From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour
Description
Get ready to experience the stunning colors and unique formations of the Lava Tunnel at night, followed by a thrilling search for the magical Northern Lights! We’ll start by picking you up in Reykjavík and heading to the beautiful Blue Mountains. There, you’ll explore Raufarhólshellir, a captivating lava tube cave formed by a volcanic eruption over 5,000 years ago. Led by our expert guide, you’ll discover the cave’s vivid colors, intricate rock formations, and fascinating volcanic history. After the cave, we’ll head out into the peaceful countryside, where our experienced team will find the ideal spot to catch the elusive Northern Lights. We’ll keep you cozy with warm blankets and treats as you enjoy the show. Join us for an unforgettable nighttime adventure in Iceland!
Tour Options
Itinerary
On this tour, you’ll explore Iceland’s fourth-longest lava tube and experience the magic of the Northern Lights! Your adventure starts with a convenient pick-up from your chosen location in a comfy minibus, where your expert guide will whisk you away to the Raufarhólshellir lava cave, just 45 minutes from Reykjavík. Once there, you’ll spend an hour discovering the cave’s stunning lava formations and vibrant colors, venturing up to 900 meters (2952 ft) deep into the underground wonder. After that, we’ll head out to explore some of Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes, chasing the Northern Lights. If we spot them, our guides will snap photos, so you’ll have a picture of yourself with the Aurora Borealis. To top it all off, we’ll enjoy hot chocolate under the starry sky!
Our first stop is Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel, where we'll join our lava cave expert. After gearing up and getting a quick safety rundown, we'll start our descent into the cave. The walk is smooth and enjoyable, with a mix of well-built paths, footbridges, and some natural terrain to keep things interesting. It’s perfect for all ages, but be ready for a bit of uneven ground! As we go deeper, get ready to be amazed by the vibrant colors decorating the cave walls—emerald greens, fiery reds, bright turquoise, and soft lilacs, all thanks to volcanic forces. Our guide will share fascinating insights into the geological magic that created this stunning underground world.
After our guided lava tunnel adventure, we’ll hop back on the bus and embark on the exciting search for the Northern Lights. We’ll follow the stars, with our destination flexible based on the latest forecasts. Don’t worry—we’ll leave the city lights behind, possibly heading to Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or other hidden gems in South Iceland, where the skies are clearest. With the convenience of a minibus, we can reach off-the-beaten-path spots that larger buses can’t access. And to make sure you take home a lasting memory, your guide will snap a free photo of you with the aurora. It’s a magical moment you’ll treasure forever!
After an adventure-packed evening, you'll be dropped off in Reykjavík at your selected drop-off location.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that our company offers pick-up service from authorized pickup points in Reykjavik area. We unfortunately can't offer pick-up service from private apartments, Airbnb apartments, nor Keflavik Airport for our tours. If your pick-up location is not on our pick up list then we kindly ask you to locate the closest pick-up point to your accommodation from the list below and meet us there for your tour. 22 Hill Hótel – Brautarholt 22-24 Arctic Comfort Hótel – Síðumúli 19 BSÍ Bus Terminal – Vatnsmýrarvegi 10 Bus Hostel Reykjavík – Skógarhlíð 10 Bus pick up/drop off nr.1 – City Hall, Vonarstræti Bus pick up/drop off nr.4 – Miðbakki Bus pick up/drop off nr.6 – Safnahúsið (The Culture House) Bus pick up/drop off nr.8 – Hallgrímskirkja Church Bus pick up/drop off nr.9 – Snorrabraut Bus pick up/drop off nr.12 – Höfðatorg Bus pick up/drop off nr.15 – Vesturbugt Cabin Hótel – Borgartún 32 Eyja Guldsmen Hotel – Brautarholt 10 Grand Hótel Reykjavík – Sigtún 28 Bus terminal - Skógarhlíð 10 Hilton Reykjavík Nordica – Suðurlandsbraut 2 Hótel Ísland – Ármúla 9 Hotel Ørkin – Brautarholti 29 Reykjavík Natura - Berjaya Iceland Hotels – Nauthólsvegur 52, 101 Reykjavík Klettur Hótel – Mjölnisholt 12-14 N1 Gas Station – Ártúnshöfði Dalur Hostel – Sundlaugavegur 34 Reykjavík Lights Hotel – Suðurlandsbraut 12 Skarfabakki 312 Terminal (Pre-Booked Tours Pick Up) It might take up to 30 minutes for our guides to reach your pick-up point, so please wait patiently for us to arrive. It is very important that you are ready at your pick-up point from the start of the pick-up time in order not to miss our guides when they arrive.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Some parts of the lava tunnel can be uneven terrain. All participants should be confident with walking on these surfaces.
