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The decision that shapes your aurora night

Big bus, minibus or small group — which northern lights tour fits you?

Three ways to chase the aurora from Tromsø, and what really separates them.

Big bus

Northern lights bus tour with camp and photos
Northern Lights Safari Tromso · About 6 hours Northern lights bus tour with camp and photos
★ 4.6 (8,567) from €70
Book now →
Northern lights coach tour with unlimited free repeats
Jeshua As · About 6 hours Northern lights coach tour with unlimited free repeats
★ 4.6 (2,172) from €77
Book now →
Northern lights chase by big bus
Chasing Lights Northern lights chase by big bus
★ 4.9 (1,703) from €114
Book now →

Minibus

Northern lights minibus adventure with professional photos
Arctic Breeze AS · About 6 hours Northern lights minibus adventure with professional photos
★ 4.8 (6,892) from €116
Book now →
Northern lights chase by Sprinter with HD photos
NLT Guide Company · About 6 hours Northern lights chase by Sprinter with HD photos
★ 4.7 (2,768) from €123
Book now →
Aurora chase by minibus with a free aurora portrait
Amazing Arctic Tours · 6–7 hours Aurora chase by minibus with a free aurora portrait
★ 4.5 (2,327) from €67
Book now →

Premium small group

Small-group northern lights adventure by Arctic 4WD
Greenlander Small-group northern lights adventure by Arctic 4WD Non-refundable
★ 5.0 (1,518) from €283
Book now →
Northern lights hunt with six seats only, photos and video
AdventuresGuide · About 8 hours Northern lights hunt with six seats only, photos and video
★ 5.0 (32) from €125
Book now →

Almost every northern lights tour from Tromsø follows the same idea: leave town in the evening, drive to where the sky is clear, wait, watch and photograph. What changes is the vehicle — and with it the group size, the comfort on board, how far the guides can go and what you get on a night when the aurora does not show.

Choose your tour type

Big bus, if…

  • You want the simplest night: a coach, a toilet on board and a fixed plan
  • Price matters more than flexibility
  • You like the idea of coming back for free on another night — the Jeshua coach tour lets you rejoin until its camera captures the aurora
  • You accept a large group at the viewing spot

Minibus, if…

  • You want a guide who follows the clear sky — inland, and on many tours into Finland or Sweden
  • A campfire, hot drinks and a thermal suit are part of the plan
  • A long night does not worry you: most chases return after midnight
  • You want photos of yourself under the lights — nearly every minibus chase includes them

Premium small group, if…

  • You want only a handful of people in the van and at the viewing spot
  • Time with the guide and the camera matters more to you than the price
  • You can commit to your date — the Greenlander tour cannot be cancelled once booked
  • You bring your own warm winter clothing where suits are not included

The chase tours side by side

Vehicle, group size, cancellation — and what each operator offers on a night without lights. Sorted by number of reviews; tap a column header to re-sort.

