Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The best part of this Akureyri night tour is the change of mood: you spend two hours in warm geothermal water among birch and pine trees, then head into the dark countryside to search for the Northern Lights. I like the contrast, and I like that the guide can change the route and make several stops when the sky begins to glow.

The price includes Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, transport, and a licensed guide, which makes the $176 cost easier to justify. The main catch is simple: the Aurora is a natural event. Even a determined guide cannot promise a display, and the outing may be canceled when weather or sky conditions are poor.

Key points to know before booking

• Forest Lagoon comes first: You get about two hours in the geothermal baths, with views toward Eyjafjörður.
• The night continues outside Akureyri: The Aurora search takes place in Eyjafjarðarsveit, away from city light.
• Guide Sigi or Siggi may adjust the plan: Previous outings included several viewing stops and photos shared afterward.
• Admission and a towel are included: You do not need to arrange a separate Forest Lagoon visit.
• The group can reach 18 people: Some departures may be much smaller, depending on bookings.
• A free repeat is offered if the tour runs but the lights do not appear: This is subject to another booking and availability.

Why this pairing works on a winter evening

Akureyri is a strong base for a winter night out because this tour gives you two very different Icelandic pleasures in one trip. First comes the calm of the Forest Lagoon. Later, you trade the spa’s warm water and gentle lighting for open sky, cold air, and the patience needed to wait for the Aurora.

I like this order. Starting outdoors in the cold and then ending in a spa would also make sense, but the lagoon gives you a relaxed beginning before the sky search. You are not rushing straight from dinner into a vehicle and then standing still in the dark. You get time to settle into the evening first.

The total duration is about four and a half hours, including driving. With a 7:30 pm departure from Hótel Kea, you should expect the tour to occupy most of the evening. It ends back at the same meeting point in central Akureyri, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride back.

Two hours at Forest Lagoon beside Eyjafjörður

Forest Lagoon is the first main stop, and its setting gives it a different feel from a standard city swimming pool. The baths sit within Vaðlaskógur, a wooded area of birch and pine trees, with views across Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords.

The important detail here is timing. You visit after dark, so the fjord view will not have the same daytime detail you might see on a clear afternoon. Instead, the setting becomes quiet and atmospheric, with the water, trees, and distant lights shaping the view. One review specifically described the fjord as pretty at night, and the two-hour stay provided enough time to relax rather than make a hurried stop.

Your entrance fee and towel are included. That matters because the lagoon is not merely a quick photo stop attached to a Northern Lights drive. Two hours gives you a proper spa visit, with time to enjoy the warm water and the wooded setting before changing and returning to the vehicle.

I would treat this part as a chance to slow down. The Aurora search later may involve waiting, moving between spots, and stepping outside more than once. The lagoon gives the evening a comfortable start.

There is one practical limit. The provided details do not list extra spa facilities, treatments, food, or drink, so you should judge the stop mainly on its geothermal water, fjord view, and forest setting. If you want a full resort-style spa day, this is not that. If you want a peaceful two-hour bath before an outdoor search, it fits well.

Searching for the Aurora in Eyjafjarðarsveit

After Forest Lagoon, the guide drives outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjarðarsveit. The aim is to leave the city’s light pollution behind and find darker skies. You receive about one and a half hours for this part, not counting the driving time included in the overall tour.

This is where the guide’s work matters most. Northern Lights tours cannot control the clouds, solar activity, or timing of the display. A good guide can watch the conditions, try another location, and avoid settling too quickly for a poor view. Sigi, also written as Siggi in the supplied details, is praised for making several stops and continuing the search until a good viewing place was found.

That flexibility is useful. You may stop, step outside, look up, and then return to the vehicle if the sky changes. On one especially successful outing, the guide made multiple stops so the small group could enjoy the lights from different places. He also took photographs and shared them afterward, giving you a record of the night without asking you to spend the whole time looking through your phone.

The guide’s persistence is a real strength here. One account describes him trying a few spots before finding a place where a spectacular display appeared. That does not mean every departure will produce the same result, but it does show what you should want from this kind of outing: an active search rather than one fixed roadside stop.

Keep your expectations sensible. The Northern Lights are not a scheduled performance. You may see a faint glow, a strong moving display, or nothing at all. The tour can be canceled because of weather or sky conditions, and seeing the lights is never guaranteed even when the vehicle leaves Akureyri.

What the small group size means

The maximum group size is 18 people. That is small enough to make the outing more personal than a large coach tour, while still allowing the cost of transport and guiding to be shared.

The actual group may be much smaller. One departure had only two people, which effectively turned the outing into a private tour. You cannot count on that, but a smaller group can make a difference during an Aurora search. It is easier to hear the guide, move between stops, and get outside without a long line of people.

