Photography tour – Northern light Hunting from Akureyri

The best part of this Akureyri excursion is the simple goal: leave the city glow behind and give the Northern Lights a proper chance. You head into Eyjafjardarsveit, where darker skies can make faint aurora easier to spot and photograph. If the lights appear, you have a natural show with no script and no guarantee.

I like the included hotel pickup and drop-off, especially for a late-night outing in winter. I also like the human touch from guides such as Siggi, who has been praised for explaining the aurora, keeping conversation lively, and continuing the search when an easier tour might have called it a night. The catch is clear: the Northern Lights are natural, so even an expertly run trip can end without a sighting.

Key points at a glance

• Eyjafjardarsveit escape: You leave Akureyri’s light pollution for darker countryside around the fjord valley.
• Late departure: Pickup begins between 9:30 and 10:00 pm, with the tour lasting about two to three hours.
• Small maximum group: The vehicle carries no more than 18 people, a manageable size for a guided night outing.
• Guide-led aurora search: Guides explain the lights and decide how to respond to changing weather and sky conditions.
• No-sighting protection: If the tour operates but the lights do not appear, Star Travel offers another trip free the next time it has a booking.
• Weather matters: If conditions prevent the tour from running, you receive a full refund or can choose another date.

Leaving Akureyri after dark

This tour starts at Hótel Kea, at Hafnarstræti 87-89 in central Akureyri. Pickup begins around 9:30 pm and may continue until 10:00 pm, depending on how many collection points are needed.

That late start makes sense. In northern Iceland, the sky needs to be properly dark before the aurora hunt has much value. You do not spend the evening waiting around for a departure at an awkward hour. Instead, you can have dinner first, return to your hotel, and prepare for a short night drive.

Hotel pickup is one of the strongest practical features here. You do not need to find a taxi after midnight, and you can dress for the cold rather than for a walk through town. The tour also ends back at the meeting point, which keeps the evening straightforward.

The exact driving route may change because the guide is watching conditions. This is not a fixed sightseeing circuit with several scheduled stops. The point is to find a darker and clearer part of the area, then give the sky time to show what it has.

Why Eyjafjardarsveit is the main stop

The tour heads outside Akureyri to Eyjafjardarsveit, an area in the Eyjafjörður region. The supplied plan allows about two hours there, with the full experience lasting roughly two to three hours once pickup and return are included.

The value of this stop is darkness. Artificial light from a town can wash out a weak aurora, so getting away from Akureyri gives your eyes and camera a better chance. You may find that the countryside feels quiet and open at night, but the purpose is not a long daytime visit or a list of attractions. You are there to watch the sky.

That focus is useful for photographers. A good aurora image depends on more than the lights themselves. You need darkness, a clear enough sky, patience, and someone willing to choose a sensible viewing area. The guide handles the driving and the search while you concentrate on your camera or simply look up.

Still, you should set your expectations properly. Eyjafjardarsveit improves your odds by reducing city light, but it cannot control clouds or solar activity. A dark location is an advantage, not a promise.

The guide can make or break the night

The most warmly praised part of this experience is the guiding. Siggi has been singled out for being helpful, good company, and determined to make the evening worthwhile. One account describes him continuing to look for a solution when others might have given up.

That matters more than it may sound. Aurora hunting involves uncertainty, and a guide who can explain what is happening helps you understand why the group may move, wait, or change plans. A guide who keeps the mood calm also makes a difference when the sky refuses to cooperate.

You can expect the guide to discuss the Northern Lights and help make the outing social as well as scenic. The available feedback specifically praises the guide’s ability to be informative and fun to chat with. That is a useful combination during a late-night trip, when you may spend part of the time waiting for the sky to change.

Guide quality can vary from one departure to another, so Siggi’s name should not be treated as a guarantee that he will lead every tour. But the company’s approach is clear: the guide is not just a driver. The guide is expected to search, explain, and keep working toward the best possible result.

Photography without a complicated workshop

This is marketed as a photography tour, but the information does not promise a formal camera class or a set of photography lessons. You should see it as a guided aurora outing with photography in mind.

That distinction helps you decide if it suits you. If you already know how to use your camera in low light, the tour gives you a chance to reach a darker area without handling the driving yourself. If you are new to night photography, you can still enjoy the sight with your own camera or phone, but you should not book this expecting a full technical course.

The guide’s role is especially useful because the lights can be faint at first and dramatic later. You may need patience before the display becomes obvious. When the aurora appears, you can choose between trying to photograph it and simply watching it. The experience does not require you to be a serious photographer.

Food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated. Bring anything you need for the evening before pickup. More important, dress for Icelandic night weather. The outing operates in all weather conditions when it goes ahead, and you may spend time outside waiting for a break in the clouds.

A small group, but not a private tour

The maximum group size is 18 people. That is small enough to feel more manageable than a large coach trip, but it is not a private photography session.

