From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour

Two Icelandic wonders, one long evening. This tour pairs a guided walk through Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel with a flexible Northern Lights chase beyond Reykjavík. I like the smart combination: the lava tunnel gives you a worthwhile experience even when clouds spoil the aurora, while the minibus, hot cocoa, blankets, Wi-Fi, and included photos make the night easier and more comfortable.

I also like the free Northern Lights retry if the sky stays dark, plus the small-group setting of up to 28 people. The main catch is simple: the aurora cannot be guaranteed, and the cave floor has uneven sections. At $195.19 per person, the price is fair if you value the cave tour, transport, guide, safety gear, and chance to see Iceland’s famous night sky in one outing.

Key points before you book

• Raufarhólshellir reaches 900 meters underground: You walk through Iceland’s fourth-longest lava tube for about an hour.
• The Northern Lights search lasts about two and a half hours: Your guide chooses the route according to the forecast and cloud cover.
• Pickup is from approved Reykjavík points: Private apartments, Airbnb addresses, and Keflavík Airport are not included.
• Warmth is part of the plan: You get Icelandic hot cocoa, chocolate, blankets, a helmet, and a torch.
• You receive aurora photos when conditions allow: Guides may photograph you beneath the lights and send the images digitally.
• The activity is easy to moderate: Built paths and footbridges help, but some cave sections are uneven and may feel slippery.

Why this unusual evening works

Most Reykjavík night tours focus only on the Northern Lights. That can leave you with a long bus ride and little to show for the evening if clouds cover the sky. This outing gives you a proper geological attraction first, then uses the remaining time to search for the aurora.

That structure is the tour’s biggest strength. Raufarhólshellir is not a quick roadside stop. You spend roughly an hour below ground with a certified caving guide, safety equipment, and explanations of how volcanic activity formed the tube. Afterward, the second half of the night remains flexible.

The tour runs for about five hours, including pickup and drop-off. It begins at 7:30 pm, though the actual return time can vary as the guide follows weather conditions and searches for clearer skies.

The experience earns a 4.8 rating from 42 published reviews, with 95 percent of customers recommending it. That is strong feedback, but you should read the numbers in context: the Northern Lights are a natural event. A good tour can improve your odds, not promise the result.

Getting picked up in Reykjavík

Pickup is offered from authorized points around Reykjavík rather than every hotel door. The list includes the BSÍ Bus Terminal, Hallgrímskirkja Church, City Hall, several hotels, hostels, and designated bus stops. If your accommodation is not on the list, you need to choose the closest approved meeting point.

This matters more than it might seem. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes to reach a particular point, so be ready at the start of the pickup window. Missing the minibus because you are still inside your hotel is an avoidable and expensive mistake.

The vehicle is a comfortable minibus with Wi-Fi. The maximum group size is 28, which is smaller and more flexible than a large coach. A minibus can also reach spots that may not suit a full-size bus during the aurora search.

The tour is offered in English. You receive confirmation when you book, and the activity requires a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low numbers cause cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Entering Raufarhólshellir after dark

The drive from Reykjavík to Raufarhólshellir takes about 45 minutes. Once you arrive, a certified caving guide provides a helmet and torch, explains the safety rules, and leads you into the tunnel.

You walk as far as 900 meters, or about 2,952 feet, into the underground passage. The route includes built paths and footbridges, but it also has natural ground. That mix keeps the visit from feeling like a museum corridor, though you should be comfortable walking over uneven surfaces.

The cave’s colors come from volcanic minerals and the effects of heat and rock over time. Expect emerald green, red, turquoise, and lilac tones on parts of the walls. Your guide explains the forces that shaped the lava tube, turning the walk into more than a dark tunnel with a few lights.

Night adds a little atmosphere without changing the practical nature of the visit. Your helmet torch lights the way, and the path is described as easy to moderate. One useful detail: the toilets are at the start of the lava tunnel, and you return to that same area after the walk. Use them before entering, since the cave portion lasts about an hour.

Some sections can be slippery or uneven. The supplied safety gear helps, but this is not the right choice if you are uncomfortable on irregular ground. Most people who can walk steadily should find it manageable, but sturdy footwear and careful steps make sense.

What makes the cave stop worth the price

The cave gives this tour a reliable center. You are not paying only for a weather-dependent spectacle. You are also paying for admission, an expert cave guide, equipment, transport, and a close look at a major Icelandic volcanic formation.

I especially like that the cave visit is guided rather than rushed. A guide can point out color changes and rock forms that are easy to miss when you walk through on your own. The supplied torch lets you see the ground while the guide handles the explanations.

The reviews repeatedly praise the cave guide’s storytelling and sense of humor. Gretta is singled out by name in one account, while other comments describe the cave explanation as clear and engaging. Those details matter because the quality of this stop depends heavily on how well the guide brings the geology to life.

The cave is also a sensible choice for families with older children. One 15-year-old reportedly enjoyed it, and the route is suitable for most ages, provided everyone is confident on uneven surfaces. It is a better fit for curious children than for anyone expecting a polished indoor attraction.

Chasing the aurora beyond the city

After the cave, you return to the minibus for the Northern Lights search. The guide uses current forecasts to decide where to go, leaving Reykjavík’s city glow behind. Possible areas include Þingvellir, Reykjanes, and other parts of South Iceland.

This flexible routing is important. The tour does not treat one fixed viewpoint as the only answer. If cloud cover blocks one area, the guide can try another location. A smaller vehicle helps with this approach, although no route can overcome thick cloud everywhere.

The aurora portion lasts about two and a half hours. That is a meaningful amount of time, not a quick stop for a few minutes. If the lights appear, your guide takes photos of you beneath them. Several accounts praise guides for spending extra time in good viewing spots and helping with photographs.

