Geothermal warmth beats Iceland cold fast. This Reykjavik-to-Laugarvatn tour pairs Laugarvatn Fontana baths with an evening Northern Lights search during summer twilight.

I love the three interconnected outdoor mineral pools with different temperatures, so you can control the heat instead of jumping in all at once. I also like the Gufan steam cabins, where you get that naturally steamy, sauna-like feeling right by Lake Laugarvatn.

One consideration: Northern Lights sightings are not guaranteed, and summer daylight plus weather can reduce your odds.

Key Things I’d Use to Plan This Tour

• Free Wi-Fi on the bus makes the ride less “dead time”
• Central Reykjavik pickup or a meet point keeps it flexible
• Fontana’s outdoor pools let you choose your comfort level by depth and heat
• Gufan steam cabins add a classic geothermal step beyond soaking
• Hot-to-cold lake access is optional, but the contrast is the whole point
• Weather controls the Northern Lights hunt, so plan with flexibility

Reykjavik Evening to Laugarvatn: A Summer-Season Hot Springs Plan

This tour is built for summer in Iceland, when evenings feel long and magical even without winter darkness. You start in Reykjavik around 6:00 pm, head east toward Laugarvatn Fontana, then use your time at the baths to recharge before the group looks for aurora activity.

What makes it interesting is the mix of two Iceland styles in one go: geothermal calm at the spa and the thrill (or at least the hope) of chasing the lights. Even if the sky doesn’t cooperate, the geothermal experience still works as the main event.

The Ride Out: Air-Conditioned Comfort and Geology Talk on the Way

You’ll travel by a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with an onboard guide. Pickup is offered from central Reykjavik (or your hotel area), or you can meet at BSÍ101 Reykjavík depending on the option you choose.

On the drive, you get live guided commentary about Iceland’s volcanic plumbing: underground volcanic rock heats geothermal water, which then feeds natural springs and pools. For me, this is more than trivia. It helps you understand why the baths feel so different from a regular swimming pool—this water is doing real work under the ground, and that context makes the whole soak feel more intentional.

The bus also includes free Wi-Fi, which is handy because your evening timing can get long, especially if weather affects the aurora search. You may also notice the “lava-coated” scenery changing as you move away from Reykjavik—good background for the geology lecture you’re hearing.

Stop 1 Timing: Reykjavik Excursions Departure and Early Evening Flow

The first part is straightforward: depart Reykjavik and get to Laugarvatn Fontana. The schedule points to a short stop connected to Reykjavik Excursions before you continue out east, which is usually where the tour group gets set up and everyone checks in.

Why this matters: with a 7-hour-ish overall length and a late return around after midnight, getting out on time helps you maximize pool time and still have a meaningful window for the Northern Lights hunt. The tour runs in all weather, but the order of events still matters when daylight and clouds are in play.

Stop 2 at Laugarvatn Fontana: Outdoor Pools, Lake Views, and the Gufan

When you arrive at Laugarvatn Fontana, you’ll head into the Fontana Wellness complex on the shores of calm Lake Laugarvatn. Then comes the real reset: change into your bathing suit and make your way to the outdoor facilities.

The core experience here is three interconnected outdoor mineral baths. They vary by depth and temperature, so you can move between pools like you’re adjusting a dial. You don’t have to commit to one heat level. If you want to start gentle, you can. If you want the deepest warmth, you can chase that too.

The best part is how the baths are tied to the scenery around the lake. Even in summer, the setting can feel quietly dramatic: steam or warmth rising, cool air on your face, and that still water stretching out behind the pools.

The Gufan Steam Cabins: Iceland’s Natural Sauna Feeling

If you’re up for one more geothermal style step, use time at the Gufan. This is made up of three steam cabins with steam that rises naturally from the ground.

This is where the experience goes from soaking to breathing steam. The steam cabins are a different kind of comfort—more like a concentrated, steamy warm-up—so they pair well with the outdoor pools. If you like the idea of warming up on purpose before considering anything cold, the Gufan fits nicely.

