Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The best part of this evening tour is the pairing: two hours in a warm geothermal lagoon, followed by a search for the Northern Lights in the dark countryside outside Akureyri. You get a calm start and an active finish, rather than spending the whole night standing in the cold.

I like the fjord view from Forest Lagoon and the chance to let your guide adjust the aurora search to the night’s conditions. I also like the small maximum group of 18, since guides such as Sigi can make several stops and help you get the most from a promising sky. The main drawback is simple: the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, even when the tour operates.

Key points at a glance

• A warm start above Eyjafjörður: Forest Lagoon gives you two hours in geothermal water with views across one of Iceland’s longest fjords.
• A real aurora search: The guide takes you beyond Akureyri’s city lights and may try several viewing places in Eyjafjardarsveit.
• Sigi can make the difference: The guide has been praised for scenic routing, repeated stops, determination, and sharing photos after the tour.
• A compact winter evening: The tour lasts about four and a half hours, including driving time, and begins at 7:30 p.m.
• A fair safeguard for bad luck: If the tour runs but you do not see the Northern Lights, you can take the trip again for free the next time there is a booking.
• Good value for a combined outing: The $176 price includes Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, and a licensed guide and driver.

Why this Akureyri evening works so well

Many Northern Lights outings ask you to wait in a cold field and hope the sky cooperates. This one gives the evening a worthwhile first half even if the aurora refuses to appear. You begin with a spa visit, then head into the countryside when the sky is fully dark.

That rhythm matters in winter. The lagoon gives you a comfortable place to settle into the evening, while the second half keeps the night flexible. If the guide sees a better chance in another area, the group can move instead of remaining fixed in one spot.

You should still book this for the atmosphere and the attempt, not as a promise of an aurora display. The Northern Lights depend on weather and sky conditions. Even with good forecasting, clouds or weak activity can spoil the view.

Two hours at Forest Lagoon above Eyjafjörður

Forest Lagoon is the first major stop, with about two hours included for the visit. Its setting is the attraction. The baths sit among birch and pine trees in Vaðlaskógur, with views toward Eyjafjörður.

That combination gives the spa a different feel from an open-air pool surrounded by buildings or flat lava fields. You can look across the fjord while sitting in warm water, with the forest close around you. After dark, the view becomes quieter and less detailed, but the lights and fjord outline still provide a strong setting for a winter evening.

The two-hour allowance is useful. You are not being rushed through a quick soak before a bus departure. You have time to settle into the water, enjoy the view, and let the cold-weather day fall away. A towel is included, as is admission to the lagoon, so the stated $176 price covers the main spa cost rather than leaving that as an extra.

The lagoon is not the whole point of this tour, and that helps set expectations. If you want a full spa day with a long treatment menu, this is not that kind of outing. It is a well-timed geothermal stop that gives the evening comfort and structure before the aurora hunt.

From warm water to Eyjafjardarsveit

After Forest Lagoon, the tour heads outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit. The purpose is to get away from the city’s light pollution, which can wash out faint aurora activity.

This is where the guide matters most. The Northern Lights do not appear on a schedule, so a fixed viewpoint can be a poor choice if clouds or visibility change. Sigi has been praised for trying several spots and making repeated stops when the sky looked promising. That kind of persistence gives you a better chance than simply driving to one place and waiting.

You may also get scenic driving along the way. One particularly useful detail is that Sigi took a scenic route and stopped more than once so the group could get out and watch the lights. If the aurora becomes visible, you are not limited to a single quick photo from beside the vehicle.

The viewing portion lasts about one and a half hours. That is enough time for a focused search, but it is not an all-night chase across northern Iceland. You should see the tour as a compact evening outing, not as a long expedition with unlimited driving.

What the Northern Lights search is really like

The Northern Lights can be subtle. You might first notice a pale streak or a faint green glow before the display grows stronger. At other times, clouds or low activity may leave you with nothing to see.

This tour gives the guide room to respond. The group can leave Akureyri, check more than one location, and stop when conditions look better. The small-group limit of 18 is helpful here because getting in and out of the vehicle should be more manageable than with a large coach group.

The most striking accounts of this outing describe a sudden change from waiting to a full display. One evening, the guide searched for a suitable place, found one, and the lights appeared with real force. That is the sort of luck you want, but it is still luck. A determined guide can improve your position, not control the sky.

You should bring realistic expectations. A successful outing may involve patience, short drives, and standing outside while the guide checks conditions. The reward can be memorable, but the experience is not a guaranteed performance.

