Reviewed · NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASES
The Aurora Tour – VIP trip for northern lights, aurora borealis
The sky does the flirting in Tromsø. This Northern lights VIP tour is built around pickup and drop-off plus a professional aurora photoshoot, so you do not just hope for lights, you plan for them. One consideration, though, is comfort, since the chase can mean long stretches in a vehicle that may feel tight depending on pickup logistics.
I like how this experience turns a cold 7:00 pm start into something you can actually enjoy. You get specialized clothing, a campfire-style stop with hot drinks, and a proper warm feed, including items like hot chocolate and tea, and the chance to drink wine while you wait for the aurora to show. And if you want your photos to look better than your usual nighttime shots, the guides can help with phone shooting, with named guides like Daniel and Martin specifically praised for making that part work.
In This Review
- Key Points to Know Before You Go
- Tromsø at 7:00 pm: how the northern lights evening really starts
- Pickup and private group logistics: VIP in name, plan in reality
- Fjords stop and campfire warmth: what you do while the sky decides
- The aurora hunt: how you go from hoping to watching
- Professional aurora photoshoot: how to make the images actually work
- Food, drinks, and the comfort factor that changes your night
- Duration and pacing: why 4 to 6 hours feels like a lot
- Price and value check: what $1,387.73 per group really buys
- Weather reality and your best strategy for booking
- Who should book this Tromsø northern lights VIP tour
- Should you book this Aurora Borealis VIP tour in Tromsø?
- FAQ
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start in Tromsø?
- How long is the northern lights tour?
- Is pickup and drop-off included?
- Is this tour private?
- How many people are in a group?
- Do you include a professional aurora photoshoot?
- What kind of food and drinks are provided?
- Do you provide specialized clothing?
- Is the tour dependent on good weather?
- Is there a mobile ticket?
- Is the booking refundable if I cancel?
Key Points to Know Before You Go

- Pickup-first design: you get collected and dropped back at your address, which is a huge win in winter darkness
- Specialized warm clothing provided: you spend less time worrying about what to wear, and more time watching the sky
- Professional photoshoot component: you are not only hunting aurora, you are trying to capture it well
- Warm, campfire-style food and drinks: hot drinks, sweet treats, fruit, and even wine help you last through waiting
- Guide support matters: some guides, including Daniel and Martin, are specifically noted for helping with iPhone aurora photos
Tromsø at 7:00 pm: how the northern lights evening really starts

This tour starts at 7:00 pm in Tromsø, and it is a night built around one thing: clear sky long enough to see the aurora borealis. In practice, that means the first “wow” moment might come quickly, or it might take time while the guide drives, checks conditions, and positions your group.
You will feel the rhythm of the evening early. There is a set cadence: get picked up, meet your guide, warm up, then move toward the best viewing window. If you are the type who gets antsy waiting in the dark, plan for it, because aurora watching is not a theme-park ride with predictable timing.
Pickup and private group logistics: VIP in name, plan in reality

