Tromso Northern Lights Tours: Which One We’d Book Again
- Shal & James
- 13 hours ago
- 11 min read
Two Tromso northern lights tours, one glowing sky, and a very clear winner.
If you’re wondering which of the many Tromso northern lights tours is actually worth your money, here’s the short answer: we’d book Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø again without hesitation.
After trying two highly rated small-group tour operators in the same week, the difference was stark.
One felt loosely organised, reluctant to properly chase clearer skies, and left us staring at darkness our cameras had to rescue. The other drove us all the way into Finland, kept us warm and fed on a frozen river, and delivered a sky so vividly green we could see it with our own eyes.
When you’re paying A LOT for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that distinction matters.
And before you think, “We’ll just rent a car and do it ourselves,” we saw a car of self-drive tourists slide off an icy road into a ditch outside Tromso. Arctic winter driving in the dark isn’t a casual holiday errand.
So yes, you can see the aurora without a tour. But if you’re going to book one, here’s exactly why we’d choose Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø again and why the other left us deeply unimpressed.
CONTENTS
We’ve included what we paid with currency conversions based on current exchange rates to help with planning, but things change, so it’s always worth double checking to dodge any last-minute surprises.
SNOW-TRAVELS: HIGH RATINGS, DISAPPOINTING REALITY
Daily departure at 6:20PM (meet ~6PM)
Meeting point: Ishavs Hotel, Fredrik Langnes gate 2
15-person max mini bus tour: 2,150 NOK pp; converted: £166 / €191 / US$226
snow-travels had the kind of ratings that make you feel smug about your booking. Hundreds of enthusiastic reviews on GetYourGuide and a hundred on Google. A structure that sounded similar to other aurora chases.
We expected strategy. We expected movement. We expected a guide who would treat cloud cover like a personal insult.
Instead, the evening felt oddly unstructured.
The guide and driver were the same person, which meant attention was split from the start. There wasn’t much explanation about forecast models, backup locations, or what the plan was if conditions didn’t improve. About an hour outside Tromso, we stopped near a dark stretch of forest, aimed our cameras skyward, and stood there hoping the night would perform.
Through long exposure, green particles appeared on screen. Our guide called them "photo lights." But to the naked eye? Just darkness. Nothing that made your heart skip.
Most disappointing of all, there was no push to go further afield when it became clear the conditions weren’t ideal. No drive towards clearer skies. No sense of urgency.
When you’re paying £166 each [converted:€191 / US$226], you don’t want “technically visible on camera” to be the headline memory.
We left feeling short-changed.
ARCTIC CIRCLE TOURS: THE ONE WE'D BOOK AGAIN
Daily departure at 6PM (meet at 5:45PM)
Meeting point: Ami Hotel, Skolegata 24
15-person max mini bus tour: 2,190 NOK pp; converted: £169 / €194 / US$230
Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø felt different from the start.
Our guide, Margo, explained the plan and the backup plan clearly. Cloud charts, wind direction, KP index, density, etc. When Norway wasn’t cooperating, she handed out water and snacks and told us we were heading to Finland. 2.5 hours. No hesitation.
On the drive, she played a short NASA explainer about what the aurora is and why it happens. It felt less like hopeful wandering and more like a well-planned chase.
When we arrived, camp was already taking shape. Chairs around a bonfire and a proper chemical toilet inside a heated tent that looked just like a normal one. (Arctic Circle is the only company offering a toilet. Otherwise, you’re left to locate a discreet patch of snow and hope for the best.)
We roasted marshmallows first. Then chocolate appeared. Then hot drinks. Later, hot dogs over the fire.
Then Margo stepped away to the nearby frozen river to check the sky. And within minutes, it began.
A pale green wash crept across the horizon. It strengthened. It stretched. Suddenly the entire sky was moving as ribbons of light pulsed and unfurled overhead.
After portrait photos, the rest of the group drifted back to the bonfire for second helpings of snacks, refills of hot drinks, and a few well-earned storytelling sessions.
We, however, weren’t budging. Not for biscuits, not for cocoa, not for comfort. This was a full-blown cosmic performance, and we had no intention of missing even a flicker. We were mesmerised!
Luckily, all that pre-trip research paid off. We knew exactly what to wear in Lapland, and layered up properly for –15°C (5°F), which meant we stayed gloriously toasty while the sky carried on showing off.
