Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights Guided Night Tour

The most appealing part of this evening is the change of pace: you begin in warm geothermal water beneath the dark sky, then head outside Akureyri to search for the Northern Lights. It is a smart pairing of relaxation and adventure, with the Forest Lagoon looking across Eyjafjörður and the second half spent away from city lights.

I like the two-hour lagoon visit, which gives you enough time to settle in rather than rush through a quick soak. I also like the guide-led search for the aurora. Sigi, also referred to as Siggi, has taken guests to several viewing spots and made extra stops when the lights appeared. The main consideration is simple: the aurora is natural, so no guide can promise a show.

Key points

• A warm start at Forest Lagoon: Two hours are set aside for the geothermal baths, with a towel and admission included.
• Fjord views after dark: The lagoon looks over Eyjafjörður and is surrounded by birch and pine trees.
• A real search for the aurora: The guide drives beyond Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit to get away from city light.
• Small-group format: The tour is limited to a maximum of 18 people, though it may run with far fewer.
• Extra stops can make the difference: Sigi has used scenic routes and stopped more than once when the lights were active.
• Weather rules matter: If poor conditions cancel the tour, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Why this Akureyri evening works so well

I like this tour because it joins two very different Iceland experiences in one four-and-a-half-hour outing. The first is calm and predictable: warm water, trees, and a broad view across a fjord. The second is uncertain by nature: you ride into the countryside and wait for the sky to cooperate.

That contrast gives the evening a pleasant rhythm. You are not spending the whole night standing in the cold, hoping for a faint green streak. You get a proper spa visit first, then a focused aurora search with a driver who can adjust the route.

The tour begins at 7:30 p.m. outside Hótel Kea by Keahotels on Hafnarstræti in central Akureyri. It ends back at the same meeting point. The listed duration is about four hours and 30 minutes, including driving time, so plan your evening around a return later that night.

Two hours at Forest Lagoon

The Forest Lagoon is the more settled half of the experience. Admission and a towel are included, and about two hours are allowed at the baths. That is enough time to enter the water, enjoy the setting, and relax without watching the clock every few minutes.

The setting is the main reason to choose this lagoon. It sits among birch and pine trees in Vaðlaskógur, with views across Eyjafjörður. After dark, the fjord view becomes quieter and more atmospheric. You may not see every detail of the water or surrounding hills, but the lights and dark outline of the fjord create a fine backdrop from the warm pools.

I would treat the lagoon as more than a warm-up for the aurora hunt. It is a worthwhile stop on its own, particularly after a day outdoors in Iceland’s winter weather. The trees also give it a different feel from a spa built in a busy town setting.

There is one practical point to keep in mind. The visit takes place in the evening, after darkness has arrived, so you should not expect the same broad daytime scenery you might see from a roadside viewpoint. The charm here is the combination of warm water, forest, darkness, and the fjord beyond.

The two-hour allowance is also useful for people with different priorities. You can spend much of the time soaking, or keep the visit shorter and simply enjoy the surroundings. Since the next part involves going back outside, avoid treating the lagoon as a rushed stop.

Leaving the city lights for Eyjafjardarsveit

After Forest Lagoon, the guide takes you outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit. The purpose is clear: reduce the glow from the city and find darker skies. That matters because weak aurora can disappear against light pollution, while even a modest display can look clearer in open darkness.

This is not a fixed promise of one viewing point. The guide may try several places, depending on weather, cloud, and what the sky is doing. That flexibility is one of the tour’s strongest features. On a successful night, Sigi has taken a scenic route, stopped more than once, and given people time to get out and watch the lights.

You should think of this as a search rather than a scheduled performance. The guide cannot turn on the aurora, and a clear forecast does not guarantee that the lights will appear. Still, the ability to move away from Akureyri and try more than one location gives you a better plan than simply hoping to spot something from town.

If the aurora appears, the experience can change quickly. One account describes a quiet search followed by a sudden, spectacular display. Another notes that the guide found a strong viewing place after trying several spots. Those details are useful because they show what the evening may demand: patience, a willingness to move, and a guide who keeps watching conditions instead of stopping at the first location.

What the guide adds to the night

The guide is more than a driver on this experience. You are relying on that person to manage the timing of the lagoon visit, take you away from city lights, and make sensible decisions as the sky changes.

Sigi, also spelled Siggi in the supplied information, receives especially strong praise for his approach. He has used scenic roads, made multiple stops, and taken photographs that were later shared with the group. The photography is a pleasant extra, but the more important point is his willingness to keep looking for a better place.

The small-group limit helps here. The tour accepts no more than 18 people, and it can sometimes operate with only a few people. One booking had just two participants, which turned the evening into a private-style outing rather than a large coach trip.

You should not assume every departure will have only two people. The stated maximum is 18, so the experience can vary. Even so, the cap is modest enough to make stops and regrouping easier than they would be with a much larger crowd.

Is $176 good value?

At $176, this is not a cheap way to spend an evening. The value comes from combining three paid or useful elements: Forest Lagoon admission, a towel, and transport with a licensed guide and driver.

Buying access to the lagoon separately would not remove the need to arrange an aurora outing. Booking the two parts together saves you from coordinating transport, watching the road, and deciding where to go once the sky darkens. For a first visit to Akureyri, that convenience has real worth.

The price makes the most sense if you want both a spa visit and a guided Northern Lights search. If your only goal is to see the aurora, you may find the lagoon portion less important. If you already have access to a car and are comfortable choosing dark-sky locations yourself, the guided transport may also feel less essential.

I would judge the cost by the quality of the night rather than by the number of stops. A strong aurora display, a calm two-hour soak, and a guide who adjusts the route can make the price feel fair. A cloudy evening is a different calculation, though the repeat-trip policy softens that risk when the tour runs but the lights remain unseen.

The Northern Lights guarantee you should understand

There is no sighting guarantee. The aurora is a natural phenomenon, and the tour may operate even when the lights do not appear.

The provider offers the trip again for free next time there is a booking if the evening goes ahead but you do not see the Northern Lights. That is helpful, but it is not the same as receiving a refund for an operating tour. You also need to be in Akureyri for another suitable departure to use that offer.

Weather can stop the tour altogether. If poor weather or sky conditions lead to cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The provider can also cancel if the minimum number of participants is not reached, with a different date, another experience, or a full refund offered.

For your part, bring the right attitude and clothing for the second half. The information does not specify a clothing list, but you will be leaving the warm lagoon and spending time outside in winter conditions. Dress for waiting outdoors, not just for riding in a vehicle.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants a simple winter evening from Akureyri without choosing between a spa and an aurora outing. Couples and small groups will appreciate the calm start and the chance to watch the sky together later.

It also suits families, provided children are accompanied by an adult. Most people can participate, and no special fitness requirement is listed. The experience does involve getting in and out of transport and spending time outdoors, so consider your own comfort with those conditions.

This is a good fit for first-time visitors who do not want to plan an aurora route themselves. You get a licensed guide and driver, a central meeting point, and a return to that same location. You can focus on the evening instead of navigating unfamiliar winter roads.

It may be less suitable if you need a guaranteed schedule with no changes. Aurora searches depend on weather and sky conditions, and the guide may try more than one spot. That uncertainty is part of the point, but it requires flexibility.

Timing, meeting point, and group size

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m. at Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri. Pickup is offered, so check the booking details for the exact arrangement, but the listed start point is the hotel in central Akureyri.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Since the full outing lasts about four hours and 30 minutes, you should avoid scheduling another fixed evening activity soon afterward. Driving time is included in the total, which means the actual time at the lagoon and under the sky is shorter than the headline duration.

About two hours are planned at Forest Lagoon, followed by about 90 minutes for Northern Lights viewing in Eyjafjardarsveit. The remaining time covers travel between stops and back to Akureyri.

A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation arrives when you book. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The maximum group size is 18, a useful limit for a tour that may need to make several stops.

Cancellation details worth knowing

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and a late cancellation is not refunded.

The weather clause is especially important for an aurora tour. Poor conditions can lead to cancellation, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number is not reached, you receive the choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

I would avoid booking this on the last night of your stay if seeing the Northern Lights is a major goal. The free repeat offer only helps if you have another booking opportunity in Akureyri, and a weather cancellation requires room in your schedule.

Should you book this Forest Lagoon and aurora tour?

Book it if you want a well-shaped winter evening: two hours in a scenic geothermal bath, followed by a flexible search for the Northern Lights beyond Akureyri. The guide’s willingness to try several spots and make extra stops is a real advantage, especially on a night when the aurora appears only briefly.

The $176 price is easiest to justify when you value both parts of the outing and want transport handled for you. The strongest reason to hesitate is the natural uncertainty of the aurora. You can receive another trip if the tour operates without a sighting, but you cannot order clear skies.

For a first visit to northern Iceland, I think this is a sensible choice. You get a memorable spa setting, fjord views, a small-group format, and an active search rather than a single roadside stop. Just leave room in your schedule, dress for the cold, and book it for the experience of the evening, not only for a promise of green lights.

FAQ

Where does the Forest Lagoon and Northern Lights tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 7:30 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

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

How long does the tour last?

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

How long do I spend at Forest Lagoon?

About two hours are planned at Forest Lagoon.

Is Forest Lagoon admission included?

Yes. The entrance fee and a towel are included.

Where does the Northern Lights search take place?

The guide takes you outside Akureyri toward Eyjafjardarsveit to get away from city light pollution.

Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

If the tour operates but the Northern Lights are not seen, the provider offers the trip again for free the next time there is a booking. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.