Practical note on pace

Your total time at the baths is listed as about 2 hours. That’s long enough to try the pools and one or two cabin sessions, but not long enough to wander slowly for ages. I’d plan a simple circuit: pools first, then steam cabins, then decide about the lake dip.

The Optional Cold Lake Swim: Hot-to-Cold Contrast That Feels Like a Reset

This tour offers an optional dip in the cold waters of Lake Laugarvatn from a nearby platform. The contrast is the point. You switch from warm mineral pools and steam to cold lake water, and it’s believed to help circulation and release toxins.

I’d treat this as “opt in.” If you’re comfortable with cold water and you want that punchy reset, go for it. If not, you can absolutely enjoy the entire spa without doing the lake portion and still feel like you got your money’s worth.

A simple way to decide

Ask yourself:

• Do you like cold-water rituals, or does it sound miserable?
• Are you warmed up enough from the pools and steam first?
• Will you be able to change back quickly without rushing?

If you do the lake dip, keep it short and controlled. The tour is timed, and you still need energy later for the Northern Lights hunt.

Northern Lights Hunt After Fontana: Hope With Weather-Realism

After time at Fontana, the group heads out to search for the Northern Lights. This is where the tour becomes a mix of science, patience, and luck.

The important part: weather and sightings are not guaranteed. The tour depends on conditions, and in summer you’re also working against bright evening light and a sky that never fully goes dark. Add rain or heavy cloud, and your odds drop fast.

Still, I like that the tour doesn’t just stop at the baths. It gives you a structured plan: you’ve spent the evening warm and comfortable, and then you move into the search mode as a group. If you’ve been hoping for aurora, this turns that hope into an action plan.

If you don’t see lights

The tour includes an upside if the sky doesn’t deliver. If you don’t see any lights on this tour, the operator offers you a chance to join their Northern Lights Tour for free by contacting customer service. That’s a nice fairness feature because it acknowledges the reality of Iceland weather.

Timing and Return: A Late Night That Still Feels Organized

The tour runs about 7 hours and ends back around just after midnight at the meeting point in Reykjavik. Return times can vary, which makes sense because the aurora search depends on what you can actually see from the sky.

One detail I appreciate: the tour is designed around a clear arc—baths first for real warmth and comfort, then lights search. That ordering matters because if you reversed it, you could end up cold and disappointed for longer. Here, you get your “guaranteed enjoyment” up front.

Also note the maximum group size is 99 travelers. That’s not tiny, so it can get busy during peak spa moments. It’s still manageable, but you’ll want to keep your expectations realistic about how quickly you’ll move between pools.

What You’ll Actually Do: A Clear, Step-by-Step Itinerary

Here’s the shape of the evening in a practical timeline.

Depart Reykjavik (around 6:00 pm): Pickup may be available from central Reykjavik or hotels, or you meet at the BSÍ101 area. You travel east in a comfortable coach with onboard commentary.

Arrive at Laugarvatn Fontana: You enter the wellness complex, change into your bathing suit, then use your time at the baths.

Geothermal soaking and steam: You can rotate through outdoor mineral pools and add time in the Gufan steam cabins.

Optional lake dip: If you want the full hot-to-cold experience, you access the lake from a nearby platform.

Northern Lights hunt: After Fontana, you search for aurora conditions. This part is weather dependent.

Return to Reykjavik: The tour drops you back near the meeting point just after midnight.

This flow is the key: Fontana is the anchor, and the Northern Lights hunt is the bonus—handled in a way that keeps you warm and comfortable while you wait for the sky to show you something.

What to Pack: Swimsuit, Towel, and Warm Layers for the Evening Switch

This is an easy tour to prepare for, but you do need to think about the “temperature flip.” You’ll be in warm pools and steam, then outside in cooler air for the aurora hunt.

