Underground, then overhead
Lava tunnel and northern lights tour: Raufarhólshellir before dark
A lava tunnel and northern lights tour from Reykjavik costs $196 and takes about four hours. You go underground into Raufarhólshellir while it is still light, then hunt the aurora after dark. Two completely different experiences on one evening, and the only combination here that does not depend entirely on the sky.
Quick answer
The short answer. Book it if you want an evening that is worth doing even if the aurora does not appear. The lava tunnel is a genuine sight in its own right — a kilometre-long tube left by a lava flow, lit, with walkways and ice formations in winter. The aurora hunt afterwards is a small group, which means the guide can move. Rated 4.7.
The combination at a glance
- Price
- $196per person, about four hours
- Underground
- Raufarhólshellira lava tube ~30 min from the city
- Provided
- Helmets and lampsincluded in the ticket
- Then
- Aurora huntsmall group, after dark
- Rating
- 4.7 · 80 reviewson the operator’s listing
- Worth it without aurora
- Yesthe tunnel stands on its own
- Ice formations
- In winterinside the tunnel
- Cancellation
- Free to 24 h
What a lava tube is
A river of rock that emptied out
A genuine sight, not a filler before the sky.
When a lava flow moves, the surface cools and hardens while the molten rock underneath keeps running. When the eruption stops, the still-liquid interior drains away and leaves a tube.
Raufarhólshellir is one of the longest and best known in Iceland, around thirty minutes from Reykjavik. It runs for more than a kilometre, with sections where the roof has collapsed and daylight comes down in shafts, and coloured mineral staining on the walls where the rock cooled at different rates.
In winter, water seeping through the roof freezes into columns and floors of ice, which is the version most visitors on an aurora combination see.
It is lit, there are walkways and steps, and helmets and lamps are provided.
Why the combination works
An evening that is not a gamble
Every other tour on this site depends on the sky. If the aurora does not appear you have had a cold drive and a free repeat voucher.
This one has something in it regardless. The tunnel happens whatever the weather does, and it is properly interesting — the kind of place people remember without a display over it.
The aurora part is a small group, which is the right kind of vehicle for the job, and the guide can move if the cloud does.
The trade is time: the underground section takes an hour or so, which is an hour not spent waiting under the sky. If you have several nights and want the best possible aurora odds on this one, the dedicated small-group tour at $94 spends all four hours on the sky.
Practical
Six things about the tunnel
- It is cold underground
Around freezing year-round. Dress as you would for the aurora stop.
- Steps and uneven ground
Walkways are good but it is a lava tube, not a corridor.
- Helmets are compulsory
Provided, and there is a reason for them.
- Good footwear matters
There is ice inside in winter.
- Photography is possible
The tunnel is lit. A phone copes.
- Not suitable for everyone
Confined spaces and steps. Check the listing for the restrictions.
If the aurora is the only reason you are going out, spend all four hours on the sky.
Which tour to book→Every trip, current fare
The combination against the rest
Nine tours, priced per person and per hour.
| Tour | Time out | Price | Group size | Cost per hour | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights Bus TourThe classic coach hunt, cheapest seat | 4 h | $71 | Coach, up to ~80 | $17.75 | 4.3 · 14,873 |
| Premium Small-Group TourSmall group, flexible route | 4 h | $94 | Small group | $23.50 | 4.4 · 3,126 |
| Northern Lights Minibus TourMinibus with hot cocoa and photos | 4 h | $157 | Small group | $39.25 | 4.6 · 722 |
| Tour with a Pro PhotographerA photographer travels with you | 4 h | $155 | Small group | $38.75 | 4.8 · 446 |
| Northern Lights Yacht TourOut of the harbour by sea | 2 h | $91 | Boat | $45.50 | 4.4 · 1,342 |
| Super Jeep Northern Lights TourOff the road, into the dark | 4 h | $196 | Super jeep, small | $49.00 | 4.2 · 157 |
| Lava Tunnel & Northern LightsLava tunnel first, aurora after | 4 h | $196 | Small group | $49.00 | 4.7 · 80 |
| Whale Watching & Lights ComboWhales by day, aurora by night | 6 h | $190 | Boat | $31.67 | 4.3 · 131 |
| Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & LightsGolden Circle, Blue Lagoon and the aurora | 15 h | $319 | Coach | $21.27 | 4.7 · 261 |
Common questions
Lava tunnel and aurora tours, answered
How much is a lava tunnel and northern lights tour?
$196 per person for about four hours, including helmets and lamps for the tunnel and a small-group aurora hunt afterwards.
What is Raufarhólshellir?
One of the longest known lava tubes in Iceland, about thirty minutes from Reykjavik, formed when a lava flow drained out from under its own hardened crust.
Is the tunnel worth it on its own?
Yes. It is lit, has walkways, and in winter has ice columns and floors. It is the reason this combination is worth booking even if the sky stays shut.
Is it cold inside?
Around freezing all year. Dress as you would for standing outside on an aurora stop.
Is it suitable for children?
Generally yes, with age limits stated on the listing. There are steps and uneven ground.
Does the tunnel reduce my aurora chances?
It uses about an hour of the evening. If maximum aurora time is the goal, a dedicated tour spends all four hours on the sky.
Go deeper
More on the aurora in Reykjavik
Northern lights tours from Reykjavik
Every tour that leaves the capital, and how they actually differ.
PricesWhat a northern lights tour costs
Nine tours priced per person and per hour, with what the listing leaves out.
VerdictThe best northern lights tour
Nine tours ranked for one decision, with a straight answer at the end.
The scienceAurora borealis, explained
What causes it, what the numbers mean, and what you will actually see.
By coachNorthern lights bus tours
The cheapest way out of the city glare, and its one real limitation.
Super jeepSuper jeep aurora tours
Off the road and away from the coach parks. Worth the money or not.
