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Tromso: Northern Lights Hunt with Bonfire & Photos

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.91 (841 reviews) 95% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/12

Duration6h–9h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Chasing the aurora near Tromso with hot soup and wild stories

You’ll feel the cold bite of Arctic air as you chase northern lights outside Tromso, warmed by local soup and laughter around a crackling bonfire. With an experienced guide handling all logistics (even if it means crossing into Finland), you’ll get pro photos under the aurora plus help with your own camera. Expect real wilderness—and maybe a story or two you’ll remember later.

6h–9h

Step-by-step itinerary

Receive thermal suit
Drive up to 200km around Tromso
Travel towards Finland if needed
Search for clear sky spots
Observe northern lights
Enjoy campfire with marshmallows
Drink hot chocolate
Try local arctic expedition soup
Listen to northern stories and legends
Receive photos of the adventure
Get help with camera settings

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the crunch of snow under my boots when we stepped out of the van — not that soft powder you see in movies, but this crisp, squeaky stuff that almost echoed in the dark. Our guide, Marius, handed out these huge thermal suits (honestly, I felt like a blueberry), and then started checking the sky with this quiet intensity. He kept muttering about “clear patches over Finland,” which sounded like a joke until he actually pointed us toward the border. You could smell woodsmoke already — someone was getting the campfire going before we’d even found the lights.

I didn’t expect to drive so far from Tromso, but apparently that’s part of any real northern lights hunt. We passed maybe two other cars in hours — just endless black and a weirdly comforting silence broken by Marius telling us stories about Lady Aurora and how she sometimes hides behind clouds just to mess with guides. There was this moment when we all stood around the fire eating marshmallows (mine caught fire instantly) and sipping hot chocolate, and suddenly someone gasped — there it was: a green ribbon curling across the sky. Not as bright as postcards make it look, but real enough to make everyone go quiet for a minute.

Marius took photos for us — he knew exactly where to stand so you didn’t look like a frozen penguin in front of the aurora (though I still did). He also helped me fiddle with my phone settings; I’m hopeless with night shots. The soup they served was surprisingly good — something local from Tromso, thick and peppery enough to warm your hands through gloves. It’s funny what sticks: I still think about that taste every time I smell woodsmoke now.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel drop-off in central Tromso after chasing northern lights up to 200km away (sometimes into Finland), guided by an expert who shares stories and legends along the way. You’ll get thermal suits for warmth, hearty local soup (with vegan options), hot chocolate, marshmallows roasted at a wilderness campfire, plus professional aurora photos sent afterward—and help with your own camera if needed.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by The Green Adventure