Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The best part of this Akureyri evening tour is the pairing: two quiet hours in warm geothermal water, followed by a search for the Northern Lights in the dark countryside. Forest Lagoon gives you a calm start, while guide Sigi has been known to make several stops and keep looking when the sky shows promise.

I like the fjord view from the pools and the fact that the entrance fee and towel are included. I also like the small maximum of 18 people. That leaves more room for a guide to adjust the route, as Sigi did on one outing, rather than simply driving to one fixed viewing point.

The catch is simple: the Aurora Borealis is a natural event, not a scheduled performance. Poor weather or a cloudy sky can cancel the outing, and even a tour that runs cannot promise a sighting. If seeing the lights is your main goal, plan to keep another evening free.

Key points to know before you book

• Forest Lagoon comes first: You get about two hours in the geothermal baths before heading into the countryside.
• The pools face Eyjafjörður: The fjord view and surrounding birch and pine trees give the spa a setting unlike a typical city pool.
• The Northern Lights search is mobile: Your guide can try several spots around Eyjafjardarsveit instead of relying on one viewing area.
• Sigi has a good record for persistence: On one outing, he took a scenic route, made multiple stops, and shared photos afterward.
• The group is limited to 18 people: That is a useful size for a night when everyone may need to move quickly or stop outside.
• The tour returns to Hotel Kea: Pickup begins and ends at Hótel Kea by Keahotels in central Akureyri.

Why the lagoon and Aurora make a smart winter pairing

Many Northern Lights outings involve waiting in the cold for the sky to change. This experience gives you a gentler first half. You begin with warm water, a fjord view, and the quiet setting of Vaðlaskógur, then move on to the more uncertain part of the night.

That balance is the main reason I find the tour appealing. Forest Lagoon is not treated as a quick stop before the real event. You have about two hours there, enough time to relax rather than rush through a short soak.

The setting also gives the visit a clear sense of place. The baths sit among birch and pine trees across from Eyjafjörður, one of Iceland’s longest fjords. After dark, the view becomes quieter and more atmospheric. You may not see every detail of the water and mountains, but the fjord remains part of the experience.

Then the mood changes. The vehicle leaves Akureyri for Eyjafjardarsveit, where there is less city light. The guide’s job is not simply to point at the sky. The driver needs to watch the weather, find darker places, and decide when moving is worthwhile. That flexibility matters when the Aurora is faint or appears in short bursts.

Two hours at Forest Lagoon in Vaðlaskógur

Forest Lagoon is the first stop and lasts about two hours. Admission and a towel are included, so you do not need to arrange a separate spa visit or add another entry fee.

The lagoon’s setting is its strongest feature. The pools are surrounded by the trees of Vaðlaskógur, with views toward Eyjafjörður. That combination of warm water, forest, and fjord makes the stop feel different from a standard urban swimming pool.

You will arrive in the evening, after darkness has settled in. That means the view is more about shapes, lights, and atmosphere than a full daytime panorama. Still, the fjord view remains attractive, and the dark setting fits the winter mood.

Two hours is a useful amount of time. You can settle into the water, enjoy the quiet, and leave without feeling that the visit has swallowed the whole evening. If you prefer a long spa session with several facilities, the supplied details do not promise those extras, so you should think of this as a focused geothermal bathing stop.

The lagoon also gives you a comfortable pause before the outdoor search. The Northern Lights portion may require waiting, moving between spots, or standing outside while your guide checks the sky. Starting warm and relaxed makes that second half easier to enjoy.

Searching for the Northern Lights near Akureyri

After the lagoon, the tour heads outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit. The goal is to escape the city’s light pollution and find a darker view of the sky. This is a guided search, not a single fixed appointment with the Aurora.

That distinction matters. A clear forecast does not guarantee green lights overhead, and a tour can operate without producing a sighting. The Aurora depends on natural activity, cloud cover, and darkness lining up at the right time.

The strongest praise for this experience centers on the guide’s effort. Sigi took a scenic route on one outing, tried several spots, and made multiple stops so the small group could get out and watch. That approach gives you a better chance than staying beside the city and hoping the sky cooperates.

Sigi also shared photos after the outing, which is a useful extra if the conditions produce something worth capturing. You should not book on the promise of professional photography, since that is not listed as an included service. But it is a pleasant possibility based on how the tour has operated.

The search can end in a spectacular display, as it did on one particularly successful evening. It can also end with nothing visible. I would treat the drive and the changing viewpoints as part of the experience, but keep your expectations realistic.

What the 4.5-hour schedule feels like

The tour begins at 7:30 pm at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, located at Hafnarstræti 87 to 89 in Akureyri. The total duration is about four and a half hours, including driving time, so you should expect to return around midnight, although the exact timing can vary.

