Tromsø Northern Lights Tour: Small Group Aurora Chase & Campfire

Summary

Chasing auroras in Norway’s wild night with soup, laughter and boots

You’ll chase the Northern Lights from Tromsø with a local guide who knows every shortcut through the snowy dark. Expect homemade soup by a campfire, warm boots and suits, help with your camera settings (even if you’re clueless), plus real patience hunting down those elusive auroras together. You might come back tired but you won’t forget it.

What’s the experience like?

“No promises — but if you trust me, we’ll find them,” Marius grinned as he handed out thick boots by the van. That set the tone right away: honest, a bit stubborn, and somehow comforting. I remember my fingers fumbling with the thermal suit zippers while snowflakes kept sticking to my eyelashes. The van was snug — eight of us, knees bumping, everyone swapping stories about where we’d flown in from. Tromsø faded behind us fast, replaced by black forest and that kind of silence you only get when it’s minus something outside.

Marius kept checking weather maps on his phone, muttering in Norwegian now and then (I caught “skyfri” — clear sky — at least once). We stopped somewhere I couldn’t have found again if you paid me; just trees, snow up to our shins, and the faintest green smudge overhead. He set up tripods for us — I’d never used one before — and poured homemade soup into mismatched mugs. It tasted like root vegetables and smoke. Someone tried to pronounce “aurora borealis” in Norwegian; Li laughed so hard she nearly dropped her camera.

It wasn’t instant magic. We waited. My toes went numb even inside those boots (should’ve doubled up on socks), but then Marius nudged me: “Look.” The sky peeled open — slow at first — with these shifting curtains of green that made everyone go quiet for a second. He took portraits of us with the lights behind; I probably look stunned in mine. There was a campfire crackling nearby if you wanted to thaw out or just stare at the flames instead of the sky for a minute. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so small or so awake at 1am.

Driving back to Tromsø was mostly silent except for someone snoring softly (not naming names). I still think about that view every time I see streetlights flicker back home — nothing’s quite like it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Northern Lights chase in Tromso

• Meet Greenlander guide
• Wear thermal suit and boots
• Board 4x4 Mercedes Benz minivan
• Chase Northern Lights around Tromso
• Enjoy homemade soup and hot drinks
• Use tripods for Aurora portraits
• Warm by campfire if possible

Top questions

How many people are on this Northern Lights tour?

The tour is capped at 8 participants per group.

Is hotel pickup included in Tromsø?

Yes, central hotel and port transfers are included.

Will there be food or drinks during the aurora chase?

You’ll get homemade soup and hot drinks during the tour.

Are thermal suits and boots provided?

Yes, both are available if requested in advance with your size details.

Who leads the tour?

A professional guide who is also an experienced photographer leads each group.

What happens if weather conditions are bad?

The guide will chase clear skies as long as possible; tours operate in all weather conditions unless unsafe.

Is this tour suitable for everyone?

No, it’s not recommended for those with poor cardiovascular health or low fitness due to possible hiking in snow.

Can I borrow a tripod for photos?

Tripods are available if requested ahead of time when booking.

What’s included

Your evening includes private transportation from Tromsø hotels or port, all taxes and fees handled for you, use of tripods if you ask ahead of time, dinner with homemade soup plus light refreshments by the fire, guidance from a professional photographer-guide throughout the night, as well as thermal suits and boots (just let them know your sizes before arrival).