Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths Adventure

Warm pools, cold lake, dark skies. This Reykjavik evening tour pairs a relaxing visit to Laugarvatn Fontana with a northern lights search, making it a useful choice if you want more than a simple coach ride into the countryside. I especially like the chance to use three warm outdoor pools beside the lake, and I like that round-trip transport, a guide, admission, and bus Wi-Fi are included.

The main catch is that aurora sightings are not guaranteed, and bad weather can cancel or limit the search. The timing also runs late, with return just after midnight, so you should be ready for a long evening. Dinner is not included, and one account praised the spa buffet, so check the food arrangements rather than assuming a meal comes with the $249 price.

Key points to know before you book

• Three interconnected pools offer different depths and temperatures, giving you room to find the setting that suits you.
• The Gufan steam cabins use steam that rises naturally from the ground beneath the spa.
• Lake Laugarvatn is part of the experience, with an optional platform access point for a very cold swim.
• The $249 price includes transport, admission, a guide, Wi-Fi, and the northern lights search, but not dinner.
• The tour lasts about seven hours, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and ending back in Reykjavik just after midnight.
• A free northern lights rebooking option is offered if you see no lights, but you must contact customer service.

A warm Icelandic evening beside Lake Laugarvatn

This experience gives you two very different versions of Iceland in one outing. First comes the comfort of hot mineral water and naturally heated steam. Later comes the open countryside and a search for the northern lights.

The spa sits on the shore of Lake Laugarvatn, east of Reykjavik. That setting matters. You are not soaking in an enclosed city pool with buildings all around you. Instead, you can look across calm water and open Icelandic scenery while moving between warm pools, steam cabins, and the changing room.

I like the way the outing uses the spa as more than a quick stop. You receive about two hours at Laugarvatn Fontana, enough time to try the different pools, spend time in the Gufan, and decide if you want to attempt the cold lake water.

The lake swim is optional, and you should treat it that way. Icelandic water can feel intensely cold, especially after time in a hot pool. The experience description presents the hot-cold change as a traditional wellness practice connected with circulation and cleansing, but you do not need to enter the lake to enjoy the visit.

Leaving Reykjavik at 6:00 p.m.

The scheduled start is 6:00 p.m. from BSÍ101 Reykjavik. Central Reykjavik or hotel pickup may also be offered, so check the exact pickup instruction attached to your booking. If you are told to meet at the central bus station, arrive with enough time to find the correct departure point.

The vehicle is described as comfortable and air-conditioned. During the ride, your guide provides live commentary about Icelandic volcanic geology and geothermal springs. That information adds some purpose to the drive, since you are crossing a country shaped by underground heat, lava, and volcanic rock.

The route heads east toward Laugarvatn. You can look out at lava-covered scenery on the way, though the views depend on the weather and the light. Since this is an evening trip, the changing sky becomes part of the outing. In summer, the midnight sun may still brighten the scene, while other conditions may give you a darker setting for the later aurora search.

The ride is not simply dead time between Reykjavik and the spa. It gives you a basic explanation of why Iceland has so many hot springs and pools. Still, the amount of commentary can depend on the guide. One highly positive account singled out the female guide and driver for making the ride especially enjoyable, while another account raised concerns about guide behavior. That contrast is worth noting: the guide can shape the tone of the entire evening.

Two hours at Laugarvatn Fontana

At Fontana, you change into your swimsuit and make your way to the outdoor bathing area. Admission is included, as is access to the wellness facilities described for the visit.

The main bathing area has three connected mineral pools. Each has a different depth and temperature, so you can move around instead of sitting in one place for the full two hours. That variety is a real advantage for a mixed group. You might want a hotter pool, while someone with you may prefer shallower or cooler water.

The pools face Lake Laugarvatn, giving you a peaceful view while you rest. The spa is especially appealing in unsettled weather. One account described how the warm water and sauna felt after facing cold air and strong wind. That is the sort of setting in which a geothermal bath makes sense: you are aware of the weather, but you have a warm place to retreat to.

The changing facilities were described as clean, though communal. If you prefer a private changing room, this may be a small point of discomfort. Bring your own swimsuit and towel if possible. Both can be rented on the spot, but bringing them avoids an extra charge and one more thing to arrange.

A practical note: the tour provides no dinner. One account praised a buffet and noted vegetarian choices, but that meal was not part of the listed package. Food arrangements can therefore be separate from the tour price. Plan ahead so you are not relying on a dinner that may not be included.

The Gufan steam cabins and the optional lake swim

The Gufan is made up of three steam cabins. Their steam rises naturally from the earth below, rather than coming only from a standard heated machine. That detail connects the spa directly to the geothermal forces that shape the region.

You can alternate between the steam cabins and the pools at your own pace. You are not following a fixed treatment schedule, and the free time lets you make the visit as active or quiet as you prefer. I see this as one of the better parts of the tour for anyone who dislikes rushed spa visits.

Then comes the more daring option: a cold swim in Lake Laugarvatn. Access is via a nearby platform. You can step into the lake after warming up in the pools or steam cabins, then return to the heat.

The lake swim is not essential, and nobody should feel pressured to do it. If you have any concern about cold water, simply enjoy the lake view and stay in the spa. The three pools and steam cabins already provide enough variety for the included visit.

