Guide · Experiences

Tromsø Northern Lights Experience: What Guests Report

What does a northern lights safari in Tromsø really feel like? The Tromsø northern lights experiences from reviews show what guests praise, what bothers them, and for whom the night is worth it.

Check availabilityfrom $61 · free cancellation

Editorial tromsonordlichter.deUpdated on October 2, 20266 min read5 sources

Tromsø: Northern Lights safari with guides and photos The Tour for This Guide Tromsø: Northern Lights safari with guides and photos 4.6 (8,349 reviews) 6 hoursGuide bookable in GermanProfessional photo includedUnlimited option from$61per person Check availabilityFree cancellation up to 24 hours in advance

In short

01Rating
4.55 out of 5 from 8,349 reviews on GetYourGuide.
02Strengths
Guides and transport each receive 4.8, value for money 4.5.
03What is praised
The guides, their explanations, the photos of the evening, and the breaks by the campfire.
04What you need to know
No northern lights, no money back; the unlimited option gives you extra nights.
05Price
The safari is available from $61 per person.

Tromsø Northern Lights Experience at a Glance

Before you book a northern lights safari, you want to know how others experienced the night. That makes sense, because such a tour promises something nobody can guarantee: a clear sky with dancing lights. The Tromsø northern lights experiences of other travelers help you set your expectations right. They show you what to expect from the guides and the schedule, and where a night can become demanding.

The safari with expert guides and photos featured on this page has collected a large number of reviews: 8,349 in total, averaging 4.55 out of 5. With that many voices, a single bad or over-the-top night hardly matters. The average is therefore a reliable guide.

Recent reviews from the end of the season are also revealing. They come from nights when the days were already getting longer again, and they give a good picture of what guests talk about when they tell about their night. The topics that keep appearing in them are summarized here. That way you get an honest picture without having to read through hundreds of entries in many languages.

The Numbers Behind the Reviews

Besides the overall rating, GetYourGuide shows individual sub-ratings. The guides score 4.8, transport also 4.8, and value for money 4.5. The night itself and the drive score the highest. That matches what you read in the review texts, because the guides are the focus there.

For comparison, it is also worth looking at other northern lights tours from Tromsø. A photo tour comes out at 4.77 from 6,770 reviews, a small group tour at 4.67 from 2,717. A hunt that drives as long as it takes to find the lights reaches 4.90 from 1,784 reviews. The safari on this page sits solidly in the middle range but has by far the most reviews.

What do these numbers mean for you? A rating slightly below the top value with very many reviews is often more telling than a perfect score with few votes. So pay attention to both: the average rating and the volume. And keep in mind that a review also reflects the weather of a particular night, which no organizer can control.

Reviews in detail

How guests rate the safari

out of 5
Overall: 4,55 4,55 OverallGuide: 4,8 4,8 GuideTransport: 4,8 4,8 TransportValue for money: 4,5 4,5 Value for money
Overall rating from 8,349 reviews and the three sub-ratings of the northern lights safari on GetYourGuide.

Reviews Compared

Northern Lights Tours from Tromsø by Rating

TourRatingCountPrice from
Northern lights safari with experts4,558.349from $61
Northern Lights Tour with Photos4,776.770from $133
Hunt with Photos, Snacks, Thermal Suit4,483.618from $127
Small group with photos4,672.717from $131
Hunt until you find them4,901.784from $144

Ratings, number of reviews and starting prices based on the offers on GetYourGuide.

Tours in the Profile

Many Reviews or Top Rating?

Tromsø: Northern Lights Safari with Expert Guides and Photos Proven

Northern lights safari

Huge Number of Reviews

Rating
4,55
Count
8.349
Duration
6 hrs
Price
from $61
View tour
Tromsø: Northern Lights tour with photos Balanced

Northern Lights Tour with Photos

Many Votes, High Rating

Rating
4,77
Count
6.770
Duration
6 hrs
Price
from $133
View tour
Tromsø: Northern Lights Chase - We Drive Until We Find Them Top rated

Hunt until you find them

Small Group, Top Rating

Rating
4,90
Count
1.784
Group
max. 15
Price
from $144
View tour

Is it worth it for you?

Who the Safari Suits For

Choose what matters most to you.

The Safari

From $61 per person, 6 hours long.

The Safari

4.55 out of 5 from 8,349 reviews.

A Small-Group Tour

The hunt up to the sighting is limited to 15 people and rated 4.90.

Safari with unlimited option

You ride again until you see the lights.

Rather a Different Activity

Children under 5 are not allowed on the Safari.

What guests keep praising

Repeatedly, the latest reviews mention the guides, often by name. Guests describe them as knowledgeable, patient, and clearly joyful about their work. They are especially praised for explaining in an easy-to-understand way how the northern lights form, and for taking questions about the physics behind them seriously. The drivers also get mentioned, sometimes for the safe ride, sometimes for the good atmosphere on the bus.

A second recurring theme is the photos. Guests love that, over the course of the evening, photos of them under the northern lights are taken without them having to struggle with their own camera. According to the offer, a professional photo of your evening is part of the safari. If you prefer to take your own photos, you can of course still do that, and you end up with both.

Then there is the atmosphere outdoors. The reviews mention bonfires, chairs in the snow, and hot cocoa that tastes especially good in the cold. Hot drinks, chairs, and a bonfire, when the weather allows, are also part of the offer. Some tell how they felt, while waiting, as if on a little excursion into the mountains. It is exactly these quiet moments between the fire and the starry sky that often stay in your mind longer than any single photo.

