Reykjavik: Evening Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights Hunt

The best part of this four-hour evening is the contrast: first you walk through a 5,000-year-old lava tube, then you head into the dark Icelandic countryside hoping the sky will put on its own show. Raufarhólshellir is not just a hollow in the ground. Mineral deposits color its walls with shades of emerald, ruby, turquoise, and lilac.

I like the small minibus, which can reach quiet spots that larger coaches cannot, and the generous retry policy if the Northern Lights stay hidden. Hot cocoa, chocolate, blankets, and complimentary Aurora photographs are thoughtful touches. The catch is simple: the lights are natural, so even a determined guide cannot promise them.

Key points to know before booking

• Two very different sights in one evening: Walk through Raufarhólshellir, then search the open countryside for the Aurora.
• The cave is easy but uneven: Footbridges and prepared paths appear in places, but natural rocky ground remains underfoot.
• Small-group transport helps: The minibus can use offbeat viewing areas beyond the reach of larger buses.
• Your guide does real searching: The Northern Lights portion can last hours if conditions offer a chance of a sighting.
• Free retry if the sky stays cloudy: You can rebook the Northern Lights minibus tour for up to three years.
• The price is strongest when you value both parts: At $189 per person, you are paying for a guided cave visit, transport, equipment, and a serious Aurora attempt.

Raufarhólshellir gives the evening a dependable start

Northern Lights tours always carry a little risk. Clouds can arrive, skies can close, and solar activity is beyond anyone’s control. The lava tunnel solves part of that problem because the first half of your evening does not depend on the weather.

After pickup in Reykjavík, the minibus takes about 45 minutes toward the Blue Mountains and Raufarhólshellir. The drive gives your guide time to explain Icelandic nature and history, and several past departures have had guides who added useful local stories along the way.

At the cave, you receive a safety briefing and the equipment needed for the walk. That includes a helmet and head torch, with crampons supplied in winter. The tour is suitable for people who can walk independently, but you should expect uneven surfaces rather than a smooth museum floor.

The cave walk lasts about an hour. It is not a strenuous expedition, yet you need steady footwear and warm clothes. Some parts use paths and footbridges, while other sections retain the rough volcanic ground created when the lava flowed.

Inside the ancient lava tube

Raufarhólshellir formed during an eruption more than 5,000 years ago. As the outer lava cooled, molten rock continued moving beneath the surface. When the flow ended, it left behind the tube you explore today.

The most appealing feature is the color. Mineral deposits on the walls can show green, red, blue, and purple shades. Your caving guide uses the head torches to point out these details and explain how volcanic activity shaped the cave.

The late-evening timing changes the mood. Instead of a bright daytime visit, you move through the tunnel by headlamp, with the light revealing one section at a time. That makes the cave feel more atmospheric, although it also means you should not expect every detail to be brightly lit all at once.

The guide matters here. Isla, one guide praised for this tour, was noted for explaining the cave’s history while keeping people safe. The experience works best when you listen closely, since the point is not simply to walk through a tunnel but to understand why its walls look the way they do.

The cave is also the more reliable half of the experience. Even if thick cloud later defeats the Aurora hunt, you still receive a worthwhile geological visit. Several departures have had only a few people, making the evening feel calm and less crowded than a standard daytime excursion.

A minibus search for the Northern Lights

Once you leave the cave, the focus shifts to the sky. The tour spends roughly two and a half hours at viewpoints and countryside locations, with the guide checking conditions and choosing where to stop.

This is not a single guaranteed viewing platform. Your guide may move the group in search of clearer skies, and the minibus makes that practical. Large coaches are tied to bigger roads and fixed stopping areas, while this smaller vehicle can reach less accessible places.

The timing can vary in feel. On a lucky night, the Aurora may appear soon after the cave, as happened for one departure when the lights came out almost immediately. On another night, you may spend hours outside waiting for a break in the clouds. One group did not get home until after 1 a.m., so do not plan an early-morning activity for the following day.

Your guide’s effort is important, but it cannot overcome solid cloud. Palli has been singled out for staying focused on the search, while Greta has been praised for finding a memorable display. Those names give you a sense of the guide style this operator aims for: active searching, local explanation, and plenty of encouragement rather than a quick stop followed by a drive back.

The sensible way to judge this part is not simply by asking if the lights appeared. Ask if you want a guide who will make a serious attempt. This tour gives you that attempt, plus a free retry if the sky refuses to cooperate.

Hot cocoa, blankets, and practical comfort

Icelandic nights can be cold even when you are eager to keep looking upward. The tour provides blankets, Icelandic hot cocoa, and chocolate during the Aurora search. Those small comforts matter because standing still in darkness is much colder than walking through the cave.

Warm clothing remains your responsibility. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a camera. In winter, crampons are included, but they do not replace sensible footwear or careful footing.

The hot drinks are not a meal, so eat beforehand if you need a proper dinner. The supplied chocolate and lava biscuits can add a pleasant Icelandic snack, but this should not be treated as a food tour.