From geothermal relaxation to a northern lights search

After your time at Fontana, you change back into warm clothes and meet the vehicle. The second part of the outing is a search for the northern lights, with a scenic route through southern Iceland before the return to Reykjavik.

This is where expectations need careful handling. The tour depends on weather and sightings are not guaranteed. Cloud, rain, wind, and other conditions can affect what you see and how long the search feels. One account enjoyed Fontana but did not see the lights because of rain. Another described the spa as excellent even though the lights portion did not take place in those conditions.

That is not necessarily a failure of the tour. Northern lights trips can only search for suitable conditions. But you should book this experience for the combination of spa and sky search, not as a sure way to see an aurora.

The description also includes a summer evening and the midnight sun. That makes the outing attractive for long, scenic evening light, but it may not match the expectations of someone focused only on a dark-sky aurora hunt. Ask about the operating season and expected light conditions before booking if the northern lights are your main reason for going.

If no lights appear, the operator offers a free chance to join a northern lights tour by contacting customer service. The details provided do not promise a particular date or departure, so treat this as a useful follow-up option rather than a guaranteed replacement during your same evening.

Returning to Reykjavik after midnight

The experience finishes with drop-off at the central meeting point, while hotel drop-off is also described as available. The expected return is just after midnight, though times can change.

This late finish affects who will enjoy the tour. It suits you if you want to fill an evening and are comfortable being out for roughly seven hours. It may be tiring for young children, early risers, or anyone with a morning flight the next day.

The late return does have one benefit: you are not trying to squeeze the spa into a busy daytime sightseeing schedule. You can spend the day exploring Reykjavik and use the evening for something slower. Just leave enough space in your plans for delays caused by weather or road conditions.

The group can reach a maximum of 99 people. That is a sizable coach group, so Fontana will not feel like a private bathhouse experience. Your time in the pools is free rather than guided, which helps, but transport and departure times remain shared with the whole group.

Is $249 a fair price?

At $249, this is not a cheap spa visit. You are paying for a full evening that includes bus transport from Reykjavik, a professional guide, admission to Fontana, the northern lights search, and free Wi-Fi on the bus.

The value depends on how you would otherwise arrange the evening. If you would need to book a separate ride to Laugarvatn, pay for spa admission, and arrange a second northern lights outing, combining those pieces can make the price easier to justify. The included transport also removes the need to plan the drive back after midnight.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want a soak. In that case, a shorter geothermal bath visit could be more suitable, though the details provided here do not compare prices with other spas.

Remember to add the cost of dinner, towel rental, or swimsuit rental if needed. The lack of an included meal is the clearest extra expense. The positive side is that vegetarian food was available at the buffet described in one account, but you should confirm whether food is operating and what it costs on your date.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a spa experience with scenery, rather than a simple city pool. The lake setting, geothermal steam, varied pool temperatures, and optional cold-water swim give the evening a strong sense of place.

It also suits you if you have limited time in Iceland and want to combine bathing with a countryside drive and northern lights search. One booking covers several elements, and the bus Wi-Fi helps make the longer ride more useful.

You may want another plan if your top priority is guaranteed aurora viewing. Sightings are never promised here, and weather can prevent the search. You should also think twice if you dislike communal changing facilities, large groups, or late returns.

Families can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, though the information does not provide detailed accessibility specifications. If you have mobility needs, contact the operator before booking rather than guessing how the pools, steam cabins, platform, and vehicle will work for you.

What to pack for the seven-hour outing

Bring a swimsuit and towel, plus warm clothing for the outdoor portions and the ride back. Even if you plan to stay in the pools, you will need dry clothes after the bathing session.

I would also bring a small snack or arrange dinner before departure. Since dinner is not included, you should not count on a meal during the trip. If you prefer not to pack these items, the spa can rent a swimsuit and towel on the spot.

Dress for changing conditions. The tour operates in all weather, and the northern lights portion takes place outdoors. The warm water is pleasant, but the walk between the building, pools, steam cabins, and lake platform can feel cold and windy.

Should you book the Fontana and northern lights combination?

Book it if the idea of soaking in warm geothermal water beside a lake appeals to you as much as the aurora search. The spa is the dependable part of the evening, with three pools, natural steam cabins, lake views, and time to set your own pace.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed northern lights show. Weather and sightings control that part, and the late return may be tiring. At $249, the tour makes the most sense when you value the transport, guide, admission, countryside ride, and free rebooking option together.

For many visitors, this is a good way to experience Iceland’s geothermal culture without giving up an evening to a single activity. Just pack warmly, bring food plans, and keep your expectations realistic about the sky.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is BSÍ101 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Central Reykjavik or hotel pickup may also be offered, so check your booking details for the exact pickup instruction.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 6:00 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about seven hours and is expected to return to Reykjavik just after midnight, although return times can vary.

Is admission to Laugarvatn Fontana included?

Yes. Admission to the Fontana wellness facilities is included in the tour price.

Are towels and swimsuits included?

No. You are asked to bring a swimsuit and towel. Both can also be rented at the spa.

Is dinner included?

No. Dinner is not included in the package. A buffet was available during one reported visit, but you should make your own meal arrangements.

Are northern lights sightings guaranteed?

No. The tour depends on weather, and sightings are not guaranteed. If you do not see the lights, you can contact customer service about joining a northern lights tour for free.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.