WHY YOUR CAMERA SEES MORE THAN YOUR EYES
Your camera uses long exposure, meaning it keeps the shutter open for several seconds and gathers far more light than your eyes can process in real time. That’s why the aurora often looks brighter and more saturated in photos.
Your eyes are constantly adjusting to the dark, but they simply can’t accumulate light in the same way. Sometimes the aurora is strong enough to appear vivid and obvious. Other times it’s faint and only truly visible through a lens.
That’s normal.
But if you’re investing in a guided chase, you want a team willing to drive as far as necessary to maximise your chances of seeing it clearly without needing a camera.
For us, only one company truly did that.
DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED A NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR?
Technically, no.
If you rent a car or grab a taxi and head far enough away from light pollution, you can see the aurora independently. On very clear nights with strong activity, you might even glimpse it from the Fjellheisen cable car above Tromso.
But clouds are unpredictable. Conditions change fast. And icy rural roads in Arctic winter are not forgiving.
Seeing self-drive tourists skid off the road was a sharp reminder that this isn’t just a scenic night drive.
A professional chase team monitors forecasts constantly, understands microclimates, and knows when to cross borders if needed. That knowledge plus the safety of an experienced driver is what you’re really paying for.
FINAL VERDICT
If we were booking again, we would choose Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø without hesitation.
More professional. Better structured. Clear communication. Real effort. Proper hospitality. And most importantly, northern lights we could actually see with our own eyes.
If we’re spending hundreds as a couple for a once-in-a-lifetime Arctic experience, we want to feel like someone is genuinely fighting the elements on our behalf.
One company did. One didn’t.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there a difference between the northern lights and the aurora borealis?
Nope. Same celestial show, different name. Aurora borealis is the scientific term. Northern lights is what the rest of us call it.
What actually causes the northern lights?
In short: space weather behaving badly.
Charged particles from the sun crash into gases in Earth’s atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen, they release energy in the form of light — hello green swirls and pink streaks.
If you’d like the official science straight from the source, here’s NASA’s explanation.
What month is best for northern lights in Tromso?
September to March is prime time in Tromso. We went in early February 2026 during the solar maximum.
Around the autumn equinox in September and the spring equinox in March, aurora activity often gets a boost. It’s thanks to something called the Russell–McPherron effect, when Earth’s magnetic field lines up more neatly with the solar wind, making it easier for charged particles to slip in and put on a show.
To see the lights, you need three things: darkness, clear skies, and solar activity. You can control the first two by picking the right time and place, but the third is up to the sun!
What's the solar maximum?
The sun runs on roughly an 11-year cycle.
Solar maximum is the peak of that cycle, when the sun is extra lively and throws more charged particles our way. More activity = better aurora chances.
Can I see the northern lights without a tour?
Yes, absolutely.
If you’ve hired a car, checked the forecast, and don’t mind a bit of Arctic detective work, you can chase them yourself. Darkness, clear skies (lots of stars are a good sign), and patience are non-negotiable.
That said, Arctic roads are no joke if you're not used to winter driving with snow, packed ice and black ice you can’t see until you’re sliding. We saw self-drive tourists slide off the road into a ditch.
A good tour removes many of the risks and helps you find a good viewing spot. Professional drivers, local knowledge, and someone else handling the icy roads while you focus on the sky. Not essential, but often safer, and considerably less stressful.
What is the KP index?
The KP index is a handy little 0–9 scale that measures how stirred up Earth’s magnetic field is thanks to the solar wind. The higher the number, the stronger the geomagnetic activity, and in theory, the better your chances of seeing the aurora.
Sounds simple. It isn’t.
Tracking KP alone won’t guarantee anything. You can have a spicy KP 6 and still see nothing if:
Cloud cover rolls in and blocks the sky.
Bz component of the solar wind, "the magnetic door," isn’t open.
If it’s pointing north, the "door" stays shut and most of the solar energy slides past Earth.
If it’s pointing south, the "door" swings open. The solar wind connects properly with Earth’s magnetic field and particles rush in, which is when the aurora really gets going.
Solar wind speed and density aren’t strong enough to sustain the display.
Light pollution.
Aurora chasing is part science, part timing, part stubborn optimism. KP helps, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger cosmic puzzle.
