Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The best part of this Akureyri evening is the pairing of two very different Icelandic pleasures: a long soak in the Forest Lagoon, followed by a search for the Northern Lights in the dark countryside. You are not stuck waiting in a cold field from the start, and the lagoon gives the night a calm first act.

I like the fjord views across Eyjafjörður and the full two hours at the baths. I also like the guide-led search for the Aurora, especially since Sigi has been known to try several viewing spots, stop when the lights appear, and share photos afterward. The main drawback is simple: the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed, and poor weather or cloudy skies can cancel the outing.

Key points at a glance

• Two hours at Forest Lagoon: You get enough time to bathe, enjoy the view, and slow down rather than rush through a quick spa stop.
• A forest setting beside Eyjafjörður: Birch and pine trees surround the pools, giving the spa a different feel from Iceland’s more exposed geothermal sites.
• Northern Lights search outside Akureyri: The second half takes you away from city light pollution into Eyjafjardarsveit.
• Guide Sigi’s flexible approach: He has made several stops and taken scenic routes while searching for stronger Aurora conditions.
• Small maximum group of 18: The group size is limited, though the actual number may be much smaller.
• Free repeat if the tour runs without a sighting: If the evening proceeds but no Northern Lights appear, the operator offers the trip again at no charge when there is another booking.

Why this Akureyri night works so well

A Northern Lights outing can be a gamble. You may get a spectacular display, or you may spend hours under clouds. This tour handles that uncertainty in a sensible way by putting a geothermal bath first.

You begin at 7:30 pm from Hótel Kea in central Akureyri. The drive to Forest Lagoon is short, so the evening does not lose much time to transport. Once you arrive, you have about two hours at the spa, with entrance and a towel included.

That timing matters. You are not being pushed out of the water after a quick dip, and the lagoon visit has enough room for a proper rest. You can enjoy the warm pools, look across Eyjafjörður, and take in the forest around you before the Aurora hunt begins.

After the lagoon, your guide drives outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit. The goal is to escape the city’s light pollution and find a clearer, darker view of the sky. If the conditions look promising, your guide may stop more than once rather than settle for the first roadside viewpoint.

This combination makes the tour appealing for a winter evening when you want both comfort and a sense of adventure. The bath is a sure part of the experience. The lights are not.

Two hours in the Forest Lagoon

Forest Lagoon is the more predictable half of the night, and it is also more distinctive than a standard pool visit. The baths sit in Vaðlaskógur, a forest of birch and pine trees, with views across Eyjafjörður.

That setting gives the spa its character. Iceland is famous for open volcanic scenery, black beaches, glaciers, and broad skies. Here, you get something softer: trees close by, warm water, and a fjord opening out in front of you. In winter darkness, the view will be subdued rather than bright, but that is part of the appeal. You are looking across the water with the lights of the area below and the possibility of stars or Aurora above.

You have two hours at the lagoon, which is generous for a combined bath and Northern Lights tour. I would use the first part of the visit to settle into the water, then take time to notice the surroundings instead of treating the spa as a quick stop before the main event.

The entrance fee and towel are included, so the advertised $176 price covers more than transportation and guiding. You still need to account for anything else you may want during the evening, but the main spa cost is already handled.

The spa is not the reason to book this tour if you want a full day at a thermal resort. It is one part of a broader evening. Still, the two-hour stay makes it feel worthwhile, especially if the Aurora later refuses to appear.

From warm water to a dark sky

The transition from Forest Lagoon to the Northern Lights search is the heart of the experience. You leave the warm pools, return to the vehicle, and head away from Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit.

The Northern Lights portion lasts about one and a half hours. That is enough time for your guide to assess the conditions and try more than one place, but it is not an all-night chase. You should think of it as a focused evening search, not a promise of constant movement across northern Iceland.

This is where the guide matters. Sigi has taken a scenic route and made multiple stops when the lights appeared. That gives you more chances to see the Aurora from a useful viewpoint instead of simply stopping at the first available pull-off.

If the sky begins to glow, the experience can change quickly. A faint band may strengthen, shift, or spread across the sky. Your guide may give you time to get out, watch, and take photographs. Sigi has also taken photos for the group and shared them afterward, which is a useful touch on a night when cold fingers and dark conditions make photography tricky.

There is no guarantee that you will see anything. Aurora activity depends on the sky and weather, and even a strong forecast cannot force the clouds away. The operator can cancel if conditions are poor. If the tour runs but the lights do not appear, you are offered the chance to take the trip again for free the next time there is a booking.

That policy does not turn the Aurora into a sure thing, but it does reduce the sting of a fruitless night. Check the practical terms before booking, since the repeat offer depends on another booking and does not mean an immediate private departure.

