REVIEW · TROMSO
Small Group Van Journey in Search of the Northern Lights
Book on Viator →Operated by Northern Soul Adventures · Bookable on Viator
The aurora requires stamina, and you get it here. This 6–9 hour small-group hunt from Tromsø blends a custom arctic van, thermal suits and heated insoles, and guides who coach your aurora photos as you chase the sky. Even if conditions shift fast, the day is built to keep you warm, focused, and asking questions.
One catch: the northern lights are weather-dependent, so you could get only a few seconds of activity after long, dark stretches.
In This Review
- Key points before you go
- Tromsø nights: why a max-8 van chase feels different
- Getting warm fast: thermal suits, hand warmers, heated insoles
- The Tromsø fjords hunt: calm viewpoints and the Finland option
- Aurora coaching you can use: tripods, headlamps, and real technique
- Waiting smart: hot breaks, campfire time, and morale
- Guides: from Samuel to Frederico, expect real focus
- Price and value: $253.73 for warm gear, food, and pro photos
- Who should book this northern lights hunt
- Should you book this one, or keep it open-ended?
- FAQ
- How long is the Northern Lights tour?
- What’s included for warmth and comfort?
- Do you get food during the tour?
- Does the tour include photography help?
- Are professional photos included?
- What are the pick-up and drop-off details?
- What are the child age and car-seat requirements?
Key points before you go
- Small group (max 8): more time with your guide, not a crowded bus and a silent tour.
- Heated comfort kit: thermal suits, hand warmers, and heated insoles so you can actually wait outside.
- A real photo plan: tripods plus headlamps, with coaching for how to shoot the aurora.
- Fjord routes with possible Finland detours: you might stay near Tromsø or drive farther for better conditions.
- Warm breaks baked in: hot beverages, cookies, locally made food, and a campfire.
- Pro photos included: you get free professional photos in web resolution after the tour.
Tromsø nights: why a max-8 van chase feels different
This is set up as a true small-group hunt. With up to 8 travelers, you’re not competing for attention when the sky suddenly changes, and your guide can actually read what people are seeing. You start in Tromsø’s historic city center area, then head out into darker, quieter places where the aurora has a better chance to show.
The vehicle matters too. The tour uses a custom-built van designed for arctic conditions, with the kind of equipment you’d want when temperatures drop and visibility can turn tricky. The plan is flexible: sometimes the drive stays local around Tromsø’s coast and fjords, and sometimes you push farther (even into Finland) to chase clearer skies.
If you hate the idea of sitting in the cold with a giant group, you’ll like the pace here. The goal is simple: get you to calm viewing spots, keep you warm, and give you enough time to try both watching and photographing.
Other northern lights tours we've reviewed in Tromso
Getting warm fast: thermal suits, hand warmers, heated insoles
Waiting for the northern lights can mean a lot of still time outdoors. What makes this tour feel practical is the full warmth system, not just a blanket and hope.
You’re provided with thermal suits, hand warmers, and heated insoles. That’s a big deal because cold feet can make everything miserable, fast, even when your hands and core feel okay. You’ll also get headlamps, which help you move safely in the dark and keep your hands free when you’re setting up gear.
Hot drinks and cookies are part of the rhythm. It sounds minor until you’re standing outside repeatedly in the dark and you need something comforting to reset. This is one of those experiences where comfort directly affects your ability to focus on the sky.
The Tromsø fjords hunt: calm viewpoints and the Finland option
The main route is based around the Tromsø fjords area. From there, the guide can adjust how far you go depending on what the sky and conditions are doing. You may get a shorter drive to the surrounding coast, or you may go longer toward Finland if the best chance requires it.
In practical terms, that flexibility is exactly what you want for aurora hunting. The northern lights don’t follow your schedule, and clouds can erase a good night in minutes. A flexible route also means you’re not locked into one stop where you just hope.
Once you reach the viewing spot, expect a setup that supports both watching and photographing. The tour includes a campfire, and the flow is built around staying outside long enough to have a real chance, not just a quick look and back to the van. On some nights, you’ll likely do a short walk to a better angle away from the densest crowd areas.
If you’re the type who enjoys quiet, dark “work” time—standing still, letting your eyes adjust, and tweaking your settings—this format fits well.
Aurora coaching you can use: tripods, headlamps, and real technique
This tour doesn’t just hand you gear and wish you luck. Guides teach you how to photograph the aurora, and that changes what you do with your camera and time outside. You’ll be shown how to set up and work with a tripod, and you’ll get the kind of instruction that helps you avoid the classic mistakes like blurry shots or wrong settings.
There’s also a blunt, helpful detail: the tripods are not suitable for mobile phones. So if your plan is “I’ll just shoot with my phone,” you’ll be disappointed. Bring a camera that works with a tripod (and get comfortable using it in the dark).