Bring:

• Swimsuit
• Towel

Towel and swimsuit can also be rented on the spot, so you’re not totally stuck if you forgot. Still, if you have the option, bring your own for comfort and speed.

And don’t treat the cold like background noise. The tour notes that you should dress warmly, and the evening can feel sharp when you’re stepping out after a soak. Pack layers you can add fast—especially outerwear for the lights hunt portion.

Food Expectations: Don’t Assume Dinner Is Included

Dinner is listed as not included. That matters for planning, because you’re out for about 7 hours and you start in early evening.

What I’d do in your shoes: plan snacks or a light meal before you go, especially if you know you get hungry during long bus rides. You can also use on-site food options if they’re available, but don’t count on a formal dinner being part of the tour price.

In fact, one person noted that a buffet-style option was good but recommended getting there quickly. That’s a useful reminder: if there is food available at the complex, timing may matter.

Value for $249: Why This Might Be a Good Use of Your Iceland Evening

At $249, you’re paying for more than a bus ride. You’re buying:

• Round-trip transport from Reykjavik (with pickup options)
• A professional guide
• Admission to Fontana Wellness
• A structured Northern Lights hunt
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus

For Iceland, the geothermal part alone has real value because admission plus the time at a well-known facility isn’t just casual entertainment. You also get the guide’s context on geothermal geology while you’re traveling, which makes the whole trip feel purposeful instead of just scenic driving.

Is it expensive? It’s not cheap. But if you were going to spend a chunk of your evening doing geothermal baths anyway, this bundles transport and a lights search into one ticket. That saves time and decision fatigue.

The biggest value question is also the biggest truth: you’re not guaranteed Northern Lights. If your heart is set on seeing them, treat the baths as the main win. If you want a calm, warm geothermal evening and the chance to add aurora, this price starts to look more fair.

Who This Tour Suits Best

This works especially well if you:

• Want a geothermal soak without dealing with your own car logistics
• Are visiting in summer and still want a realistic aurora attempt
• Like having a planned structure rather than wandering the evening
• Want both warm pools and steam cabins in one stop

It’s less ideal if you:

• Need a guaranteed Northern Lights sighting (this one isn’t)
• Hate the idea of outdoor facilities where you’ll be in and out of cold air
• Prefer private, quiet bathing experiences over a group setting (the group can be large)

Should You Book This Northern Lights and Geothermal Baths Adventure?

If you’re choosing between a geothermal-only plan and adding an aurora search, I’d book this when you want the “Iceland evening ritual” feeling: warm steam, outdoor mineral pools, and a proper evening attempt at the sky.

Skip it only if aurora is your single non-negotiable goal. Summer makes aurora harder, and weather can shut the door quickly. But if you can enjoy the warm spa even when the lights don’t show, this tour gives you a strong use of time and a very clear itinerary.

FAQ

FAQ

What time does the tour start in Reykjavik?

The tour starts at 6:00 pm at BSÍ101 Reykjavík.

Do I get pickup from my hotel?

Pickup is offered from central Reykjavik or hotels. If not, you can meet your guide at a central location.

How long is the tour?

The duration is listed as about 7 hours (return around just after midnight, with return times that can vary).

Is admission to the geothermal baths included?

Yes. Admission to the Fontana Wellness is included, along with bus fare and a professional guide.

What’s included for the Northern Lights part?

The tour includes a Northern Light Hunt, but it depends on weather and sightings are not guaranteed.

Can I swim in Lake Laugarvatn?

Yes, there’s an optional swim in the lake waters, accessed from a nearby platform.

Do I need to bring a swimsuit and towel?

Yes, you should bring a swimsuit and a towel. You can also rent them on the spot.

Is dinner included in the price?

No. Dinner is not included.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

It operates in all weather conditions, but aurora sightings depend on weather and may not happen.

What happens if there are no Northern Lights on the tour?

If you don’t see any lights on the tour, you’ll be offered the chance to join their Northern Lights Tour for free by contacting customer service.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Most travelers can participate, and children must be accompanied by an adult.