For most people, this is a fair balance. You get shared transport, a guide who knows the area, and the chance to meet other people without paying private-tour prices. At $126.43 per person, the cost is reasonable if you value the driving, the local search, and the backup arrangement for a later outing.

The group size also affects photography. You may need to share viewing space and be aware of other people using cameras or phones. If you want complete control over where you set up a tripod or how long you wait in one spot, a private tour would suit you better, but that option is not part of this experience.

The maximum of 18 also gives you a useful sense of scale. This is not an intimate one-guide-for-two-people expedition, yet it is limited enough that the guide should be able to address the group directly and keep the outing organized.

What happens if the lights do not appear

This is the most important policy to understand before booking. Seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed, even when the trip runs as planned. Solar activity and cloud cover are beyond the company’s control.

If the tour goes ahead and no aurora appears, Star Travel offers the trip again for free the next time it has a booking. That has real value if you are staying in Akureyri for several nights and can make another evening work. It is less useful if this is your final night in Iceland or you leave the next morning.

If the weather or sky conditions are too poor for the company to run the outing, you are offered a full refund or another date. The company also reserves the right to cancel at any time when conditions require it. This is a sensible approach for a sky-based activity, though late changes can affect your evening plans.

For the best chance of using the repeat-trip offer, schedule this tour early in your Akureyri stay rather than on your final night. The experience is booked on average 12 days ahead, so reserve before your trip if the timing matters. Also keep one spare evening available if your itinerary allows.

Is $126.43 a fair price?

At $126.43, you are paying for more than a ride into the countryside. The price includes a driver-guide, hotel pickup, hotel drop-off, and an organized search outside Akureyri. You also receive some protection against a disappointing sky, since a no-sighting evening can lead to another trip at no extra charge when a future booking is available.

The value is strongest for visitors without a rental car. You avoid driving unfamiliar roads at night, watching the forecast, and deciding where to go as conditions change. You also do not have to arrange transport back to town after a late return.

The value is less certain if you already have a car, are comfortable planning your own aurora search, and will stay in the region for several nights. In that case, you may prefer the freedom of choosing your own viewing time. You would also need to accept responsibility for driving and for judging conditions yourself.

Compared with a private tour, the per-person cost is moderate. Compared with simply walking around Akureyri, it is a significant expense, but the whole reason to book is to get beyond the city lights. I would judge the price fairly if seeing the aurora is high on your Iceland list and you want someone else to manage the night drive.

Who should book this Akureyri aurora tour?

I would recommend it to you if you are staying in Akureyri, do not have a rental car, and want a practical way to search for the Northern Lights. It also suits couples, families, and solo visitors who prefer a guide and shared transport rather than a self-planned night out.

Families should note that children must be accompanied by an adult. A child rate is available only when the child shares with two paying adults, so check the final price carefully if you are booking for a family group.

The tour is also a good fit for photographers who want access to darker skies but do not need an advanced workshop. Bring your own equipment if you have it, but do not expect food, drinks, or a formal lesson to be included.

I would hesitate to recommend it as your only Northern Lights plan if you are in Akureyri for one night. The natural risk is simply too high. The repeat-trip policy is useful only when you have another available evening.

Practical booking advice for a smoother night

Book at least 24 hours ahead if you want the option to cancel for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the 9:30 pm start are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

Check your pickup instructions carefully. Hótel Kea is the listed starting point, but pickup timing can vary between 9:30 and 10:00 pm based on the number of stops. Be ready at the stated time rather than assuming the vehicle will arrive at the first possible minute.

Dress for the conditions even though the trip may operate in poor weather. You may find the waiting period more comfortable with warm layers and suitable outdoor clothing. Food and drinks are not included, so handle those before departure or bring what you need.

The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Confirmation arrives at booking. If the minimum number is not met, the company offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book this Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want the convenience of hotel pickup, a guide-led search, and a short escape from Akureyri’s city lights. The strongest reasons are the practical transport, the reasonable group limit, and the company’s effort to provide another chance when the aurora stays hidden.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed display, a private vehicle, or a full photography course. No tour can promise the Northern Lights, and this one is no exception.

My advice is to book it early in your Akureyri stay, keep another evening open, and treat the outing as a search rather than a scheduled show. If the sky cooperates, you may get the bucket-list moment you came for. If it does not, a persistent guide such as Siggi and the repeat-trip policy give the evening a fair second chance.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour start?

The listed meeting point is Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri, Iceland.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins from 9:30 to 10:00 pm. The exact timing depends on how many pickup locations are included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two to three hours. The planned time outside Akureyri in Eyjafjardarsveit is about two hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. A driver-guide collects you and returns you to the meeting point at the end of the activity.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed even if the tour operates.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather prevents the tour from running. If the tour operates but the lights are not seen, the company offers the trip again for free the next time it has a booking.