Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The best part of this winter outing is the pairing: two quiet hours in a geothermal spa followed by a search for the Northern Lights beyond Akureyri. You get a warm, easy start before heading into the dark countryside around Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords.

I like the Forest Lagoon’s setting among birch and pine trees, and I like that the guide can try more than one Northern Lights stop. Guide Sigi has been praised for taking a scenic route, making several stops, and sharing excellent photos after the tour. The main drawback is simple: the Aurora is a natural show, so even a skilled guide cannot promise it will appear.

Key points to know before booking

• Forest Lagoon comes first: You get two hours in the geothermal baths, with admission and a towel included.
• The Northern Lights search follows: About 90 minutes are spent outside Akureyri in Eyjafjardarsveit, away from city light.
• Guide Sigi may adjust the route: He has taken different roads and tried several viewing spots when conditions called for it.
• The fjord view changes after dark: You may not see every detail of Eyjafjörður, but the quiet water and lights around the fjord add a special setting to the soak.
• The group is limited to 18 people: That is small enough for a more personal ride than a large coach tour.
• The Aurora is never guaranteed: If the tour runs but the lights do not appear, the operator offers the trip again free the next time you have a booking.

Why this Akureyri evening works so well

Many Northern Lights outings involve sitting in a vehicle, standing in the cold, and waiting. This one gives you a proper Icelandic activity before the search begins. You spend the first half in warm water at Forest Lagoon, then head out under the night sky with a guide whose job is to read the weather and cloud cover.

That order matters. You are not starting the night bundled up and hoping the sky cooperates. You have already had time to relax, and the lagoon gives the evening a clear purpose even if the Aurora stays hidden.

The tour lasts about four hours and 30 minutes, including driving. It begins at 7:30 pm at Hótel Kea, in central Akureyri, and returns there at the end. Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is Hótel Kea at Hafnarstræti 87 to 89, so check the exact pickup arrangement when you book.

At $176, this is not a cheap spa visit or a simple Northern Lights transfer. You are paying for both Forest Lagoon entry and the guide-driven evening search, along with a towel and transport during the tour. For you, the price makes the most sense if you want both experiences in one night and do not want to arrange separate admission, driving, and Aurora hunting.

Two hours at Forest Lagoon after dark

Forest Lagoon is set in Vaðlaskógur, a forested area across from or near the Akureyri side of Eyjafjörður. Birch and pine trees surround the baths, giving the place a calmer feel than a large urban pool. The location is the main attraction here, especially after sunset.

The water gives you a chance to slow down. You can spend two hours enjoying the geothermal baths rather than rushing through a short stop. That is enough time to settle in, look across the fjord, and let the first part of the evening feel like a spa visit in its own right.

The view is likely to be more atmospheric than detailed at night. In daylight, Eyjafjörður is the focus. After dark, you get the quiet of the water, the outline of the surrounding trees, and the scattered lights around Akureyri. One account described the evening view across the fjord as particularly pretty, which makes sense: the darkness gives the lagoon a hushed mood.

Your entrance fee and towel are included. That saves you from paying a separate admission charge and carrying a towel through the rest of your evening. Still, this is a shared tour, so your time at the lagoon is set by the group schedule. If you want a long, unhurried spa day, a stand-alone Forest Lagoon booking would give you more control.

For this tour, though, two hours is a useful middle ground. You get enough time to relax without losing the second half of the night to the spa.

Leaving Akureyri for the Aurora

After Forest Lagoon, the focus shifts to Eyjafjardarsveit, the rural area outside Akureyri. The aim is to get away from city light and find a darker sky. That sounds straightforward, but Northern Lights viewing is less about reaching one famous viewpoint and more about finding a clear patch of sky at the right moment.

The viewing period is listed as about one hour and 30 minutes. That time includes the search outside Akureyri, and the guide may choose more than one stop. Sigi has taken a scenic route and stopped several times so you can get out and watch the sky rather than viewing everything through a vehicle window.

That flexibility is important. Clouds can block the Aurora in one place while the sky opens a short distance away. The tour cannot control the weather, but a guide who is willing to try several locations gives you a better practical chance than simply parking once and waiting.

You should expect the Northern Lights portion to involve time outdoors. Wear warm clothing and shoes suited to winter conditions. The tour information does not state that special cold-weather clothing is provided, so plan as if you need to supply your own layers.

If the Aurora appears, the experience can change quickly. The lights may begin as a faint band and become more striking, or they may show for only a short time. The supplied accounts describe Sigi finding a strong viewing location after trying more than one spot. He also took photos and shared them afterward, a useful touch when you are too busy watching the sky to manage your own camera.

