Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths Adventure

The best part of this evening outing is the contrast: you sit in hot geothermal water beside Lake Laugarvatn, then step into cold Icelandic air, with the chance to try the lake itself. In summer, the midnight sun may still brighten the sky, making the setting feel dreamlike even before the northern lights search begins.

I like the three connected pools, each with its own depth and temperature, and I like that the natural steam cabins use heat rising from the ground below. Round-trip transport, admission, a guide, and Wi-Fi are included, which makes the $249 price easier to weigh.

The main catch is the northern lights promise. Sightings are not guaranteed, and summer conditions may offer midnight sun rather than a dark sky. You should book this for the Fontana bath experience first, with the aurora hunt treated as an extra possibility.

Key things to know before you book

• Lake Laugarvatn setting: Fontana sits beside a calm lake, giving the bathing time a peaceful rural backdrop.
• Three outdoor pools: Move between pools with different temperatures and depths rather than staying in one large basin.
• Natural steam cabins: The Gufan cabins use geothermal steam that seeps up from the earth.
• Optional cold-water swim: A nearby platform gives you access to the lake if you want the full hot-cold contrast.
• Late return to Reykjavik: The tour begins at 6:00 p.m. and usually finishes after midnight, though timing can vary.
• Aurora backup option: If you see no northern lights, Reykjavik Excursions offers a free chance to join a northern lights tour later by contacting customer service.

Why the Fontana baths are the real heart of the evening

This experience works best when you think of it as a geothermal spa trip with a northern lights search attached. Laugarvatn Fontana is not simply a place to sit in warm water. It gives you several ways to use the heat, plus a lake-side setting that feels much more open than an indoor pool.

The three interconnected outdoor baths let you shift between different depths and temperatures. That matters because a long soak in one very hot pool can become tiring. Here, you can move around, find a gentler temperature, and pause to look across Lake Laugarvatn.

The setting changes with the weather. On a clear evening, you get broad views across the water and surrounding countryside. On a cold or windy night, the pleasure comes from the contrast between the air on your face and the warmth around your shoulders. One account of the outing described how powerful that contrast felt, with strong wind and cold outside but comfortable water and sauna heat within reach.

You also get access to three steam cabins known as the Gufan. Their steam comes naturally from geothermal heat below the building, rather than from a standard electric steam generator. That small detail gives the experience a stronger connection to Iceland’s volcanic ground.

You can also walk to a nearby platform and try the cold waters of the lake. This is optional, and you should not feel that you are missing the point if you stay in the pools. The hot water and steam are the main event. The lake swim is for anyone who enjoys a brisk challenge and wants to try the traditional hot-cold routine.

The evening route from Reykjavik to Laugarvatn

Your tour begins at 6:00 p.m. from BSÍ101 in Reykjavik. Pickup may also be offered from a central Reykjavik hotel, depending on your booking arrangements, so check the exact meeting instructions before the day of departure.

You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle toward Laugarvatn. The ride gives you a look at Iceland’s lava-covered countryside rather than only the city and its suburbs. A professional guide provides live commentary about volcanic geology and geothermal springs, explaining how underground volcanic rock heats natural water.

That commentary adds useful context to the bath visit. You are not just arriving at a hot pool with no sense of why it exists. You begin to understand why geothermal bathing is such a normal part of life in Iceland, where heat from below the earth is used for bathing, heating, and other daily needs.

Free Wi-Fi is included on the bus. That may help you pass the ride, but I would keep some attention on the windows. The trip is part of the experience, especially if you have spent most of your Iceland time around Reykjavik.

The tour allows up to 99 people, so this is not a small private excursion. You should expect a shared coach outing, set departure time, and a group moving through the same facilities. The advantage is simple pricing and included transport. The tradeoff is less flexibility than hiring a car or arranging a private visit.

Two hours at Fontana, with time to set your own pace

The planned stop at Laugarvatn Fontana lasts about two hours. Admission is included, as are the facilities used during the visit. Once inside, you change into your swimsuit and make your own way through the bathing areas rather than following a tightly controlled activity schedule.

That free time is important. You can spend more time in the pools, try the steam cabins, or make the short walk to the lake platform. You are not being rushed from one hot-water station to another.

The changing facilities are described as clean, though communal. Bring your swimsuit and towel. Towels and swimwear can be rented on the spot if needed, but bringing your own avoids an extra rental charge and one more thing to arrange at the desk.

You should also bring warm clothes for the moments between the building, the pools, and the bus. Even in summer, Icelandic weather can change quickly. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so a warm outer layer is not optional planning.

Food requires a little care. Dinner is not listed as included, so plan to eat before departure or bring a suitable snack if allowed by the operator. One account referred to a buffet and noted vegetarian choices, but because dinner is not part of the stated package, confirm the food arrangement rather than counting on a meal.

Midnight sun, darkness, and the northern lights search

After Fontana, the outing turns toward a northern lights hunt. This is the part that requires realistic expectations.