Photo Tour Type Vehicle & group If you see no lights Cancellation Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Aurora bus tour with camp Northern Lights Safari Tromso Big bus Bus or minibus, toilet on the bus · Large group See the product page ★ 4.6 (8,567) €70 per person Book now →
Minibus chase with pro photos Arctic Breeze AS Minibus Mercedes minibus · Minibus group; reviewers mention two minibuses on some nights No compensation The listing names no compensation for a night without lights; the tour runs in bad weather too. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.8 (6,892) €116 per person Book now →
Sprinter chase with HD photos NLT Guide Company Minibus Mercedes Sprinter · Max. 16 See the product page ★ 4.7 (2,768) €123 per person Book now →
Minibus chase with aurora portrait Amazing Arctic Tours Minibus Minibus with toilet · Minibus group No compensation The guide cannot guarantee the lights, and the listing names no compensation. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.5 (2,327) €67 per person Book now →
Aurora coach tour, free repeats Jeshua As Big bus Coach with toilet · Large group Free repeat If the guide’s professional camera does not capture a recognisable aurora, you can rejoin the tour free of charge as often as your stay allows, subject to availability. Once a qualifying photo is taken, a further tour costs half price. If you cannot rejoin before leaving Tromsø, the operator refunds part of the ticket price. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.6 (2,172) €77 per person Book now →
Unlimited minibus chase Snow-travels Minibus Minibus · Max. 15 No compensation The operator states that the lights cannot be guaranteed and names no compensation. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.9 (1,900) €168 per person Book now →
All-inclusive small-group chase Northern Horizon Minibus Minivan · Max. 15 No compensation The lights cannot be guaranteed and the listing names no compensation for a night without them; if the operator cancels for bad weather you get a full refund. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.8 (1,775) €94 per person Book now →
Aurora big bus chase Chasing Lights Big bus Large bus with toilet · Large group See the product page ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.9 (1,703) €114 per person Book now →
Minibus chase with campfire Spirit in the sky Minibus Minibus · Minibus group Discount on a new tour If you see no lights on the first trip, you get half price on the next available trip. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.8 (1,580) €119 per person Book now →
4WD small-group adventure Greenlander Premium small group 4WD van · Max. 8 See the product page ✕ Non-refundable ★ 5.0 (1,518) €283 per person Book now →
Minibus chase, warm meal Chasing Lights Minibus Minibus · Max. 15 No compensation No refund if the lights do not show. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.9 (1,409) €228 per person Book now →
Unlimited chase across borders Arctic GM Experiences AS Minibus Heated van or minibus · 8–20, depending on the vehicle Refund Full refund if the camera captures no northern lights at any point during the tour. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.5 (1,341) €139 per person Book now →
Minibus hunt with soup The Green Adventure Minibus Minibus · Max. 15 See the product page ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.9 (842) €180 per person Book now →
Sprinter chase with homemade cake Arctic Glow AS Minibus Mercedes Sprinter · Up to 19 No compensation No refund if the lights do not show — the listing says so explicitly. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 4.9 (609) €138 per person Book now →
Six-seat hunt with photos & video AdventuresGuide Premium small group Minivan · Max. 6 No compensation The listing names no compensation for a night without lights. ✓ Free cancellation ★ 5.0 (32) €125 per person Book now →

Prices are pulled live from GetYourGuide and Viator and shown per person; the booking page shows the final amount for your date.

Every chase tour in detail

Every option side by side, with the same facts for each. Open a card for the full tour details.

Northern lights bus tour with camp and photos
Northern Lights Safari Tromso

Northern lights bus tour with camp and photos

  • Duration: About 6 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Bus or minibus, toilet on the bus · Large group
from €70 ★ 4.6 (8,567 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Travel by bus or minibus with a toilet on board
  • A stop at a camp with hot drinks
  • Photos of the night included
  • The most-reviewed northern lights tour on this site

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights minibus adventure with professional photos
Arctic Breeze AS

Northern lights minibus adventure with professional photos

  • Duration: About 6 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Mercedes minibus · Minibus group; reviewers mention two minibuses on some nights
  • If you see no lights: The listing names no compensation for a night without lights; the tour runs in bad weather too.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €116 ★ 4.8 (6,892 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Mercedes minibus instead of a large coach
  • Thermal suit, hot chocolate and campfire
  • Professional photos and portraits of your group
  • Drop-off at your hotel after the chase

Meeting point

Outside The Dock hotel in central Tromsø.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 10

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights chase by Sprinter with HD photos
NLT Guide Company

Northern lights chase by Sprinter with HD photos

  • Duration: About 6 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Mercedes Sprinter · Max. 16
from €123 ★ 4.7 (2,768 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Sprinter minibus with up to 16 guests
  • Thermal suit and HD photos included

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Aurora chase by minibus with a free aurora portrait
Amazing Arctic Tours

Aurora chase by minibus with a free aurora portrait

  • Duration: 6–7 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Minibus with toilet · Minibus group
  • If you see no lights: The guide cannot guarantee the lights, and the listing names no compensation.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €67 ★ 4.5 (2,327 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Free aurora portrait of you under the lights
  • Thermal suit, winter boots, hat and socks provided
  • Campfire with marshmallows
  • Ready to cross into Finland or Sweden