What the guide adds to the evening

The guide is more than a driver on this outing. The Northern Lights search depends on route choices, timing, and patience. Sigi has been singled out for his effort, scenic driving, repeated stops, and determination to keep looking for a good location.

That matters most on a night when conditions are uncertain. A fixed transfer would get you from the lagoon back to town, but it would not provide the same active search. Here, the guide can respond to the sky rather than follow a rigid sightseeing route.

The group limit is 18 people. That is not a private tour, but it is modest enough to avoid the feel of a giant coach. A smaller group also makes several quick viewing stops easier to manage. The exact group size on your date may be much smaller, and one outing had only two people, which turned it into a private-feeling experience.

You should not book this expecting a private guide or a guaranteed photo session. Those details are not promised. But the tour structure gives the guide room to work, and Sigi’s approach suggests that he treats the Aurora search as the main event rather than a quick add-on.

The real value of the $176 price

The price is easiest to judge by breaking the evening into parts. You receive Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, a licensed guide and driver, transport between the stops, and a Northern Lights search lasting about 90 minutes. The total outing runs roughly four and a half hours.

If you already plan to visit Forest Lagoon, you could compare this cost with booking the lagoon on your own and arranging a separate Northern Lights excursion. The tour becomes good value when you want one evening, one booking, and a guide handling the driving between Akureyri and the viewing areas.

It is also useful for a winter visit when daylight hours are short. You do not spend your limited daytime on the spa, and you do not have to choose between a relaxing bath and an Aurora outing. Both fit into one night.

The price is harder to justify if you dislike the uncertainty of Northern Lights tours. No operator can guarantee the Aurora. The tour may be canceled because of poor weather or sky conditions, and the company may also cancel if the minimum number of bookings is not reached.

There is one helpful protection if the tour operates but the lights do not appear. You are offered the trip again free the next time you have a booking. That is not the same as seeing the Aurora on your original night, but it gives the tour more value than an outing with no follow-up option.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this for you if you want a gentle winter night with two different moods. The lagoon gives you warmth and stillness. The second half brings movement, darkness, and the thrill of not knowing exactly where the sky will open.

It suits couples, families with older children, and solo visitors who would rather join a guided search than drive unfamiliar roads at night. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable with a spa visit followed by time outside in winter weather.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Akureyri for only a few nights. You get one of the area’s notable geothermal experiences and a chance to see the Aurora without giving up a separate daytime excursion.

I would hesitate if your top priority is a long spa session, a private vehicle, or a guaranteed photography stop. The tour has a fixed evening schedule, a maximum group size of 18, and a natural event at its center. You need to accept some uncertainty.

Practical timing and meeting details

The tour starts at 7:30 pm from Hótel Kea by Keahotels, at Hafnarstræti 87 to 89 in Akureyri. It ends back at the same meeting point. Since the total duration includes driving, you should keep the rest of your evening fairly open.

A mobile ticket is offered, and booking confirmation arrives at the time of booking. Pickup is available, but the supplied meeting details name Hótel Kea as the start point. Confirm where you should wait if you request pickup.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. If weather cancels the outing, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The same options apply if the minimum number of bookings is not reached.

The operator is Star Travel Iceland. The tour is run in English or another language only if the company confirms that arrangement, so check before booking if language matters to you.

Should you book the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour?

I would book it if you want the best chance of a memorable winter evening rather than a guaranteed checklist of sights. The combination of a forest spa, fjord views, a small group, and a guide willing to try several Aurora spots gives the night a good shape.

The strongest reason to choose it is the balance between comfort and adventure. You begin warm and relaxed, then head into the countryside for the part that cannot be planned. Sigi’s persistence, scenic route choices, and willingness to make repeated stops add real value.

Just keep your expectations honest. The Forest Lagoon visit is guaranteed when the tour runs, but the Northern Lights are not. If you can accept that uncertainty, the $176 price is reasonable for a four-and-a-half-hour evening that combines admission, transport, guiding, and a second chance policy when the lights fail to appear.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 7:30 pm.

Where does the tour end?

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

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about four hours and 30 minutes, including travel time.

How long do you spend at Forest Lagoon?

The Forest Lagoon portion lasts about two hours.

Is Forest Lagoon admission included?

Yes. The entrance fee and a towel are included.

Where do you search for the Northern Lights?

The search takes place in Eyjafjardarsveit outside Akureyri, away from city light.

How long is the Northern Lights portion?

The Northern Lights search lasts about one hour and 30 minutes.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Aurora is a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. The tour may also be canceled because of weather or sky conditions.

What happens if the tour runs but you do not see the Northern Lights?

The operator offers the trip again free the next time you have a booking if the evening goes ahead but the lights are not seen.