Photography tour – Northern light Hunting from Akureyri

The sky can put on a show. This evening trip leaves Akureyri’s city lights behind for Eyjafjardarsveit, giving you a better chance to see the aurora and photograph it in darker surroundings. I like the simple plan: a local driver-guide handles the road, and hotel pickup saves you from finding your way around northern Iceland at night.

I also like the small-group limit of 18 people and the flexible approach to weather. The main drawback is the obvious one: the Northern Lights are natural, so nobody can promise a sighting. Even if the trip runs, clouds or weak activity may leave you with a cold wait and no green sky.

Key points at a glance

• A short escape from Akureyri: The tour heads to Eyjafjardarsveit, outside the city’s light pollution, for about two hours.
• Pickup is included: Collection begins between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m., depending on the number of pickup stops.
• A useful small-group size: A maximum of 18 people keeps this from feeling like a huge coach outing.
• Guide quality matters here: Siggi received especially warm praise for making extra effort when the aurora proved difficult to find.
• Sightings are never guaranteed: The operator may cancel for poor conditions, or offer another trip if the tour runs without a sighting.
• The price reflects convenience: At $126.43 per person, you are paying for transport, local driving, and the chance to chase clearer skies without renting a car.

Leaving Akureyri after dark

The meeting point is Hótel Kea by Keahotels, at Hafnarstræti 87-89 in central Akureyri. Pickup starts around 9:30 p.m. and can continue until 10:00 p.m., depending on how many collection points are needed. If you are staying elsewhere, hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but allow some flexibility at the start.

That late departure is practical. In northern Iceland, darkness is essential for aurora watching, and this is not an early-evening sightseeing ride. You will likely spend the first part of the outing getting out of Akureyri and away from the city glow.

The return is to the meeting point. The full activity lasts about two to three hours, with roughly two hours listed for the time outside the city. That makes it easy to fit into an Akureyri stay without giving up an entire day.

You should dress for standing outdoors in Icelandic night weather. The tour operates in all weather conditions unless the company cancels because conditions are unsuitable for the outing. Bring warm clothing, and do not count on food or drinks being provided. Those are not included unless specifically stated.

Why Eyjafjardarsveit is the right target

The tour’s main stop is Eyjafjardarsveit, an area outside Akureyri. The reason for going there is simple: less artificial light gives your eyes a better chance to pick out the aurora, and it gives a camera a darker sky to work with.

That does not mean the aurora will appear. It means the tour is putting you in a better setting than a brightly lit city center. Northern Lights hunting is partly about weather, partly about cloud cover, and partly about solar activity. A dark location helps, but it cannot control the sky.

The stop is also appealing because the focus stays on the night sky rather than on a long list of daytime sights. You are not being rushed through several attractions. The purpose is clear: get away from Akureyri, watch the sky, and make the most of the conditions available.

For photography, that matters. Darker surroundings can help your camera capture the lights more clearly, although the information provided does not specify camera equipment, tripods, or hands-on photography instruction. You should treat this as an aurora outing with a photography focus, not assume it includes a formal camera lesson.

What the driver-guide adds

A good guide can make or break a Northern Lights trip. The driver must handle the evening road, judge changing conditions, and keep the group informed without pretending to control nature.

Siggi is singled out for going beyond the basic job. When it would have been easy to give up, he kept working to make the outing worthwhile. That tells you something useful about the service: persistence and personal attention may matter as much as the destination.

Another strong point is the guide’s ability to explain the aurora while keeping conversation enjoyable. That balance is valuable during quiet stretches when the sky is still dark. You want clear information, but you do not want a lecture forced into every minute of the evening.

The operator is Star Travel Iceland, and the tour is offered in English. Since the group can include up to 18 people, the experience is not private. Still, that limit is more manageable than a giant bus group, especially when everyone is trying to watch the same patch of sky.

The photography side of the evening

The word photography in the tour title sets a certain expectation. You are going out at night, away from city light, with the aim of seeing and photographing the aurora. That should appeal to anyone who wants more than a quick glimpse through a bus window.

The supplied details do not promise camera rental, tripod hire, editing help, or individual instruction. Pack the equipment you already know how to use, and make sure you understand your camera or phone before leaving. At night, fumbling with settings can mean missing a brief burst of activity.

If you are using a camera, keep your gear protected from cold and moisture. That is general preparation rather than a special service provided by the company. The important point is to arrive ready, because this is a short outing and the best display may not last long.

You should also keep your expectations realistic. The Northern Lights may appear as a faint glow, a bright band, or an active display. A strong show is possible, but it is not part of the guarantee. The company promises a chance to hunt, not a scheduled performance.

