Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

Northern lights pair beautifully with hot water. This 4.5-hour evening tour combines two very different Icelandic pleasures: a quiet soak at Forest Lagoon and a guided search for the Aurora Borealis outside Akureyri. I like the fjord views from the spa, and I like that the guide can move between viewing spots instead of keeping you in one place. The main drawback is simple: the lights are natural, so nobody can promise a show.

The timing works well for winter, when darkness arrives early. You meet at Hótel Kea at 7:30 p.m., spend about two hours at the lagoon, then head into Eyjafjardarsveit for roughly 90 minutes of sky watching. Past departures with guide Sigi have included several stops, scenic driving, and photos shared after the tour. That personal effort can make a big difference on a cloudy or uncertain night.

Key points to know before booking

• Two-part evening: You get a warm geothermal soak first, followed by a Northern Lights search outside Akureyri.
• Forest Lagoon setting: The pools sit among birch and pine trees, with views across Eyjafjörður.
• Active guide work: Sigi has taken guests to more than one viewing spot and stopped when the lights appeared.
• Small group size: The minibus group is capped at 18 people, though it may be smaller.
• Price includes the basics: The $176 cost covers lagoon admission, a towel, and a licensed guide-driver.
• Weather controls the plan: The tour can be canceled for poor conditions, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Why this Akureyri night tour works

Akureyri is a fine base for winter outings. It gives you a town to return to, yet the countryside begins quickly once you leave the center. That matters for Northern Lights watching because city lights can wash out faint aurora activity.

This tour makes good use of the evening. Instead of sitting in a vehicle for hours hoping the sky changes, you begin with a fixed, relaxing activity. The Forest Lagoon gives you a warm place to enjoy the darkness, then the second half becomes a flexible search for clear skies and visible aurora.

I also like the contrast. The lagoon is calm and comfortable. Northern Lights watching is less predictable and more weather dependent. Put together, the two halves create a fuller evening than either activity alone.

The four-and-a-half-hour duration includes driving time. You should think of this as a compact evening outing, not an all-night chase. That makes it useful if you have dinner plans, an early departure, or another winter activity scheduled for the next day.

Starting at Hótel Kea at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting point is Hótel Kea, at Hafnarstræti 87 to 89 in central Akureyri. Pickup is offered, but the stated start point is the hotel, so check the exact arrangement when you book rather than assuming door-to-door service.

A 7:30 p.m. start gives the group plenty of darkness for both parts of the evening. The tour ends back at the meeting point, which makes the return straightforward if you are staying in Akureyri.

The group limit is 18 people. That is not a private excursion by default, but it is small enough for a guide to keep the evening organized. One departure had only two people, turning the outing into a private-style trip. You should not count on that, but low demand can sometimes create a more personal experience.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour information says most people can participate, though the actual comfort of the evening depends on your ability to handle cold outdoor conditions and a late winter return.

Two quiet hours at Forest Lagoon

Forest Lagoon is the first major stop, with about two hours set aside for the visit. Admission and a towel are included, so you do not need to pay a second entrance fee at the door or arrange a towel separately.

The setting is the real reason to come. The baths sit beside Vaðlaskógur, a forest of birch and pine, and look across Eyjafjörður. Iceland is famous for its open volcanic terrain, so trees around a geothermal pool give this spa a different feel from many other bathing sites.

You will arrive after dark during this evening tour. That means the view across the fjord may be more subdued than it would be in daylight, but the lights of the water and surrounding area can create a peaceful scene. One evening included enough time to relax properly and enjoy the fjord view after nightfall.

Two hours is a generous visit for a combined tour. You should have time to settle into the warm water rather than rushing through a quick dip. The pace is especially welcome after a day of sightseeing, driving, or walking in cold weather.

The tradeoff is that Forest Lagoon is still a spa stop, not a full day of bathing and relaxation. If you want a long, slow wellness session, the fixed schedule may feel short. For a Northern Lights evening, though, two hours gives you a satisfying visit without taking over the whole night.

I would bring a swimsuit and warm clothing for the transition back to the vehicle, although the supplied details confirm only the towel inclusion. Keep your outdoor layers easy to reach. The tour moves from warm water to winter air, and the second half takes place outside the city.

Leaving town for Eyjafjardarsveit

After the lagoon, the guide drives into Eyjafjardarsveit to get away from Akureyri’s light pollution. This is the part of the outing that requires patience. You may stop, wait, and move again depending on cloud cover and aurora activity.

The planned Northern Lights portion lasts about 90 minutes. That is enough time for a focused search, but it is not a guarantee of clear skies or strong aurora. The guide has the practical job of choosing spots with better conditions, and past outings with Sigi included several attempts before finding a good place.

That flexibility is valuable. A fixed viewpoint can be disappointing if clouds settle in or a nearby light source interferes. A guide who checks more than one location gives you a better chance of seeing what the sky offers that night.