- Not recommended for travelers who are uncomfortable with uneven terrain.
Reviews(59)
Pick up/drop perfect from Palli a Northen lights expert for a beautiful clear night on the South Coast. The first stop to the lava cave. Our guide was excellent. She is very passionate and knowledgeable which made the tour. Very safe - with helmets and shoe grips. April is a good time to go to see the melting icicles. Second stop to Northern lights viewing was successful but not a big show. Among shooting stars I am pretty sure I saw Artemis II on its way back to earth!! Palli took high tech photos of everyone for the memories. Brilliant trip. Wrap up very very well for the cave and the nighttime -4C admiring the skies!
Dear Traveler, Thank you very much for your kind words! We are excited to hear that your Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights combo tour was such an excellent experience. It is wonderful to know that both guides made such a strong impression, from the informative and safety-focused lava cave visit to the Northern Lights adventure with Palli. We are glad you enjoyed the unique seasonal features of the cave and had a successful night under the skies, even with a few extra celestial surprises along the way! Proper preparation truly makes these experiences even more enjoyable, and we appreciate you highlighting that as well. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your wonderful experience. We hope to welcome you back for another great adventure in Iceland in the future. -Arctic Adventures Team
Pallie was a great driver & Northern Lights expert. He was patient and ensured we got the photos we wanted. Great guide!! The lava tunnel was visually cool. Im not really into the facts much, but some were actually pretty interesting! Do this tour because: 1) You get two in one activities 2) If lights don't show, at least you had the lava tunnel!
Palli was our guide for the night and what a wonderful guide he was! Full of enthusiasm and determination that we were going to have the best possible night. Franzi was our lava tunnel guide and very much like Palli was informative to listen to but went the extra mile to ensure everyone was ok and getting the most from the visit. The tunnel is amazing, surpassed my expectations. It's a fascinating place, I'd recommend it for anyone. Then we were extremely fortunate to see the Aurora in all its beauty, with Palli finding the best spot and helping everyone take their photos and also taking photos of us with his very good camera. The lights were dancing, absolutely stunning and we had so much time to enjoy them. Nothing was rushed or too much trouble and Palli is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the lights and passed that on to us all. I can't thank Palli and Franzi enough for this bucket list trip that has made me so happy. Fantastic value for money, the right amount of time to take photos and enjoy the experience without being rushed. 10/10 from us. Thank you so much ❤️
Dear Traveller, Thank you very much for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that your Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights tour was such a perfect bucket list experience. It is wonderful to know that both Palli and Franzi made such a strong impression, combining their knowledge, enthusiasm, and care to ensure everyone had the best possible experience. We are especially glad you were able to witness the Northern Lights dancing across the sky and had plenty of time to enjoy and capture those magical moments, that is always our goal! Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your wonderful experience. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Iceland in the future. - Arctic Adventures Team
This was absolutely amazing experience!!! So I have been to many caves tours all over the world and this one was significantly unique with the skylights and snow/ice forms. Our tour guide Francesca was funny and gave so much information. For the northern lights: this was so magical, it was one of those true once of a lifetime experiences and we got so lucky to see “above average” showing of lights even with the naked eye! Our tour guide Pallie was outstanding truly! He was so knowledgeable and was chasing down the lights like his life depended on it and trust it was so rewarding!!! He clearly loves his job and i highly recommend this tour to everyone!!! Thank you for the amazing experience truly will never forget
Dear Traveller, Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful feedback! We are thrilled to hear that your Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights tour was such a magical and life-changing experience. It is wonderful to know that Francesca made the cave exploration both informative and enjoyable with her humor and knowledge, and that Palli created such an unforgettable Northern Lights experience. His dedication and passion for finding the best views truly make a difference, and we are so glad you were able to witness such an incredible display. Your feedback means a lot to us, thank you for letting us know about your experience. We hope to see you again on another exciting Icelandic adventure. - Arctic Adventures Team
