REVIEW · TROMSO
Northern Lights Adventure with Greenlander, 8 people max
Book on Viator →Operated by Greenlander - Northern Lights, Fjord Tours, Whale Kayaking. · Bookable on Viator
Cold night. Warm light-hunting.
This Northern Lights adventure with Greenlander is built for people who hate the idea of waiting around with a crowd. You go out from Tromsø in an ultra-small group (max 8), usually in an off-road-capable vehicle that can reach darker, more remote viewing areas fast when the sky gives you a break. Guides like Markus and Hans (and others) are there not just to drive, but to read the night—then help you actually capture what you see.
I especially like the photo-minded approach. The guide is also a photographer, and you get practical tips and hands-on help (plus a tripod option if you request it). Second, I like the comfort layer: thermal suits and boots are provided, but only if you request your sizes in advance—so the tour is designed to keep you warm enough to stay outside while the aurora decides what it wants to do.
One possible drawback to consider: if you forget requests for gear sizes (especially for children) or you expect the photo gear to be automatic, you may end up cold—or without the tripod support you wanted. That setup detail matters a lot in Tromsø winter.
In This Review
- Key Points That Matter Most on This Aurora Chase
- Why the 8-Person Group Changes Everything in Tromsø
- Price and What You Actually Get for Around $353
- Meet at Scandic Ishavshotel, Then Roll Out for Clear-Sky Chances
- The Evening Flow: How the Route Typically Works
- Tromsø Northern Lights Viewing: Stops, Setup, and What Makes Each One Work
- Photography Help That Goes Beyond Saying Cheese
- Thermal Suits, Boots, and Tripod Requests: Read This Like It’s Cold Weather Survival
- Weather in Tromsø: What Happens When the Sky Won’t Play Nice
- Who This Tour Suits Best (And Who Should Think Twice)
- Should You Book Greenlander’s Northern Lights Adventure?
- FAQ
- How many people are on this tour?
- How long is the Northern Lights adventure?
- Is the tour offered in English?
- What’s included with the price?
- Do I need to bring a camera or batteries?
- Are thermal suits and boots provided for everyone?
- Can I get a tripod for aurora photos?
- Where do I meet the guide?
- What happens if weather is poor?
- Do I need a passport?
Key Points That Matter Most on This Aurora Chase
- 8 people max means faster, friendlier adjustments to the route and easier setup for photos
- Off-road transport helps you reach quieter, darker spots when the best viewing moves
- Photographer guide means you get tips and better results, not just a scenic drive
- Thermal gear is request-based (sizes and boots must be provided at booking)
- Dinner plus warm drinks keeps energy up during long waits and surprise stops
- Photos can be shared after the tour when conditions allow
Why the 8-Person Group Changes Everything in Tromsø
Northern Lights tours can feel like a waiting game. In Tromsø, that usually means wind, cold fingers, and the nagging thought that your spot in the parking lot has already been chosen for you.
With Greenlander, the maximum group size of eight shifts the vibe. Instead of herding people into one plan, your guide can move with the night. That shows up in practical ways: you unload quickly, you adjust where you stand for wind or cloud breaks, and the guide has time for questions—like camera settings, tripod placement, or even just how long you’ll likely need to wait at a stop.
In the best evenings, small-group logistics make photography easier too. When you’re not squeezed behind a dozen people, the guide can set you up for a clear shot and help you avoid the classic aurora-photo mistakes (like incorrect focus or too-short shutter settings). If you care about photos beyond point-and-shoot luck, this tour style fits.
The guide names that keep popping up in customer experiences—Markus, Hans, Arbo/Arlo, Marcos, and Victor—also suggest one thing: this is not run like a generic bus tour. The energy you’re paying for is the person on the driver’s seat reading the sky.
Other northern lights tours we've reviewed in Tromso
Price and What You Actually Get for Around $353
At $353.04 per person, this isn’t a budget Northern Lights add-on. You’re paying for three things that often cost extra on cheaper tours:
1) Personal attention. An 8-person max group is real value, not marketing fluff. It usually means better positioning, quicker problem-solving, and more time for photo help.
2) Transport that can go off the beaten path. The tour specifically uses an off-road vehicle. That matters because aurora viewing is often about darkness and horizon access, not just sitting with view of the city.
3) Warmth and food while you wait. Thermal gear (on request) plus dinner and snacks/light refreshments are part of the package. That reduces how much you need to haul and buy on your own.
A balanced reality check: Northern Lights depend on weather. Even the best guide can hit a cloudy, rainy, or foggy night. That’s why this tour’s value also includes route flexibility and weather tracking—so you’re not just hoping.
Also note the timing: the tour runs about 6 to 9 hours. That’s a big block of a winter evening, so you’ll want to treat it as a main event and plan your day accordingly.
Meet at Scandic Ishavshotel, Then Roll Out for Clear-Sky Chances
Your start point is straightforward: Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø. You’ll also get transfers—so you’re not figuring out winter logistics while half asleep.
Plan for drop-off at the end: the tour returns you to your hotel or Airbnb within about 1 km of the Ishavshotel, on Troms island. If you’re outside that area, the guide will drop you at a bus or taxi stand instead. That’s useful to know if you’re staying a bit farther out; in deep winter, saving time on the back end feels like value.
The tour also states it operates in all weather conditions, and you should dress appropriately. In other words: even if it’s miserable, you’re still going out. Your job is to show up ready. Bring your own common sense winter layers, then let the provided thermal gear (if you request it) do the heavy lifting.
One more practical tip: this experience is booked fairly far ahead on average. With that kind of demand, I’d treat the booking date as part of your planning. If you’re flexible, early booking also gives you more options.
The Evening Flow: How the Route Typically Works
The tour summary puts Northern Lights chasing as the core activity, with a main Tromsø stop and a total runtime of roughly 6 hours on average (with longer evenings possible). What matters most is how the guide handles the night.
Here’s what you can realistically expect in the rhythm:
- You start near Tromsø, then you drive out to chase likely viewing conditions.
- When the sky offers a break, the guide pulls over and sets up quickly.
- If conditions are weak, you keep moving to improve your odds.
- In many successful evenings, you stop for a warm break—often including a campfire moment—and eat.
Some customer experiences mention surprises like a first big aurora burst happening soon after departure, with additional stops later. Others describe driving farther than you might expect—sometimes even toward Finland—when Tromsø weather isn’t cooperating. The tour is built for that kind of “keep chasing” approach, not a one-stop viewing strategy.
You should also know that dinner may land later than you’d like, depending on the lights. One traveler even noted dinner was quite late because the aurora kept putting on a show. That’s not a problem with the tour—it’s the aurora doing what it does. Still, it’s smart to eat beforehand if you’re the type who gets shaky when dinner runs long.
Tromsø Northern Lights Viewing: Stops, Setup, and What Makes Each One Work
Because this is an aurora-chasing tour, each stop is less about a landmark and more about conditions: cloud breaks, darkness, wind shelter, and the horizon you can see.
You’ll generally get:
- Fast unloading for photos and spotting
- A spot chosen to reduce distractions like light pollution where possible
- Time to watch long enough for the aurora to change shape
One thing I like about this approach is that it respects how auroras behave. They don’t show up as one constant ribbon. They often pulse, dim, brighten, and shift position. If you only stop once, you might miss the best moment. With route flexibility, you’re more likely to catch multiple phases—even in a cloudy night where a thin gap appears and disappears.
A note of realism from mixed experiences: on some nights, the “chase” can feel limited if weather doesn’t cooperate. That doesn’t mean the tour is bad; it means the sky can be stubborn. What you’re really buying here is the guide’s willingness to keep searching for workable viewing windows.
Photography Help That Goes Beyond Saying Cheese
This is one of the strongest reasons to pick Greenlander if you care about photos.
The tour includes a professional guide and photographer. In practice, that usually means two things:
- You get tips and tricks while you’re out there, not just a lecture after.
- The guide can help you with how to set up so the aurora shows up rather than as a blurry smear.
Tripod support is important here. The tour states a tripod can be provided if you request it, and you must request it at booking. You’ll still want to bring extra planning for your own camera gear (the tour does not include a camera, and spare batteries aren’t included either).
If you’re bringing your own camera, this is the simple checklist I’d follow:
- fully charged batteries (more than you think you need)
- a way to keep batteries warm in your pocket or under layers
- a tripod you know how to use quickly in the cold
Some experiences mention the guide taking lots of photos and sharing them afterward. That’s a huge memory-saver. It can also reduce pressure on you to nail every shot yourself. Just keep expectations flexible: if the aurora is faint or visibility is poor, photography support may be limited by conditions and available power.