Meeting point

Kirkegata 2, Tromsø.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 5
  • People with limited mobility

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights coach tour with unlimited free repeats
Jeshua As

Northern lights coach tour with unlimited free repeats

  • Duration: About 6 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Coach with toilet · Large group
  • If you see no lights: If the guide’s professional camera does not capture a recognisable aurora, you can rejoin the tour free of charge as often as your stay allows, subject to availability. Once a qualifying photo is taken, a further tour costs half price. If you cannot rejoin before leaving Tromsø, the operator refunds part of the ticket price.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €77 ★ 4.6 (2,172 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Repeat the tour free of charge until the camera captures the aurora
  • Climate-controlled coach with a toilet on board
  • Professional aurora photos, hot drinks and sweet snacks included
  • Live guiding in English and Spanish

Meeting point

Departure from the Radisson Blu Hotel in central Tromsø.

Know before you go

  • The free repeat depends on seats being available on a later night — book the tour early in your stay.
  • The campfire stop depends on the weather.

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights chase — driving until they find them
Snow-travels

Northern lights chase — driving until they find them

  • Duration: 5 hours, or 6–8 hours on the unlimited option
  • Vehicle & group: Minibus · Max. 15
  • If you see no lights: The operator states that the lights cannot be guaranteed and names no compensation.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €168 ★ 4.9 (1,900 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Unlimited chase on the longer option — the guides drive deep into Finland if the sky is clear there
  • Small group of up to 15 in a minibus
  • Thermal suits, hot drinks and professional photos included

Meeting point

Scandic Ishavshotel, Tromsø.

Know before you go

  • Two options with different lengths — check which one you are booking.
  • Toilets may not be available in remote places.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 7

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Small-group northern lights chase, all-inclusive
Northern Horizon

Small-group northern lights chase, all-inclusive

  • Duration: About 7 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Minivan · Max. 15
  • If you see no lights: The lights cannot be guaranteed and the listing names no compensation for a night without them; if the operator cancels for bad weather you get a full refund.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €94 ★ 4.8 (1,775 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Drives into Finland and Sweden if that is where the sky is clear
  • Thermal suit and boots, bonfire and reindeer sausages included
  • Guide plus photographer, with tips for your own camera

Not suitable for

  • Children — adults only
  • Wheelchair users

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights chase by big bus
Chasing Lights

Northern lights chase by big bus

  • Vehicle & group: Large bus with toilet · Large group

✓ Free cancellation

from €114 ★ 4.9 (1,703 reviews)
Book on Viator →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Large bus with a toilet on board
  • The lower-priced way to chase the lights with Chasing Lights

Know before you go

  • No thermal suits on this tour — bring your own warm layers.
  • No food included; bring a snack.

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights minibus tour with campfire
Spirit in the sky

Northern lights minibus tour with campfire

  • Duration: About 8 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Minibus · Minibus group
  • If you see no lights: If you see no lights on the first trip, you get half price on the next available trip.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €119 ★ 4.8 (1,580 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • One of the longer chases, with a campfire stop
  • Half price on the next trip if the first night has no lights
  • Thermal suits and free professional photos
  • Sometimes crosses into Finland — bring your passport

Not suitable for

  • Children under 11
  • People over 70
  • Pregnant women

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Small-group northern lights adventure by Arctic 4WD
Greenlander

Small-group northern lights adventure by Arctic 4WD

  • Vehicle & group: 4WD van · Max. 8

✕ Non-refundable — cannot be cancelled or changed

from €283 ★ 5.0 (1,518 reviews)
Book on Viator →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Four-wheel-drive van with no more than eight guests

Know before you go

  • This booking cannot be cancelled or changed — book only once your dates are fixed.

