From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour

Raufarhólshellir is the star of this evening trip. About 45 minutes from Reykjavík, this old lava tube gives you a close look at the colors and shapes left by volcanic forces, followed by a flexible search for the Northern Lights in the dark Icelandic countryside.

I like the practical mix: you get a certified caving guide, proper safety gear, hot cocoa, a blanket, Wi-Fi, and photos of you under the aurora. I also like the free retry if the lights do not appear. The main catch is simple: the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and the cave has uneven ground that may not suit anyone unsteady on their feet.

What makes this five-hour evening worth your time

• A real lava tube, not just a viewpoint: Walk up to 900 meters into Raufarhólshellir with a helmet light and a guide who explains how the tunnel formed.
• Two very different Iceland experiences: The cave is close, enclosed, and geological. The aurora search is open-air, weather-dependent, and guided by the latest forecast.
• Small-minibus access: With a maximum of 28 people, the group can reach places larger coaches may not.
• Comfort after dark: Hot Icelandic cocoa, chocolate, blankets, and onboard Wi-Fi make the waiting time easier.
• Free aurora photos: Guides such as Nicolas have spent extra time positioning groups for good pictures when the lights appeared.
• A second chance: If the aurora does not show, you receive a free retry for the Northern Lights portion.

Entering Raufarhólshellir after sunset

Your evening begins at 7:30 p.m. with pickup from an authorized stop in Reykjavík. The ride to Raufarhólshellir takes about 45 minutes, giving you time to settle into the minibus before the cave walk.

Raufarhólshellir is Iceland’s fourth-longest lava tunnel. Inside, the route reaches as far as 900 meters, or about 2,952 feet, into the rock. You do not simply peer into a hole in the ground. You walk through a section of the tube on built paths, footbridges, and natural surfaces.

Before entering, you receive a helmet and torch, along with a safety briefing from a certified caving guide. The route is suitable for most ages, but you should be comfortable walking over uneven terrain. Some parts can be slippery, so shoes with a firm grip are sensible, even though the floor is not described as consistently slick.

The darkness is part of the appeal. Your helmet light picks out the rock a little at a time, while the guide explains the volcanic forces that shaped the tunnel. The walls can show emerald green, fiery red, turquoise, and lilac tones. These colors give the cave more character than a plain black-and-brown rock passage.

You spend about one hour underground. The pace is designed to be manageable, with time to stop and look closely at the formations. The cave entrance area has toilets, and you return there after the walk. That small detail matters on an evening trip, especially before heading out to wait in cold conditions.

What the one-hour cave walk feels like

The cave portion is the most dependable part of the evening. Aurora forecasts can fail, but the lava tube gives you a scheduled experience with a clear start and finish.

Expect a mix of prepared and natural ground. The footbridges and built sections make the route easier, but this is still a cave, not a smooth indoor attraction. You should be able to manage steps, uneven surfaces, and a little darkness without needing constant assistance.

The helmet light means you do not need to carry your own torch. Safety equipment is included, and the guide explains what to watch for before you set off. The route is not presented as an extreme caving trip. It is better described as an easy-to-moderate walk with a few rougher patches.

The darkness also changes the mood. A daytime visit might make the cave feel more like a geological exhibit. At night, the contrast between the underground tunnel and the cold open sky later in the evening makes the two parts feel connected.

Chasing the aurora from Reykjavík

After the cave, you return to the minibus for roughly two and a half hours of Northern Lights searching. The exact route is flexible. Depending on the forecast and cloud cover, the guide might head toward Þingvellir, Reykjanes, South Iceland, or another darker area.

This flexibility is useful. The best place for the aurora is not fixed, and a guide can adjust the plan instead of taking you to one viewpoint regardless of conditions. A minibus also has an advantage over a large coach because it can use smaller roads and reach quieter stopping points.

Still, you need to keep your expectations realistic. Clear skies and a good forecast improve your chances, but they do not force the aurora to appear. On some evenings, the group may spend time at several locations and see nothing. That is not a failure of the cave portion, but it can make the full price feel high if the lights were your main reason for booking.

The free retry softens this risk. If the aurora does not appear during your tour, you can take the Northern Lights portion again. Check the provider’s instructions after the tour so you understand how to arrange that second attempt. The retry is useful, but it does not help if your schedule allows only one night in Reykjavík.

Guides, photos, and the human side of the tour

The guide can make a major difference during the long aurora search. The supplied feedback gives specific praise to Gretta for her guiding and to Nicolas for working hard to find the lights and help with photographs.

That personal attention is especially useful for solo visitors. One account describes a guide keeping an eye on a solo participant so they did not fall behind. In a cave, where the floor is dark and irregular, that kind of awareness adds real comfort.

If the aurora appears, the guide takes photos of you with the lights. These are sent digitally, and one account notes that the pictures arrived the next day. You should not treat this as a professional portrait session, but it is a valuable extra. Many people see the aurora with their own eyes and end up with poor phone pictures. A guide who knows how to position the group can give you a much better souvenir.

The strongest experiences seem to come when the guide is willing to wait. One group spent about 20 minutes focused on photos after the lights finally appeared. That patience matters because the aurora may fade, strengthen, or shift while you are outside.

