REVIEW · REYKJAVIK
Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
Book on Viator →Operated by Reykjavik Excursions · Bookable on Viator
Two Iceland classics in one day. You mix a warm, steamy soak at the Blue Lagoon with an evening plan built around the Northern Lights, all starting in Reykjavik. It’s a combo that’s designed to save you time versus booking two separate trips.
I especially like two things: the included silica mud mask plus towel and drink at Blue Lagoon, and the fact that the Northern Lights part is guided to help you chase better conditions.
One thing to keep in mind: weather controls the sky. Even with a guide, clouds can shut down aurora viewing, and the day’s transport between segments can be a little confusing if you’re expecting a perfectly smooth hotel-to-hotel flow.
In This Review
- Key things to know before you go
- A Full Day of Warm Water and Cold Skies
- Blue Lagoon Comfort Package: what you actually get
- The Blue Lagoon is not a guided walk-through
- Getting to and from Reykjavik: where logistics can make or break your day
- Northern Lights Hunt with a Local Expert Guide
- When the guide matters most
- If you’re the type who gets tired fast
- Carbon Neutral Effort: small comfort, real intention
- Price and value check: is $315 worth it?
- Group size, language, and who this suits best
- Best fits
- My practical packing list for this Blue-and-black day
- The big decision: should you book this combo?
- FAQ
- How long is the Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik?
- What is the price per person?
- Does the tour include pickup from hotels in Reykjavik?
- Where does the tour start and end?
- What is included at the Blue Lagoon?
- Are food and drinks included during the day?
- Is WiFi available during the tour?
- Is the tour guided?
- Does the tour require good weather?
- What is the cancellation policy?
Key things to know before you go

- Comfort Package extras are included: entrance, a silica mud mask, towel use, and a drink of your choice.
- Northern Lights are a guided effort: you’re not just hoping; you’re following a plan with a local expert guide.
- Transfers can feel segment-based: the day can involve returning to the Reykjavik starting area before continuing.
- You get WiFi on board: handy for maps, messaging, and uploading your lagoon photos.
- Group size is capped at 100: big enough to have energy, small enough that you’re not packed like sardines.
- Food isn’t included: you’ll want to plan a meal before or after the Blue Lagoon time.
A Full Day of Warm Water and Cold Skies
This is the kind of tour combo that makes sense for a first trip to Iceland. You’re not doing one “main event” and then killing time. You start with one of the country’s most famous warm-water experiences, then pivot into one of the most unpredictable natural shows on Earth.
The timing is built for that rhythm. You spend hours at the Blue Lagoon (enough time to shower, change, soak, and use the included mask), and then you transition to the northern lights portion later in the day. Because both halves depend on conditions—comfort depends on your prep, and aurora depends on the sky—you’ll get the best results if you approach it with a flexible mindset.
Also: it’s an 8-hour tour on average. That’s long enough to feel like a real outing, but not so long that you’re stuck in a bus all day with no payoff.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Reykjavik.
Blue Lagoon Comfort Package: what you actually get

Let’s talk about what’s genuinely included, because this part matters for value.
At the Blue Lagoon, you get the Comfort Package, which includes:
- Admission ticket to the Blue Lagoon
- A silica mud mask
- Towel use
- A drink of your choice
You also have about four hours there, which is the difference between a quick dip and a full experience. The Blue Lagoon isn’t just “stand in water and move on.” It’s a whole flow: you’ll likely shower and prep, apply the mask, soak, rinse, and then take a final loop in the milky geothermal water.
From real on-the-ground experience shared by past customers, the Blue Lagoon can feel very different depending on the weather outside. One person described being outside in near-zero temperatures with rain or snow, with their face staying colder than the body. That’s a useful reminder: the lagoon water is warm, but your extremities can still feel it, especially if it’s windy.
Practical tip: bring your most reliable outer layer for outside time. Even if you’re heading straight to the water, you’ll spend time moving between showers, changing, and the pool areas.
The Blue Lagoon is not a guided walk-through
This is important if you’re expecting a staff member to shepherd you step-by-step through the lagoon. The way this combo works is that Blue Lagoon functions like a scheduled stop where you use your included package items at your own pace. The guide focus is more clearly on the Northern Lights evening plan.
If you like freedom—wander, soak, reset, and go back when you’re ready—this setup will feel natural. If you want a guided cultural narration during the lagoon time, you might find it less satisfying.
Getting to and from Reykjavik: where logistics can make or break your day

This tour starts and ends back at the meeting point at BSÍ Bus Terminal Reykjavík (Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík). Pickup is offered, and the instruction is to show up at your pickup location 30 minutes before departure. Vehicles are marked with a Reykjavik Excursions logo.
That’s straightforward. The wrinkle is that combo tours sometimes behave like two linked tours rather than one continuous experience. One customer ran into confusion at drop-off: they were taken to a bus route that returned only to the terminal from the Blue Lagoon area, then had to wait for a later bus to reach their hotel.
What I recommend: treat the day as “pickup plus transfers between segments,” not as a promise of one smooth hotel-to-hotel hop. If you’re staying in Reykjavik, plan for possible waiting time after the Blue Lagoon, especially if your lodging isn’t directly on a main line.
If you want the easiest day:
- Arrive early for pickup
- Keep your patience for transfers
- If you’re staying outside the city center, give yourself more buffer
Also, this tour includes WiFi on board and a mobile ticket. That helps a lot when you’re checking schedules or keeping in touch with your group. Just remember: in Iceland, weather can slow everything down, even when the tour is well run.
Northern Lights Hunt with a Local Expert Guide

