedition.

Four hours at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the more predictable half of the day. You receive Comfort admission, access to the bathing area, a towel, a silica mud mask, and a drink of your choice. Food is not included, so plan around the timing if you expect to be out for several hours.

The lagoon’s appeal comes from the contrast between warm water and Icelandic weather. One account describes rain and snow, near-freezing air, and a very cold head while outside. That is part of the fun, but it can also shorten your bathing time, especially if you are not prepared for the exposed outdoor sections.

The water may not feel instantly perfect. One person found it cool at first, then more comfortable after moving farther in. That is useful advice: give yourself a little time to settle rather than judging the experience in the first minute.

The included drink gives you a pleasant pause in the water, and the silica mud mask is a simple extra that makes the Comfort Package feel more worthwhile. You should expect changing and showering requirements as part of the visit. The Blue Lagoon staff may be firm about directing people through the process, which some find efficient and others find overly strict.

For me, the lagoon is the strongest part of the package because it does not depend on nature cooperating. Even on a cloudy night, you still get the warm water, the unusual setting, the mask, and the drink. A summer visit might feel easier because of milder conditions, while winter brings the dramatic sight of steam, snow, and cold air around the water.

The return to Reykjavik changes the rhythm

After the Blue Lagoon, the arrangement takes you back to Reykjavik before the northern lights outing. This break can be useful. You can warm up, eat, charge your phone, and reset before heading out again.

It can also feel inefficient. If you booked this package to fit as much as possible into a short stay, the return to the city creates a gap that may not be obvious at first glance. One person booked several activities expecting a continuous combo and was disappointed to find a return to the original starting point between them.

Food and drinks are not included in the package, so the Reykjavik break is your best chance to arrange a meal. Do not count on the tour price covering lunch or dinner. At $315, one person felt the value would have been better with a meal included. I think that reaction is understandable, especially if you are comparing this with booking the lagoon and an aurora outing separately.

The break is also why you should avoid scheduling anything tightly around this tour. The first portion may finish on time, but the evening portion is controlled by weather and the search for clear skies.

Chasing the northern lights after dark

The northern lights section is a guided evening tour designed to improve your chances of seeing the aurora. A local expert guide accompanies this part, and the guide’s job is to interpret conditions and look for a promising place to wait.

That improves the odds compared with simply walking around Reykjavik, but it cannot guarantee a display. Cloud cover stopped some outings from reaching their full potential, and that is not something a tour company can control. A clear forecast is helpful, but the aurora itself remains unpredictable.

You should book this part with the right expectation: you are paying for transport, local guidance, and a planned search, not a guaranteed show. If the sky stays cloudy, the northern lights may remain invisible despite a well-run outing. That is the central risk of the $315 price.

The guide service has received strong praise, including one account describing the guide as good and amusing. Another person found the northern lights guide excellent. Those comments matter because a long wait in the cold is easier to manage when the guide communicates well and keeps the mood up.

On the other hand, the late finish is a real concern. An evening that ends near 3 a.m. may be unavoidable when conditions are promising somewhere farther away, but it can be rough if you have an early departure, a rental car booking, or another major excursion the following morning. Ask about the expected schedule before you leave Reykjavik, but remember that the final timing may still shift.

Is $315 a fair price?

At $315 per person, you are paying for convenience more than for a bargain. The price covers the Blue Lagoon Comfort Package, return transfers for that portion, the evening guided northern lights outing, onboard WiFi, and a local expert guide. The silica mask, towel, and drink add real value to the lagoon visit.

The package works best for someone who wants one booking to handle two headline Iceland experiences. You do not need to arrange separate transport to the lagoon, and you have a guide for the aurora search. That simplicity can be worth paying for, particularly on a short stay.

The value weakens if the northern lights do not appear. The Blue Lagoon still gives you a full experience, but you may feel that half the package delivered less than promised, even though the weather was the cause. It also weakens if you expected food, a continuous tour, or a hotel-to-hotel return.

You might save money by comparing separate Blue Lagoon admission and northern lights options. However, separate bookings can create their own problems, especially around transport and timing. I would compare not only the headline prices but also what each option includes: transfers, lagoon extras, guide service, and the time needed to get between activities.

Who will enjoy this combination most

This tour suits you if you have a short Reykjavik stay and want to cover two major Iceland experiences without planning every connection yourself. It is also a good fit if you value having a guided search for the aurora rather than trying to read weather maps and choose a route alone.

The package is less suitable if you want a relaxed spa day with no late-night commitment. Four hours at the Blue Lagoon followed by a possible all-night northern lights chase is a demanding schedule.

It may also frustrate you if you expect a single continuous tour. The return to Reykjavik between the two activities is not a minor detail. Build your plans around it, and you will be less likely to feel caught off guard.

Children aged five and younger cannot join. Most other participants can take part, and the tour operates near public transportation. The maximum group size of 100 means you should expect a large coach operation rather than personal attention at every stage.

Practical ways to make the day better

Arrive at the pickup point 30 minutes early. BSÍ is the named meeting point, and a rushed start is a poor way to begin a long day.

Bring clothes that help you handle the switch from warm water to cold air. The lagoon visit includes outdoor bathing, and cold, rain, or snow can affect how long you want to stay outside. Keep your phone charged for transfer details and messages during the break in Reykjavik.

Leave space in your schedule after the tour. The stated duration is approximate, and the aurora outing can run very late. I would not pair this experience with an early-morning flight unless you are comfortable with very little sleep.

Plan to buy your own food. Since meals are excluded, use the Reykjavik return as a chance to eat before the evening tour. That simple step can make the second half of the day much more comfortable.

Finally, keep your expectations realistic about the sky. The Blue Lagoon is the reliable reward. The northern lights are the hopeful bonus, even though they are a major reason for booking.

Cancellation and weather rules

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and cancellations inside that period are not refunded.

The experience requires suitable weather. If the provider cancels because of poor conditions, you are offered another date or a full refund. This policy protects you from a weather cancellation, but it does not mean you receive a refund simply because clouds block your view of the aurora during a tour that still operates.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want the Blue Lagoon and a guided northern lights search in one organized package, and you can accept a possible return to Reykjavik between activities. The included mask, towel, drink, and transfers make the lagoon portion easy, while the guide adds useful support during the evening search.

Skip it if $315 feels high without a guaranteed aurora, if you need a fixed ending time, or if you want a small-group experience with direct hotel drop-off. For the best chance of enjoying it, treat the Blue Lagoon as the sure thing and the northern lights as nature’s extra gift.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Pickup vehicles are marked with the Reykjavik Excursions logo.

How early should I arrive?

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

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is approximately eight hours. The northern lights portion may run later depending on conditions and the search for clearer skies.

How long do you spend at the Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon portion lasts about four hours, and admission is included.

What does the Blue Lagoon Comfort Package include?

It includes Blue Lagoon admission, a silica mud mask, use of a towel, and one drink of your choice.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not generally included, although one drink at the Blue Lagoon is included with the Comfort Package.

Is a northern lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The northern lights depend on weather and sky conditions. Cloud cover can prevent a sighting.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children aged five years and younger are not permitted. Most other participants can take part.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the provider to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.