Northern Lights Chase with Sámi & local storytelling
Description
This is a real Northern Lights chase, guided by a local Sami/Norwegian guide, and the route is decided on the day of the tour based on the latest weather, cloud cover and aurora forecasts. To give our guests the best possible chance of seeing the Northern Lights, we may drive long distances and, when necessary, we can travel all the way to Finland if conditions are better there. Please bring your passport or national ID in case we cross the border. We also have access to several private viewing locations reserved exclusively for our guests. When conditions are good at these spots, we prefer to go there so our guests can enjoy a quieter experience, away from the crowds and other tour groups. Please dress warmly in winter clothing, including thermal layers, hat, gloves and warm shoes. Temperatures can be very cold, while waiting outside at night. The duration of the tour may vary depending on driving distance. So we recommend not booking early morning activities the next day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your evening starts at Kirkegata 2, where you meet your guide and travel into the quiet valleys and fjords surrounding Tromsø. Using local knowledge and updated forecasts, we head toward the areas with the best chance of clear skies, sometimes close to the Finnish border. Along the way, your guide shares stories about Sámi traditions and Arctic life. The journey is relaxed and personal, giving you time to enjoy the landscape as we leave the city lights behind. When we find the right spot, we set up a small camp far from crowds and light pollution. A bonfire is lit, and you can enjoy hot chocolate or herbal tea, traditional snacks, and a warm meal made from local ingredients. The campfire creates a warm and natural atmosphere while we watch the sky and wait for the aurora to appear. Your guide helps with photography and captures pictures for you throughout the night. When the experience comes to an end, we return to Tromsø and drop you off at your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will be wearing high visibility wests with our logo on.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(80)
I had two trips with this company and the rating reflects the second trip mainly. First trip with Tor was informative but he didn't go into Finland where the lights had been sighted. Booked a second trip where Espen was the guide and this was really poor. There was no storytelling, no photography assistance- little of what had been promised on the trip. He threw the chairs and implements for cooking on the ground for us to pick up ourselves. One person is insufficient to help a bus full of guests- but then it appeared he'd given up pretty early in the trip and had decided to refund us- as if this would compensate for a disappointing trip to Norway because they weren't willing to travel that extra distance to see what many people have as their main reason to visit at this time of year. He would not go to Finland where again the lights had been found that night and the previous night. They stated they had cameras to see where aurora activity it taking place but I got the impression this was over a small area, which they didn't want to leave to search further afield.. This was two failed attempts on nights when the lights had been spotted elsewhere. Maybe they don't have the contacts. I wouldn't risk going with this company unless you have back ups on other nights because the service is variable, and you may fail in your trip objective if you get the wrong guide, and he is having an 'off day'. There are other reviews which I saw after taking my trip which reflect the same occurrences.
Truly wonderful and memorable experience viewing the northern lights with Tor! Would highly recommend this tour!
Espen is an amazing guide. I can very much recommend the experience with him
Great tour would thoroughly recommend. We had rain and cloud for most of the day in Tromso so expectations were low but our amazing local guide was very knowledgeable and drove us for two hours to find clear skies where we could watch the Northern Lights for over two hours without the crowds. The van was very comfortable and warm. We stopped for toilet breaks and snacks too, the campfire and hotdogs with hot chocolate made the evening perfect couldn’t have asked for more.
What a spectacular show of Northern Lights we saw with Tor! I don’t know exactly how, but he managed to find a spot up in the mountains with barely any clouds. The experience was better than I had anticipated! Not only the auroras were getting stronger and stronger. It was also due to the fact that Tor was so authentic and eager to tell us about Sami people- their customs and traditions, and was open to answer any questions, even personal ones which related to his own family. The bonfire kept us warm, and there were enough hot dogs, buns, and Norwegian lompe bread (eat the hot dog a Norwegian way!) and crispy fried onions not to get hungry in addition to a hot chocolate available, do make sure that you wear either warm winter boots or multiple layers of socks. You won’t be walking around much and although warm suits are available, your feet and toes will get really cold if you’re not prepared. Tor was taking photos of anyone who wanted to have it while the auroras were in the background. They were shared with all of us the very next day.
The most wonderful trip from start to finish! Tor was so knowledgeable and found the perfect spot to stop and see a phenomenal light show despite the cloudy weather forecast. Thermal suits, hot chocolate, biscuits, stories around the bonfire, sausages, everything had been thought of and nothing was too much trouble.
My wife and I had an amazing experience on this Northern Lights tour and can highly recommend it. The tour is done in a minibus, which makes it much more personal and flexible than the large bus tours. Our guide was Tor. He is Sámi and a true local, so he knows the area extremely well. He takes great care of everyone in the group and makes sure that everyone feels comfortable. It was a very relaxed and authentic experience and definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Photographers will also enjoy the tour. There is plenty of time to take your own photos, and Tor also takes photos himself and is happy to share tips on how to capture the Northern Lights.
Absolutely incredible night. The location was stellar and our guide was amazing — super knowledgeable about how and when to find the lights! Plus we had hotdogs and hot chocolate around a campfire as we waited for the lights to start to show and when they did — wow, just phenomenal. 1000/10 could not recommend this tour more.
It had been overcast and rainy since we arrived in Tromso. We were not optimistic that we would get to see the northern lights. Our guide took us to his family’s land where we cooked hotdogs on the campfire and drank hot chocolate. Before long, the skies cleared and we had the most amazing lights display. We stated for about 4 hours as the lights kept getting better and better. We even made a couple of stops on the way back to Tromso as our guide saw activity and wanted us to get out and enjoy it, too. The night exceeded our expectations!
Our guide Tor is professional and got many interesting stories to tell us. We saw a spectacular northern light show! Kjempebra!