Still, you should set your expectations correctly. Northern Lights forecasts can suggest activity, but the aurora remains a natural event. Even if the tour operates, you may see nothing. That is not a failure of the lagoon or the guide, but it is the central risk built into the price.

When the lights do appear, the experience can change quickly. One outing included several stops before a spectacular display emerged. Another guide-led evening involved stopping multiple times so the group could get out and enjoy the lights. Those details suggest that the best part of the night may come from the guide’s persistence, not from simply driving to one advertised spot.

Photography is another welcome extra when available. Sigi has taken photos and shared them afterward. Do not treat that as a guaranteed professional photo service, but it can spare you from trying to manage a camera while standing in the cold and looking upward.

What the $176 price really covers

At $176, this is not a cheap soak or a simple shuttle to a viewing point. The fee pays for two connected activities: Forest Lagoon admission with a towel, transportation during the evening, and a licensed guide-driver who manages the Northern Lights search.

The value depends on how you would otherwise arrange the night. If you were already planning to visit Forest Lagoon and book a separate Northern Lights outing, combining them may save time and simplify your schedule. You also avoid figuring out how to reach the lagoon and then finding a dark viewing area outside Akureyri.

The price is harder to justify if your main goal is only bathing. In that case, a standalone lagoon visit could suit you better. It is also a riskier purchase if seeing the aurora is the only reason you want to go, since no operator can guarantee the natural event.

The strongest value comes from the guide’s local decision-making. A driver who is willing to try more than one location gives the second half purpose. You are not simply being taken to a dark field and left to hope for luck.

With a maximum of 18 people, you also avoid the scale of a large coach outing. The group might be much smaller, as happened on one departure with only two people. That can make stops easier and allow more direct contact with the guide.

The guide can shape the whole evening

A good guide matters more on this tour than on a basic transfer. The spa portion is easy to enjoy without much explanation, but the Northern Lights search depends on timing, weather awareness, and the willingness to keep looking.

Sigi has received especially strong praise for making the effort to find the lights. His approach included a scenic route, multiple stops, and photos shared afterward. If he is leading your departure, you may benefit from that same personal style, although guide assignments can vary.

The practical point is to notice what the guide controls and what the guide cannot control. The guide can choose darker areas, watch the sky, adjust the route, and tell you when it is worth getting out. The guide cannot create clear skies or summon the aurora on schedule.

That distinction helps keep the tour fair in your mind. You are paying for a well-run search and a lagoon visit, not a guaranteed natural performance.

Weather, cancellations, and the no-show risk

The Northern Lights portion depends on weather and sky conditions. The operator can cancel the tour at any time if conditions are poor. If the tour is canceled for that reason, you are offered another date or a full refund.

If the tour goes ahead but the lights do not appear, the operator offers the trip again free the next time there is a booking. That is useful protection, though it may not help if you are leaving Akureyri the next morning or cannot fit another evening into your schedule.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for low demand can result in a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

For the best chance of using the repeat option, schedule this tour early in your Akureyri stay. That gives you some room to try again if weather cancels the evening or the sky stays empty. It also reduces the disappointment of placing your only Northern Lights chance on the last night.

Who should book this evening

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a simple winter night with a clear structure. The warm lagoon gives you a reliable experience, while the Northern Lights search adds excitement without requiring you to plan several separate pieces.

It suits couples, families with children accompanied by an adult, and solo visitors who prefer a guide rather than self-driving after dark. The small maximum group also helps if you dislike large bus excursions.

You should think twice if you dislike uncertain plans, cold outdoor waiting, or the possibility of returning without seeing the aurora. The lagoon is dependable, but the main headline attraction is not.

It is also a good fit for anyone who values scenery and quiet as much as a successful sighting. The forest setting, fjord view, and time in warm water give the evening something worthwhile even before the sky cooperates.

My verdict on the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour

Book it if you want two very different Icelandic experiences in one manageable evening, and if you can accept that the Northern Lights are never guaranteed. The Forest Lagoon provides the dependable part, while the guide-led search gives you a better organized chance of seeing the aurora than simply waiting in town.

I especially like the two-hour spa visit, the forest and fjord setting, and the reported effort from Sigi to try several viewing spots. At $176, the tour offers fair value when you want admission, a towel, transport, and a guide in one package.

Choose a date early in your stay if possible. That gives you the best practical backup if weather cancels the trip or the operator offers a free repeat after a night without lights. If you need a sure-fire aurora sighting, no tour can provide it. If you want a relaxing evening with a real chance at something extraordinary, this is a strong Akureyri choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87 to 89, 600 Akureyri, Iceland. The stated start time is 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point in Akureyri.

How long does the tour last?

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

How long do you spend at Forest Lagoon?

The Forest Lagoon visit lasts about two hours. Entrance and a towel are included.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

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

What happens if poor weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if the tour is canceled because of poor weather.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 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.