What the $176 price really covers

At $176, this is not a cheap evening outing. The value comes from combining several services that would otherwise need separate planning: transport from Akureyri, a licensed guide and driver, Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, and a guided search outside the city.

The two-hour spa visit is important to the calculation. If you booked a Northern Lights outing alone and had to arrange a separate bath visit, you would spend more time organizing transport and matching opening hours. Here, the evening is built around one continuous plan.

You are also paying for flexibility during the Aurora search. A guide who is willing to try several spots can make better use of a mixed sky than a simple transfer to one fixed location. That does not remove the risk of bad weather, but it gives the evening a better chance than staying in central Akureyri.

I would consider the price strongest for a first visit to North Iceland, a short stay in Akureyri, or a winter trip with limited time. If you already have a car, a private lagoon booking, and a good plan for finding dark skies, you may prefer to arrange the pieces yourself. You would then give up the convenience of a driver and the local search effort.

The small maximum of 18 people also helps. Your group may be much smaller, as happened on one outing with only two people, but you should not book expecting a private tour. The official limit is 18.

Timing, meeting point, and the shape of the evening

The stated meeting point is Hótel Kea, Hafnarstræti 87-89, in Akureyri. The tour starts at 7:30 pm and returns to the same meeting point. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm the exact pickup arrangement when booking rather than assume door-to-door service from any address.

The total duration is about four hours and 30 minutes, including travel. In practical terms, you can expect roughly two hours at Forest Lagoon and about 90 minutes searching for the Northern Lights, with the remaining time used for driving.

This is an evening commitment, not a quick after-dinner activity. Keep the rest of your plans light, and do not schedule an important late-night connection afterward. Winter roads and changing conditions can affect the pace, even though the advertised length is clear.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most people can take part, but the tour information does not give detailed mobility guidance, so anyone with specific access needs should ask the operator before booking.

How to prepare for the cold after the lagoon

The warm water can make the second half feel colder than expected. You leave a heated spa and then spend time outdoors, possibly standing still while looking at the sky. Bring warm layers, and do not rely on the lagoon to carry you through the rest of the night.

You will also want to protect your phone or camera battery. The information provided does not promise photography equipment, though Sigi has shared guide-taken photos after the outing. Bring your own camera if capturing the lights matters to you, but keep your hands warm enough to use it.

The best approach is to treat the Aurora as a bonus that can become the highlight. Enjoy the lagoon on its own terms, then let the second half unfold. That mindset makes the tour worthwhile even under a quiet sky.

The guide can make or break the Northern Lights hunt

The strongest praise for this outing centers on the guide. Sigi is described as determined, willing to try several places, and ready to stop when the lights show. Those details matter more than a generic promise to see the Aurora.

Northern Lights tours require patience. A guide needs to watch the sky, understand local conditions, and decide when moving will improve the view. On this outing, Sigi used scenic routes, made multiple stops, and helped turn a successful sighting into a fuller experience.

That personal effort is especially valuable when the group is small. One outing had only two people, which effectively made it a private experience even though the tour has a maximum group size of 18. You cannot count on such a small group, but the limit keeps the tour from becoming a large coach excursion.

The guide also adds something practical after the sighting. Photos taken in darkness are often disappointing unless you know the right settings and have a steady setup. Shared guide photos can give you a better record of the night.

Who should book this winter tour

I would recommend this experience for you if you want a simple evening that combines relaxation with a real attempt to see the Northern Lights. It suits couples, families with children accompanied by adults, and solo visitors who would rather not handle winter driving outside Akureyri.

It is also a good fit if you have only one or two nights in town. You get a major Icelandic winter activity and a geothermal bath without spending a full day on the road.

You may want a different plan if you dislike uncertainty or need a guaranteed attraction. The Forest Lagoon portion is dependable, but the Aurora search is not. Cloud cover can cancel the outing, and a tour that operates may still finish without a sighting.

Book early enough to leave room for another attempt if the lights fail to appear. Since the free repeat depends on another booking, it is sensible to ask the provider how that works with your dates before you rely on it.

Should you book Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights?

Book this tour if you value convenience, want two distinct winter experiences in one evening, and appreciate having a guide search for darker skies outside Akureyri. The two-hour lagoon visit gives the night a solid foundation, while Sigi’s persistence can make the Aurora search far more rewarding than waiting in town.

Skip it if you already have independent transport and a separate spa plan, or if a Northern Lights sighting is essential to your schedule. At $176, the tour is best judged as a combined experience, not as a guaranteed ticket to the sky.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded, and poor weather or too few bookings can lead to a cancellation with a choice of a different date or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri, Iceland.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 7:30 pm.

Where does the tour finish?

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 depend on weather and sky conditions.

What happens if the tour runs but no Northern Lights appear?

If the evening tour operates but you do not see the Northern Lights, the provider offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking.