Northern Lights tour from Tromsø: chase the aurora by coach

Chase the lights across the dark Arctic, moving where the sky clears

This Northern Lights viewing tour from Tromsø travels by coach into the surrounding wilderness to hunt the aurora, stopping at private heated camps chosen for the best viewing conditions on the night. The guide speaks English and moves the group across Troms County as weather shifts, with hot meals, warm thermal suits, and a campfire or lavvo tent included; the tour runs 5 to 8 hours depending on conditions and sightings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights tour from Tromsø

• Start tour in Tromsø city
• Travel around Troms County for clear skies
• Visit private heated camp for meal
• Chase northern lights and take photos
• Return to Tromsø city and drop off

The Experience

The coach leaves the city after dark and heads into the wide Tromsø area, trading electric lights for the open sky. A knowledgeable English-speaking guide leads the hunt, and the route shifts on the night itself — if clouds roll in over one location, the bus moves to chase clearer skies across Troms County. This flexibility is the whole point: instead of betting on a single spot, you're traveling with someone who knows where to look.

At the private heated camp, you'll find toilets, modern facilities and a warm meal (soup or stew, with vegetarian options available). Thermal suits are provided for the campsite, and the guide brings hot chocolate, coffee, tea and snacks. You can watch from beside a crackling campfire, step into a cozy hut, or settle into a tepee-style lavvo tent — the choice depends on the night and the weather. If the lights appear, the guide photographs them and gives you the images free; if you want to shoot with your own camera, a tripod is yours to borrow. A Northern Lights video plays on the coach during the drive, so even if the sky stays dark, you're not leaving empty-handed.

The tour runs between 5 and 8 hours, and the driver drops you back near most hotels in the city. Children from age 4 are welcome, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller; specialized infant seats are available if you need one. Dress warmly — the Arctic operates in cold weather conditions — and let the operator know at booking if you need a vegetarian or non-fish meal.

What’s included

• Transport by coach with toilets and WiFi.
• hot meal (soup or stew, vegetarian option available).
• warm thermal suits for the campsite.
• hot chocolate, coffee, tea and snacks.
• free photos taken by the guide.
• tripod to borrow for your own camera.
• access to a heated hut or lavvo tent at the private campsite.
• a Northern Lights video shown on the coach.
• an English-speaking guide who hunts across the region for the best viewing conditions.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Best Arctic AS

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the hunt and the commentary without translation. Book this if you want to move with someone who knows the region instead of staying in one spot, or if you'd rather have a guide handle the chase while you focus on the sky.

Traveler reviews

4.27★★★★★★★★★★

97 verified traveler reviews

5 ★61

4 ★19

3 ★7

2 ★2

1 ★8

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if the Northern Lights don't appear on the night I book?

The tour runs regardless of aurora activity. A beautiful Northern Lights video plays on the coach during the drive, and the guide continues to hunt across the region for the full duration. You get the experience and the location; the lights themselves are never guaranteed, but the movement and the meal happen either way.

Can I take my own photos, or do I have to use the guide's pictures?

You can shoot with your own camera and borrow a tripod for the campsite. The guide also photographs the lights and gives you those images free, so you leave with photos either way — your own work or theirs, or both.

What is the lavvo tent, and where will I be watching from?

A lavvo is a tepee-style tent, one of the heated shelter options at the private campsite. You can watch from beside the campfire outside, from inside a cozy hut, or from the lavvo tent itself — the guide chooses based on the night's conditions and where the sky looks clearest.

Does the tour move around if the weather gets bad?

Yes. The bus chases the lights across Troms County, moving to new locations if clouds block the sky. The guide knows the region and picks the best potential viewing spot for the night, then shifts again if needed. The coach has toilets and WiFi onboard during the drive.

Are children allowed, and what's included for them?

Children from age 4 are welcome. They receive warm thermal suits, hot meals, hot chocolate and snacks at the campsite, and can watch from the campfire, hut or lavvo tent like everyone else. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

How warm will I be at the campsite in the Arctic?

The campsite is heated and equipped with modern facilities, and thermal suits are provided for everyone. You'll have access to hot meals, hot drinks and shelters — the hut and lavvo tent both offer warmth. Dress warmly in layers before you arrive, as conditions are cold, but the setup is designed for comfort during the viewing.