Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon & Northern Lights
by Arctic Adventures · Northern lights · Lagoons & spas · Golden Circle
- Fine on your own
from €227.5 per person
Next departure: Thu 22 Oct
1 / 15
Duration
12 hours
Difficulty
Very easy
Season
Sep – Apr
Starts in
Reykjavík
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Guide
Guided in English
Departs
09:00
Minimum age
6
Cancellation
Free until 24 hours before
About this experience
Trip difficulty: 2/5, easy.
Tour Highlights: - Natural geothermal pool - Golden Circle- Geysir hot spring- Gullfoss waterfall- Thingvellir National Park- Northern lights hunt
The Golden Circle
The Golden Circle tour allows visitors to get in touch with some of Iceland’s most famous and exciting natural phenomena and the "must-see" spots when visiting the country. Our first stop is at the Thingvellir National Park, where Iceland’s first parliament was founded in the year 930 AD. From Þingvellir we head to the geothermal area around the Geysir hot spring. From there we continue on to Gullfoss, “the Golden waterfall”, where you can get really close and experience its full power first hand.
Secret Lagoon
After experiencing some of the most beautiful gems Iceland has to offer, we head to the ‘Gamla Laugin’ Secret Lagoon in the small village of Fludir. This lagoon is a natural hot spring pool, located in a geothermal area, and it´s the oldest swimming pool in Iceland.
After an action packed day exploring Iceland, your guide will drop you off in Reykjavik at your accommodation. You will have some time to prepare for the nights excursion to track down the northern lights.
Northern Lights
We will drive you to the best locations, far from city lights which lead to visual contamination. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you all about this amazing natural phenomenon, and you will also get a chance to have your unique picture with the lights dancing above you.
Unfortunately, since the lights are a natural phenomenon, we can’t really guarantee that you’ll see the lights, but our guides do monitor the aurora and weather forecasts closely to increase your chances.
The tour returns to Reykjavík around midnight, when you’ll be dropped off at or very near your hotel.
Disclaimer: All snorkeling trips are undertaken on the responsibility of its participants. Arctic Adventures does not assume any responsibility for accidents which are caused by its customers or can be traced to there own actions. Participants have to sign a waiver before undertaking all trips stating that they realize that all outdoor activities carry an inherent risk.
Description from the operator, Arctic Adventures. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.
Included
Reykjavik pick up, English guided minibus tour, free WiFi and entrance to the lagoon.
Not included
Meals. We will stop at a diner / restaurant, but you can also bring packed lunch
Good to know
Bring with you for Golden Circle and Lagoon: Warm clothes, good shoes, bathing suit & towel (you can also rent a towel when you book).
Bring with you for Northern Lights : Hiking boots or sturdy footwear, warm outdoor layers, weatherproof top layer, headwear, gloves, and scarves. There is no such thing as too many layers on a northern lights tour. A tripod for your camera is very useful too.
Cancellation for this tour
Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.
If the weather cancels this tour
Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is a solid cloud forecast — most operators call it by late afternoon and let you rebook on a clearer night free of charge. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.
- 1Arctic Adventures decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
- 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
- 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.
What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.
Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →
Why this one and not the cheaper one?
The nearest cheaper Perlan Ice Cave, Northern Lights Planetarium & Golden Circle Tour from BusTravel Iceland is €110 — €117 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.
| Arctic Adventures · €228 | BusTravel Iceland · €110 | |
|---|---|---|
| How long it runs | 12 hours | 10 hours |
The €117 buys you 2 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.
Sold out on your date?
Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.
Who this is not for
- Children under 6 cannot join this one.
- Not a good fit if you want a relaxed day: 12 hours is a long time on the road, most of it spent getting there and back.
Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.
Why we list it
Arctic Adventures is one of 204 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →
What travellers say about Arctic Adventures
Read all 5,195 reviews on Google →Operator rating 4.6/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
This was a phenomenal trip with AMAZING sights. Our tour guide was informative, friendly, and easy to listen to. You will learn a lot and see nature at its greatest. We absolutely loved this tour and would recommend it to anyone. The car ride is comfortable and there is wifi as well! Shout out to our tour guide, Magnus (I hope I’m spelling his name correctly), who told us some hilarious stories.
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
I spent six days on a bus tour around Iceland with a professional guide. It was an excellent opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of Iceland's breathtaking nature while also learning about the country's history and the everyday lives of its people. Iceland's landscape and animals are truly unique, featuring magnificent waterfalls, geysers, whales, seals, puffins, volcanoes, glaciers, and mountains. Every day brought new and unforgettable experiences. Of course, none of this would have been possible without our guide, Viko. He not only drove the bus safely but also shared fascinating stories about Icelandic history, culture, and way of life. He was willing to tailor the itinerary to our group's interests and wishes, making the experience even more enjoyable. I am very grateful for his professionalism, knowledge, and enthusiasm in interpreting Iceland's natural and cultural heritage. He played a key role in making this tour such a memorable experience.
