Reykjavik: Evening Lava Tunnel and Northern Lights Hunt

Night in Iceland starts underground. This evening pairs the Raufarhólshellir lava tube with a serious Northern Lights search, so you get two kinds of Iceland magic in one night. I love the glowing mineral colors inside the cave and how the team keeps working the skies until you have your best chance.

I also like the human touch: you get a real guide-led experience, with aurora photos and a complimentary picture taken for you in the countryside. After the cave, you are not just waiting outside in the cold, you get cozy blankets and warm treats while you hunt the lights.

The main thing to consider is that the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and the tour requires walking on uneven ground. If you need mobility-friendly routes, this one is not for you.

Key Things I’d Focus on

Raufarhólshellir lava tube, shaped over 5,000 years ago

A guide who uses your head torch to show the cave in a whole new way

Hot cocoa, chocolate, and blankets during the aurora hunt

Aurora photo support, so you do not miss the moment

Free Northern Lights retries if you do not see the aurora

Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel: A Night Cave Built for Wow

The evening starts with a ride out of central Reykjavík toward the Blue Mountains area, then you step into the Raufarhólshellir lava tube for a guided tour. This cave formed when an ancient eruption created a lava channel that later cooled and emptied, leaving a tunnel-like space. In the dim light, the mineral deposits become the star of the show, with colors described as emerald, ruby, turquoise, and lilac tones.

What I like most about doing this at night is the mood. Head torches and helmets change how you notice textures and shapes in the rock. Instead of just seeing a cave, you get a guided look at how volcanic activity left behind different minerals and color streaks.

Gear, Safety, and the Uneven-Ground Reality Check

Before you go down, you receive your safety gear and a briefing from a certified caving guide. You will use a helmet and head torch, and in winter you also get crampons. Inside, the walk is considered easy overall, but it is not a smooth sidewalk. You may cross natural terrain in some areas, and there are paths and footbridges in others.

This matters because comfort level determines how much you enjoy the cave, not just how brave you feel. If you are fine with uneven surfaces, you should be comfortable. If you have mobility issues, this tour is listed as not suitable.

The Drive to the Blue Mountains and Why the Timing Works

This tour runs for about 4 hours, starting with pickup at 7:30 PM from your chosen Reykjavík location. Once you board the minibus, you head toward the cave area and then later continue to the countryside viewpoint for the aurora hunt.

That evening timing is part of the value. You are using the dark hours for the aurora search, and you are also seeing the cave under head torch lighting rather than daylight. The tour includes free Wi-Fi on the bus, which helps if you want to keep your plans and maps ready while you wait for the start.

Also keep expectations realistic about timing. Arrival for pickup can be delayed up to 30 minutes depending on traffic and where you are staying. If you want the smoothest start, be ready at your pickup spot rather than waiting until the last second.

Your Cave Guide: Colors, Minerals, and a Real Explanation

Inside the lava tube, the guide explains what you are looking at, not just what the cave is called. The mineral colors come from deposits left behind as volcanic gases and fluids interacted with the rock over time. The guide points out how the different hues relate to volcanic processes, so you end up understanding why the cave looks the way it does.

This is where the certified cave guide really pays off. If you only wanted a scenic walk, you could do a cave visit on your own. But a guided tour gives you the context that turns it from a photo stop into an actual experience.

From the guide names shared in past evenings, people often highlight the cave instruction from guides such as Isla, and the aurora leadership from guides such as Palli. That combo, cave skills plus aurora hunting experience, is a big reason the ratings stay high.

After the Cave: Finding a Viewpoint for the Northern Lights

Once the cave tour wraps, you head to a countryside viewpoint for about 2.5 hours. This is where patience becomes part of the plan. The tour includes blankets and warm treats, which is not a small detail. If you are out in the cold and you are still trying to watch the sky, comfort affects how well you can concentrate.

The team searches for the best spot to see the aurora. They use the advantages of traveling by minibus, which can access offbeat locations that bigger buses may miss. In practice, that flexibility can help you get away from clouds near roads or find darker skies.

And there is a practical photography angle here. Your guide takes a complimentary photo with the Aurora Borealis, so you do not have to rely only on hoping someone else captures the shot correctly.

Hot Cocoa, Blankets, and Little Details That Make Waiting Easier

One of my favorite parts of this kind of aurora tour is that you are not just left to freeze while the sky decides what it wants to do. The included hot cocoa and chocolate, plus the blankets, keep you warm while you scan the sky.