Free Wi-Fi on the bus is useful during the longer transfer and waiting periods. It will not make a cloudy sky clearer, but it can help you stay connected while the guide checks conditions and chooses the next stop.

Aurora photographs are a useful extra

The guide will take complimentary photographs of you with the Northern Lights if the Aurora appears. This is more useful than it may sound. Night photography can be tricky, and you may be too busy watching the sky to manage camera settings and poses.

Do bring your own camera if you want personal shots, but keep expectations sensible. The supplied photographs depend on the lights appearing and on conditions at the time. You should not book the tour solely for a guaranteed portrait.

When the Aurora does show, the photos give you a chance to be part of the scene rather than returning home with only pictures of the sky. That personal record is one of the stronger extras included in the price.

Is $189 a fair price?

At $189 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the Northern Lights. It can still be good value if you want a full evening that combines a guaranteed cave visit with a serious Aurora search.

The price includes Reykjavík pickup and drop-off, the 45-minute transfer each way, the cave guide, safety equipment, the English-speaking Northern Lights guide, Wi-Fi, hot drinks, blankets, and Aurora photos. It also includes the option to retry the Northern Lights portion for free for up to three years if no sighting occurs.

That last point changes the calculation. You are not buying certainty, but you are buying another chance without paying for a second Aurora minibus tour. The cave entry is not included on retry tours, so the free retry applies to the Northern Lights portion only.

I would see the value this way:

• Good value for a first Iceland visit: You get geology, countryside, transport, and an Aurora attempt in one evening.
• Less attractive if you only want the lights: A dedicated Aurora tour may suit you better, especially if you have already visited the cave.
• Strong value for flexible schedules: The retry option is useful if you are staying in Iceland for several nights or expect to return within three years.
• Worth considering for comfort: Blankets, cocoa, and a small vehicle make long waits easier than standing beside a large coach.

Book this early in your stay if the Aurora is a priority. If clouds spoil the first attempt, you have time to use the free retry. The advice comes directly from the nature of the tour: do not leave your only chance until the final night.

Pickup details can affect your evening

Pickup begins at 7:30 p.m. from selected locations around Reykjavík. The list includes central bus stops, hotels, the Bus Terminal, Skarfabakki Harbour, and several guesthouses and hotels.

You must confirm or change your pickup location at least 48 hours before the tour by contacting the operator. Be ready at the designated point, and allow up to 30 minutes for the minibus to arrive because traffic and multiple pickup stops can slow the start.

The same general network is used for drop-off. Your return location may not be reached immediately after the countryside search, especially if the guide spends extra time looking for a break in the clouds.

This is a guaranteed departure, which is helpful when you are building a tight Iceland schedule. The Aurora itself remains unguaranteed.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

I recommend this tour if you want more than a quick roadside Aurora stop. The cave gives you a solid attraction even on a cloudy night, while the countryside search adds the chance of a major natural spectacle.

It suits you particularly well if:

• You want a guided introduction to Icelandic geology.
• You are comfortable walking on uneven ground.
• You prefer a minibus to a large coach.
• You appreciate a guide who keeps searching when conditions are promising.
• You have enough time to use a free retry if needed.
• You want a photograph of yourself with the Aurora.

It is a weaker match if you have mobility limitations, dislike uneven surfaces, or need to be back at a precise time. The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and the Aurora search can run late.

Families and mixed-age groups can consider it if everyone can manage the walk. The cave route is described as easy, but easy does not mean fully accessible. Natural terrain remains part of the visit.

My verdict: book it for the two-part evening

I would book the Reykjavik Evening Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights Hunt if I wanted one well-filled night with a reliable geological attraction and a genuine chance to see the Aurora. Raufarhólshellir is the safety net, and the retry policy takes some sting out of cloudy conditions.

Book it early in your stay, bring serious warm clothing, and keep the next morning free if possible. If you need guaranteed lights, no tour can provide that. If you want a determined guide, an unusual cave, small-vehicle access, hot cocoa, and a second chance when the sky misbehaves, this $189 experience makes a strong case.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about four hours, though the Northern Lights search can sometimes run late depending on conditions and the guide’s efforts to find clear skies.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup from selected Reykjavík locations begins at 7:30 p.m. Arrival can take up to 30 minutes depending on traffic and the pickup location.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The Aurora is a natural phenomenon, and visibility depends on weather and cloud conditions.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

You can rebook the Northern Lights minibus tour for free, with retries valid for up to three years. Entry to the lava tunnel is not included on retry tours.

What equipment is provided for the lava tunnel?

The tour provides a helmet and head torch, plus crampons in winter. You should bring comfortable shoes and warm, weather-appropriate clothing.

Is the lava tunnel walk difficult?

The walk is described as easy, but you must be comfortable on uneven surfaces. Some sections have paths and footbridges, while others use natural terrain.

Is pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík are included at selected hotels, bus stops, the Bus Terminal, Skarfabakki Harbour, and other designated locations.