★★★★★ · 3 months ago
I did the Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik. Such an amazing tour and one of the highlights of my trip to Iceland! Our guide, Erik, was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much interesting information about Iceland throughout the day. We visited some of the country’s most beautiful sights, including stunning waterfalls, Vik, black sand beaches, and other breathtaking stops along the South Coast. The pickup process was simple and organized, making the day completely stress-free. The scenery was incredible from start to finish, and Erik helped make the experience even better with his knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm. If you’re visiting Iceland, the South Coast is a must-do, and I highly recommend taking this tour with Erik as your guide!
★★★★★ · 2 months ago
What a wonderful adventure! The 3 Day South Coast/Golden Circle tour included all of the sites we wanted to see and it did not disappoint. We were picked up at a bus stop in downtown Reykjavik and our journey began with about 16 other guests, a good group size. Our tour guide "Good" John did an excellent job teaching us about the history of Iceland and the sites we saw. The tour is well organized with just enough time at each site. He also made adjustments to the itinerary based on the weather as well as including sites not on the tour to give us more to see, which we loved! There were plenty of bathroom/food breaks as needed and we loved that we could just sit back, relax, and enjoy the views outside the window rather than worrying about driving and parking. Our multi-day tour included a 2 night stay at Adventure Hotel Geirland, which Arctic Adventures owns. Such a quiet hotel, convenient location with beautiful views. Our only complaints were that the shower leaked and made the floor wet, and that dinner at the restaurant was expensive with limited options. However the food was good and breakfast was included. The Katla Ice Cave was our favorite part, which was partnered with Southcoast Adventure, and our guide Inga was very friendly and knowledgeable. We did pay for a hiking boot rental for my husband but never received the boots. We did not ask our tour guide so we are not sure what happened with that. Overall we absolutely loved this tour and would highly recommend Arctic Adventures to anyone visiting Iceland for the first time!
Reviews from Google · updated 21 Oct 2026
Read before you book
- Golden Circle in winter: what changes and what to bookDoable all winter, with four to six hours of light, icy paths and a closed lower Gullfoss trail. Take a morning tour and don't drive it in a storm.
- Best Lagoon in Iceland (2026): 5 Picks ComparedWhich hot lagoon or hot spring tour to book in Iceland, ranked. Real prices, where each one starts, and who should skip it.
- Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon vs Secret LagoonThree hot lagoons near Reykjavík, three very different days. We say which one fits an airport day, a city evening and a Golden Circle loop.
Reviews from our travellers
Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.
Reviews arrive the day after each trip — none yet for this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.
Northern lights — questions people ask
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?
September to April, when the nights are dark enough. Within that, late September to March gives the longest dark hours, and the equinox months, September and March, often have active skies. There are no lights in June or July; the sky never gets dark. Anyone selling you a June lights tour is selling you a bus ride. Give yourself at least three nights, because clouds, not the aurora, are the usual reason people miss them.
Are the northern lights guaranteed on a tour?
No. Nobody can promise them, and we will not. Two things have to line up: a clear sky and solar activity. Guides check the cloud forecast at vedur.is and drive to gaps, which is the real value of a tour over standing outside your hotel. What most operators do promise is a free second attempt if the lights do not show. Check the exact retry policy on the tour page, because the number of retries and the validity period vary.
Is a northern lights bus tour or a boat tour better?
Bus, if you want the best odds. A minibus can drive an hour inland to find a clear patch; a boat stays in Faxaflói and sees whatever sky is over Reykjavík. Boats are shorter, about two hours, and pleasant with hot chocolate, and Reykjavik Sailors' cruise (/experience/6637/) includes a free retry. For a serious hunt, a small-group minibus like BusTravel's (/experience/150646/) or a 4x4 tour (/experience/1088067/) is the better bet.
Can I see the northern lights from Reykjavík itself?
Yes, on strong nights. The city is small and the sky over the sea to the north is fairly dark. Grótta lighthouse at the western tip and the Ægisíða shoreline are the usual spots, twenty minutes' walk from the centre. On average nights the street lights drown out a faint aurora, which is why tours drive out. If the forecast shows high activity and clear sky, walk to Grótta first and save the tour money.
Hotels
Where to stay for this tour
From the cheapest to the top end of what is near Reykjavík, from our hotel partners. Rooms are booked on our hotels site.
from 16.181 kr.Lowest price
Guesthouse · Reykjavík
Old Town Reykjavík
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 41.790 kr.Mid-range
Hotel · Reykjavík
Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
from 60.840 kr.Top end
Hotel · Reykjavik
Hótel Holt
under 1 km away · a night for two, indicative
One checkout, any number of operators
Rankings are not for sale
203 operators vetted, and not all of them accepted
If it falls short, we fix it
Pairs well with
Add any of these to this tour and 3 % comes off both at checkout — about €10 on the cheapest pair. One basket, one payment, however many operators they come from.
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