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Guide · Small group
Northern Lights Tromsø: Small Group Instead of a Large Bus
Searching for the Northern Lights in Tromsø in a small group is the middle ground between a big bus and a private tour. Here you can see how small the groups really are and which tour suits you.
Check availabilityfrom $61 · free cancellation
Editorial tromsonordlichter.deUpdated on October 2, 20267 min read9 sources
In short
- 01Recommended
- The northern lights chase in a small group lasts 6 hours and is rated 4.67.
- 02From price
- The small-group chase starts from $131.
- 03Group size
- With other small-group tours, 8 or 15 people are listed as the maximum.
- 04Book flexibly
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, book now and pay later.
- 05In the big bus
- The northern lights safari on this page starts from $61.
What the small group brings to the northern lights chase
Chasing the northern lights in a small group feels different from a ride on a big tour bus. After half an hour you know the names of the others, getting out does not take forever, and at the viewpoint the group spreads out instead of standing in a row by the road. This manageable size is for some the reason to pay a bit more, even though the sky stays the same for everyone.
The group size changes nothing up in the sky itself. Tromsø sits right under the northern lights oval, the ring of auroras over the geomagnetic North Pole.1 In the region the lights can appear from late August to early April, when the sky is dark and clear enough.2 Whether they appear is decided by the weather, no matter whether you are with a few or with very many people.
What a small group gives you is closeness. You can ask the guide questions without them getting lost in the murmur, and there is time for explanations about the physics of the northern lights or about your camera settings. Especially during your first northern lights of your life, it is a nice feeling not to be just a number in a long row, but part of a small circle that experiences this moment together.
How it works
From booking to northern lights night
-
Book early
Secure your spot
Book now, pay later, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
-
Before booking
Ask about the group size
For the photo small-group hunt no maximum is stated.
-
In the afternoon
Check the forecast
NOSWE offers a short-term forecast for Tromsø along with predictions for one and four hours.3
-
In the evening
Out into the darkness
Often most active are the lights between about 20:00 and 02:00.4
-
At the end
Back to Tromsø
The small-group hunt is scheduled for 6 hours.
The small-group northern lights chase in detail
The tour we recommend for the small group is the northern lights chase in a small group with photos. It lasts 6 hours and is accompanied by a live guide speaking English and Norwegian. The offer does not list a German-speaking guide, so expect explanations in English. That photos belong to the evening is in the name of the offer, details about this you can see when booking.
The tour is rated 4.67 out of 2,717 reviews. In the sub-ratings the guide and the transport each score 4.8, the value for money scores 4.5. The number of votes is high, so the picture is reliable. It starts from $131. You can book now and pay later, and free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance.
One point deserves attention: the offer does not state a maximum number of participants, small group is only in the name. If the size matters to you, ask before booking how many spots there are. With other providers the limit is stated explicitly, and that way you can compare the offers better. A clear number is ultimately worth more than a word in the title.
Group sizes
Maximum number of participants compared
people
Compare
Small-group tours from Tromsø
| Tour | Group | Duration | Rating | From price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group photo hunt | Not specified | 6 hrs | 4,67 | from $131 |
| Hunt until you find them | Up to 15 people | 5 to 8 hrs | 4,90 | from $144 |
| Aurora hunt | Up to 15 people | 7 hrs. | 4,75 | from $137 |
| Glass minibus with dinner | Up to 15 people | 8 hrs. | 4,91 | from $173 |
| Photo Safari in German | Up to 8 people | 7 hrs. | 5,00 | from $241 |
| Northern lights safari by bus | Split | 6 hrs | 4,55 | from $61 |
Figures based on the offers on GetYourGuide; all prices are starting prices.
Decision helper
Which small group is right for you?
What matters most to you on your northern lights night?
Small-group photo hunt
Rated 4.67 out of 2,717 reviews.
Hunt until you find them
The group is limited to 15 people, rated 4.90.
Photo Safari in German
Live guide in German, up to 8 people.
Minibus with glass partition
Up to 15 people, 8 hours, with dinner as listed.
Safari with small-group option
The safari starts from $61, and a small-group option is bookable.
How small is small? The group sizes compared
The northern lights chase, which drives as long as it takes to find the lights, is limited to 15 people. It lasts 5 to 8 hours, is rated 4.90, and starts from $144. The guide speaks among other languages English, Norwegian, Spanish, and Portuguese, German is not included. Anyone looking for a tour with a clear upper limit will find a very well-rated choice here.
Also limited to 15 people is the Aurora chase, which drives to where the lights appear. It lasts 7 hours, is rated 4.75, and starts from $137. The same limit applies to the northern lights tour in the glass minibus with dinner, which lasts 8 hours and is rated 4.91 out of 28 reviews. It starts from $173. A ride behind glass with a meal is an unusual variant of the chase.
Even smaller is the northern lights chase with a professional photographer in German: here it is limited to 8 people, and the live guide speaks German. It lasts 7 hours and is rated 5.00 out of 5 reviews, so the number of votes is still small. It starts from $241. For German-speaking guests who want to take a lot of photos, it is the most personal small group.
Checklist
For the night in a small group
01
Before booking
- Ask about the maximum number of participants
- Check the guide's language
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
02
Clothing
- Wool as the base layer directly on the skin
- Warm, dry sweaters and a jacket
- Hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes
03
For photos
- Camera with manual mode
- Tripod for long exposures
- Red-light lamp so you don't blind anyone
Cost calculator
What does the small group cost for you?
