The best part of an aurora chase is the chase itself: your minibus can leave Tromsø’s city lights behind and follow clearer skies toward a fjord or mountain viewpoint. This evening tour gives you about three hours at a viewing spot, where the Northern Lights may appear or the Arctic night may simply stay dark.
I like two things here: a small minibus instead of a big coach gives the outing a more personal feel, and free photos with the aurora mean you can spend less time wrestling with a camera. Dinner is included, too, which matters when you are standing outside at night.
The trade-off is plain: no guide can promise the aurora will show. The schedule and destination can shift with weather and traffic, and recent feedback raises a practical question about changes in the guide team and contact arrangements. Book for a worthwhile Arctic night, not a guaranteed performance.
- The departure is at 17:59 from central Tromsø, with a requested arrival 15 minutes early.
- The night includes about three hours at a viewing spot, after a roughly 90-minute drive each way.
- Dinner and round-trip transfers are included, along with an English-speaking guide.
- Free aurora photos are promoted, so you can be in the picture rather than behind your phone.
- The group size is not specified, despite the minibus and small-group emphasis.
- Aurora sightings depend on the sky, and the plan can change with weather and traffic.
- Leaving Tromsø after dark
- Three hours beneath an Arctic sky
- A guide, a driver, and the camera
- What the minibus changes
- Understanding the price
- Timing, clothing, and a few useful checks
- Who should book this aurora chase
- FAQ
- Where is the meeting point?
- How long does the tour last?
- Is dinner included?
- Is the tour led in English?
- Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?
- Are photos included in the price?
- Are thermal suits provided?
- Is the activity wheelchair-accessible?
- What happens if the operator cancels the tour?
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Leaving Tromsø after dark
The meeting point is in front of the Ice Magic Bar at Kaigata 4, in central Tromsø. The listed departure is 17:59, and you should arrive 15 minutes ahead. That early buffer is sensible: a minibus cannot wait long for late arrivals, and the cancellation terms say no refund is given to participants who are 15 minutes or more late.
From town, the drive to the viewing area is estimated at about an hour and a half. That is part of the value of a chase. Tromsø is a convenient base, but the town’s lights can make a faint aurora harder to see. A guide can take the group away from that glow and look for a suitable patch of sky.
The specific destination is not fixed. The tour describes fjordside or mountain viewpoints, and the driver may choose a location based on conditions. That flexibility is useful, though it means you should not expect a named attraction or a scenic stop guaranteed in advance. The point is to seek a better sky, not tick off a set of landmarks.
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Three hours beneath an Arctic sky
The planned stop lasts about three hours. If the aurora appears, you may see green, violet, or gold light shifting across the sky. It can be faint and brief, or strong enough to make the whole outing feel extraordinary. There is no way to know in advance, and a clear sky alone does not guarantee a display.
If the lights stay hidden, you are still out in a remote night setting with a guide, dinner, and the chance to hear stories about Sámi and Viking beliefs alongside explanations of the aurora. The tour promises storytelling and snacks, but its confirmed inclusions list names dinner, transfers, and an English-speaking guide. Ask what food and drinks are supplied, and whether hot drinks are available, if those details matter to you.
The description also mentions thermal suits, but the included-items list does not spell out whether they are provided on every departure. Do not treat that detail as settled. Bring warm layers and a change of clothes, as advised, and check with the operator before relying on supplied gear.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Tromso.
A guide, a driver, and the camera
A good aurora guide does more than point at the sky. The guide must make decisions about where to go, explain what you are seeing, and keep the group comfortable during a long wait. The tour is led in English, and storytelling is part of its appeal. The night can feel much shorter when you understand both the science and the local traditions connected to the lights.
Past outings featured Louai as a guide and Yan as a photographer and driver. Those names are useful context, but they are not a promise of who will lead your trip. The guide roster appears to have changed, so confirm the current arrangement if you have booked with a particular person in mind.
The free photos are a strong practical extra. Night photography takes patience and the right settings, and a camera timer can be a clumsy companion when you are trying to enjoy the sky. Having a photographer take pictures of you with the lights lets you put your phone away for a while. The photos are described as free, with no surprise charges reported on one outing, but confirm how and when they will be delivered.
What the minibus changes
The minibus format is a sensible middle ground. It avoids the feel of a large coach and may make it easier to adjust the route as conditions change. That matters on an aurora night, when a fixed itinerary can be less useful than the ability to move toward a clearer patch of sky.
