Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour

The clever part of this tour is the pairing of Iceland’s best-known day route with an evening search for the Northern Lights. You see Kerið crater, Geysir, Gullfoss, and Þingvellir, soak at the Secret Lagoon, then head into the countryside after dark without renting a car.

I like the value: both entrance fees, transport, WiFi, and guides are included for $185. I also like the range of the day, from boiling water and glacial waterfalls to Icelandic parliament history and a warm geothermal pool. The catch is simple: this is a very long day, and the Northern Lights are never guaranteed. Pickup can also be disorderly, especially at busy Reykjavík bus stops.

Quick take: what this package does well

• See four major Iceland sights in one day: Kerið, Geysir, Gullfoss, and Þingvellir all fit into one guided route.
• The Secret Lagoon admission is included: You can warm up in the geothermal pool rather than paying for a separate visit.
• Two different bus tours make the schedule possible: The evening Northern Lights hunt uses a separate bus and guide.
• Guides can add real character: Guides such as Anna, Daniel, Sunny, Matt, and others have been praised for local stories, clear explanations, and practical help.
• Plan for a 13.5-hour outing: The day begins around 8:00 a.m., with evening pickup for the aurora tour at about 8:30 p.m.
• Pickup is the weak spot: Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg can be crowded, with several coaches loading at once and no reserved seating.

Why the Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon pairing works

I see this as a broad first taste of Iceland rather than a slow, intimate expedition. You cover famous sights efficiently, with a guide handling the roads and timing while you watch the scenery change outside the window.

The route gives you several different kinds of Iceland in quick succession. At Kerið, you look into a volcanic crater. At Geysir, you wait for hot water to erupt from the ground. Gullfoss supplies the great waterfall moment. Þingvellir adds both geology and national history. The Secret Lagoon then gives your body a break before the colder evening hunt.

The price makes sense if you want all of those elements and would otherwise need to arrange separate transport, admission, and an aurora excursion. It is less attractive if you prefer a small group, flexible meal stops, or long stretches at one place.

The morning portion can hold up to 60 people, so this is not a private outing. That larger format keeps the cost down, but it also means fixed departure times, shared stops, and possible crowds at the most popular sites.

Starting at Reykjavík’s Bus Stop 12

The listed meeting point is Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes, so you should arrive early and stay alert.

This is the part I would handle with care. Several buses may be nearby, and drivers or guides may call names while engines run and people gather around different coaches. The pickup for the Northern Lights tour uses the same general meeting point and can feel just as busy.

You do not get to reserve seats. If sitting together matters to you, arrive early and ask the guide for help as soon as you board. Families should take this seriously, especially if a child needs a predictable seating arrangement or extra support during a long day.

Once you are on the right bus, the experience becomes much easier. The driver handles Iceland’s roads, and the guide can explain what you are seeing without forcing you to study a map or watch the clock.

Kerið crater: a compact volcanic stop

Kerið is an ancient volcanic crater filled with a small lake. The stop allows time to walk around the rim and take the winding path down toward the water.

This is a good early stop because it gives you a close look at Iceland’s volcanic character without requiring a long hike. You can keep the walk short, stay near the bus, or spend more time following the rim if conditions suit you.

The entrance fee is included, which is useful because this is one of the tour’s few paid nature stops. The crater can also give you some of the day’s most colorful views, with the water set inside the dark volcanic bowl.

Wear shoes with a firm grip. The tour information describes walking trails and a path down into the crater, but it does not promise easy footing in every kind of weather. If the ground is wet or icy, you may prefer the upper path.

Secret Lagoon: a warm pause in the middle of the day

The Secret Lagoon, also called Gamla Laugin, is one of the tour’s main attractions. It is described as Iceland’s oldest geothermal pool, and the ticket is included in your tour price.

The pool is a welcome change after outdoor stops at the crater and waterfalls. You can sit in naturally heated water, watch a small geyser erupt nearby, and let the cold air stay outside for a while.

You need to bring a swimsuit and towel, or rent them for an added fee. Lockers, showers, hair dryers, and body wash facilities are available. The shower routine is important to understand before booking: you must shower without a swimsuit before entering, and the shower area does not offer much private enclosure. If you are modest, this may be the one part of the package that gives you pause.

The pool itself is not a polished city spa. One description notes algae in the water, which is part of the natural hot-spring setting. You may find the atmosphere more rustic than at Reykjavík’s modern pools. That is either the appeal or the drawback, depending on what you want.

The order of stops can vary. The supplied schedule places the Secret Lagoon after the Golden Circle sights, while some experiences have put the pool earlier in the day. Either way, plan on a substantial stop of about two and a half hours, including changing time and the visit itself.

Geysir and Strokkur: wait for the earth to perform

The Geysir geothermal area gives you the most reliable natural show of the day. The original Geysir gave its name to the word used around the world, though it is no longer the regular performer.

That role belongs to Strokkur. It erupts roughly every ten minutes, sometimes sending steam and hot water as high as 40 meters. You do not need to wonder if you missed the only event. With about 75 minutes at the site, you should have several chances to see it.

Stay on the marked paths and give the steaming pools plenty of room. The hot water is not a photo prop. Wind can also send steam across the walking area, so a waterproof outer layer is useful even when rain is not falling.

There is a visitor area with food, drinks, shops, and toilets. This is one of the most practical places to buy lunch, since lunch is not part of the tour price. One stop has sometimes been given extra time for a meal, but you should still budget for buying your own food.

Gullfoss: Iceland’s powerful waterfall stop

Gullfoss is the visual heavyweight of the Golden Circle. Glacial meltwater from Langjökull feeds this two-level waterfall, and several viewing points let you see the falls from different angles.

The stop itself is shorter than the time at Geysir, but 40 minutes can be enough for the main viewpoints. You may feel spray on your face near the falls, even on a dry day. In winter, ice can transform the scene, though a complete freeze is increasingly unusual.

Bring a waterproof jacket and protect your phone if you plan to take pictures close to the water. The walkway gives you strong views without requiring a major hike, but you should still expect wind, spray, and slippery patches in cold weather.

A café near the falls can provide a hot drink. That small comfort matters after several outdoor stops, especially if you are continuing into an evening spent waiting in the cold for aurora activity.

Þingvellir: geology and the birth of parliament

Þingvellir National Park gives the tour more meaning than a simple sightseeing loop. Iceland’s Alþingi parliament first met here in the late tenth century, when chieftains gathered to discuss the country’s affairs.

The site also sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the European and American tectonic plates pull apart. Iceland is unusual because this geological boundary can be seen on land.

A guide may walk you to a viewpoint and explain the site before giving you time to explore on your own. That combination works well. You get context first, then freedom to look around at your own pace.

The stop involves walking, but you can remain near the bus if you do not want to go far. The supplied timing allows about 40 minutes at the site, with long stretches of driving before or after it. Those road sections are not wasted if you enjoy watching Iceland’s changing scenery, but they do add to the day’s fatigue.

The long break between tours

The morning route and the Northern Lights hunt are separate bus tours. The evening pickup begins at about 8:30 p.m. and can also take up to 30 minutes.

That creates a useful break, but not a large one. Some schedules leave roughly two hours between the tours, so you may have time to return to your hotel, eat, or warm up, but not enough for a relaxed dinner across town.

I would pack food for the gap or buy something during the day. Lunch is not included, and you do not want to begin the evening hunt hungry. A warm drink, extra socks, and a charged phone are also worth carrying.

Your evening guide may spend time explaining the aurora, Iceland, and the plan for the night. Guides have also helped with camera settings and taken photos for people in the group. That assistance can be especially useful because phone cameras often need different settings than people expect in low light.

Northern Lights hunting: exciting, but never certain

The evening portion lasts about three hours. The bus heads into the countryside, looking for darker skies and clearer conditions. If clouds block one area, the guide may try other locations.

This is a search, not a scheduled performance. You might see the lights soon after leaving Reykjavík, or you might see only a faint glow, or nothing at all. Several outings have been canceled or rescheduled because of weather and cloud cover. When conditions prevent the trip, the stated policy offers a different date or a full refund.

That weather policy is important, but it cannot change the basic truth of aurora tours: nobody can promise a display. I would book this package for the Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon first, then treat the lights as a possible bonus.

Dress more warmly than the temperature reading suggests. Wind can make a mild evening feel bitter when you are standing outside beside a dark road. An ankle-length coat, several layers, gloves, and a hat are sensible choices. You may also receive a small cup of hot chocolate during the hunt, but do not rely on that as your only source of warmth.

The evening bus can be less quiet than you expect. Guides may continue talking during the drive, and the group may be large. If you are hoping to sleep between aurora stops, bring earplugs, but keep listening for instructions about when to leave the bus.

Guides, drivers, and the human side of the day

The strongest part of this experience is often the guide on the morning route. Anna has been praised for energy, humor, local stories, and clear explanations. Daniel has been described as patient and informative, while Sunny has been singled out for explaining both the sights and everyday Icelandic life.

Matt has also been praised for organization, detailed commentary, and helping with group photographs. Names vary by departure, so you should not book expecting one particular person. The useful point is that the guide can make a long bus ride feel purposeful instead of merely filling time.

The drivers matter too. Smooth driving becomes a real benefit after many hours on the road. You can relax more when the person at the wheel knows the route and handles the weather with care.

The Northern Lights guide may be more or less interactive depending on the departure. Some guides work hard to find clear skies and help with photos. Others may give less personal attention. That variation is normal on a large, low-cost group tour.

Is $185 a good value?

For $185 per person, you receive two bus tours, transport from central Reykjavík, admission to Kerið, admission to the Secret Lagoon, WiFi, and guides. You also get a full day of sightseeing without paying for a rental car or navigating unfamiliar roads.

I consider that good value for a first visit, especially if your time in Iceland is short. Separate trips to the Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon, and Northern Lights would likely require more planning and transport costs.

The tradeoff is comfort and flexibility. You cannot reserve seats, the group may be large, the pickup can be chaotic, and the timetable leaves little room to linger. You also pay for the aurora search even though nature may cancel it or provide no visible lights.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this package if you have one free day, want the major Golden Circle sights, like the idea of a geothermal soak, and do not want to drive. It suits solo visitors, couples, and families who value a clear route and a lot of scenery in a short Iceland visit.

It is also a practical choice for a stopover. You can cover the country’s most famous nearby sights in one day, then try for the Northern Lights that night.

I would look elsewhere if you dislike large coaches, need guaranteed family seating, want a quiet evening, or prefer a slower pace. People with strong privacy concerns should also read the Secret Lagoon shower rules carefully before booking.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes two bus tours on the same day, transport from a central Reykjavík meeting point, entrance to Kerið, entrance to the Secret Lagoon, guides, and WiFi on board. Lunch is not included.

How long does the full experience last?

The advertised duration is about 13 hours and 30 minutes. The daytime tour starts around 8:00 a.m., and the Northern Lights pickup begins around 8:30 p.m. The evening search lasts about three hours.

Where does the tour start and finish?

The listed meeting point is Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6, Reykjavík. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Do I need to bring a swimsuit and towel?

Yes. You should bring both for the Secret Lagoon. Swimsuits and towels can also be rented there for an additional fee.

Is lunch provided?

No. Lunch is not included. Food and drinks can be purchased at stops such as the Geysir visitor area, and you should plan ahead for the long day.

What happens if the Northern Lights tour is canceled?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The lights themselves are not guaranteed, even when the bus tour runs.