Cocoa, blankets, and the practical comforts

I appreciate the small comforts on this tour because the Northern Lights section can involve standing outside at night. Icelandic hot cocoa, chocolate, and a blanket are included, and onboard Wi-Fi helps during the drive and while you wait.

You should eat dinner before pickup. Dinner is not included, and the tour runs for about five hours, from the evening pickup through the return to Reykjavík. Bring any extra snacks you want, since snacks are also excluded.

Dress for cold weather even though cocoa and blankets are provided. The supplied information does not promise a heated outdoor shelter, so assume you will spend some time outside. Warm layers, a hat, gloves, and solid shoes are practical choices.

The Wi-Fi is a useful bonus rather than a reason to book the tour. It lets you stay connected during the drive, but the main value is the combination of the cave, transport, guide, and aurora search.

Pickup from Reykjavík and the five-hour schedule

Pickup is offered from a long list of authorized Reykjavík stops, including Hallgrímskirkja, the BSÍ Bus Terminal, City Hall, Reykjavík Natura, Grand Hotel Reykjavík, Hilton Reykjavík Nordica, and several other hotels and bus stops.

There is an important limitation. Pickup is not offered from private apartments, Airbnb apartments, or Keflavík Airport. If your accommodation is not on the list, you need to choose the closest approved stop.

Allow up to 30 minutes for the minibus to reach your pickup point. Be ready from the start of the pickup window and wait at the correct location. Missing the vehicle because you were inside your hotel or at the wrong stop could spoil the evening before it begins.

The usual flow looks like this:

• About 45 minutes from Reykjavík to the lava tunnel
• About one hour inside Raufarhólshellir
• About two and a half hours searching for the aurora
• About 45 minutes returning to Reykjavík

The timing is approximate, since weather, road conditions, and aurora sightings can change the plan. Drop-off is offered at your selected location in Reykjavík, though you should not assume every driver can deliver you directly to a private address.

Is $195.19 a fair price?

At $195.19 per person, this is not a cheap night out. The value depends on whether you want both the cave and the aurora search, rather than simply a short Northern Lights drive.

The price includes transport from Reykjavík, a certified caving guide, helmet and torch, an English-speaking Northern Lights guide, Wi-Fi, cocoa, chocolate, a blanket, aurora photos, and a free retry if the lights do not appear. You are paying for a full evening and two specialist activities, not just bus transportation.

The cave gives you a reliable return on the money. The aurora portion is a gamble, as it must be with any Northern Lights tour. If the lights appear and the guide spends time helping with photos, the package can feel worthwhile. If the lights remain hidden, the free retry protects some of the value, provided you have another suitable evening.

A maximum group size of 28 keeps this from being a private tour, but it is smaller and more flexible than a large coach outing. Solo visitors and couples may find that balance appealing. If you want a very quiet, private aurora hunt, look for a smaller dedicated tour instead.

Who should book this evening?

I would choose this for a first visit to Iceland when you want to combine a clear geological attraction with a chance at the aurora. It suits couples, families with older children, and solo visitors who prefer an organized outing after dark.

The tour also works well if your schedule is tight. In five hours, you get a major cave experience and a proper Northern Lights search without committing a full day to a distant region.

You should think twice if the aurora is your only goal. The cave takes up part of the evening, and poor conditions can still block the lights. You should also skip it if uneven surfaces make walking uncomfortable or unsafe.

The published rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, with 95 percent recommending the experience. The praise centers on the cave, the guides, the comfortable minibus, and the extra effort made to find and photograph the aurora. The main complaints concern weather, disappointment when the lights fail to appear, and one serious communication problem involving a customer who believed a poor forecast should have been made clearer before booking.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If the company cancels because of poor weather or too few bookings, you are offered another date or a full refund.

My call: a strong combined tour with one big condition

Book this tour if you want the Raufarhólshellir cave as much as the aurora. The cave is the dependable centerpiece, while the Northern Lights search adds excitement, photos, cocoa, and a free second chance.

I would not book it on your final night if seeing the aurora is essential and you have no time to use the retry. For most visitors with a flexible evening, though, the mix is smart: one memorable underground walk, one well-organized search under the stars, and a guide who can adjust the route when conditions change.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 7:30 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts about five hours, including pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík.

Where does the tour go?

It travels from Reykjavík to Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, then continues to one or more locations chosen for Northern Lights viewing based on the latest forecast.

Is pickup available from every Reykjavík accommodation?

No. Pickup is offered from authorized points in the Reykjavík area. Private apartments, Airbnb apartments, and Keflavík Airport are not included.

What should I eat before the tour?

You should eat dinner before joining because dinner is not included. Snacks are also not included.

Is the lava tunnel suitable for everyone?

Most people can participate, but parts of the tunnel have uneven terrain. You should be comfortable walking on natural surfaces and should avoid the tour if uneven ground is a serious concern.

What equipment is provided for the cave?

A helmet and torch are provided, along with the required safety equipment and a briefing from a certified caving guide.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

A free retry is offered for the Northern Lights portion if the lights are not seen during your tour. If the entire experience is canceled because of poor weather or too few bookings, you are offered a different date or a full refund.