Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour

The best thing about this tour is the sheer amount of Iceland you cover in one day: a volcanic crater, steaming geysers, a huge waterfall, an old parliament site, a geothermal soak, and a night hunt for the aurora. I especially like the included Secret Lagoon entry and the fact that you do not need to drive Iceland’s winter roads yourself.

I also like the good mix of walking and sitting. You get time at each main stop, with toilets and food options along the route, and guides such as Anna, Sunny, Daniel, and Darren have brought plenty of local stories and practical help. The catch is the schedule: this is a 13-and-a-half-hour day, with only about two hours between the daytime tour and the evening bus.

Key points to know before booking

• Kerið entry is included, with a path around the volcanic crater and another down toward the lake.
• The Secret Lagoon is a real stop, not a quick photo break, with about two and a half hours set aside for changing and soaking.
• Strokkur usually erupts every few minutes, so you have several chances to see the main geyser fire upward.
• Gullfoss is the visual star of the Golden Circle, with more than one viewing area and plenty of spray in the air.
• The Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and poor weather can cancel or spoil the evening outing.
• Pickup at Bus Stop 12 can be confusing, especially when several large buses arrive together.

One long Iceland day, from crater to aurora

This package combines two separate bus outings. The daytime trip begins at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6, with pickup starting around 8:00 a.m. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes, so I would arrive early and keep your phone handy.

The evening Northern Lights trip uses a different bus. Pickup begins around 8:30 p.m. at the same location and can also take 30 minutes. The tour ends back at the meeting point, which makes this simple for a central Reykjavik stay, but less convenient if you are staying far from the city center.

The overall price is $185 per person. That is a fair deal if you want the major Golden Circle sights, paid admission to Kerið and the Secret Lagoon, transport, guides, and a separate aurora hunt. You still need to buy lunch, and the long day means you are paying partly for convenience and time saved behind the wheel.

Kerið crater gives you an early taste of Iceland’s geology

Kerið is a red volcanic crater with a blue-green lake inside. The colors can be striking, especially against snow or dark volcanic soil. You have about 25 minutes at the site, with entry included.

I like this stop because it adds something different before the larger Golden Circle sights. You can walk around the rim, take photographs, and follow a winding path down toward the water. If you stay near the bus, it is a fairly manageable visit. If you walk the full route and go down into the crater, watch your footing and allow enough time to return.

The stop is short, so you will not have time for a slow, full circuit. Still, the included ticket makes it a useful addition rather than another roadside view. Some travelers on this kind of trip might skip Kerið when driving independently, so having it built into the route is a practical advantage.

Secret Lagoon is the day’s most relaxing stop

The Secret Lagoon, or Gamla Laugin, is Iceland’s oldest geothermal pool. The tour allows roughly two hours and 35 minutes here, which gives you time to change, shower, soak, and dry off without rushing straight back onto the bus.

The pool is warm and surrounded by geothermal features. A small geyser erupts nearby every few minutes, and you can see hot springs and bubbling water around the site. The setting feels simpler and less polished than some of Iceland’s newer bathing places, which is part of its appeal.

You need to bring a swimsuit and towel. Towels and swimwear can be rented for an extra fee. Lockers, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hair dryers are available.

One important cultural and practical note: the changing routine requires a naked shower before entering the pool, with limited privacy in the shower area. If you are modest, this may be the part of the tour you like least. It is worth knowing before you book, since this is not a minor detail.

The pool itself has been praised for its hot, calm water, but one account found it less clean-looking than newer, man-made lagoons because of algae in the water. I would approach it as an old natural hot spring, not a sleek spa. That difference helps set expectations.

Geysir and Strokkur deliver the classic Iceland moment

The Geysir geothermal area gets about 75 minutes. The word geyser comes from Geysir, the original Icelandic name that entered common use around the world. The original Geysir is mostly inactive now, but nearby Strokkur provides the show.

Strokkur commonly erupts every 10 minutes or so, though the timing varies. It can send steam and hot water high into the air, with past eruptions reaching around 40 meters. You have enough time to watch several cycles, so do not leave after the first quiet spell.

Walk carefully around the steaming pools and marked paths. The ground is hot beneath the surface, and the area can feel cold and windy at the same time. There is a visitor center with food, drinks, toilets, and shops. The tour sometimes allows extra time here for lunch, making it the most practical meal stop.

I would plan to buy lunch at Geysir rather than count on finding a full meal elsewhere. The tour does not include food, and a pastry or snack from a fuel stop may not be enough to carry you through the evening. Icelandic food stops are convenient, but prices can be high, so you may prefer to bring something from Reykjavik.

Gullfoss is the day’s big visual payoff

Gullfoss means Golden Falls, and it is one of Iceland’s most forceful waterfalls. Glacial meltwater from Langjökull feeds the wide, two-level cascade. The water drops through separate stages and cuts into a deep gorge, creating a roar that you feel before you fully take in the view.

You get about 40 minutes here. That is enough for the main viewpoints and photographs, though not enough for a leisurely walk along every path. Several viewing areas offer different angles. Near the lower viewpoints, spray can reach you, so wear a waterproof outer layer and protect cameras and phones.

The falls can look radically different depending on the season. In winter, ice gathers around the edges and on nearby paths. In especially harsh winters, parts of Gullfoss have frozen, although this is now uncommon. Snow and wind can also make the walk feel much colder than the temperature suggests.

I would not treat this as a quick stop. Use the full time, but keep an eye on the guide’s instructions. The bus has a schedule, and missing the departure would be a serious problem on such a long day.

Þingvellir connects Icelandic politics and moving plates

Þingvellir National Park is the final major daytime sight and receives about 40 minutes on site, with substantial driving before and after it. The place matters for two very different reasons.

