Tromsø: Aurora Safari Chase with Photos

The best part of this Tromsø aurora tour is that it treats the Northern Lights as a proper night out, not just a hurried roadside stop. You travel by a warm coach, follow the weather across Troms County, and settle into a private camp for soup, hot drinks, toilets, and time under the sky. Private camp access and included photos make this easier than planning the chase alone.

I like the practical comforts, especially the coach toilet and the heated shelter. I also like the staff’s hands-on approach to photography. Guides such as Paulo, Juan, Jeanne, and Sojna have helped visitors with camera settings and taken group pictures. The main catch is simple: no guide can order up clear skies. You may spend seven hours enjoying the food, camp, and drive without seeing the aurora.

Key points to know before you book

• Seven hours on the road: The bus can move to another spot when clouds or weather spoil the first plan.
• A warm private camp: Expect a heated shelter, toilets, hot drinks, sweet snacks, and soup or stew.
• Photos are included: Web-resolution pictures can be downloaded after the tour from Best Arctic’s website.
• A comfortable base in Tromsø: Check in at the upper floor of Prostneset Bus Terminal, then ride a modern coach with Wi-Fi, charging points, and a toilet.
• Thermal overalls are available: You still need warm boots, a hat, gloves, and waterproof shoes.
• Aurora sightings are never guaranteed: The tour works hard to improve your odds, but clouds and solar activity remain out of anyone’s control.

Why this tour works better than waiting in Tromsø

Tromsø is well placed for Northern Lights trips, but the lights do not always appear above town. Cloud cover can vary sharply from one valley to the next, and a fixed viewpoint may leave you staring at a gray sky all night.

This tour has access to more than 15 private locations around Troms County. That does not guarantee a clear view, but it gives the guide more choices. If conditions worsen, the group may return to the coach and continue the chase.

That moving plan is the tour’s main value. You are not paying only for a drive to one camp. You are paying for a guide who watches the forecast, checks conditions, and decides when a change of location is worthwhile. The bus also gives you a warm place to regroup, which matters when the temperature drops toward minus 15 degrees Celsius.

The tradeoff is time. Seven hours is a long evening, and much of it may be spent driving. If the aurora is your top reason for visiting Tromsø, that time and flexibility may be worth the cost. If you want a short outing with a guaranteed schedule, this is not the right fit.

Starting at Prostneset and settling into the coach

The meeting point is the Best Arctic check-in desk on the upper floor of Prostneset Bus Terminal at Samuel Arnesens Gate 1. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so allow time to reach the terminal on your own.

The coach is one of the strongest practical features here. It has Wi-Fi, charging stations, and an onboard toilet. That means you are not forced to wait for the next camp stop, and you can recharge your phone before the photo session.

During the drive, you watch an informative Northern Lights film. It gives the evening some useful context and helps explain what causes the aurora, rather than leaving you to guess at every green glow. The guide also provides live information in English.

Past guides have included Paulo, Juan, Jeanne, Hugo, Jacob, Kinga, Sojna, Levi, Viktor, Emma, and Lorenzo. The exact guide depends on the departure, but the strongest accounts describe friendly staff who kept checking on the group, helped with photos, and explained how to photograph the lights with a phone.

The drive through Troms County

The main road portion takes about six hours, with the remaining two hours focused on coffee, dinner, and time at the camp. Exact driving routes depend on weather, cloud cover, and aurora conditions.

This is not a sightseeing bus tour with a long list of town stops. The scenery is part of the journey, but the purpose is to find a darker and clearer place. You may stop for photographs along the way, especially if the sky opens or the aurora becomes active.

A guide’s weather decisions matter here. Clouds, snowfall, and wind can change the plan quickly. One evening may call for staying near camp, while another may require a longer drive to reach a clearer area. The ability to move is useful, but it also means your time at the first camp may be cut short.

I would keep your evening free before and after this outing. Seven hours is the advertised duration, and the drive can feel longer when the aurora is faint. Bring patience, a charged phone, and realistic expectations.

What happens at the private Aurora Camp

At the camp, a local host welcomes the group and explains the setup. You can borrow a thermal suit for use during your stay, then move between the warm shelter and the outdoor viewing area.

The heated shelter is more than a small bonus. Waiting for the aurora can involve long quiet stretches, and standing still in Arctic air is harder than walking through it. A warm room, tables, chairs, and hot drinks give you somewhere comfortable to wait.

There are toilets at the camp, and the coach has another toilet for the journey. One point to keep in mind is that the camp is in a remote setting. Bathroom arrangements may be basic rather than polished, especially when the group is large.

If conditions allow, a bonfire is lit outside. That adds a pleasant camp feeling and gives you something to do while watching the sky. But the fire is not guaranteed, since weather and safety come first.

The camp also gives you a chance to learn about the local Aurora Camp setup from the host. This is a more grounded part of the evening than simply standing beside a bus on the roadside. You get food, shelter, facilities, and a place to wait in relative comfort.

Soup, stew, coffee, and regional food

Dinner is included, usually in the form of a hot soup or stew. Vegetarian food is available, but you should give advance notice if you need it.

The exact dish can vary. Past meals have included fish soup and reindeer stew, with fish soup earning especially strong praise. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and sweet snacks are also provided, and staff refill the hot-water and coffee dispensers during the evening.

This food is not a restaurant meal with a wide menu. It is warm, filling camp food served in a remote location. That is exactly what you want after time outside. A bowl of soup can make the difference between enjoying the next aurora watch and retreating to the coach.

