Northern Lights tour Tromsø: Small group with photographer guide

Chase the Aurora with a guide who knows where to find it

A small-group Northern Lights tour in Tromsø where an experienced photographer guide uses local weather knowledge to locate the best viewing spot each night, then sets up a campfire with warm food and hot drinks while you watch and photograph the Aurora. The tour runs 5 to 9 hours depending on conditions, includes thermal suits and hand and foot warmers, and ends with hotel drop-off on Tromsø island. Children from age 12 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights quest and campfire

• Guide picks you up in Tromsø
• Drive to best Northern Lights spot
• Wear thermal suits and warmers
• Enjoy campfire with dinner and hot drinks
• Guide explains Aurora and takes photos
• Return to hotel or accommodation

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel or accommodation and drives a capable 4x4 van into the surrounding landscape, changing location nightly based on cloud cover and weather patterns. This flexibility is what separates a photographer-guide from a fixed-route operator: instead of heading to one spot and hoping, you're following someone who reads the sky and adjusts. The group stays small, seven people maximum, so the van can move quickly and everyone gets a seat near a window.

Once the guide finds the ideal viewing location, you'll stop at a campfire where warm soup, hot drinks, and cookies are served while you wait and watch. The guide explains what the Aurora is and how to photograph it, and provides tripods on request if you want to capture the display yourself. You're outfitted with thermal suits, foot warmers, and hand warmers before you leave the van, so the cold is managed rather than endured. The whole experience (travel time, waiting, the campfire, the drive back) runs between 5 and 9 hours depending on how the night unfolds and what the weather does.

Drop-off returns you to your hotel or accommodation on Tromsø island. The tour operates year-round, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need an alternative to hotel pickup.

What’s included

• Professional guide and photographer who drives the 4x4 van and reads the weather to find the best viewing location.
• small group of up to seven people.
• thermal suits, foot warmers, and hand warmers.
• warm soup, hot drinks, and cookies at the campfire.
• tripods on request before the tour.
• photographs taken by the guide during the night.
• hotel or accommodation drop-off on Tromsø island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Boreal Quest

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English and adjusts the viewing location nightly based on weather, so you're not locked into a fixed route. This works for anyone who wants better odds of seeing the Aurora rather than visiting a set spot regardless of conditions.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

133 verified traveler reviews

5 ★131

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How does the guide decide where to look for the Northern Lights each night?

Your guide is a photographer with extensive knowledge of local weather patterns and the surrounding area, so the viewing location changes nightly based on cloud cover and conditions. This flexibility gives you better chances of seeing the Aurora than a fixed route would.

What should I bring to wear on this tour?

Thermal suits, foot warmers, and hand warmers are provided by the tour. You should bring your own general winter clothing (dress warmly and responsibly for the season), and a valid passport.

Will I be able to photograph the Northern Lights myself?

Yes. Tripods are available on request if you arrange them before the tour. Your guide, who is a photographer, will also explain how to capture the Aurora and will take photographs during the night that you receive afterward.

How long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs 5 to 9 hours depending on weather conditions and how the night unfolds. The duration includes travel time to and from your accommodation, time spent at the viewing location, and the campfire stop.

Is hotel pickup included, and what if my accommodation is not on Tromsø island?

Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off are included if your accommodation is on Tromsø island. If you're staying elsewhere, contact the operator to arrange alternatives or check public transportation options nearby.