Choose a tour and the number of people.
people
Total from$262
from per person $131
Check availabilityfree cancellationDeparture prices according to GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. The exact price is shown when you book.
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Small group or big bus
The northern lights safari on this page is the alternative on a larger scale. It lasts 6 hours, starts from $61, and is rated 4.55 out of 8,349 reviews. A German-speaking guide can be booked, and with the unlimited option you can ride again during your stay until you have seen the lights. For a small budget it is therefore a strong choice.
It is interesting that this safari also has a small-group option. With it the winter suit is included, but there is no toilet on board. In the standard variant you can rent the suit. So anyone looking for a mix of low price, German guide, and smaller group should check this option when booking and compare it with the other small-group tours before the spots are gone.
The big bus also has advantages that should not be underestimated. More people mean more eyes on the sky, and whoever spots the first glow usually calls out loudly enough for everyone to notice. The small group scores with calm and more time for your questions. If both matter to you, plan several evenings and try both, so you will know in the end what suits you better.
On the road in the small group
A northern lights night consists to a large extent of waiting. In a small group this time often passes more easily: you start conversations, share hot drinks, and help each other with the camera. Solo travelers find connection quickly this way, and those traveling as a couple do not have to share the evening with an anonymous crowd. In the cold this atmosphere makes a noticeable difference.
When it is cloudy, some tours drive inland or all the way to Finland, where the drier continental climate often offers clearer skies.5 Whether and how far your tour can drive is usually not detailed in the respective offer. Ask about this when booking if this matters to you. A longer drive can extend the night, but it can also be the only way to a clear sky.
A tip for the evening itself: stay near the group, even if you want to go a bit further into the dark for a photo. Let the guide know briefly before you move away, and take a red-light lamp with you so you do not blind others when taking photos. In a small group it is noticeable when someone is missing, and that is a real advantage on a cold winter night.
Clothing and camera for a long night
If you stand outside for hours, you need the right clothing. Wool next to your skin has proven its worth, topped with warm, dry sweaters and a jacket, plus warm shoes, gloves, a scarf and a hat.6 In winter, the average temperature in Tromsø is around -4 °C.7 When you stand still for a longer time, it feels colder, so rather layer one more than one less.
For your own photos, Visit Tromsø recommends ISO 1600 to 3200 as a starting point.8 If the northern lights are especially bright or there is a lot of light from the moon or snow, a lower value often works just fine.8 A tripod is a must on land, because without a stable base your shots will blur. In a small group there is usually enough space to set it up in peace and test the settings without a rush.
Batteries lose power quickly in the cold. Keep spare batteries in an inner pocket close to your body so they stay warm, and swap them as soon as the indicator drops. Your phone also lasts longer if you do not leave it unprotected in your jacket pocket. And do not forget to eat something warm before the tour, because a long night in the cold takes more energy than you would think.
Choose and book the right evening
Small-group tours have fewer spots, so it is worth booking early. With the small-group northern lights hunt, you can book now, pay later and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. That way you secure your spot and decide the day before based on the weather whether you really want to go. It takes a lot of pressure out of planning.
Official data helps you decide. The Norwegian space weather centre NOSWE releases a short-term forecast for Tromsø along with predictions for one and for four hours.3 The Kp index, shown by many apps, measures geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9.9 But more important than a high number is a clear sky over the place where you stand.
The lights are often most active between about 20:00 and 02:00.4 A tour covering those hours gives you a good chance, even though there is no guarantee. If you spend several nights in Tromsø, do not book the small group for the first night but leave yourself an evening of buffer. That way you can rearrange if the weather is bad instead of letting the tour simply slip by.
Book safari
Tonight the sky could turn green.
Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
How large is a small group on northern lights tours?
Up to 8 or 15 people depending on the tour. The photo hunt in German is limited to 8 people, the hunt up to the sighting to 15 people. The small-group hunt with photos does not state a maximum.
How much does the northern lights hunt in the small group cost?
From $131. This is how the northern lights hunt with photos starts. The northern lights safari by bus is available from $61.
How long does the tour last?
6 hrs The northern lights hunt in the small group with photos is scheduled for 6 hours.
Is there a small group with a German guide?
Yes. The northern lights hunt with a professional photographer has a live guide in German and is limited to 8 people.
Will I definitely see the northern lights in the small group?
No. There is no guarantee. The lights can appear from late August to early April, when the sky is dark and clear enough.2
Can I cancel for free?
Yes, up to 24 hours in advance. The small-group hunt can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours in advance, and you can book now and pay later.
Does this page's safari have a small-group option?
Yes. With the small-group option the winter suit is included, but there is no toilet on board.
Sources
What this guide is based on
- 1Visit Tromsø Region ASLook out for the Northern Lights!↩
- 2Visit Tromsø Region ASWhen and where to see the northern lights in Tromsø?↩
- 3Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)Northern Lights – Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE)↩
- 4Visit Tromsø Region ASWhen and where to see the northern lights in Tromsø?↩
- 5Visit TromsøAurora Quest Minibus Adventure - Norway↩
- 6Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to dress in the Arctic↩
- 7Visit Tromsø10 reasons to visit Tromsø in winter↩
- 8Visit Tromsø Region ASHow to photograph northern lights↩
- 9NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction CenterTips on Viewing the Aurora↩
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