If you have serious dietary needs, ask the operator ahead of time rather than assuming the standard meal will suit you. The included vegetarian option is clearly noted, but other requirements are not detailed.

Chasing the lights and taking your photos

The guide monitors the sky and may move the group if the weather turns poor. That chase can produce the best moment of the night, but it can also mean leaving a comfortable camp just as the sky starts to change.

Once the aurora appears, guides help position people for photographs. The included pictures are available in web resolution for free download from Best Arctic’s website after the tour. High-resolution versions without a logo can be purchased there.

This is valuable if you do not have a tripod or a camera suited to night photography. The guide can take a portrait of you beneath the lights, which is difficult to do alone. Staff have also helped visitors adjust smartphone settings and offered advice for personal cameras.

Bring your own device if you want to make your own pictures. Keep checking the sky and your phone screen, since faint aurora can show on a camera before it is easy to see with your eyes. A tripod may be available to borrow, but ask staff directly rather than waiting for someone to offer one.

The included photos are a useful safety net, not a promise of a perfect portrait. Image quality depends on the cloud cover, aurora strength, darkness, and how long the lights remain visible. If the display is weak, you may receive atmospheric pictures rather than dramatic green curtains.

The big question: will you actually see the aurora?

No Northern Lights tour can promise a sighting. The aurora depends on solar activity, darkness, cloud cover, and local weather. A skilled guide can improve your position, but cannot control those conditions.

Some nights bring intense displays. One group saw powerful lights late in the evening, while another stopped on the return drive for extra photos. Other outings have produced only colored clouds or no visible aurora at all.

The honest value of this tour is that the backup experience is solid. You receive transport, a warm camp, food, drinks, toilets, a guide, and photos. That does not erase the disappointment of a cloudy sky, but it means the evening is not just an expensive ride into the dark.

I would book this earlier in your Tromsø stay if possible, especially if you have another chance to try on a different night. The provided cancellation terms allow a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help keep plans flexible. Check the exact availability and start time when booking.

What to wear for a minus 15 degree evening

Thermal overalls are supplied at the private camp, but they are not a complete winter outfit. Bring warm clothing, waterproof shoes, and warm shoes, along with a hat, gloves, and scarf.

Your feet and hands need special attention. You may spend long periods standing still for photos, and a warm coach does not help much once you are outside. Waterproof footwear matters if there is snow, slush, or wet ground around the camp.

The supplied overalls are best viewed as an extra outer layer. Do not arrive in ordinary city clothes expecting the suit to solve everything. The most comfortable approach is several warm layers, dry footwear, and gloves that still let you handle a phone.

Who gets the best value from the $124 price

At $124 per person, this is not the cheapest way to step outside Tromsø at night. It is a fair price if you value the full package: a long weather-led chase, a modern coach, a private camp, dinner, hot drinks, thermal overalls, guide service, and included web photos.

The price makes less sense if you mainly want a quick chance to see the sky and already have a car, winter clothing, photography gear, and a preferred dark location. You would be giving up the group support and camp facilities, but you might have more freedom.

For most visitors, the key question is how much comfort and help you want. A first-time aurora watcher may appreciate not having to study cloud maps, drive on winter roads, set up a tripod, or figure out how to photograph a person and the sky at once.

The tour is not suitable for children under four or people with mobility impairments. The long duration, coach travel, snow and ice, and outdoor waiting make that limitation important. The operator does not list hotel pickup, so also factor in your route to Prostneset.

Should you book this Tromsø aurora chase?

Book it if you want a well-supported Northern Lights night rather than a bare-bones bus ride. The warm coach, moving route, private camp, meal, toilets, thermal overalls, and guide-taken photos give you several useful comforts in a setting where weather can quickly ruin a simple plan.

I would especially recommend it for first-time aurora watchers, solo visitors, couples who want a shared photo, and anyone who does not want to drive at night in winter. Guides such as Paulo and Juan have shown the kind of personal help that makes a difference, particularly with camera settings and group photos.

Skip it if seven hours feels too long, if you need a guaranteed sighting, or if you prefer complete control over the route and timing. The Northern Lights remain a matter of luck.

For most people, I think the tour earns its $124 when you treat it as a full Arctic evening, not as a ticket to a guaranteed light show. You may see a spectacular aurora. You may see only a faint glow. Either way, you have a warm base, a hot meal, a capable guide, and a practical way to give the sky its best chance.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights tour last?

The activity lasts about seven hours. Around six hours are devoted to the bus journey, scenic driving, guided information, and aurora searching, with about two hours focused on coffee, tea, dinner, and time at the camp.

Where does the tour meet in Tromsø?

Meet at the Best Arctic check-in desk on the upper floor of Prostneset Bus Terminal, Samuel Arnesens Gate 1, Tromsø.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to the bus terminal meeting point.

Is dinner included?

Yes. A hot soup or stew is included, along with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and sweet snacks. A vegetarian alternative is available.

Are photos included in the price?

Web-resolution tour photos are included and can be downloaded from Best Arctic’s website after the activity. High-resolution photos without a logo are available to purchase.

Can I borrow warm clothing?

Warm overalls are available for use while you are at the private Aurora location. You must bring your own warm boots, hat, gloves, scarf, and waterproof shoes.

Does the bus have a toilet and Wi-Fi?

Yes. The modern coach has an onboard toilet, Wi-Fi, and charging stations. Toilets are also available at the Aurora Camp.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The guide follows weather conditions and may move the group to another location, but cloud cover and aurora activity cannot be controlled.

Can children or people with mobility impairments join?

Children under four are not permitted. The activity is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments.