From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour

The best part of this five-hour outing is the contrast: you begin below ground in the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, then spend the rest of the night beneath the open Icelandic sky hunting for the aurora. It gives you two very different Iceland experiences in one evening.

I like the practical touches. You get a helmet with a torch, hot cocoa, chocolate, a blanket, and Wi-Fi on the minibus. I also like the free repeat Northern Lights tour if the sky stays dark, since no guide can control clouds or solar activity.

The main drawback is timing. The tour starts at 7:30 p.m. and the Northern Lights section lasts about two and a half hours, so you should eat dinner first. The cave also includes uneven ground, and the aurora is never guaranteed.

Key things to know before booking

• You walk up to 900 meters into a lava tube: The cave visit lasts about one hour and combines built paths, footbridges, and rougher sections.
• The aurora search is weather-led: Your guide chooses the driving route based on forecasts and cloud cover, possibly heading toward Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or South Iceland.
• Pickup is from approved Reykjavík points: Private apartments, Airbnb addresses, and Keflavík Airport are not included.
• The small minibus helps with flexibility: The maximum group size is 28, and a minibus can reach places larger coaches cannot.
• You get a second chance if the lights fail: A free retry applies to the Northern Lights portion when the aurora is not seen.
• The package includes useful comforts: Safety equipment, an English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, hot cocoa, chocolate, a blanket, and aurora photos are included.

Why this evening combines two very different Iceland experiences

Many Reykjavík excursions focus on one headline attraction. This one pairs a fixed geological site with a natural event that may or may not appear. That makes the evening feel varied, but it also means the two halves have different levels of certainty.

The lava tunnel is the dependable part. Raufarhólshellir is Iceland’s fourth-longest lava tube, and you can walk as far as 900 meters, or 2,952 feet, underground. The route is not simply a dark hole in the ground. It includes prepared flooring and footbridges, mixed with natural, uneven sections that keep the walk from feeling too polished.

The Northern Lights hunt is the hopeful part. Your guide checks conditions and chooses where to go rather than following one rigid route. That flexibility matters in Iceland, where clouds can cover one area while the sky is clearer a short drive away.

Still, a flexible route is not a promise. The aurora depends on darkness, weather, and solar activity. If the lights do not appear, you have still had a full lava cave visit, and you can use the free repeat opportunity for the Northern Lights section.

Leaving Reykjavík at 7:30 p.m.

Pickup is offered from authorized points around Reykjavík. The list includes central stops such as City Hall, Miðbakki, the Culture House, Hallgrímskirkja Church, and the BSÍ Bus Terminal, along with hotels and transport points in other parts of the city.

You need to be waiting at your selected point from the beginning of the pickup window. The company says the minibus may take up to 30 minutes to reach a pickup location, so patience helps. It is also important to check the pickup list before booking, since private apartments, Airbnb apartments, and Keflavík Airport are not served.

The ride to the lava tunnel takes about 45 minutes. The minibus has Wi-Fi, which is a small but useful touch. You can check the forecast, message home, or simply settle in for the drive without using your own mobile data.

The group can include up to 28 people. That is not an intimate private tour, but it is smaller and more adaptable than a large coach. The minibus format also helps later, when the guide is looking for a darker or clearer spot for the aurora.

Entering Raufarhólshellir with a helmet and torch

At the cave, you meet a certified caving guide, receive the necessary safety equipment, and get a short briefing. The helmet includes a torch, which is essential because the cave is dark even though parts of the route are prepared for visitors.

The walk lasts about an hour. You follow a mixture of constructed paths, footbridges, and natural ground. This makes the cave accessible to most people who are comfortable walking, but it is not a smooth indoor attraction. Expect some uneven terrain, and be cautious if you are uncomfortable on rough surfaces.

The lava formations are the reason to take this outing even if the Northern Lights forecast looks poor. Volcanic forces created layers and textures in the walls, with colors that can appear emerald green, fiery red, turquoise, and lilac under the cave lighting. Your guide explains how the tunnel formed and points out details that are easy to miss in the dark.

The underground setting also changes the feel of the evening. You are not merely stopping at a viewpoint, taking a quick photo, and leaving. You spend enough time walking through the tube to notice how the ceiling, walls, and floor change along the route.

One useful detail is that toilets are available at the start of the lava tunnel, and the route returns to that same area. Plan accordingly, especially since the next part of the evening can involve waiting outdoors.

From volcanic rock to open sky

After the cave, you return to the minibus for the Northern Lights search. This portion lasts about two and a half hours, including driving, stops, waiting, and watching the sky.

The route is not fixed. Depending on the forecast, your guide may head toward Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or another part of South Iceland. The goal is to leave Reykjavík’s city lights and find darker conditions.

This is where the guide’s judgment matters most. The Northern Lights can be faint, brief, or hidden by cloud. A good guide does not simply park at one location and hope for the best. The tour information says the route follows current forecasts, and the minibus allows the group to use smaller roads and less crowded stopping points.