Now the sky part. Northern Lights are not a guaranteed product, even when you’re doing everything “right.” The value of a guided hunt is that you get:
- A plan for where and when to look
- Someone who knows how to run the night schedule
- Better coordination than DIY chaos
This combo is explicitly designed to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora through a guided evening tour. The tour is in English and runs with a local expert guide.
What you should mentally prepare for:
- You’ll likely spend real time outside looking upward
- The goal is visibility, not comfort
- Clouds can shut the whole thing down
One customer said they didn’t manage to see the lights because the weather wouldn’t cooperate. That’s not rare. It’s the nature of the North Atlantic winter vibe. The key is to decide in advance what you consider a win. If the lights happen, great. If they don’t, you still get the guided experience of searching and learning how to read conditions.
When the guide matters most
A helpful clue from reviews: people praised the Northern Lights tour guide experience—one described the guide as great, and another highlighted good organization. That tells me the evening component is where the guidance is most visible, and where you’ll feel the tour structure pay off.
If you’re the type who gets tired fast
Going to bed late can be part of the aurora game. One review complained about a late return time and feeling the schedule didn’t match expectations. While I can’t promise your exact bedtime, I’d plan for the possibility that your night runs long.
If you have early flights or tight morning commitments, choose your dates carefully. Give yourself a buffer day after the tour.
Carbon Neutral Effort: small comfort, real intention

This tour is listed as carbon neutral in cooperation with Vaxa Technologies. What that means for you in real life is mostly an extra layer of “good to know.” It won’t change the water temperature at the Blue Lagoon or the cloud cover in the sky.
But if sustainability is part of how you choose tours, this one gives you that checkmark without requiring you to go out of your way.
Price and value check: is $315 worth it?

$315 per person is not a budget price. So the only fair question is: does it buy you convenience and included value?
Here’s how this tour earns its cost:
- Blue Lagoon entrance is included (Comfort Package level)
- You also get the silica mud mask, towel use, and a drink
- Round-trip transfers from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon are included
- The Northern Lights portion includes a local expert guide
- WiFi on board and English-speaking guidance are included
What’s not included is food and drinks outside the lagoon’s included drink. That means you could still spend money on meals during the day, depending on your timing.
One review criticized the price as higher than the value received and suggested lunch should be included. I get that complaint. If you want a “no extra spending” day, you’ll need to plan for meals yourself.
My value take: this is worth it if you want the two highlights back-to-back with organized transportation and an evening plan for the Northern Lights. It’s less worth it if you’re the type who would rather book Blue Lagoon separately, then do aurora hunting on your own, or if you strongly prefer fully guided experiences at every stop.
Group size, language, and who this suits best

This tour has a maximum of 100 travelers. That’s a decent sweet spot for a combo day: you’ll have a lively group, but you’re less likely to feel like you’re on a private shuttle.
Most travelers can participate, and the tour is offered in English with a local expert guide. Mobile ticket and WiFi on board are useful features for comfort and navigation.
There’s also an age rule: children aged 5 years and younger are not permitted on this tour. That suggests this is geared toward adults and older kids who can handle longer bus time and an evening outdoors experience.
Best fits
This tour is a strong match if:
- You’re short on time in Iceland and want two headline experiences in one day
- You like structure for the Northern Lights hunt
- You value included extras at a famous attraction
My practical packing list for this Blue-and-black day

You’re mixing warm water with cold air and possibly damp conditions. Pack for the transitions.
Bring:
- Warm layers for getting to and from the Northern Lights area
- Waterproof outerwear if rain or snow is in the forecast
- A hat and gloves. Your head gets cold even when you’re in Iceland’s famous geothermal water
- Flip-flops or sandals for lagoon movement (if you prefer them)
- A small towel if you’re concerned about drying time, even though a towel is provided at the Blue Lagoon
- A charge cable or portable battery (you’ll have WiFi, but phone batteries still matter)
And one small mindset shift: the Blue Lagoon can be a lot of fun, but it’s not a spa fantasy where everything feels warm at all times. You’ll step out to shower and move around. Dress like you’ll be outside often—because you will.
The big decision: should you book this combo?
I’d book this tour if you want a well-paced “Iceland highlights” day where the Northern Lights search is guided and the Blue Lagoon includes the good stuff—mask, towel, and a drink—not just entry.
I’d hesitate if:
- You can’t handle a schedule that runs late
- You’re expecting a fully guided experience inside the Blue Lagoon itself
- You don’t like the idea that clouds can erase your aurora plans
The sky is the wildcard. If you’re going with a flexible attitude, you’ll likely feel like the day delivered even when the aurora doesn’t appear.
FAQ
How long is the Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik?
It runs for about 8 hours on average.
What is the price per person?
The price is $315.00 per person.
Does the tour include pickup from hotels in Reykjavik?
Pickup is offered. You should be at your designated pickup location 30 minutes prior to departure.
Where does the tour start and end?
It starts at BSÍ Bus Terminal Reykjavík (Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland) and ends back at the meeting point.
What is included at the Blue Lagoon?
You get a Comfort admission ticket, a silica mud mask, towel use, and a drink of your choice.
Are food and drinks included during the day?
Food and drinks are not included (the Blue Lagoon includes a drink as part of your package).
Is WiFi available during the tour?
Yes, WiFi is included on board.
Is the tour guided?
Yes. The tour includes a local expert guide, and the Northern Lights portion is part of the guided evening experience. The tour language is English.
Does the tour require good weather?
Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid will not be refunded.


