Nicolas is praised by name for helping create strong aurora photos. Another guide reportedly spent about 20 minutes taking pictures after the lights appeared. These examples suggest that the photo service is not just a rushed snapshot from the bus door.

The photos are shared digitally, reportedly by the following day in at least one case. Since the exact delivery timing may vary, keep your booking details and email accessible after the tour.

The honest truth about Northern Lights odds

I would not book this tour solely because you expect an aurora. Solar activity, cloud cover, darkness, and weather all matter, and the operator cannot control any of them. One outing received strong praise despite producing no Northern Lights because the lava cave remained a worthwhile experience.

The free retry makes the risk easier to accept. If you do not see the aurora, you can take the Northern Lights portion again on another night. The retry is a useful benefit, but you need enough flexibility in your Reykjavík schedule to use it.

There is one practical limitation. The supplied details say you receive a free repeat Northern Lights tour, but they do not specify how quickly it must be used or how the replacement booking works. Ask the operator at the end of the tour if you need to arrange the retry.

A separate issue concerns communication about poor conditions. One unhappy customer reported being unable to obtain a refund after seeing warnings about poor visibility elsewhere. The stated policy says poor weather cancellations lead to another date or a full refund, but that is different from deciding not to attend because the forecast looks bad. Confirm the day’s arrangements directly if the aurora forecast is clearly unfavorable.

Cocoa, blankets, and the long wait outside

Icelandic weather can make an outdoor wait feel much longer than it looks on a timetable. This tour includes hot cocoa, chocolate, and a blanket, which are small extras with real value when you are standing beneath a cold sky.

The cocoa also gives the aurora search a pleasant rhythm. You are not simply sitting in a vehicle staring at darkness. When the guide stops in a suitable area, you can warm up, watch the sky, and wait for conditions to change.

Still, a blanket is not a substitute for proper clothing. Wear warm layers, a hat, gloves, and weather-resistant footwear. The tour description confirms the blanket and cocoa, but it does not promise a full set of winter clothing.

Dinner is not included. Eat before pickup, since the package includes no meal and the evening may run for five hours. Bring snacks only if you want them, as food beyond the cocoa and chocolate is your responsibility.

How the $195.19 price measures up

At $195.19, this is not a budget night out. The value depends on how many separate services you would otherwise book. You get transport from Reykjavík, a certified cave guide, admission to the lava tunnel, helmets and torches, an English-speaking aurora guide, Wi-Fi, hot cocoa, chocolate, a blanket, and Northern Lights photos when the conditions cooperate.

The price makes more sense if you want one organized evening rather than separate bookings. You also avoid arranging transport to Raufarhólshellir and then finding a second way to get beyond the city for the aurora.

The free retry adds value, particularly during a short stay. If you have only one night in Reykjavík, it cannot guarantee a second chance, but if you have several evenings, it gives you a useful safety net.

The price is less attractive if your main goal is simply to see the Northern Lights and you already have a car or another aurora outing booked. In that case, the cave may feel like an expensive extra. For first-time visitors who want both geology and night skies, the combined format is easier to justify.

Who should book this evening tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want two very different sides of Iceland in one outing. The cave offers a solid experience even under poor skies, while the aurora search adds a memorable possibility rather than making the whole evening depend on one natural event.

It also suits solo visitors. The group setting gives you company, and one account specifically praised the guide for keeping an eye on a solo participant and making sure nobody was left behind.

Families with older children should consider it if everyone can manage uneven ground and a late evening. The cave is suitable for most ages, but the walk is not completely smooth, and the Northern Lights search may involve waiting outdoors.

I would hesitate if you dislike flexible schedules, cold conditions, or the possibility of returning without seeing the aurora. I would also choose another activity if uneven terrain makes you nervous.

Practical details that affect your night

The tour starts at 7:30 pm and lasts approximately five hours. Pickup and return are provided to selected Reykjavík points, not private apartments, Airbnb properties, or Keflavík Airport.

The operator limits the group to 28 people. You receive a mobile ticket, and the tour is conducted in English. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, while changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded under the stated policy.

Wear clothing suited to Icelandic nighttime weather and shoes that feel secure on irregular ground. Eat dinner before pickup, arrive at your assigned meeting point on time, and keep your phone available for booking or photo communication.

Should you book the lava tunnel and aurora chase?

Book it if you want a well-organized evening with a dependable cave experience and a genuine attempt at the Northern Lights. The strongest reasons are the 900-meter lava tube, the flexible aurora route, the small minibus, the included equipment, and the free retry.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed aurora, cannot walk on uneven ground, or have no spare evening for a possible repeat outing. For everyone else, this is a sensible way to combine Iceland’s volcanic past with its famous night sky, without spending the whole evening on a bus and hoping for one lucky break.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7:30 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately five hours, including pickup, the lava tunnel visit, the Northern Lights search, and return transport.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from authorized points around Reykjavík, including selected hotels, hostels, bus stops, the BSÍ Bus Terminal, and other listed locations.

Can I be picked up from a private apartment or Airbnb?

No. Pickup is not offered from private apartments, Airbnb apartments, or Keflavík Airport. You need to meet the minibus at an approved pickup point.

Is the lava tunnel suitable for everyone?

Most people can participate, but some sections have uneven terrain and may be slippery. You should be comfortable walking on these surfaces.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered a free repeat Northern Lights tour if the aurora is not seen during your outing.

Is dinner included?

No. Dinner and snacks are not included, so eat before the tour begins. Hot cocoa and chocolate are provided.