Thermal Suits, Boots, and Tripod Requests: Read This Like It’s Cold Weather Survival
Here’s the part that decides whether you have a great night or a miserable one.
The tour provides thermal suits and boots, but the booking info explicitly says you must request them in advance. You also need to provide clothes size at booking, and winter boots require correct sizing too. If you need a tripod, it must also be requested at booking.
Why this matters: you can’t “wing it” in Tromsø winter. If gear sizes don’t arrive on time or don’t match what your group needs, you feel it fast—especially for kids. One mixed experience described a situation where suits and shoes were not ready for children in extreme cold. That’s exactly why you should treat these gear requests as non-optional.
So if you’re traveling with anyone who needs specific sizes, do this early:
- confirm suit size details
- confirm boot sizing
- request a tripod if you want one
- verify your contact info so the provider can reach you if needed
Even with thermal gear available, you should still dress warmly. Thermal suits help, but wind and wet air can get in around gaps, especially after standing still for long stretches.
Weather in Tromsø: What Happens When the Sky Won’t Play Nice
Greenlander states the tour operates in all weather conditions. That means you should assume you’ll be outside in cold, windy conditions. Dress for it.
At the same time, the cancellation policy is weather-linked in a practical way:
- If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
The guide’s role in weather is active, not passive. In customer accounts, guides used apps, satellite readings, and keen observation from the road. You can think of it like this: you’re not just chasing the lights; you’re chasing the conditions that let you see them.
On a perfect night, the payoff is obvious: auroras that move across the sky in visible waves and colors. On a mediocre night, you might only see faint patterns or shorter bursts. Either way, you’re doing the right thing by being outside in the right places at the right times.
One more practical mindset: I’d go with the idea that the aurora is a bonus on top of a good night out. The campfire warmth, soup, hot chocolate, and the feeling of being in the arctic dark with people who are genuinely chasing a clear sky all add value even when the lights are modest.
Who This Tour Suits Best (And Who Should Think Twice)
This tour fits best if you:
- want a small-group experience instead of a crowd
- care about aurora photography and want help from a photographer
- prefer an active approach to the hunt (moving to better stops when the sky changes)
- are okay with moderate physical fitness, since you’ll be outside for stretches and may walk a bit around stop areas
Families can enjoy it too, but pay extra attention to the thermal gear request part—especially if traveling with kids. If you’re booking for children, confirm sizing details early and double-check timing so gear is ready before you get cold.
If you’re the type who wants a totally predictable plan—one location, one stop, no variation—this may feel more chaotic than a fixed viewing platform. Aurora chasing is always a bit of an adventure.
Should You Book Greenlander’s Northern Lights Adventure?
If you want the best shot at a magical night with less crowd pressure, this is an easy yes.
Book it if:
- you value a max 8-person group
- you want photo guidance and tripod support (requested in advance)
- you’re ready to handle winter cold with thermal suits and proper layers
- you like the idea of chasing the lights instead of waiting for them
Consider booking a backup mindset (or another date) if:
- you’re traveling with kids and gear sizing is tricky for your group
- you’re expecting guaranteed aurora intensity (nobody can promise that)
- you’re very strict about meal timing, since dinner can run late when the sky is active
In Tromsø, the best Northern Lights nights usually come from being with the right people in the right places. With Greenlander, the combination of small group size, remote-access transport, and photographer-led setup is exactly the recipe you want when the aurora finally decides to show up.
FAQ
How many people are on this tour?
The tour has a maximum of 8 travelers.
How long is the Northern Lights adventure?
It runs about 6 to 9 hours, approximately.
Is the tour offered in English?
Yes, it is offered in English.
What’s included with the price?
It includes hotel and port transfers, dinner, snacks/light refreshments, a professional guide/photographer, private transportation, and thermal suits and boots. A tripod is included only if you request it in advance.
Do I need to bring a camera or batteries?
No camera is included. Spare camera batteries are not included either, so plan to bring what you need.
Are thermal suits and boots provided for everyone?
They are provided, but you must request them at booking and provide the correct clothing and boot sizes.
Can I get a tripod for aurora photos?
Yes, a tripod can be provided if you request it at the time of booking.
Where do I meet the guide?
You start at Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø.
What happens if weather is poor?
If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
