Northern Lights Chase with Photography from Tromsø

Chasing the aurora means chasing the weather. This Tromsø outing gives you a practical chance to escape city lights, search the Arctic countryside, and get help photographing the sky with your own phone or camera. I like the persistent guides who keep looking for clear skies, and I like the simple comforts of hot drinks and snacks during a long, cold night. The main drawback is group size, which can swell to several buses and turn a quiet aurora hunt into a crowded roadside gathering.

I also like the flexible route. The bus may remain in one spot or drive for hours toward Finland or another clear patch, depending on cloud cover. But you should prepare for a long wait, limited toilet breaks, and no guarantee of seeing the lights. This is an organized search, not a private Arctic evening.

Key points before you book

• A real weather chase: The route can change throughout the night, and the bus may drive for much of the four to eight hour outing.
• Photography help is included: Guides can help you use your own phone or camera in low light, but prints and digital files from the company cost extra or are not included.
• Group size can be large: Some departures have fewer than 16 people, while others may use buses carrying about 50 people. Multiple buses can gather at one site.
• You must dress for severe cold: Temperatures can reach -30°C, and thermal overalls are not provided.
• The lights are never guaranteed: If you do not see the aurora, the company offers a 50 percent discount on a later aurora tour, subject to availability.
• The meeting point is central: Check in at Roald Amundsens plass 1B, 30 minutes before departure, then return there at the end.

What the Tromsø aurora chase actually involves

This is not a short sightseeing ride with a fixed viewpoint. It is a search operation built around cloud cover, darkness, road conditions, and aurora activity.

You meet at Roald Amundsens plass 1B in central Tromsø. Check-in is required 30 minutes before departure, and the operator says you cannot board without completing it. That timing matters, especially during busy winter periods when several buses may be loading at once.

From there, you travel out of town by bus or another vehicle. The company may choose one location and wait, or it may keep moving to find an opening in the clouds. On difficult nights, you could spend much of the outing inside the vehicle. The stated duration is about four to eight hours, but it can shift in either direction.

That uncertainty is part of the deal. A clear patch may appear quickly, allowing an earlier finish. On a cloudy night, the driver may continue for hours. Some outings reach the Skibotn area or travel toward the Finnish border, so bring a passport or suitable identification in case the route crosses into Finland.

Why the guides matter on a cloudy night

The best part of this experience is the effort put into finding usable sky. A fixed viewpoint cannot help much when clouds cover the aurora. A moving tour has a better chance of reaching a clear area, although driving does not guarantee success.

Guide quality can change the mood of the night. Positive accounts highlight guides such as Gerard, Merco, Tom, Andreas, and Louis for persistence, clear instructions, and help with camera settings. One particularly strong outing reached the lights after about six hours. Another guide, Andreas, helped explain the sky even when aurora activity was limited.

The job is not simply to point at green light. A good guide needs to manage cold, darkness, a large group, road delays, and repeated questions. The strongest experiences came when the staff stayed patient and kept people informed.

The standard is not always consistent. Some accounts describe repeated announcements, loud explanations, or a guide who seemed negative during a difficult chase. That matters because a long night in a bus magnifies small annoyances. You may be tired, cold, and eager for news, so clear and calm communication counts.

The photography help is useful, with limits

The tour includes photography assistance using your personal phone or camera. This is valuable if you have never photographed the aurora. Night photography often requires a steady device, a long exposure, and the right focus, and a guide can help you get a usable image before the lights fade.

Several successful outings included help with phone photography. The guidance can make the difference between a black screen and a recognizable green arc. Bring your camera fully charged, and keep your phone accessible rather than buried in a bag.

The company’s own photographers may also take pictures, but these images are not included as free prints or digital files. You need to clarify how the photographs are delivered and priced before posing for them.

There is also an important privacy point. By booking, you agree that NorthernShots Tours owns the copyright to photographs taken by its team. The company may upload images to a third-party platform, monetize them, or publish video footage. If you do not want to be photographed or published, tell the staff before the tour and avoid posing for the photographers.

In a large group, finding the photographer can be difficult. If photography is a main reason for booking, stay near your assigned guide and ask early how the photo process works.

Group size can change the whole experience

This is the largest practical concern. The activity may have fewer than 16 participants, but the operator also warns that a vehicle can carry approximately 50 people. At peak times, several buses from the same company may travel together.

That difference is enormous. A smaller departure can feel calm and personal. A large coach may be efficient, but it can make the experience feel like a crowded event rather than a quiet night under the stars.

At one popular location, several buses and cars gathered with more than 200 people. Flashlights, headlights, conversation, and movement made photography harder. A few people found quieter places nearby, but that is not guaranteed.

The company does not promise a private site. During the busiest season, Tromsø can have five times more visitors, and guides may need to park beside other aurora vehicles. If you want solitude, ask at check-in how many people are booked that evening. The answer may not be exact, but it can help set expectations.

Large groups do have one advantage: they can make transport more accessible and may offer more guide coverage. You also have a better chance of finding someone who can help with a camera or explain what is happening. Still, the crowd issue is real and should be part of your decision.

Hot drinks help, but dress as if the bus might fail

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and snacks may be offered at a stop. That small comfort is welcome when you have been outside in wind and snow. It is not a meal, though, and the company says food cannot be eaten inside the vehicle.