The value of a $176 combined tour

At $176, this is not the cheapest way to look for the Northern Lights. You are paying for more than transport to a dark area, though. The fee includes two hours at Forest Lagoon, admission, a towel, a licensed guide and driver, and the guided search outside Akureyri.

The value is strongest if you already want to visit Forest Lagoon. Booking the lagoon and a separate aurora trip could cost more and would require arranging two evenings. Here, the spa visit and Northern Lights search fit into one plan, which is useful if your time in Akureyri is limited.

The price is less appealing if you mainly want a low-cost aurora outing. You are paying for the spa portion whether or not you would have chosen it on its own. The tour makes the most sense for someone who values both a geothermal bath and a guided night search.

There is also a practical safety net. If the tour runs but the lights do not appear, the operator offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking. That does not fix a short holiday schedule, and it does not guarantee the second attempt, but it reduces the sting of an unlucky night.

Timing, meeting point, and group size

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m. from Hótel Kea by Keahotels at Hafnarstræti 87-89 in Akureyri. The activity ends back at the same meeting point, and pickup is offered according to the tour details.

The full outing takes about four hours and 30 minutes, including driving time. The stated stops add up to three and a half hours, so the remaining time is used for transport between Akureyri, Forest Lagoon, and the countryside viewing areas.

A maximum of 18 people keeps this from being a private outing by default, but it is still a relatively limited group. One booking ended up with only two participants, creating a private-tour feel. You should not count on that happening, but the small maximum leaves room for a more personal evening when numbers are low.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but remember that the night includes time outdoors and movement between the vehicle and viewing spots. The supplied details do not promise a specific accessibility setup, so ask the operator directly if you have mobility needs.

What guides such as Sigi add

A Northern Lights guide does more than drive you into the countryside. The guide watches the sky, chooses possible locations, decides when to move, and helps the group make use of short viewing opportunities.

Sigi received especially strong praise for making the effort worthwhile. He took a scenic route, tried multiple places, stopped so people could enjoy the lights, and shared photos afterward. Those details matter because the best aurora moment may last only a short time, and a guide who is willing to keep looking can change the result.

You should not assume every departure will have Sigi personally. The tour includes a licensed guide and driver, while the individual guide may vary. Still, his approach gives you a useful picture of the kind of service to hope for: active searching rather than a single stop and an early return.

The photo help is another welcome extra, though it should not be treated as a formal photography session. The key value is having someone focused on the night’s conditions while you enjoy the view.

Weather, cancellations, and the risk you accept

This is a weather-dependent outing. The operator can cancel if weather or sky conditions make the trip unsuitable. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The same applies if the required minimum number of people is not reached. You can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund. Cancellation by you is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

These rules are worth noting because winter plans in Iceland can shift quickly. Keep some flexibility in your schedule if seeing the aurora is a major goal. A tour that is canceled before departure is a practical response to poor conditions, while a tour that runs without a sighting is covered by the offered repeat trip.

Who should book this evening

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a balanced winter night rather than a single-purpose aurora chase. It suits couples, families with adult supervision for children, and anyone who prefers a warm spa visit before heading into the cold.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Akureyri and want a guided option without committing an entire night to a long-distance drive. The 7:30 p.m. start leaves the daytime open, while the return to Hótel Kea keeps the plan simple.

You may want another option if the Northern Lights are your only goal, if $176 is beyond your budget, or if you dislike waiting outdoors under uncertain conditions. You also need enough schedule flexibility to make use of the repeat-trip offer if the first attempt fails.

Should you book the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want the comfort of Forest Lagoon and the excitement of a serious aurora search in one evening. The fjord views, included towel, small group limit, and flexible guiding give the outing real value. Sigi’s repeated stops and photo sharing show how much a determined guide can add when the sky begins to change.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed green sky. The Northern Lights remain a natural event, and the tour can only improve your chances by getting you away from city lights and adjusting the search. For a winter evening in Akureyri, that is a fair bargain: a relaxing spa visit either way, and a possible show afterward.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri, Iceland.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Hótel Kea.

How long does the tour last?

The total duration is about four hours and 30 minutes, including travel time.

How long do you spend at Forest Lagoon?

The Forest Lagoon stop lasts about two hours.

Is Forest Lagoon admission included?

Yes. The entrance fee and a towel are included.

How long is the Northern Lights viewing portion?

The Northern Lights stop in Eyjafjardarsveit lasts about one and a half hours.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

What happens if the tour runs but the lights are not visible?

You are offered the trip again for free the next time there is a booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.