Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths Adventure

Warm water, cold air, and Icelandic sky. This evening trip from Reykjavik pairs a Laugarvatn Fontana spa visit with a Northern Lights search, giving you a calm geothermal break before heading into the night. I like the three connected pools, the natural steam cabins, and the chance to look across Lake Laugarvatn while you soak. I also like that transport, a guide, spa admission, and Wi-Fi are included.

The main catch is the Northern Lights promise. Sightings depend on weather and conditions, and the tour can run during periods of bright midnight sun, when aurora viewing is not possible. At $249 for about seven hours, this makes the spa experience the more dependable part of the outing.

Key points before you book

• Three outdoor pools beside Lake Laugarvatn: Each pool has a different depth and temperature, so you can move around rather than sit in one tub all evening.
• Natural steam from the ground: The three Gufan steam cabins use geothermal vapor rising from below, not ordinary heated steam.
• A cold-water option: A nearby platform gives you access to Lake Laugarvatn if you want to pair hot pools with a brisk lake swim.
• A long evening from Reykjavik: Pickup or central meeting arrangements begin around 6:00 pm, with return just after midnight, though times can shift.
• The Northern Lights are not guaranteed: If no lights appear, the operator says you can contact customer service about joining a Northern Lights tour for free.
• Bring your own swim kit if possible: A swimsuit and towel are needed, though both can be rented at the spa.

What this Reykjavik evening actually offers

This is best understood as a geothermal spa outing with an added aurora search. The spa visit has a fixed setting, warm water, steam, and lake views. The Northern Lights portion depends on clouds, darkness, and solar activity, all of which are outside the operator’s control.

You leave Reykjavik in the early evening and travel east toward Laugarvatn in an air-conditioned vehicle. A professional guide provides live commentary about volcanic geology and geothermal springs. That makes the journey useful, not just a transfer, especially if you want a basic sense of how Iceland’s underground heat shapes daily life.

The total time is about seven hours. That is a substantial evening, but the schedule works well if you want to spend the day in Reykjavik and still return to the city after midnight. You should keep the following morning flexible if you prefer a slow start.

The group limit is listed as 99 people. That is a large possible group, so do not expect the quiet, private feel of a small guided outing. The bus gives you a simple way to reach Fontana without arranging a rental car or driving unfamiliar roads after dark.

Leaving Reykjavik at 6:00 pm

The stated starting point is BSÍ101 in central Reykjavik, with pickup offered from central hotels or another central location depending on the arrangement. Check your exact pickup details when booking, since the information allows for both hotel pickup and meeting at a central point.

Once aboard, you travel through Iceland’s lava-covered countryside toward Lake Laugarvatn. The road trip adds context to the spa. Geothermal water here is not just a tourist attraction. It comes from the same volcanic forces that have shaped Iceland’s hot springs, heating systems, and bathing culture.

I like that the guide commentary focuses on the actual setting. You are not simply handed a towel and sent to a pool. You hear about the rock below your feet and the hot water rising through it. The free Wi-Fi is a useful extra, though the best use of the ride may be looking out at the changing scenery.

Dress warmly for the bus ride and the outdoor sections. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, and the tour operates in all weather conditions unless conditions force a cancellation. A warm outer layer matters even when you plan to spend much of the evening in hot water.

Laugarvatn Fontana and its three pools

Fontana sits beside calm Lake Laugarvatn, which gives the bathing area a more open setting than a city pool. After changing, you have about two hours at the geothermal baths before the evening continues.

The three connected mineral pools have different depths and temperatures. That variety is practical. You can find a warmer spot, move to a cooler pool, or choose a shallower area if you do not want to sit in deep water. The pools are outdoors, so the contrast between the air and the water becomes part of the experience.

The lake views are a major reason to choose Fontana. You can look across the water while sitting in the heat, which feels more connected to Iceland’s countryside than a standard indoor swimming pool. The setting is peaceful, but remember that peace depends on the group size and how busy the facility is during your visit.

The spa’s changing facilities were described as clean, though communal. That is normal for an Icelandic bathing experience, but it may matter if you prefer private changing rooms. Plan to shower and change efficiently so you have enough time to enjoy the pools and steam cabins.

Bring a swimsuit and towel. Both can be rented on site, but using your own can save an extra charge and avoid a last-minute queue. A towel is especially useful when moving between the warm water, changing area, and outdoor air.

The Gufan steam cabins

Fontana’s three Gufan steam cabins are heated by steam that naturally seeps up from the ground below. This is one of the more distinctive parts of the visit because the heat comes directly from the geothermal activity under the spa.

I would treat the steam cabins as a short rest rather than a contest. Move between the steam and pools at your own pace, drink water when available, and listen to your body. The tour information describes switching between heat and cold as beneficial for circulation and releasing toxins, but the practical value is simpler: the change wakes you up and gives the bathing session more variety.

The outdoor air can feel sharp after the steam. That contrast is part of the fun, but it also makes warm clothing essential for the trip back to the bus.

The optional Lake Laugarvatn swim

If you are feeling adventurous, you can reach the cold lake water from a nearby platform. This is optional, so you can enjoy the pools and steam without taking the plunge.

The lake swim is for people who enjoy a strong temperature contrast. You step from geothermal warmth into naturally cold water, then return to the pools or steam. It is a memorable Icelandic-style addition, but it is not necessary to get value from the visit.

Take this part at your own pace. The tour does not require you to swim in the lake, and the spa pools already provide the main experience. If cold water is not your thing, you will not be missing the core of the outing.

Midnight sun, darkness, and the Northern Lights question

The tour description combines a summer evening at Fontana with a Northern Lights hunt. That creates an important timing issue. In Iceland’s bright summer season, the midnight sun can remain visible across the sky, leaving too little darkness for aurora viewing. The experience may offer beautiful evening light, but not Northern Lights.

In darker seasons, the Northern Lights search makes more sense, yet sightings still depend on weather and solar conditions. Clouds can hide the sky, and clear weather alone does not guarantee aurora activity. The operator states plainly that sightings are not guaranteed.

This is why I would book the tour for Fontana first and treat the aurora as a bonus. If you book mainly for the Northern Lights, you may feel disappointed even after a successful spa visit. If you like the idea of a hot pool, steam, lake scenery, and a night drive through Iceland, the tour has a more reliable foundation.

If you do not see the lights, the operator says you can contact customer service about joining a Northern Lights tour for free. That offer comes with a condition: you need to contact customer service, and availability or timing may affect how useful the option is. It is a welcome backup, but it does not turn an unsuccessful sighting into a guaranteed one.

The return journey after the spa

After your time at Fontana, you change back into dry clothes and meet the vehicle. The return includes a scenic detour through southern Iceland before the drop-off in Reykjavik.

That extra drive adds value because the trip is not simply a fast run back to the city. You get another look at the countryside under evening or nighttime conditions. Still, a detour also helps explain why the outing lasts until just after midnight.

Return times can vary. If you have a late dinner reservation, airport transfer, or early morning excursion, do not schedule it too tightly. The tour ends back at the central meeting point or with a central hotel drop-off, depending on your pickup arrangement.

Is $249 a fair price?

At $249, the cost is not low for a spa visit. The price becomes easier to justify if you need round-trip transport from Reykjavik and want a guide to handle the evening logistics. The package includes bus fare, professional guiding, Fontana admission, the Northern Lights hunt, and Wi-Fi on the bus.

The seven-hour duration also matters. You are not paying for a short transfer and a quick soak. You receive a full evening with about two hours at the baths, transport in both directions, a countryside drive, and an aurora search.

Dinner is not included in the stated package. One experience account referred to a buffet and praised its vegetarian options, but you should not assume a meal is part of your booking. Confirm food arrangements before departure, and consider eating before the bus or bringing a suitable snack if allowed.

The value is strongest for people who do not want to rent a car or arrange separate transport to Laugarvatn. If you already have a car and plan to visit several Golden Circle sights, a separate Fontana visit may give you more control over timing. This tour is about convenience and a ready-made evening plan.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a gentle Iceland evening with one active choice, the optional lake swim. The pools are easy to enjoy, and most people can participate. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

It suits first-time Iceland visitors who want to experience geothermal bathing without giving up an evening in Reykjavik. It also suits anyone who likes scenic bus rides and does not mind returning late.

You may want another plan if you need a guaranteed Northern Lights sighting, dislike communal changing facilities, or prefer a small group. The possible group size of 99 can make the trip feel more like a standard coach excursion than a personal guide experience.

The tour also requires suitable clothing. Icelandic weather can be cold, wet, and windy, even when the water feels wonderfully hot. Pack a swimsuit, towel, warm layers, and a dry change of clothes.

Practical booking advice and cancellation terms

Confirmation is provided when you book. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

The experience can be canceled because of poor weather. If that happens, you are offered a different date or a full refund. Since the tour operates in all weather conditions, cancellation is more likely to concern safety or conditions that prevent the planned activity rather than ordinary Icelandic rain.

The stated departure time is 6:00 pm. Pickup options can vary, so check whether you are meeting at BSÍ101 or receiving a central hotel pickup. Keep your booking confirmation available on your phone, since the ticket is mobile.

Should you book the Fontana and Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized geothermal evening with transport from Reykjavik, a comfortable spa stop, and a chance to search for the aurora afterward. The warm pools, natural steam cabins, lake setting, and optional cold-water swim give you several ways to enjoy the night even if the sky stays dark and empty.

Do not book it solely for the Northern Lights. Weather and sightings are not guaranteed, and summer midnight sun conditions can work against the aurora part of the plan. At $249, the right question is whether Fontana plus transport and a guided evening are worth the price to you.

For many visitors, the answer will be yes, especially if they value ease over independence. The spa is the sure thing, the lake is an optional thrill, and the Northern Lights are the hopeful extra.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting point is BSÍ101 in Reykjavik. Central Reykjavik or hotel pickup may also be offered, depending on your arrangement.

What time does the experience begin?

The listed start time is 6:00 pm.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about seven hours and usually ends in Reykjavik just after midnight, though return times can vary.

What is included in the price?

The package includes bus fare, a professional guide, admission to Fontana Wellness, the Northern Lights hunt, and free Wi-Fi on the bus.

Do I need to bring a swimsuit and towel?

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

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. Sightings depend on weather and conditions. If you do not see the lights, the operator says you can contact customer service about joining a Northern Lights tour for free.