Dress for the worst part of the night, not the warmest part. Thermal overalls are not included. Wear thermal base layers, a warm middle layer, a windproof outer layer, insulated boots, gloves, and a hat. One successful outing reached about -7°C with strong wind, while the safety information warns that temperatures can drop to -30°C.

The bus is normally heated, but it may gradually cool on especially cold nights. You should not count on sitting inside as a complete escape from the weather.

Toilet access requires planning. The vehicle may have no toilet, and the bus can drive for a long time without stopping. Toilets cannot be used while the vehicle is moving. This is especially important for anyone who finds long drives uncomfortable.

The road conditions are part of the risk

Arctic roads can be icy, snowy, and difficult. The operator warns about storms, frozen ground, avalanches, and other natural hazards. A dangerous forecast can lead to cancellation, in which case you should receive a full refund.

The more complicated situation is a tour that runs in poor but technically manageable weather. Some outings have involved blizzards, long drives, or a vehicle stuck on ice. The operator says a stranded vehicle can take around two hours to rescue and that such incidents are not grounds for a refund.

You should also avoid scheduling an important flight, boat, or expensive connection immediately after the tour. A late return is possible, and the company does not cover replacement tickets, hotels, or related costs if you miss onward transport.

I would treat this as a stand-alone evening with a generous buffer afterward. The aurora does not follow a timetable, and neither do icy roads.

Is the $171.07 price good value?

At $171.07 per person, this is not a cheap bus ride. The value depends on what you need.

The price includes round-trip transport from Tromsø, guide support, photography help with your own equipment, and hot drinks at a stop. It also pays for the possibility of driving far beyond town to reach clearer skies. For a first aurora trip, that search strategy can be worth the cost.

The price feels weaker if you expect a small group, warm clothing, a private location, guaranteed photographs, or a short evening. None of those is promised. Thermal clothing is extra, company photographs are not included, and the tour may spend hours in a bus.

A private tour may offer more control and fewer people, but it will usually cost more. A public bus or local viewpoint costs less, but it cannot give you the same weather-chasing plan or photography help. This tour sits between those options: organized and practical, but potentially crowded.

The 50 percent discount for a later aurora tour offers some protection if the first outing fails, but it is not the same as a refund. You must book the second tour at the desk, and availability can be tight, especially from December 15 through January 9. If no seat is available, or you cannot return another night, the discount does not turn into cash.

What happens if you do not see the lights?

The northern lights are a natural event, so no company can guarantee them. Cloud, weak solar activity, snow, and road conditions can all work against you.

This tour may still operate on cloudy, rainy, or snowy nights because guides sometimes find clear sky in difficult conditions. That policy gives you more chances, but it also means you could spend much of the night searching without success.

If the aurora does not appear, the stated option is a 50 percent discount on your next aurora tour. It depends on space and must be arranged at the company desk. A cancellation because conditions are considered dangerous is different: you should be offered a full refund.

The distinction is important. Bad luck with the sky does not automatically mean a refund. A dangerous cancellation should.

Cancellation and meeting details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

The tour starts and ends at Roald Amundsens plass 1B in Tromsø. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, though the meeting point is near public transport. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable with cold, long vehicle rides, uncertain toilet breaks, and possible delays.

The activity is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking.

Who should book this Tromsø aurora tour?

I would choose this outing if you want a practical way to search beyond Tromsø without arranging a car, and if you are willing to trade comfort and privacy for a better chance at clear sky.

It suits first-time aurora watchers who want help with phone photography. It also works for people who can handle an unpredictable evening and will not be upset if the route changes or the group grows large.

I would hesitate if you need a quiet setting, a small group, guaranteed professional photographs, or a fixed return time. Families with older relatives should think carefully about the cold and long waits, although the heated vehicle provides useful shelter when it is working well.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is getting out of Tromsø and giving yourself a serious chance to find clear sky. The strongest outings combine persistent staff, a good weather window, and a spectacular display. Guides such as Gerard, Merco, Tom, and Andreas have helped turn long waits into successful nights.

Skip it if you are paying mainly for an intimate photography session. Group size can reach coach-tour levels, other buses may crowd the same viewpoint, and the company’s photo files are not part of the price.

If you book, check in early, dress far warmer than you think necessary, bring your passport, charge your phone, and keep the next morning free. That preparation will not summon the aurora, but it will make the chase much easier to enjoy.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights Chase start?

The tour starts at Roald Amundsens plass 1B, 9008 Tromsø, Norway. You must check in there 30 minutes before departure.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Tromsø.

How long does the aurora chase last?

The expected duration is approximately four to eight hours. The length can change if the vehicle needs to search for clear sky or if the lights appear earlier.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is near public transportation.

Are thermal clothes provided?

No. Thermal overalls are not included. You should bring warm layers and suitable footwear for Arctic conditions.

Can I bring a passport?

Yes, and you should bring one or suitable identification because some tours may cross the border into Finland.

Is seeing the northern lights guaranteed?

No. The aurora is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. If you do not see it, the company offers a 50 percent discount on a later aurora tour, subject to availability.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded. If the company cancels because conditions are dangerous, you should be offered a different date or a full refund.