Still, the actual group size is not stated. The tour is promoted as small-group and flexible, but you should not assume a particular number of seats or a private experience. If group size is central to your decision, ask before booking.
The ride itself is not short: allow about 90 minutes each way, with the bulk of the evening spent at the stop. If you are prone to motion sickness or simply dislike late-night drives, factor that in. The return is scheduled for 23:59 at the same Kaigata 4 meeting point, though traffic and weather can alter the timing.
Understanding the price
At US$187.59, this is a substantial evening expense, but the price covers round-trip transport, an English-speaking guide, and dinner. It also includes the chance to chase conditions beyond Tromsø and, according to the tour’s description, free photos with the aurora. For a visitor without a car or local knowledge, those pieces can make the cost easier to justify.
The value depends heavily on what you want from the night. If your priority is a guide-led search with transport and a photographer, the package has practical appeal. If you are paying mainly for a guaranteed aurora sighting, it is poor value by definition: the operator cannot control clouds, aurora activity, or visibility.
One rating snapshot gives the experience 3.7 out of 5 from just three ratings, a small sample that should not be treated as a firm verdict. Two accounts describe attentive guiding and strong photography, including one especially vivid aurora display. Another points to weak weather and concerns about communication and a change in operating arrangements. That contrast is a reminder to check current details rather than assume a past guide or service setup will repeat.
Timing, clothing, and a few useful checks
The stated plan is departure at 17:59, a 90-minute drive, three hours at the viewing spot, another 90-minute drive, and a return at 23:59. In practice, this is an approximate schedule: traffic and weather can change it. Keep the rest of your evening flexible, especially if you have a timed reservation or transport connection afterward.
Dress for standing outdoors at night. The tour advises bringing a change of clothes, and its description refers to thermal suits and hot drinks. Since those extras are not clearly itemized among the confirmed inclusions, check with the operator about what is supplied and bring warm layers either way.
The supplied information also lists a passport with six months of validity among items to bring. The reason is not explained, so confirm whether it is required for this particular tour. The voucher is valid only for the date and time booked. Cancellation at least 24 hours before the activity is eligible for a full refund; if the operator cancels because of extreme weather or another unforeseen event, you can reschedule or request a full refund.
The activity is described as stroller- and wheelchair-accessible. If you need specific help with boarding, the outdoor stop, or equipment, contact the operator before booking. Accessibility can depend on details that the general description does not explain.
Who should book this aurora chase
This outing suits you if you want an organized search beyond the city, prefer a minibus to a large coach, and value a guide, dinner, and photos in one evening. It is also a reasonable choice if you are in Tromsø without a car and would rather leave route decisions to a local driver.
It is less suitable if you need a guaranteed sighting, dislike late-night travel, or want precise confirmation of the group size and equipment before paying. Families may appreciate that the activity is described as stroller-accessible, but should still ask about the conditions at the viewing stop and the length of the drive.
I would book it for the chance to spend an Arctic evening chasing the lights with transport and practical support, while keeping my expectations grounded. Before paying, confirm who is guiding the departure, whether thermal suits and hot drinks are actually included, and how the photos are delivered. If those answers are clear and the aurora itself is a bonus rather than a promise, the tour is a sensible way to make a night in Tromsø count.
Nothern Light Chase from Tromso with Minibus
“the experience of driving around at night, hunting for auroras wherever possible, is thrilling! our guide/driver/photographer, Louai, is an expert…”
FAQ
Where is the meeting point?
Meet in front of the Ice Magic Bar at Kaigata 4 in Tromsø. The listed departure time is 17:59, and you should arrive 15 minutes early.
How long does the tour last?
The scheduled outing runs from 17:59 to 23:59, about six hours. The plan includes roughly 90 minutes of travel each way and three hours at a viewing spot.
Is dinner included?
Yes. Dinner is listed as included. The specific menu is not provided.
Is the tour led in English?
Yes. An English-speaking guide is included.
Are Northern Lights sightings guaranteed?
No. The aurora depends on natural conditions, and the schedule or location may change with weather and traffic.
Are photos included in the price?
The tour description says free photos of you with the Northern Lights are included. The timing and method for receiving them are not specified.
Are thermal suits provided?
Thermal suits are mentioned in the tour description, but they are not named in the confirmed inclusions. Check with the operator before relying on them.
Is the activity wheelchair-accessible?
The activity is described as wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. Contact the operator about any specific access needs for boarding and the outdoor stop.
What happens if the operator cancels the tour?
If the operator cancels because of extreme weather or another unforeseen event, you can reschedule or request a full refund.