Some evenings also include extra Iceland-style treats people have mentioned, like lava biscuits or lava candy. I would not count on the exact treat list changing between trips, but it fits the overall idea: keep you comfortable enough to actually enjoy the search.

Also, the vibe can feel more casual because minibus tours often run with smaller groups. In past nights, people have noted the out-of-hours feel as calmer and more relaxed compared to daytime cave tours.

The Free Northern Lights Retry: How to Use It Smartly

Here is the biggest practical comfort for this whole experience: you get free retries for the Northern Lights part if you do not see the aurora during your tour. The retry is valid for up to 3 years, which takes the pressure off your one planned night.

One caution though. Lava tunnel entry is not included on retry tours. So think of the retry as a chance to hunt the aurora again, not a second cave visit. If you are counting on seeing both cave and lights twice, this is not built that way.

My advice is simple: schedule this tour early in your Iceland trip. That way, if clouds or weather spoil the first attempt, you still have time to take advantage of the aurora retry.

Northern Lights Expectations: What You Can Control and What You Can’t

The tour is built around the reality that the Northern Lights depend on conditions you cannot force. Weather and visibility decide what you see. Even with a strong team searching and repositioning, you may get clouds instead of lights.

That is why the retry matters so much. It also helps explain why guides keep working the search rather than cutting it short when chances seem low. If you go into this evening expecting unpredictability, you will likely feel calmer and more present while you wait.

When the aurora does show up, the experience feels instant and big. People also talk about how the lights appeared soon after the cave in some evenings, which suggests you are not stuck waiting forever right after you arrive at the viewpoint.

Price and Value at $189 Per Person

At $189 per person for a 4-hour evening tour, you are paying for more than just a bus ride. You are covering a guided lava tube experience with certified caving support, safety equipment, helmet and head torch, winter gear like crampons when needed, and an English-speaking aurora specialist. You are also paying for included warmth support, hot cocoa and blankets, and the added photography help.

Where the value really shows is in the combination. Many Iceland experiences focus on either caves or aurora hunting. This one bundles both, and it does so with trained guides rather than a simple drop-off and hope.

The free aurora retry is another value multiplier. If you do not see the lights that night, the tour still gives you a pathway to try again. That kind of safety net is rare for evening aurora hunts, and it is a big reason why people feel good about booking even when conditions change.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Should Skip It)

This tour can suit all ages, since the cave walk is easy and supported, and the route includes paths and footbridges in some parts. It does require comfort on uneven surfaces, though, so wear shoes that feel secure.

It is also a good fit if you want a structured aurora hunt rather than a DIY night. You get guidance on where to look, warm waiting setup, and a photo taken for you. If you love geology or simply want a guided explanation of what you see underground, the lava tube portion is the main draw.

Skip it if you have mobility impairments, since it is listed as not suitable for that need. Also, if you hate the idea of standing outside for hours during cold weather, you may find the viewpoint portion stressful, even with blankets.

Should You Book This Evening Lava Tunnel and Aurora Tour?

I think this is a strong choice if you want two Iceland highlights in one outing and you like having a guide doing the hard parts. The lava tube experience is a real guided geology moment, and the aurora portion has comfort built in, plus photo help and free retries.

Book it if:

• You are comfortable walking on uneven cave ground.
• You want a guided aurora hunt with blankets and warm treats.
• You can schedule this earlier in your trip, so retries still fit your calendar.

Pass it if:

• You need mobility-friendly access.
• You dislike any chance of missing the lights and standing outside a long time.

If you go in with flexible expectations about weather, this tour gives you a memorable night, even when the aurora takes its time.

FAQ

What time does pickup start in Reykjavík?

Pickup starts at 7:30 PM from your selected Reykjavík location. You should be ready at your pickup spot, and arrival may take up to 30 minutes depending on traffic.

How long is the tour?

The total duration is 4 hours.

How much is the tour?

The price listed is $189 per person.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. Aurora sightings depend on weather and visibility, so the Northern Lights are not guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see the Northern Lights?

If you do not see the Aurora during the tour, you can book a Northern Lights retry for free. The retry is valid for up to 3 years.

Is lava tunnel entry included on the Northern Lights retry?

No. Lava tunnel entry is not included on retry tours.

What gear is included for the cave?

You receive all necessary safety equipment, plus a helmet and head torch. In winter, crampons are included.