The order is logical:

• Start with the Forest Lagoon visit, lasting about two hours.
• Travel outside Akureyri to Eyjafjardarsveit.
• Spend about one and a half hours searching for the Northern Lights.
• Return to the same meeting point.

This schedule works well for an evening in Akureyri because it combines a booked activity with time outdoors, without taking the entire day. You can use the daylight hours for another excursion or for exploring town, then meet the group in the evening.

The timing also suits the season. Northern Lights viewing requires darkness, and the late start gives the tour a proper night sky rather than an early-evening twilight. Still, the exact amount of time spent at viewing spots can depend on weather and what the guide finds.

Pickup is offered, but the stated meeting point is Hótel Kea. Confirm the pickup arrangement when booking if you are staying elsewhere, since the provided details do not name additional pickup locations.

Group size, guide style, and the value of flexibility

The maximum group size is 18 people. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough to avoid the feel of a large coach outing. A smaller group is especially useful during the Aurora search, when people may need to leave the vehicle, change locations, or gather around a promising patch of sky.

One outing had only two people and effectively became a private experience. You should not assume that will happen on your date, but the possibility shows why the group limit matters.

Guide Sigi received especially strong praise for making the evening personal. He did not settle for one viewing point. He used a scenic route, tried several locations, and made repeated stops when the lights appeared. That kind of persistence is valuable because the Aurora can fade, shift, or appear only in a narrow part of the sky.

I would place more importance on the guide’s flexibility than on the word Northern Lights in the tour title. No operator can control the sky. A good guide can control how thoughtfully the evening is handled, and the supplied experiences point to a driver who keeps trying.

The tour is run by Star Travel Iceland and includes a licensed guide and driver. That means the transport and guiding are handled together rather than split between separate services.

Is $176 a fair price?

At $176, this is not the cheapest way to visit a geothermal bath or search for the Aurora. The value comes from combining both activities in one evening and including Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, transportation, and a licensed guide and driver.

Buying the two parts separately could mean arranging transport to the lagoon, paying its entry fee, and then finding a separate Northern Lights outing. This tour removes that planning work and places the two experiences in a sensible order.

The price makes the most sense if you want both activities. If you only want a spa session, you may be paying for an Aurora search you do not care about. If you only want the lights, the lagoon portion adds time and cost, though it also gives you a comfortable start to an uncertain night.

A possible sighting is part of the value, but it should not be treated as a guarantee. The tour provider offers the outing again for free next time there is a booking if the evening goes ahead and you do not see the Northern Lights. That is a helpful policy, though it depends on you being in the area for another suitable booking.

Weather rules and the risk of no Aurora

The tour may be canceled because of poor weather or unsuitable sky conditions. If that happens, you are offered a different date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, so it may be canceled if that minimum is not reached.

Even if the tour operates, the lights may not appear. That is not a flaw in the outing. It is the basic risk of every Aurora trip. You are paying for transport, a guide’s search, and the Forest Lagoon visit, not a guaranteed natural display.

If no lights appear, the provider offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking. Read that as a useful second chance, not as a promise that you can automatically extend your stay.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The cutoff uses local time.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a balanced winter evening rather than a pure Aurora chase. The lagoon gives you a real activity even if the sky stays cloudy, and the dark-country search adds the excitement of an event that cannot be guaranteed.

It suits couples, families with children accompanied by an adult, and solo visitors who prefer a guided outing. Most people can participate, according to the supplied conditions.

It is also a good match for visitors staying in Akureyri who want an easy evening departure and return. You do not need to plan separate transport to Forest Lagoon or work out where to look for the lights outside town.

I would be more cautious if your schedule is very tight. Weather can change the plan, and the total outing lasts about four and a half hours. I would also think twice if you dislike uncertain activities. The Northern Lights section may be thrilling, but it may also produce only a drive through dark countryside and a return without a sighting.

Should you book the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want two different Iceland experiences in one winter evening: a calm soak among trees with views toward Eyjafjörður, followed by an active search for the Aurora beyond Akureyri’s city lights.

The best reason to choose this tour is the combination of a worthwhile lagoon visit and a guide who appears willing to keep moving when conditions call for it. Sigi’s scenic route, multiple stops, and shared photos add a personal touch to the night.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed green sky. Instead, judge the $176 price by the complete evening: admission, towel, transportation, licensed guide, a two-hour spa visit, and a serious attempt to find the lights. For many visitors, that makes the risk worthwhile.

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

How long do you spend at Forest Lagoon?

The Forest Lagoon visit 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 outside Akureyri in Eyjafjardarsveit, away from city light pollution.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed even when 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 causes cancellation.

Can I cancel the booking?

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