On some departures, guides have made several attempts to locate the aurora. One guide, Nicolas, was praised for helping with photographs when the lights appeared. Another guide, Gretta, was singled out for making the evening enjoyable. Guide assignments can change, but the experience depends heavily on the person reading the conditions and managing the group.

If the aurora appears, your guide takes photographs of you with the lights. The photos are provided digitally, and one account says they arrived the following day. You should still bring your own phone or camera if you want additional pictures, but the included photo service removes some pressure from the moment.

Hot cocoa, blankets, and the reality of waiting outside

Northern Lights tours involve waiting. Even when the forecast is promising, you may spend time standing outside and looking up before anything happens. Icelandic wind and cold can make that part less pleasant than the photos suggest.

This tour includes hot Icelandic cocoa, chocolate, and a blanket. Those extras are not just decoration. They make a real difference when you are standing in the dark, especially after leaving the warmth of the minibus.

You should dress for an outdoor night, not simply for a bus ride. The supplied information does not list a full clothing package, so bring warm layers and clothing suitable for changing conditions. The blanket and cocoa help, but they do not replace proper outdoor clothing.

If the sky remains empty, the free retry is the most important safety net in the booking. It applies to the Northern Lights part, not as a replacement for the lava tunnel. Check the exact rescheduling details with the provider when you finish the tour, since one account found that the retry arrangements were not clearly explained at first.

What the $195.19 price buys you

At $195.19 per person, this is not a cheap evening activity. The price makes more sense if you want both a guided lava cave visit and an organized Northern Lights search, rather than paying separately for transport and two different outings.

You are paying for roughly five hours of transport, a certified caving guide, an English-speaking Northern Lights guide, safety equipment, Wi-Fi, hot cocoa, chocolate, a blanket, and Northern Lights photos. The free retry also gives the price more protection when the aurora fails to appear.

The value is strongest for a short Reykjavík stay. You can cover a major geological attraction and make an aurora attempt without arranging a rental car or learning Icelandic winter roads. The minibus also offers more route flexibility than a large coach.

The value is weaker if you only want a guaranteed cave visit. In that case, the Northern Lights portion takes up much of the evening while offering no certainty. It is also less appealing if you have already booked several aurora tours and want to avoid repeating the same weather gamble.

I would see the price as reasonable for a combined evening, provided you accept that the Northern Lights are a possibility, not a product that can be delivered on demand.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend it to anyone who wants variety and has only one or two evenings in Reykjavík. Families with older children can enjoy the cave, and a 15-year-old was reported to have had a good time. The walk is described as easy to moderate, but every participant should be steady and confident on uneven ground.

It also suits solo visitors. The group format provides company, and the guide is expected to keep an eye on people during the cave walk and at outdoor stops. That is useful when the group is spread out in low light.

You should think twice if you dislike rough flooring, darkness, or standing outside in cold weather. The cave is not described as especially slippery by every participant, but some areas can be uneven and at least one person found parts of it slippery. Good footwear is sensible.

This is also a poor fit if you need dinner during the evening. Snacks and dinner are not included, and the instructions specifically say to eat before joining.

Pickup, timing, and small practical details

The full outing takes about five hours, including the drive back to Reykjavík. After the aurora search, you are dropped at your selected Reykjavík location.

The listed start time is 7:30 p.m., but pickup can take time across the city. Do not schedule a tight restaurant booking or another evening activity immediately afterward. The return time depends partly on the Northern Lights search and driving route.

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the experience is offered in English. Most people can take part, but the uneven cave floor is the key physical consideration. The maximum group size is 28.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient number of bookings forces the company to cancel, you are offered another date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book this Reykjavík lava tunnel and aurora tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized evening with two strong possibilities: a guaranteed cave visit and a serious attempt to find the Northern Lights. The tunnel gives the tour a solid backbone, while the flexible route, small minibus, included photos, and free retry improve the odds and the overall value.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed aurora display. No tour company can promise that. Book it because the underground portion is worthwhile on its own, then treat the Northern Lights as the thrilling extra.

Before paying, confirm that your hotel is near an approved pickup point, eat dinner first, and plan for uneven ground and cold outdoor waits. If those details suit you, this is a practical way to combine Iceland’s volcanic past with its night sky in one evening.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m. Pickup is offered from authorized points around Reykjavík.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is available from many approved Reykjavík hotels and bus stops. Pickup is not available from private apartments, Airbnb apartments, or Keflavík Airport.

How long does the entire experience last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours, including pickup, the lava tunnel visit, the Northern Lights search, and drop-off in Reykjavík.

How long do you spend inside the lava tunnel?

The guided visit inside Raufarhólshellir lasts about one hour. You can go as far as 900 meters into the lava tube.

Is the lava tunnel suitable for everyone?

Most people can participate, but parts of the route have uneven terrain. You should be comfortable walking on rough surfaces and in dark conditions.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You receive a free retry for the Northern Lights portion if the aurora is not seen during the tour. Poor weather can also lead to a different date or a full refund if the company cancels the experience.

Is food included?

Dinner and snacks are not included. You should eat before the tour, though Icelandic hot cocoa and chocolate are provided during the evening.