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights minibus chase, all photos included
Chasing Lights

Northern lights minibus chase, all photos included

  • Vehicle & group: Minibus · Max. 15
  • If you see no lights: No refund if the lights do not show.

✓ Free cancellation

from €228 ★ 4.9 (1,409 reviews)
Book on Viator →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Minibus with up to 15 guests
  • Warm meal and all photos included

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Unlimited northern lights chase across borders
Arctic GM Experiences AS

Unlimited northern lights chase across borders

  • Duration: 6–10 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Heated van or minibus · 8–20, depending on the vehicle
  • If you see no lights: Full refund if the camera captures no northern lights at any point during the tour.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €139 ★ 4.5 (1,341 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • No mileage or time limit — the chase crosses into Finland or Sweden when needed
  • Full refund if the camera captures no aurora
  • Thermal overalls, snacks and hot drinks included
  • Your guide is also your photographer

Know before you go

  • Pickup time varies with the forecast, from late afternoon to evening.
  • Reviewers report returns as late as early morning and few toilet stops on the way.

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Small-group northern lights hunt by minibus
The Green Adventure

Small-group northern lights hunt by minibus

  • Vehicle & group: Minibus · Max. 15

✓ Free cancellation

from €180 ★ 4.9 (842 reviews)
Book on Viator →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Minibus with up to 15 guests
  • Warm soup on the way

Know before you go

  • The included photos carry a watermark; a reviewer reports that high-resolution files cost extra.

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights minibus chase with local guide and photos
Arctic Glow AS

Northern lights minibus chase with local guide and photos

  • Duration: About 6 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Mercedes Sprinter · Up to 19
  • If you see no lights: No refund if the lights do not show — the listing says so explicitly.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €138 ★ 4.9 (609 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Mercedes Sprinter with a local guide and an Arctic driver
  • Hot drinks, Norwegian snacks and homemade cake
  • May drive to Finland or Sweden to find clear skies
  • Thermal suits provided if needed, professional photos included

Meeting point

Kirkegata 2 in central Tromsø, near the Tourist Shop.

Know before you go

  • There is no toilet on board; the tour usually makes one or two restroom stops.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 12

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

Northern lights hunt with six seats only, photos and video
AdventuresGuide

Northern lights hunt with six seats only, photos and video

  • Duration: About 8 hours
  • Vehicle & group: Minivan · Max. 6
  • If you see no lights: The listing names no compensation for a night without lights.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from €125 ★ 5.0 (32 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide →
Full tour details

Highlights

  • No more than six guests
  • One of the longest chases in this comparison
  • Professional photos plus video when the weather allows
  • May cross into Finland — bring your passport

Meeting point

In front of the Circle K petrol station, Fredrik Langes gate, Tromsø.

Know before you go

  • No thermal suits — come in your own warm winter clothing.
  • Bring extra food for a long night.

Not suitable for

  • Under 18
  • Over 65

Content taken from the operator’s product page on the booking platform.

How the three formats differ

The table summarises what the listings say for each format. Individual tours vary — the product cards above carry the details for every one of them.

Big busMinibusPremium small group
Vehicle & group Coach or large bus with a large group Minibus or Mercedes Sprinter, usually up to 15–19 guests; one operator runs vans and minibuses for 8–20 Minivan or 4WD van with six to eight guests
Toilet on board Yes, on all bus tours compared here Mostly not — restroom stops instead; Amazing Arctic Tours lists a toilet in its minibus Not stated in the listings
Thermal suit Not on the Chasing Lights big bus; check the other listings Included on most minibus chases, often with boots Not on the AdventuresGuide tour — bring your own
Food Hot drinks and snacks; nothing on the Chasing Lights big bus Hot drinks almost always, plus campfire food, soup, cake or a warm meal depending on the tour Hot drinks and snacks
Photos Professional photos on the Jeshua coach tour and the Northern Lights Safari tour Included on nearly every chase, often with portraits; The Green Adventure watermarks its files Photos and video on the six-seat AdventuresGuide tour
Finland / Sweden Not part of the bus tours’ description Many chases cross the border when the sky is clearer there AdventuresGuide may cross into Finland
Length & return About six hours From about six hours to all night on the unlimited chases About eight hours on AdventuresGuide
If you see no lights Free repeats on the Jeshua coach tour From a full refund or half price on the next trip to no compensation at all No compensation listed; Greenlander cannot be cancelled

What happens on a night without lights

◈
No operator can promise the aurora. The rules for an empty sky are where the tours differ most.

