Tours/Tromso/Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm
Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm
4.9(194)Tromso7 hours
VIATOR4.2(5)TRIPADVISOR4.9(189)
+3 photos
At a glance
Duration
7 hours
Price from
$171 / person
Location
Tromso, Norway
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 194 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 19
Cancellation
See policy below
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Tromsø Friluftsenter
Description
We are a small family business, proud to share the coastal culture and traditions that have been passed down through generations. When you join us, you don’t just come on a tour—you step into our story. You’ll hear about local traditions, coastal life, and history told with the voice of those who live it.
You’ll also feel the warmth of true Northern Norwegian hospitality, the kind that comes straight from the heart. For us, it’s about so much more than chasing the Northern Lights. It’s about the people we meet from around the world, the laughter and stories we share, and the unforgettable moments we create together.
Every day we feel grateful to welcome people from across the globe into our little corner of the Arctic. To us, every guest becomes part of our family, part of our story—and we hope the memories you take home will stay with you for a lifetime.
Tour Options
Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm
What's included
Included
Small leaflet showing the histoy of Tromso in pictures
Video explaining the Northern lights both science and myths.
Warm overalls
choose between Coffee/tea/ Hot chocolate / Broth
Tripod
Cake
Picture of you and the northern lights
Not included
Winther boots
Traveller Ratings
4.9
194 reviews
5
183
4
7
3
2
2
0
1
2
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not offered to children under 5 years
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm take?
Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm lasts about 7 hours.
How much does Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm cost?
Prices start at $171 per person for this Tromso experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What languages is Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 19 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available Not offered to children under 5 years
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 194 verified reviews; it is run by Tromsø Friluftsenter.
Reviews(194)
P
paulapG626ZR
September 16, 2026
The real deal
Knut made us feel like friends; it's not just a tour, it's a truly authentic experience made with so much love. I can't recommend it enough. I can't stop thinking about the chocolate cake! I hope we can meet again in January🐻❄️
Operator response
Oh wow, thank you so much! ❤️ This really made me smile. It honestly means a lot to hear that you felt like friends — that’s the best compliment I could get.
And about that chocolate cake… I’m beginning to think I should stop calling this a tour and start calling it “Knut’s cake experience” 😂
I really hope we get to meet again in January. I’ll be very happy to see you again — and yes, I suppose I now have no choice but to make sure there’s cake!
Big hugs and thank you again! ❤️
I
indranuhati
September 10, 2026
Outstanding operator
Last minute booking with Tromso firlufsenter. Trinee picked us up on time. It was their first trip of the aurora season. She was constantly communicating whilst driving on the suggested location and activity as well as all the history. Spent the evening at Skibotn while watching the aurora dancing over our heads. She set up all the phones on tripods as well as kept taking our photos. Kept us warm with a nice bonfire , coffee, hot chocolate and lovely cake.
Memorable evening under the lights and full credit to her as the cloud cover was a challenge on choosing the location
Highly recommend tromso firlufsenter for chasing the aurora
Operator response
Thank you so much for such a lovely review! ❤️ It really means a lot to me, especially as this was my very first trip of the aurora season.
The clouds definitely made us work for it that evening, so seeing the northern lights dancing above us in Skibotn felt extra special. I’m so happy we got to share that moment together — and that the bonfire, hot drinks and cake helped keep everyone warm and happy along the way 😄
Thank you for trusting us with your evening and for being such wonderful company. I’ll remember this first trip of the season for a long time! ✨
Warm wishes,
Trine
K
Krishan G
April 5, 2026
One of the best tours - worth the money .
The tour was exceptional, as it was better organized and the guide was professional and knowledgeable.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! ❤️ I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and felt it was well organized.
It means a lot to know that you appreciated the guiding and the experience. Thank you for choosing Tromsø Friluftsenter and for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review!
Warm wishes,
Trine
L
lesleybU6406CE
March 31, 2026
Northern Lights the best of experiences!!
We went on Wed 25/3 and met Knut, what a character, his stories and experience would have made the night without the lights but we saw them as well. On the night it was cloudy in Tromso so we travelled about 50 mins and parked by the side of a jetty. He handed tripods for those that wanted them and offered warm suits if needed. When the lights appeared we were able to take our own great pictures and Knut took pictures as well. We had access to a fire pit, hot drinks and his world famous “almost home made chocolate cake” which was delicious. Knut spent time with everybody and ensured everybody got the pictures they wanted. A truly wonderful evening.
So as it happens we had a day trip on 27/3 cancelled so we decided to be greedy and book again for that night, we awoke to a blizzard and wondered if we had made a mistake! As the day went on the skies cleared and by the time we were picked up they were totally clear. That night Knut took us to their home base (only four of the 141 companies offering NLT have these) on the island across from the airport (Kvaloya) it took approx 40 mins to get there and it was great, no light pollution looking out over the water and what a display we got, the lights started at 8.45pm and stayed with till after midnight. This time we were able to use a Lavu with heating, drinks and again the chocolate cake. We took hundreds of photos between the two of us and added to these the ones Knut took, nothing was too much trouble for him.