A group of up to 18 still has practical limits. When everyone wants to photograph the same burst of light, the viewing area may feel busy. The included transport and guided route remain the main benefits, not the promise of a private vehicle.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The activity is open to most people, but you should remember that the second half involves going outside at night in winter conditions. The supplied information does not give a detailed mobility description, so contact the operator if you need help assessing the vehicle, lagoon access, or time spent outdoors.

Is $176 good value?

At $176, this is not the cheapest way to visit a geothermal bath or search for the Aurora. The value comes from combining several costs and decisions into one evening.

Your price includes:

• Forest Lagoon entrance
• A towel
• Transport from Hótel Kea and back
• A licensed guide or driver
• Roughly two hours at the lagoon
• About one and a half hours searching for the Northern Lights

A separate Forest Lagoon visit would still require admission and transport arrangements. A self-guided Aurora hunt would require a car, fuel, route planning, and the confidence to judge where conditions might improve. This tour folds those pieces together and gives you a guide who can keep searching when the first spot is not right.

The price is easiest to defend if you want both the spa and the Aurora in one evening. If your main goal is only to soak, a standalone lagoon visit may be more focused. If your only goal is the Northern Lights, a dedicated Aurora tour could give you more time outside. This outing is for people who want a balanced winter evening rather than one single-purpose activity.

The no-show risk is also worth considering. You are paying for the lagoon even if the Aurora refuses to appear. That is not a flaw in the tour, but it changes how you should view the purchase. Think of the Forest Lagoon as a complete first half, with the Northern Lights as the weather-dependent bonus.

Timing, meeting point, and what to bring

The tour starts at 7:30 pm at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri. It ends at the same meeting point. The total duration includes travel, so the precise return time can vary with road and viewing conditions.

You receive confirmation when you book, and the activity uses a mobile ticket. Keep the booking available on your phone, and arrive with enough time to find the hotel meeting point without a last-minute scramble.

For the lagoon, a towel is supplied. For the Aurora search, bring warm outdoor clothing and footwear suitable for standing outside at night. The supplied details do not specify clothing rental or additional equipment, so plan to bring what will keep you comfortable in winter conditions.

A camera is optional, but do not let it take over the evening. If the guide Sigi or Siggi is working, he may take photographs and share them later. That gives you a useful middle ground: you can watch the sky directly while still having the chance to receive pictures afterward.

Weather rules and the no-show problem

This tour requires suitable weather and sky conditions. The operator can cancel at any time if the evening is not workable. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.

If the tour operates but the Northern Lights do not appear, the operator offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking. That offer is valuable, but it is not the same as seeing the lights during your visit to Iceland. You may not have another evening available, so do not book this as your only possible Aurora opportunity if the lights are your top priority.

The standard cancellation rule is also clear: cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The cut-off follows local Icelandic time.

The activity also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you can choose another date or activity, or receive a full refund.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would choose this tour if you are staying in Akureyri and want an easy winter night that mixes relaxation with outdoor excitement. It suits couples, families with children accompanied by an adult, and anyone who prefers having a driver and guide handle the evening route.

It is also a good fit if you have limited time in the North. Rather than setting aside one night for the lagoon and another for an Aurora search, you get both in one outing. The format gives you a clear plan while leaving enough flexibility for the guide to adjust the Northern Lights portion.

You may want a different plan if you dislike cold-weather waiting, need a guaranteed schedule, or care only about a long soak. You should also be comfortable with the fact that the second half may not produce the sight you came for.

Should you book the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want the two-part evening: a proper two-hour soak with fjord views, followed by a guided search beyond Akureyri. The included towel, admission, transport, and guide make the $176 price reasonable for a combined outing, especially if you do not want to drive at night.

The strongest reason to choose it is the guide’s reported persistence. Sigi or Siggi made several stops, continued looking, and shared photographs after a successful night. That kind of effort cannot guarantee the Aurora, but it improves the odds of making the most of changing conditions.

Skip it if the Northern Lights are your only goal and you want to devote the whole evening to chasing them. Choose it if you want a relaxed start, a small-group format, and a realistic chance to finish the night under a moving Arctic sky.

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 scheduled start time is 7:30 pm.

Where does the tour end?

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

How long does the activity last?

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

Is Forest Lagoon admission included?

Yes. The entrance fee and a towel are included.

How long do you spend at Forest Lagoon?

The Forest Lagoon portion lasts about two hours.

How long is the Northern Lights search?

The Northern Lights portion in Eyjafjarðarsveit lasts about one hour and 30 minutes.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The tour depends on weather and sky conditions.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

If the evening tour goes ahead but you do not see the Northern Lights, the operator offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.