Is it worth doing a northern lights tour in Tromso?
If you want higher odds, warmer hands, and someone else doing the weather stalking, then yes.
However, it's critical that you find a good guide who knows where the microclimates hide and will drive hours if needed. It’s part science, part persistence, part Arctic optimism. We had a great experience with Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø.
What happens on a northern lights tour?
Expect:
A long drive in a coach, minibus or van, depending on your group size. We were on minibuses with 15 people in our group for both tours we took.
A bonfire with seating in a circle, hot dogs toasted over the flames. Vegetarian freeze-dried field meals are usually available too.
Hot chocolate, tea or coffee, plus a biscuit or two.
Portrait photos taken by the guide once the aurora appears. These are typically free and ready to download soon after.
Help with your camera or phone settings, and often a tripod if you ask. We used this iphone tripod and got great photos.
A lot of looking up… in properly freezing temperatures.
Very likely a wild wee in the Arctic darkness, unless you book Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø, the only company (that we found) offering a heated tent with a portable chemical toilet.
Getting dropped off at your hotel between midnight and 2:30AM at the end of the tour.
What's the best northern lights tours in Tromso?
First, decide your tour style. We love a private tour for flexibility and fewer head torches in our peripheral vision. When that’s eye-wateringly expensive, we go for a small group. Fewer people, better odds of feeling like you’re actually in the Arctic rather than on a school trip.
After hours of research (and far too many open tabs), we shortlisted:
A local company laser-focused on the chase. The only one we found offering a heated tent with a portable toilet, which, frankly, is a luxury at minus temperatures. We enjoyed our experience and would book them again.
A larger, well-known outfit with an international team. Solid reputation, but we personally leaned towards smaller operators.
Family-run and more experience-led. Less about driving to the ends of the earth, more about creating a cosy, memorable evening.
Locally run with Norwegian guides and a strong focus on the chase. On paper it ticked boxes, though our experience didn’t live up to expectations and we felt short-changed.
What happens if I don't see the northern lights on a tour?
The northern lights are an unpredictable natural phenomenon. No company can guarantee them. To soften the risk, many operators offer 50% off a second tour if you don’t see the aurora with your own eyes, including snow-travels and Arctic Circle Tours Tromsø.
The catch? That discount is usually subject to availability, and peak-season tours sell out fast.
If we were doing it again, we’d book two tours with the same company, at least 48 hours apart, making sure there’s a free 24-hour cancellation policy. If you see the lights on night one, cancel the second. If you don’t, you’re already secured for round two and can discuss applying their 50% off policy.
A quick reality check though. When we tried to invoke this with snow-travels, they refused. We didn’t have another night spare anyway, but we felt a partial refund was reasonable under their stated policy. Instead, we received a rather frosty response.
Can my phone camera capture the northern lights?
Surprisingly, yes.
Modern smartphones with night mode can capture them, even when your eyes are squinting at what looks like faint cloud.
A tripod is your best friend. Any movement will blur the shot, and Arctic fingers are not known for their steadiness. Set up voice control or use a Bluetooth remote so you’re not wobbling the tripod every time you tap the shutter.
We also highly recommend filming a time lapse video, but remember to use a tripod.
Why do the northern lights look better on camera?
Cameras can use long exposures, which collect more light than your eyes can in real time. That means colours appear brighter and more saturated in photos.
How to dress for the northern lights?
Like you’re planning to stand still in a freezer. For hours.
Start with a proper thermal base layer top and bottom — merino wool is the gold standard. It keeps you warm even if it gets damp and won’t leave you shivering. Avoid cotton at all costs. It traps moisture, and moisture in Arctic temperatures is a fast track to misery.
Layer up with wool (James' preference), cashmere (Shal's preference) or fleece, then finish with a windproof, waterproof jacket. Sock liners, wool socks, insulated boots, a proper hat, buff, and serious liner gloves plus mittens are non-negotiable.
Most tours offer a heavy thermal suit you can borrow, which is handy if you’re underprepared. We personally didn’t use them. Call us fussy, but we preferred wearing our own gear rather than wondering how often communal suits are cleaned between outings.
We’ve broken it all down properly in our dedicated guide, including exactly what we wore in minus temperatures. Read our full post on what to wear in Lapland before you go — your toes will thank you.
Pin this for later!
FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST