Snowshoeing in Tromsø: Walk Arctic valleys with a guide

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (480 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration4h 30m

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk on snow without fighting it—snowshoes let you cover ground and breathe

You're picked up at your hotel, driven to the Arctic countryside west of Tromsø, and spend the morning walking uphill through mountains and valleys on snowshoes or on foot, depending on conditions. Lunch and hot drinks come at the summit, photos are taken and sent to you free, and the guide handles all the gear. Plan for a moderate hike with real elevation and a steady pace — this is not a stroll, and you'll feel it in your legs the next day.

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Snowshoeing and hiking in Tromso countryside

Start from Tromso city center
Drive to west coast countryside
Put on snowshoes if snowy
Hike up small mountain or valley
View wildlife and Arctic nature
Reach summit and have lunch
Guide takes and shares photos

The Experience

"You will see reindeer tracks, maybe the animals themselves if we are lucky — but the snow, the light, that is what stays with you." That's what the guide tells you before you leave the hotel, and it turns out to be exactly right. The snowshoe hike from Tromsø starts at 10am from the Scandic Ishavhotel, and the drive west takes you out of the city fast, into the kind of landscape that does not photograph the way it looks. Mountains rise on both sides, fjords cut between them, and the valleys open up in a way that makes you understand why people live here despite the cold. The group stays small — no more than eight — which means you move at a real pace, not a shuffle.

Once you're out in the countryside, the walk depends on what the snow is doing. In October and November, before the deep freeze, you hike without snowshoes through the colored landscape — reds and golds still holding on. By winter, the snowshoes come out, and they change everything. They're not hard to use, even if you've never worn them, and the poles help you find your rhythm on the slope. You're climbing a small mountain or following a valley floor, and the guide is pointing out animal tracks, the shape of the ridges, the way the light hits the ice. It's not a race. The pace is steady enough that you can breathe and look around at the same time.

Lunch happens at the summit or at a good stopping point along the walk, and it's hot — coffee or tea, and food that tastes better when you've earned it. The guide takes photos throughout the hike and sends them to you afterward in web resolution, free. If you want the high-resolution files, you can buy them, but the basic set arrives in your inbox within a few days. It's a small thing, but it means you're not fumbling with your phone in gloves, trying to frame a shot while your hands are going numb. You just walk and look, and the pictures come later.

The drive back to Tromsø city center takes the same route in reverse, and by then the light is already changing — that Arctic thing where the sun moves sideways instead of up and down. You'll need to bring water, dress in layers that actually keep warmth in, and wear boots that grip snow. Toilet facilities are in the forest, not in a building, so plan accordingly. The guide speaks English, operates in all weather, and expects you to show up fifteen minutes early so the departure stays on time. If snow is scarce, the hike happens without snowshoes, and it's still the same walk through the same mountains.

What’s included

Hotel pickup at the Scandic Ishavhotel and drop-off in Tromsø city center, snowshoes and hiking poles, a guide who speaks English, lunch and hot coffee or tea at the summit, souvenir photos in web resolution sent by email after the tour, and all taxes and fees. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meal options are available if you request them at booking.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Wandering Owl

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want a real walk in Arctic nature without arranging transport or gear — the small group size and fixed departure time mean you're moving with purpose, not waiting around. Expect a moderate hike with elevation gain and limited facilities; that's what puts you in the mountains instead of on a marked trail near the city.