The tour information says sightings depend on weather and are not guaranteed. That is true of any aurora outing, but it matters even more here because the experience is sold as a summer evening adventure. Around the season of the midnight sun, the sky may remain too bright for northern lights viewing.

You may instead get a beautiful late evening with lingering daylight over the countryside. That is not the same experience as watching green light move across a dark sky, but it can still make the return trip memorable. If the conditions are not right, the guide may adjust the search, though the exact route and timing can vary.

If no lights appear, Reykjavik Excursions offers the option to join a northern lights tour free of charge later by contacting customer service. Treat this as a useful safety net, not a guarantee that a second outing will produce an aurora.

The return to Reykjavik is scheduled for just after midnight. The stated return time can change, so do not plan a tight late-night connection or an early morning departure immediately afterward. The late finish is part of the appeal for night-owl visitors, but it may be tiring if you have a full sightseeing day behind you.

What the $249 price really covers

At $249, this is not a cheap public pool visit. You are paying for a longer evening package that combines transport from Reykjavik, a professional guide, Fontana admission, the northern lights search, and Wi-Fi on the bus.

The value is strongest if you do not have a rental car and want to combine the bath with a countryside outing. A self-drive visit would give you more control over timing, but you would need to arrange the vehicle, navigate after dark or in changing weather, pay for admission separately, and decide how to handle the aurora search.

The value is weaker if your only goal is to bathe. In that case, a shorter and more direct spa visit may suit you better. This tour asks you to give up most of an evening and stay with the group until after midnight.

The 4.5 rating from 24 reviews and 92 percent recommendation figure suggest that the overall package works well for many people, but the individual comments also show where expectations matter. The Fontana portion received the strongest praise. One person called the spa amazing, noted clean communal changing rooms, and liked having both hot pools and access to the very cold lake. Another said the Fontana experience remained excellent even when rain prevented the northern lights portion.

That is the clearest buying advice I can give you: choose this for the geothermal bath setting and the unusual hot-cold experience. If you get an aurora as well, the evening becomes a bonus success.

The guide and coach experience

Your guide handles the live commentary during the journey and helps connect the drive with Iceland’s volcanic geology. The quality of the guide matters on a tour like this because the transport takes a meaningful share of the evening.

The available feedback includes strong praise for one female guide and driver. Her name is not provided, so I cannot identify her, but the point is useful: a warm, capable guide can make the long return and weather changes much easier to handle.

There is also a warning in the feedback about guide behavior. The operator asked for a detailed report so its quality team could review the matter. I would not treat one complaint as a verdict on every departure, but it is a reminder that guide quality can vary on a shared coach tour.

You should expect professional service, not a private host who can reshape the evening around your personal interests. With a maximum group size of 99, the tone depends partly on the size and energy of the particular departure.

Who will enjoy this Iceland evening most

I think this suits you if you want three things in one booking:

• A relaxing geothermal bath outside Reykjavik
• A look at rural Iceland without arranging a car
• A possible northern lights outing after the spa

It is also a good fit if you enjoy trying local bathing customs rather than visiting only major city sights. The natural steam, outdoor pools, lake platform, and changing temperatures give you more to do than simply sit in warm water.

Families can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. People who dislike communal changing areas should know that the facilities are shared. Anyone with limited tolerance for cold should also remember that the lake swim is optional, not required.

I would be more cautious about booking this if you need a guaranteed aurora, dislike late nights, or want a quiet small-group outing. The group can be large, the return time may shift, and the sky may not cooperate.

Practical details that make the evening easier

Book at least 24 hours ahead if you want the full cancellation protection. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the 6:00 p.m. start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded, unless the operator cancels because of poor weather and offers you another date or a full refund.

Dress for the bus ride, the outdoor paths, and the return after midnight. Warm clothing matters even though you will spend time in hot water. Pack a swimsuit and towel, or budget for rentals at Fontana.

Most people can participate, and the activity operates in all weather conditions. The exact return time can vary, so keep your evening open and avoid booking another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Should you book the Laugarvatn Fontana evening?

Book it if the geothermal bathing experience is your main goal and you like the idea of adding a possible aurora search. The three pools, natural steam cabins, lake views, and optional cold-water swim give the evening real character, while included transport removes the need to plan a rural Iceland drive.

Skip it if you want a guaranteed northern lights show or a short, low-cost spa visit. At $249, the price makes the most sense as an all-evening package, not as admission to a bath.

My practical verdict: choose Fontana first, aurora second. That simple expectation will let you enjoy the warm pools, the wild weather, and the midnight return without feeling that the whole outing failed if the sky stays dark or cloudy.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour start?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about seven hours and usually finishes back in Reykjavik just after midnight. Return times can vary.

Is admission to Laugarvatn Fontana included?

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

Should I bring a swimsuit and towel?

Yes. You should bring both. Swimsuits and towels can also be rented at the spa.

Is dinner included?

No. Dinner is not listed as included, so you should make your own food arrangements.

Are the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The northern lights depend on weather and sightings are not guaranteed. If you do not see them, Reykjavik Excursions offers a free chance to join a northern lights tour later by contacting customer service.