If you wish to see the photos taken by him go to www.Flickr.com/photos/tromso_friluftsenter and look in Albums for a specific date.
Lesley and I would have no hesitation in recommending this company as we will definitely use them again on our next trip to Tromso.
Operator response
Wow — thank you so much for this wonderful review! ❤️ And twice in one trip… I’m still impressed you came back for more after meeting me the first time! 😄
It was such a pleasure spending those two evenings with you and Lesley. We really had two completely different nights — first chasing through the clouds, and then getting that incredible clear-sky display at our base on Kvaløya. Nights like that are exactly why I never get tired of the northern lights.
Although… I probably should have been tired! Your second trip was actually my very last tour of the season, after six pretty intense months of late nights, weather chasing, bonfires, stories and a lot of “almost homemade” chocolate cake 😂 So thank you especially for saying I still managed to do a good job on my final night — I’ll take that as proof I hadn’t completely run out of batteries yet!
It really means a lot that you chose to come with us twice, and even more that you would recommend us and come back again. I truly hope we meet again on your next trip to Tromsø.
And of course… the chocolate cake will be waiting. 😄
Warm wishes,
Knut
S
Stay51263116844
March 24, 2026
The best northern lights experience
Unbelievable experience despite very bad weather conditions. The lady was positive from the start and drove us to the Finland border for clearer skies. And what a sighting! Took excellent photos too! Must book with this company for the care and effort they take!
Operator response
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your kind words — it really means a lot to me!
I’m especially happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience despite the challenging weather. I still remember your faces in the bus — a bit of disbelief after such a long drive and uncertain conditions… and then suddenly everything changed 😉 Those moments are always the most special.
Going all the way towards the Finland border definitely turned out to be the right call that night — and when the aurora finally shows up like that, it makes the whole adventure worth it!
I’m also really glad you liked the photos. It’s always a pleasure capturing those moments, especially when the lights decide to put on a proper show.
Thank you for trusting the process and for being such great company along the way. You’re always very welcome back for another adventure under the Arctic sky.
Warm regards,
Trine
A
aleksandrag625
March 19, 2026
Pure magic in green and purple :)
My first northern lights night was pure magic. Our guide Trine was a very friendly person and told us about the northern lights and helped to adjust cameras to the photos already during the bus drive. One of the topics she explained was why northern lights look way more vivid green on pictures and often gray with naked eye.
Later during the night, she gave us a very good tip: look away from the screens of cameras or phones, give your eyes a break of around 10 minutes - so that eyes readjust and can see the northern lights in green shades and not gray.
Friluftsenter has a camp ca. 40 minutes away from the town and as we had a very strong aurora night, we did not travel anywhere else. Otherwise we would have continued towards other spots with less clouds. We enjoyed the northern lights, took many wonderful photos, and Trine took photos of us with aurora in the background. They were available for download on the next day.
Once after a few hours the aurora was gone, we went into a lavvo to sit at a bonfire, drink hot beverages and enjoy cakes and talk.
Operator response
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your lovely words — it truly means a lot to me!
I’m so happy to hear that your first northern lights experience felt like pure magic ✨ Those are the nights we always hope for, and I’m really glad you got to see such strong activity.
It was a pleasure sharing the evening with you, and I’m glad the little tips helped — especially the one about giving your eyes a break. It’s such a simple trick, but it can really change how you experience the aurora.
I’m also very happy that we could stay at the base camp and just enjoy the show without needing to chase. And of course, ending the night in the lavvo with a bonfire, warm drinks, and cake is always a cozy way to wrap things up 😊
Thank you for being such a wonderful guest — and I’m glad you liked the photos as well!
You’re always very welcome back anytime.
Warm regards,
Trine
E
Emma_H
March 17, 2026
Great tour and spectacular views of the Northern Lights
We had a great time on this Minibus Northern Lights Tour and the lights were amazing!!
We had booked the trip but received a call the day before we were due to go to ask if we would prefer to go the day before or day after we were due, as the weather conditions weren't great on the night we had planned. It was great that they cared about giving us the option so that we had the best chance to see the lights.
The minibus was comfortable and we were a small group of 13. Knut explained the plan to go to their base camp and they expected us to be able to see the lights there. If that failed, we would "chase" and drive out to where the skies were clear. However, after a 45 min drive to the base camp, there were lights visible as we got out the minibus. Knut handed out tripods and helped us get set up. He also took photos for us all which are included in the price. The base camp had very little light pollution, water, mountains in the distance and made an ideal spot for taking photos.
