Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Tour with Northern Lights

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.64 (88 reviews) 73% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/6

Duration13h 30m

GroupUp to 60

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Geysers, waterfalls and secret lagoon then northern lights hunt from reykjavik

You’ll walk volcanic craters near Reykjavik, feel mist on your face at Gullfoss waterfall, soak in Iceland’s oldest geothermal pool at Secret Lagoon, and end your day chasing Northern Lights with homemade hot chocolate—all with a local guide who makes every stop feel personal.

13h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights

Visit Thingvellir National Park
Drive to Kerið volcanic crater
Explore Kerið crater walking trails
Visit Geysir geothermal area
Watch Strokkur Geysir erupt
Visit Gullfoss waterfall viewpoints
Relax at Secret Lagoon hot spring
Return to Reykjavík for free time
Evening Northern Lights hunting tour
Enjoy homemade hot chocolate

The Experience

The first thing I remember is the sulfur smell—like boiled eggs but sharper—curling up from the ground near Geysir. Our guide, Jón, grinned when I wrinkled my nose. “That’s how you know it’s real,” he said. We’d started early from Reykjavik, still half-asleep on the bus, but by the time Strokkur shot boiling water into the sky (it startled me every time), I was wide awake. The Golden Circle day trip really does pack in so much: Kerið crater with its rusty-red slopes (I slipped a bit on the path—nothing dramatic, just a muddy shoe), Gullfoss roaring so loud you feel it in your chest, and Thingvellir where Jón told us about Iceland’s first parliament while wind tugged at his scarf.

I didn’t expect to love the Secret Lagoon as much as I did. It’s not fancy—just steam rising over old stones and locals chatting in Icelandic while we floated around like sleepy seals. My skin felt different after, sort of tingly and soft. We had a couple hours back in Reykjavik before heading out again for the Northern Lights tour. Honestly, I was tired and almost skipped it (don’t do that). But then we were out past the city lights, bundled up with hot chocolate that tasted sweeter than usual—maybe just because of the cold—and waiting for something to happen.

When the aurora finally showed up—just a faint green shimmer at first—I felt everyone around me go quiet all at once. It wasn’t some giant light show like you see on postcards; it was softer, more private somehow. Jón pointed out shapes in the sky and someone tried to take photos but mostly we just watched. I still think about that hush—the way everyone stood together not saying anything, just looking up.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Reykjavik, entrance tickets to both Kerið crater and Secret Lagoon (no need to worry about extra fees), WiFi on board for posting those geyser videos right away, plus two guided bus tours—the classic Golden Circle route by day and a nighttime drive out beyond city lights searching for aurora with homemade hot chocolate along the way.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by BusTravel Iceland