If you have a camera, you’ll likely enjoy the hands-on vibe. One of the most memorable parts in the experience is the creative time around the campfire—people get a chance to play with light painting and experiment while they wait for the next moment in the sky. Even if your aurora photos aren’t perfect, you’ll come away with better instincts than you’d get from a basic viewing tour.
And even better: you also receive free professional photos from the tour in web resolution. That’s great insurance if the sky cooperates only in short bursts or if your camera settings aren’t where you want them yet.
Waiting smart: hot breaks, campfire time, and morale
Northern lights tours can feel like an emotional roller coaster. One minute you’re cold and skeptical, and the next minute the sky turns active.
What helps here is the way breaks are built into the schedule. You get hot beverages (tea and coffee plus hot chocolate), cookies, and locally made food. That keeps your energy up, which matters when the best aurora windows can arrive late.
Your guide also monitors conditions closely, and you’ll be kept in the loop about timing and what to watch for. In past outings, guides such as Samuel and Frederico have been described as consistently watching the indicators and moving the group based on the latest chances. If you’re the sort of person who worries about wasting your money on a dull night, this kind of active management helps.
Even when the lights are faint, the tour gives you a reason to stay patient. Warmth, snacks, and a focused plan mean you’re not just waiting in silence—you’re working, learning, and trying again.
Guides: from Samuel to Frederico, expect real focus
The guide team is part of the value. The stories connected to this tour point to guides who are personable, professional, and ready to drive longer distances when the sky needs it. Both Samuel and Frederico show up in accounts as leaders who keep morale up while they chase the best conditions.
What that looks like on the ground: constant assessment, not a fixed script. If overcast blocks the view, the guide doesn’t treat that as a dead end. They keep adjusting vantage points, and they also explain what you should look for so you feel involved instead of just bundled up and transported.
If you love asking questions—about aurora timing, how to photograph it, or what a faint glow means—you’ll probably feel the difference compared with tours where the guide talks and moves on.
Price and value: $253.73 for warm gear, food, and pro photos
At about $253.73 per person, this tour isn’t the cheapest way to chase the aurora—but it also isn’t trying to be. You’re paying for real-world convenience and tools: thermal suits, hand warmers, heated insoles, and headlamps. Those items can cost a lot if you try to buy or rent them yourself for a single night.
You’re also getting included food and hot drinks, plus a campfire setup. In the winter dark, those are not “extras.” They keep you outside long enough to matter and reduce the temptation to cut the night short.
Then there’s the photography package: tripods (with a clear note that they’re not for phones), guide coaching, and free professional photos afterwards. That combination is where the value adds up. If you’re going to spend money on aurora time, you want something that increases your odds of getting usable results, not just a chance at seeing lights with no support.
Duration is listed as approximately 6 to 9 hours, which is long enough to search properly. You’re essentially buying time, gear comfort, and guided decision-making.
Who should book this northern lights hunt
This tour is a strong match if you want:
- A small-group experience with time to ask questions
- Hands-on aurora photography coaching
- A tour that prioritizes comfort with heated suits and insoles
- Included warmth breaks, food, and campfire time
It’s also a practical fit for people who are coming to Tromsø mainly for the northern lights and want one structured, equipment-supported night.
A few considerations before you book:
- There’s a minimum age of 8 years old, and seat rules apply for children under certain heights (car seats required under 135 cm, and boosters for children at least 120 cm can be provided if asked).
- The drop-off is at Tromsø Island accommodations only. If you’re staying elsewhere, check how that will work for you.
- If you only plan to photograph with a mobile phone, the tripod setup won’t help you.
Should you book this one, or keep it open-ended?
I’d book this tour if you want a guided aurora plan that improves your comfort and your odds of getting good photos. The warmth gear, small group size, and photo coaching plus professional images make it feel like more than a simple “sit and hope” night.
If you’re the type who hates long cold waits, or you’re booking with no flexibility for weather, it might feel like a gamble. But even then, the guide-driven movement and the included warmth breaks mean you’ll still come away with a full arctic evening, not just a short peek.
If your main goal is reliable northern lights photos and you want to learn how to shoot them, this is a sensible choice.
FAQ
How long is the Northern Lights tour?
It runs for approximately 6 to 9 hours.
What’s included for warmth and comfort?
You get thermal suits, hand warmers, and heated insoles, plus headlamps, cookies, and hot beverages (tea, coffee, and hot chocolate).
Do you get food during the tour?
Yes. Locally made food is included, along with a campfire experience.
Does the tour include photography help?
Yes. Your guides teach you how to photograph the aurora. Tripods are provided, but they are not suitable for mobile phones.
Are professional photos included?
Yes. You get free professional photos from the tour in web resolution.
What are the pick-up and drop-off details?
You’re picked up in Tromsø’s historic city center at Kirkegata 2, and you’re dropped off at your accommodation on Tromsø Island only.
What are the child age and car-seat requirements?
The minimum age is 8 years old. Child safety car seats are required for children under 135 cm, and a booster (minimum height 120 cm) can be provided if you ask.