Knut was a great host, and there was a hut with a wood burning stove to keep warm when we wanted to. Knut had a selection of hot drinks, chocolate cake and shared funny stories.
After a couple of hours the lights went quiet and Knut gave us the option to head back to our hotels or to wait and see if the lights came back. Everyone agreed to call it a night. We had seen some amazing lights already.
As promised Knut shared the images with us and he had taken some lovely shots that we can keep.
This was a really great tour and I would recommend Knut as your Northern Lights guide.
Operator response
Hi there,
Wow — thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful review. I really appreciate it!
I’m very glad you decided to adjust your booking based on the weather — that little change can make a big difference up here. We always try our best to give guests the best possible chance, so it means a lot to hear that you felt taken care of from the start.
And I have to say… that evening was a nice one 😄 Getting lights already as we stepped out of the minibus is always a great sign — makes me look like I planned it perfectly! (I promise I didn’t… but I’ll take the credit anyway.)
I’m happy you enjoyed the base camp as well. It’s one of my favorite spots — dark skies, open views, and just the right setting to enjoy the show without rushing around too much. And of course, the little hut with the stove helps keep everyone warm while we wait for the sky to do its thing.
Glad the tripods and photo help came in handy — and that you liked the photos! It’s always fun helping everyone capture those moments, especially when the lights are dancing nicely above us.
Also… very important… I’m relieved to hear the chocolate cake passed the test 😉 That might be the real reason people come back.
Thank you as well for being such a great group — easygoing, patient, and up for the experience. That always makes the night even better.
You’re always very welcome back anytime. Next time we’ll see if we can make the aurora dance even more (no promises… but I’ll do my best).
All the best,
Knut
1
147genec
March 17, 2026
Saw the aurora and got the authentic Norwegian charm!
The night we had reserved was looking to be very rainy. Happily the tour company called me that afternoon and suggested that we switch our reservation to the next night, which I gladly did, and I appreciated that they reached out to me! That night, we were picked up at our hotel in a comfortable van and driven around for a fair amount of time looking for clear skies. Our tour guide was definitely a character, so we did get the "authentic charm". At the first we saw some faint glow in the sky but just barely. After a while we packed up and drove to a second spot. Eventually we ended up having four or five spots, and we did get some amazing views. At one point the aurora was right over our heads, swirling, with beams coming down. It was a long night, but worth it!
Operator response
Hi there,
Ahh yes… one of those “trust the crazy guide driving all over northern Norway” kind of nights 😄
I’m really glad you said yes to switching nights — that already gave us a much better starting point (rain is not our best friend up here!). And then… the classic plan: drive, check sky, drive again, repeat… maybe question life choices a little… and then BOOM — aurora right above our heads doing its full performance!
Four or five stops just means we were extra determined 😉 We like to think of it as the “extended scenic tour with bonus sky magic.”
Also happy to hear you appreciated the “authentic charm” — we do our best to keep things… interesting 😄
Thank you so much for joining us and sticking through the long night — that’s often what it takes for those unforgettable moments. And next time… we’ll aim for 5 stars (no pressure, just better cake maybe?).
All the best Knut
2
237ottaviar
March 16, 2026
Amazing and wonderful
An amazing experience!
The tour guide is from tromso and she is very nice. A norther light tour dependent on nature, we were quite lucky and also she made the experience on top of this amazing. She explained and answer any question regarding northern lights and gave us an amazing chocolate cake.
Would totally recommend
Operator response
Hi there,
Thank you so much for your kind words — it really means a lot to me!
I’m so happy to hear that you had a great experience and that we were lucky with the northern lights that night. It’s always a special feeling when everything comes together — the sky, the atmosphere, and a lovely group to share it with.
I’m also really glad you enjoyed the explanations (and of course the chocolate cake — very important part of the tour! 😉). It’s always a pleasure to share both the science behind the aurora and a bit of local life here in Tromsø.
Thank you again for the recommendation, and you are always very welcome back anytime!
Warm regards
N
Nicki P
March 10, 2026
Patience and trust in the guide paid off
We went expecting to see nothing and after a very long drive we didn't see anything and then... after chasing clear skies the lights danced and were magical! Knut was a great host, knows his stuff and bought great cake. Be patient and listen to what he says. 10/10
Operator response
Hi there,
This is exactly how it goes sometimes — a looong drive, a bit of doubt… and then suddenly the sky decides to show off 😄
I’m really glad you trusted the process (and me!) and stuck it out — patience is definitely part of the adventure. And of course… never underestimate the importance of good cake in critical decision-making moments 😉
Thank you so much for the kind words, it truly means a lot. Nights like that, shared with great people, are the reason I love doing this.
You’re always welcome back — I can’t promise the lights, but I can promise I’ll do my best (and bring cake).
All the best,
Knut
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Northern Lights Chase with Authentic North Norwegian Charm