Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon tours
What the Secret Lagoon actually is
Gamla Laugin, on Hvammsvegur in Flúðir, is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland — built in 1891, a few decades before anyone thought of a spa. It is a rectangle of hot water with a gravel path around it, steam coming off a small geyser at the edge, and a changing room. There is no silica mask, no swim-up bar and no bathrobe. Adults pay full admission, children of 14 and under pay a token amount, over-67s pay a reduced rate, and a swimsuit or towel costs extra to rent. Opening hours are 10:00 to 19:00 from October to May and 10:00 to 20:00 from June to September; the current list is on secretlagoon.is.
The tour includes the entry fee, so what you pay covers the coach, the guide, ten hours of driving, Kerið’s gate and the lagoon admission. Set against the cheaper coach doing the same loop without water, the maths is straightforward. Set against the Blue Lagoon combo, which costs a good deal more, it is even more so, and the Secret Lagoon sits on the loop rather than an hour off it.
The one real complaint
The lagoon is the second stop of the day. Julie from Canada put it exactly right: the Secret Lagoon was lovely, she wished it had been at the end. You get back on a coach with damp hair and four more stops to go, and in February that is a decision you feel. My workaround, from doing this a lot: pack a small quick-dry towel rather than renting, dry your hair properly before you board, and keep a dry hat in your bag. Wendy from the US found the day well paced but could have used more time at a couple of the stops, which is the honest trade for fitting a soak into ten hours.
The rest reads well. Birgit from Germany said you did not even notice the ten hours because it was so varied, Daniel called the swim the highlight, and Kathie from Canada found the stops well timed. Gereon thought his guide a tiny bit self-loving and in the style of a stand-up comedian, while Mareen said Bane did a great job — guides differ, and you get who you get.
How it compares with the other water days
| Reykjavik: Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater | Best value soakFrom Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour | Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Check latest price | Check latest price | Check latest price |
| Day length | 7–8.5 hrs | 10 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Water stop | None | Secret Lagoon, 1.5 hrs | Blue Lagoon, about 2 hrs |
| Gate price of the water | — | Paid admission | Paid admission, dearer |
| Towel | — | Bring or rent for a fee | Included |
| Where the water is | — | On the loop, Flúðir | Off the loop, towards Keflavík |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| View → | Book this → | View → |
Take your own towel. Rental costs extra, the changing room gets busy when a full coach arrives at once, and you will want something dry for the four stops that follow. Swimwear under your clothes on the bus saves you the cubicle queue entirely — see what to wear on the loop.
Hot-spring comboSecret Lagoon entry includedFrom Reykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid, & Secret Lagoon Tour
Top ratedBlue Lagoon admission includedReykjavik: Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour
Most bookedKerið crater visitReykjavik: Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater
Check dates on the Secret Lagoon combo
4.8 from 6,382 reviews, ten hours, and one departure pattern. If your dates fall between 13 and 22 May the lagoon is closed for upgrades and you will be taken to Laugarvatn Fontana instead, so read the confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Secret Lagoon included in the tour price?
Yes. The tour price covers coach travel, a guide, Kerið’s entry fee and admission to the Secret Lagoon, which charges adults at the gate if you turn up alone. Food and towel rental are extra. The rest of the ladder is on the tour prices page.
Secret Lagoon or Blue Lagoon?
Secret Lagoon if you want warm water without rearranging the day: it is on the loop at Flúðir, charges admission at the gate and the tour runs 10 hours. Blue Lagoon if you want the spa version, in which case the 11-hour combo includes admission, a towel and the silica mask.
What do I need to bring?
Swimwear and a towel. Everything else is provided or on sale. Wear the swimwear under your clothes and you skip the changing queue. For the rest of the day — wind shell, layers, shoes that cope with gravel — see what to wear.
Where does the Secret Lagoon come in the day?
Second, right after Kerið and before Geysir, lunch, Gullfoss and Þingvellir. Several reviewers would rather it were last. The full running order is in the Secret Lagoon tour review.