Read the column in the table above before you book. The main patterns in the listings:

  • Free repeats. The Jeshua coach tour lets you rejoin as often as your stay allows, subject to seats, until the guide’s camera captures a recognisable aurora.
  • Refund. Arctic GM refunds the full price if the camera captures no northern lights at any point during the tour.
  • Discount on a new trip. Spirit in the sky offers half price on the next available trip.
  • No compensation. Arctic Glow and the Chasing Lights minibus say explicitly that there is no refund without lights; several other listings simply name no rule.

Note the wording: the free repeat and the refund both depend on what the camera captures, not on what you saw. That brings us to the next point.

The camera sees more than your eyes

A camera on a tripod collects light for several seconds and records a faint aurora as a clear green arc. To the naked eye, the same light can look like a pale grey or whitish band — easy to mistake for a thin cloud. On an active night the colours and the movement are plain to see without any camera; on a quiet night the aurora may only really appear on the screen. That is why the tour photos are worth having, and why a “camera captured it” rule is easier for an operator to meet than “you saw it”.

Clouds, not the calendar, decide the night

Tromsø lies on the coast, and the coast clouds over quickly. The guides check the forecast and drive to where the sky is clear — that can mean an hour inland, or much further. A big bus usually sticks to a plan; a minibus or a small van can change course and, on many tours, cross into Finland or Sweden. If the tour may leave Norway, bring your passport or ID card.

A long night out

Chases leave in the evening and most of the night is spent on the road and outdoors. The listings give the length of the tour but rarely a fixed return time; the unlimited chases in particular can bring you back in the early morning — reviewers of Arctic GM mention returns as late as six in the morning. On the minibus tours there is usually no toilet on board, only stops on the way. Plan the next day with that in mind, and eat before you go if your tour has no meal.

Dress for hours outside

Most minibus chases hand out thermal suits, some with boots. The Chasing Lights big bus and the six-seat AdventuresGuide tour do not, so wool base layers, a warm jacket, hat, gloves and winter boots are your job there. Standing still at minus temperatures for an hour is colder than it sounds.

FAQ

Is a minibus tour better than a big bus?

Not automatically. A minibus can change course more easily and many cross into Finland or Sweden when the sky is clearer there, with a smaller group and usually a thermal suit. A big bus is simpler, has a toilet on board and is usually cheaper. If flexibility matters most, choose a minibus; if comfort and price matter most, the bus is a sensible choice.

What is a premium small-group tour?

A van with only a handful of guests, more time with the guide and the camera, and a higher price. On this site that means the AdventuresGuide tour with six seats and the Greenlander tour in a four-wheel-drive van. Note that the Greenlander tour cannot be cancelled or changed once booked.

Which tour gives me my money back if there are no lights?

The Arctic GM unlimited chase promises a full refund if the camera captures no northern lights during the tour. The Jeshua coach tour instead lets you come back for free until its camera captures the aurora. Spirit in the sky gives half price on the next trip. Many others offer nothing — check the table before booking.

Do northern lights tours cross into Finland?

Many minibus chases do when the sky is clearer there, and some go into Sweden. The bus tours compared here do not describe border crossings. Bring your passport or ID card on any tour that may leave Norway.

Will I see the colours with my own eyes?

On an active night, yes — green and sometimes pink or violet, moving across the sky. On a quiet night the aurora can look pale grey to the eye while the camera shows it green. The included photos are often the best record of a weaker night.

Prefer a boat or a camp evening?

Aurora cruises and camp dinners are in the full comparison of northern lights tours.

See the comparison ↑