From the Experiences

What Guests Would Recommend to You

01

Before the Night

  • Have a Proper Meal First
  • Plan the Safari Early in Your Stay
  • Choose the Unlimited Option for Multiple Nights
02

Dress Up

  • Wool Base Layer Under Warm Clothing
  • Warm shoes, gloves, scarf, and hat
  • Thermal Suit to Rent if You Get Cold
03

On the Way

  • Battery Fully Charged, Power Bank Packed
  • Warm Up by the Campfire if There Is One
  • Be patient, the night is long

Cost calculator

What does your northern lights night cost?

Choose a tour and the number of people.

people 2

Total from$122

from per person $61

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Departure prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. The exact price is shown when you book.

Video

Trip to Tromsø: in search of the northern lights

The video only loads when you tap Play.

When the lights take their time

Honestly speaking: not every night ends with a fireworks show in the sky. The guests know this too, and they write in their reviews that they needed more than one attempt. On cloudy nights, some tours drive from Tromsø into the interior or even to Finland, because the drier continental climate there often offers clearer skies.1

There is one important rule for the safari: if the northern lights fail to appear, you do not get your money back. Instead, there is the Unlimited option, which lets you join the tour again during your stay until you have seen the lights. In their reviews, guests who were lucky only on a later night strongly recommend this option.

For your planning, this means: do not book the safari on your last evening. If you are in Tromsø for several nights, book early in your stay and keep other evenings free. The northern lights are often most active between about 8 pm and 2 am, but they can appear all night long.2 With patience and flexibility, your chances improve considerably.

Feedback and realistic expectations

Even the best reviews would not be complete without some criticism. One point concerns the length of the night. The safari lasts 6 hours, and toward the end of the season, when the days get longer, some guests find the time before darkness feels long. If you travel at the end of the season, you should expect an extended night with waiting times.

Another note concerns the return ride. When many people sit tired and frozen on the bus, it can get a bit restless. That is not a reason against the tour, but a reason to prepare for a long, social night rather than a quiet excursion. With warm clothing and a full stomach, your mood will last longer.

And then there is the cold. In winter, the average temperature in Tromsø is about -4 °C.3 Being outside on a field or at a frozen lake feels even colder. Do not underestimate that: if you dress warmly enough, you will still be excitedly looking up at the sky after hours.

Is the northern lights safari worth it?

Whether a tour is worth it comes down to price and experience in the end. The safari is available from $61 per person. Other northern lights tours from Tromsø cost, for example, from $131 for a small group tour or from $144 for a hunt in a small group. The safari is therefore a comparatively affordable way to get started.

Guests rate the value for money at 4.5. That is a good score and a little lower than the ratings for the guides and the transport. You get a large, well-organized tour with experienced guides, hot drinks, and a professional photo, but not the quiet of a small group. If you value exclusivity, smaller tours cost accordingly more. Be honest with yourself beforehand about what matters more to you: the price or a quiet experience.

Our take: For your first northern lights night in Tromsø, the safari is a very good choice, especially with a German-speaking guide and the Unlimited option. If you want to photograph specifically or prefer a small group, it is worth looking at specialized tours. If you simply want to see the aurora without worrying about the route and the weather, you are in the right place here.

Tips from other guests' experiences

From the reviews, a few clear tips can be drawn. Eat a proper meal before departure, because the night is long. Dress in layers: for a northern lights tour in winter, a base layer of wool under warm, dry sweaters and jackets is recommended, along with warm shoes, gloves, a scarf, and a hat.4

Charge your camera and phone beforehand and bring a power bank, because the cold drains batteries quickly. If you want to take your own photos, start with an ISO of about 1600 to 3200 and dial down when the light is bright.5 Otherwise, simply enjoy the moment and rely on the photo that comes with the offer.

And finally: stay open. Anyone who sets out with the mindset of experiencing a special night in the Arctic enjoys it, no matter how strong the northern lights turn out to be in the end. If you have several nights, take the Unlimited option and give the sky some time. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start, if your plans change.

Book safari

Tonight the sky could turn green.

Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.

Check datesfrom $61 · free cancellation 4.6 · 8,349 verified reviews

You ask,we answer.

How well is the northern lights safari in Tromsø rated?

4.55 out of 5. The rating is based on 8,349 reviews on GetYourGuide.

What do guests particularly praise?

The guides. In the most recent reviews, the knowledge, patience, and friendliness of the guides are at the center, along with photos, bonfires, and hot cocoa.

What do guests criticize?

The length of the night. Toward the end of the season, some find the wait until darkness feels long. So plan the safari as a long, social night.

Will I get my money back if the northern lights don't show up?

No. The organizer does not refund anything if the lights do not appear. The Unlimited option lets you join additional tours during your stay.

How is the value for money?

4.5 out of 5. This is how guests rate the value for money; the safari, the guides, and the transport each receive a 4.8.

Is the Unlimited option worth it?

Yes, if you have several nights. Guests who saw the northern lights only on a later night recommend it in their reviews. You join again until you have seen the lights.

When are the northern lights most active?

Mostly between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. During this time, they are often at their most active in Tromsø, but they can appear all night long.2

Sources

What this guide is based on

  1. 1↩
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  3. 3↩
  4. 4
    Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to dress in the Arctic
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  5. 5
    Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to photograph northern lights
    ↩

Read more

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Tromsø: Northern Lights safari with guides and photos 4.6 (8,349) · Free cancellation Usually books out 6 days in advance from$61 Check availabilityfrom $61 · pay later