First, Iceland’s Alþingi parliament first met here in the late 10th century. Chieftains traveled from across the country to meet, settle disputes, and discuss public matters. A guide can make the site far more meaningful than a quick walk through an attractive valley, and Anna has been praised for combining history with local stories during this portion of the route.

Second, Þingvellir sits along 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. You can walk between rock formations and understand the basic shape of the rift without needing a geology lecture.

The stop is not the longest, so I would stay close when the guide begins explaining the site. After that, you can explore independently. The paths may be uneven or slippery in poor weather, so sturdy shoes matter more here than fashionable ones.

The Northern Lights bus is a separate evening gamble

After the daytime tour, you have roughly two hours before returning to Bus Stop 12 for the Northern Lights outing. That break is useful, but it is not generous. You may have time for a quick meal, a warm drink, and a short rest, but not much more.

The evening trip lasts about three hours. Your new guide and driver take you outside Reykjavik, looking for darker skies and clearer conditions. They may stop in more than one place if clouds block the view. Guides have also helped with camera settings and taken photographs for visitors. Darren, for example, has been praised for checking that people were comfortable and helping them get usable pictures. Hot chocolate may be served during the wait.

Still, the aurora is a natural event, not a scheduled performance. Clear skies do not guarantee visible lights, and cloud or poor weather can cancel the trip. Several people have been able to rebook after a cancellation or unsuccessful outing, but you should confirm the available arrangement at the time of booking.

The Northern Lights portion can also feel tiring after the Golden Circle. You may spend time standing outside in cold, wind, and darkness. Wear thermal layers, a warm hat, gloves, and shoes that can handle wet or icy ground. Even temperatures that look mild on paper can feel harsh when you are waiting in the open.

Guides make a real difference on a crowded bus

The daytime bus can carry up to 60 people. That size helps keep the price down, but it also means a less personal experience than a small minibus tour. You may sit among families, solo visitors, and large groups, and there is no option to reserve seats in advance.

The best guides make the bus time useful. Anna has been praised for energy, humor, and clear explanations. Sunny has been described as mixing Icelandic culture with the sights, while Daniel has been praised for patience and local information. Other guides, including Heidi, Vic, and Dennis, have also been singled out for strong commentary. Driver Szymon and others have been praised for smooth, careful driving.

WiFi is included on board, which helps during the long transfers, though I would not rely on it for anything urgent. The changing scenery, stories, and rest stops break up the driving, but you are still on a bus for much of the day.

The weak point is organization at pickup. Bus Stop 12 can become a crowd of buses, engines, names, and people trying to work out where to stand. Some passengers have missed the evening departure after not hearing their names called. I would arrive early, ask staff which bus is yours, and stay near the meeting point until your group has been checked in.

What to bring for comfort and value

I would pack light, but not lightly prepared. Your day includes outdoor viewpoints, a heated pool, bus travel, and a late-night wait in the countryside.

Bring:

• Warm layers and a waterproof jacket
• Gloves, hat, and sturdy walking shoes
• Swimsuit and towel, or money to rent them
• Water and snacks
• A charged phone and portable battery
• A small bag for wet swimwear
• Camera protection for spray at Gullfoss

Lunch is not included. You can buy food around Geysir, and some stops have cafes or bakeries. Bringing a snack from Reykjavik gives you more control and helps avoid spending heavily at every stop.

The tour is suitable for most people, but you need to be comfortable walking short distances, handling outdoor weather, changing at a public pool, and staying out late. Families can enjoy it, though the lack of reserved seating may split a group across the bus. If anyone in your party needs predictable seating or a quieter setup, a smaller private tour may be a better fit.

Is $185 a good deal?

For a single day, the price is strong. You receive two bus tours, transport from central Reykjavik, experienced guides, WiFi, Kerið admission, and Secret Lagoon admission. Booking each part separately could cost more and would require you to manage timing, driving, parking, and the transfer back to the city.

The tradeoff is scale and stamina. A 60-person bus is not intimate, the pickup process can be messy, and the Northern Lights outing may produce no lights at all. You are buying access and convenience, not certainty.

I think the package is especially good for a first Iceland visit, a short stopover, solo visitors, and anyone who does not want to drive. It also works well if you want to combine famous sights with a hot spring rather than spend the whole day on viewpoints.

Should you book this Golden Circle and Northern Lights package?

Book it if you want the major Golden Circle sights, a geothermal soak, and a serious attempt at seeing the aurora in one packed day. The strongest parts are the variety, the included Secret Lagoon, the time at Geysir and Gullfoss, and the guides who add useful stories instead of simply pointing out scenery.

Think twice if you dislike large groups, need guaranteed seats together, or want a relaxed holiday pace. The pickup confusion and very long day are real drawbacks. I would also leave room in your schedule for another Northern Lights chance, since clouds and weather can cancel the evening portion.

For many first-time visitors, this is a sensible use of one full day in Iceland. Just arrive early for both pickups, bring food and serious cold-weather clothing, and treat the aurora as a bonus rather than a promise.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Bus Stop 12, Höfðatorg, Þórunnartún 6, in central Reykjavik. Pickup can take up to 30 minutes.

What time does the daytime tour begin?

The morning tour starts at 8:00 a.m. The evening Northern Lights pickup begins around 8:30 p.m. at the same meeting point.

Are the Kerið and Secret Lagoon entrance fees included?

Yes. Admission to Kerið and the Secret Lagoon is included in the tour price.

Do I need to bring a towel and swimsuit?

You should bring both. Swimwear and towels can also be rented at the Secret Lagoon for an additional fee.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though food and drink are available at stops such as the Geysir visitor center.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather cancels the experience, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The Northern Lights themselves are not guaranteed.