The real value of $126.43

At $126.43 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an evening in Akureyri. The value comes from convenience and local transport rather than from a long list of inclusions.

You do not need to rent a car, plan a route into the countryside, or drive unfamiliar Icelandic roads after dark. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with the driver-guide. For a visitor who does not want to manage winter driving or weather decisions, those details carry real value.

The outing lasts only two to three hours, so you are not paying for a full-night expedition. That shorter format may suit you if you want a focused evening activity, especially when your itinerary is already busy. It may feel less satisfying if you expect hours of chasing across northern Iceland.

Food and drinks are not included. Eat before pickup and bring anything you need for the evening, since the experience is built around transport and aurora watching rather than refreshments.

I would judge the price by your priorities. If you already have a rental car and feel comfortable navigating at night, you may prefer to search for a viewing spot on your own. If you want a guide, a ride, and a planned escape from Akureyri’s lights, $126.43 is easier to justify.

Weather rules and the risk of no lights

This is the part you need to understand before booking. The Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed, even when the trip operates. The sky may stay cloudy, activity may be weak, or the lights may appear too faint to impress.

The company can cancel the tour because of poor weather or unsuitable sky conditions. If that happens during your stay, the stated policy is a full refund for a bus tour booking. The cancellation terms also say you may be offered another date or a full refund when the weather forces a cancellation.

If the evening trip goes ahead and the aurora does not appear, the operator says it will offer the trip again for free the next time it has a booking. That is a helpful policy, but it only works if you have enough time left in Akureyri and another departure is available.

You should therefore place this tour early in your stay if seeing the lights is a major goal. The data does not promise that a replacement will fit your schedule, so do not leave your only possible aurora night until the final evening.

The standard cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The company may also cancel if the minimum number of participants is not reached, in which case you are offered another option or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This experience suits you if you want a straightforward Northern Lights outing from Akureyri without renting a car. It also fits photographers who want to reach a darker area but do not need a formal lesson or specialist equipment supplied by the operator.

It is a good match for couples, families, and solo visitors who prefer a guided evening. Children can join, but children must be accompanied by an adult. A child rate applies only when the child shares with two paying adults, so check the booking terms carefully if you are arranging a family trip.

The tour may be less suitable if you dislike waiting outdoors, need a guaranteed result, or want a private session. The group limit is 18, not one-on-one. The tour also operates in all weather conditions unless the company calls it off, so you need to be prepared for a cold or unsettled evening.

Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. That makes the start easy for many visitors staying in or near central Akureyri, even if they do not use the included pickup.

How I would plan the evening

I would book this tour for the first half of my Akureyri stay, not the last night. That gives me a chance to use the free repeat offer if the first attempt runs without a sighting, and it leaves room for a weather-related change.

Before pickup, I would eat dinner and dress for a long period outside. I would also charge my phone and camera, clear storage space, and bring only the equipment I can use confidently in the dark.

At Hótel Kea, I would arrive ready by 9:30 p.m., while remembering that the actual pickup may happen later, up to around 10:00 p.m. The timing depends on the number of pickup locations, so a little patience is part of the deal.

Once outside Akureyri, listen to the guide’s advice about where to watch and when to move. The point of joining a guided outing is to let the driver handle the practical decisions while you focus on the sky.

Should you book this Northern Lights tour?

Book it if you want an easy, guided escape from Akureyri and you accept that the aurora is never guaranteed. The included pickup, short duration, English-speaking service, and maximum group size of 18 make it a practical choice for many visitors.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to someone who values a determined guide. Siggi’s effort to keep searching, even when the situation looked doubtful, is exactly the attitude you want on a night when nature refuses to cooperate.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed display, private photography instruction, or a full-night chase. For everyone else, this is a sensible way to give yourself a real chance at the Northern Lights without handling Icelandic night driving alone.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights photography tour start?

The listed meeting point is Hótel Kea by Keahotels, Hafnarstræti 87-89, 600 Akureyri, Iceland.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Driver pickup and drop-off at the hotel are included.

What time does pickup begin?

Pickup begins from 9:30 p.m. and may continue until 10:00 p.m., depending on how many pickup locations are scheduled.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately two to three hours. The time at Eyjafjardarsveit is listed as about two hours.

Where does the tour go?

The tour travels outside Akureyri to Eyjafjardarsveit to get away from city light pollution.

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 will be offered a different date or a full refund if the tour is canceled because of poor weather or unsuitable conditions.

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

The operator says it will offer the trip again for free the next time it has a booking, if the evening tour operates but the lights are not seen.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a driver-guide and hotel pickup and drop-off. Food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the child rate applies only when sharing with two paying adults.