What an experience! The trip began with a visit to the fascinating lava caves, where our guide (Franzi) led us through, whilst explaining the science behind the wonders around us. She was incredibly knowledgeable throughout, as well as being charismatic. Most importantly, when my family member was struggling with some of it (due to health issues - it is very accessible for most) she was incredibly kind and patient. She created a very relaxed setting, reassuring my family member, whilst also helping. On the minibus, we were blessed with another amazing guide in Palli. He was also very knowledgeable about the Northern Lights and took some brilliant pictures. We were incredibly fortunate to not only see the lights twice, but also to have them dance and cover the sky. On both occasions, Palli seemed to have a super-human sixth-sense as to where they would be, getting us into position moments before they took full hold and giving us plenty of time to see them. Most other operators seemed to always arrive and catch the fading end of the lights, whereas Palli just seemed to have a knack for predicting them (or some secret power to conjure them). All in all, this has been an amazing night and I highly recommend the trip. Both Palli and Franzi were amazing and made the event even better. I highly recommend this visit (and I don't say that lightly as I'm a grumpy Yorkshireman!)
Dear Traveller, Thank you very much for your amazing review! We are happy to hear that your evening Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights tour was such an incredible experience. It is wonderful to know that Franzi made the lava cave visit both informative and enjoyable, while also showing such care and patience to ensure everyone felt comfortable throughout. We are equally pleased to hear that Palli made the Northern Lights portion so special, sharing his knowledge and helping you witness such a spectacular display. Seeing the lights dance across the sky twice truly is a magical and unforgettable moment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us. We would love to have you join us again for another memorable journey in Iceland. - Arctic Adventures Team
The lava tunnel was very interesting and the guide was great. The Northern Lights were magical. Our guide, Radek, was fantastic and tracked them down despite the snow.
Dear Isabelle, Thank you very much for your kind words! We are happy to hear that you had such a great experience on the Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights tour. It is our pleasure to hear that you enjoyed exploring the lava tunnel and witnessing the magical Northern Lights and we are especially glad that Radek made such a strong impression, using his expertise to track the lights even in snowy conditions and make the experience truly memorable. We are grateful for your kind words and for sharing your journey with us and hope to see you again on another exciting Icelandic adventure. - Arctic Adventures Team
The Lava Tunnel was absolutely amazing! Our guide Francesca shared so much cool information. Our Arctic Adventures driver/guide set our expectations pretty well on the way when he shared that seeing the Northern Lights was extremely unlikely. And after the Tunnel he shared that all other NL tours had been cancelled, so we headed back early. I had booked this trip on our first night, so that I could re-book as often as possible. We're hoping tonight is the night to see the Northern Lights!
Dear Traveller, Thank you very much for your kind review! We are overjoyed to hear that you found the Lava Tunnel experience so amazing. It is wonderful to know that Francesca made the tour even more engaging by sharing interesting insights along the way. We also appreciate your understanding regarding the Northern Lights, as they can be unpredictable, and we are glad our team kept you well informed throughout the experience. Fingers crossed that your next opportunity brings a beautiful display! Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your wonderful experience. We hope to welcome you back for another great adventure in Iceland in the future. - Arctic Adventures Team
Excellent tour, particularly for the reasonable cost. Saw the northern lights even though there was a storm. Group was roughly 12-18 people, staff were friendly and fun.
Dear Traveler, Thank you for your feedback. It is impressive to hear that you were able to see the Northern Lights even during the storm, while enjoying small group tour experience. Hope you will be back on tours with us. Arctic Adventures Team
They were very responsible the northern lights tour was canceled due to visibility but as promised they rebooked us the next day. Had to call them to rebook very easy. Our northern lights guide was amazing. Would definitely recommend them. Great company
Lots of good information on the lava tunnel and chasing the northern lights was amazing The Tour guide ( forgot his name) was good and funny.