On paper, this is a private tour for your group, up to 4 people, with pickup offered and drop-off at your requested address. That private structure is valuable. It typically means less time herding strangers and more flexibility for your guide to respond to conditions.
Now for the reality check. The tour can involve a lot of driving and waiting while you chase the aurora. One caution worth taking seriously is vehicle comfort during pickup and repositioning. If you are sensitive to cramped seating or long rides, you may want to come prepared with layers, a thermos-style mindset (patience), and anything that makes you comfortable in a winter car.
More chases saved for a clear forecast:
Fjords stop and campfire warmth: what you do while the sky decides
The evening’s itinerary includes Tromsø Fjords as the main stop area, and that is where the tour leans into the “comfort while you wait” idea. Instead of freezing for hours with only vending-machine luck, you get a campfire ambiance plus food and drinks.
What “warmth” looks like here is practical:
- Hot drinks like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
- Regional snacks and sweets
- Fruit
- A warm meal component (described as a warm feast)
Some experiences also include wine during the waiting time. That matters more than it sounds. Alcohol is not the point, but it can make the waiting period feel less brutal, especially if you tend to lose patience when temperatures drop.
The tour also provides specialized clothing, which is a big deal in northern Norway. Even if you dress well yourself, extra cold protection helps you stay focused on the sky instead of constantly adjusting gloves, stuffing sleeves, or feeling your fingers go numb.
The aurora hunt: how you go from hoping to watching
A northern lights tour is really two tours in one. There is the actual aurora viewing part, and there is the search strategy part. Your guide’s job is to get you to the right area and time so you are not wasting the whole night staring at a gray sky.
This tour explicitly includes storytelling and context about Tromsø and the Aurora Borealis while you are out there. That is more than trivia. When you understand what affects aurora visibility, like cloud cover and darkness, you relax. You stop treating each minute like a failure and start treating it like part of the process.
The guide also uses the waiting time to help you set up for photos. One of the most praised moments from past evenings has been hands-on coaching for iPhones. If aurora photos are on your wish list, this is the difference between getting a blurry green smudge and capturing something that looks like the night you felt.
Professional aurora photoshoot: how to make the images actually work
This experience includes a professional photoshoot under the dancing lights, plus top-quality photos to take home. That is one of the biggest value drivers in the whole concept.
Why? Because aurora photography is hard. Even when you see the lights with your own eyes, cameras struggle with dark noise, focus, and exposure. A good shoot setup helps you avoid the two common mistakes:
- Holding the phone too still for too short a time, then giving up
- Chasing brightness and washing out the aurora
If your guide helps with phone settings or shooting technique, listen closely. In particular, named guides like Daniel have been praised for working directly with guests’ phones to improve capture.
A practical tip: bring your own fully charged phone and camera gear if you have it, but also be ready to hand over the “control” to the guide for a portion of the session. The whole point of including professional help is that you benefit from their process, not just your own guesswork in the cold.
Where the path branches next in Tromso
- Tromsø: Reindeer Sledding & Feeding with a Sami Guide
★ 4.8 · 6,417 reviews - Tromsø: Arctic Fjord Cruise & Fishing Experience
★ 4.7 · 4,588 reviews - Tromsø: Self-Drive Husky Dog Sledding Adventure
★ 4.9 · 4,162 reviews - Tromsø: Fjords and Sommarøy Islands Tour with Salmon Picnic
★ 4.7 · 3,922 reviews
Food, drinks, and the comfort factor that changes your night
This is not a bare-bones aurora walk. The tour includes a mix of hot drinks, snacks, and a warm meal during the fjords stop. You also get a campfire-style setting, which matters when you are outdoors and the sky is doing its slow-motion magic.
In winter, comfort is not a luxury. It is the difference between enjoying the evening and counting minutes until you can warm up. Hot chocolate, tea, and coffee help you recover between camera attempts. Sweets and fruit keep your energy up so you do not feel sluggish at the exact moment the lights finally appear.
Wine is also mentioned in the experience description. I treat that as optional atmosphere, not a requirement. If you drink, keep it light so you can still move comfortably and help yourself stay steady for photos.
Duration and pacing: why 4 to 6 hours feels like a lot
The tour lists 4 to 6 hours (with the itinerary describing a 6 hour timeframe) and starts at 7:00 pm. That means you are committing to a serious evening. The good part is that you are doing something with structure, not just standing around.
The pacing is usually what keeps you engaged:
- warm pickup and setup
- fjords viewing stop with food and drinks
- aurora hunting and repositioning as conditions allow
- photoshoot time when the lights appear
If the aurora is active, the “hunt” energy feels exciting. If it is slow or clouded over, the warm drinks and meal help you stay positive instead of getting grumpy and quiet.
Price and value check: what $1,387.73 per group really buys
The price is $1,387.73 per group, up to 4 people. That pricing model is important, because your value depends on how many seats your group fills.
Here is the most useful way to think about it:
- If you fill the group with 4 people, the effective cost comes out to roughly $347 per person.
- If you are only 1 or 2 people, your per-person cost jumps a lot, and you should ask yourself if the photoshoot and pickup convenience justify paying for empty seats.
So what are you paying for, beyond the aurora itself?
- Pickup and drop-off, which saves time and stress in winter
- Specialized clothing, reducing what you must pack
- A guided photoshoot with professional photography output
- Warm food and drinks during waiting time
If you already planned to visit Tromsø for aurora and you want a smoother experience with fewer logistics headaches, private often makes sense. If you are on a tight budget, there are cheaper group tours, but you usually give up some combination of pickup convenience, photo support, and comfort.
In other words, this is best viewed as a “paid planning and paid comfort” option for your aurora night.
Weather reality and your best strategy for booking
Northern lights tours depend on conditions, and this one requires good weather for the experience to run as planned. The good news is you are not left holding the bag if the tour cannot go ahead due to poor weather. You are offered a different date or a full refund when it is canceled for that reason.
Your best strategy is to book with at least a little flexibility in your Tromsø schedule. Since the plan can shift, avoid scheduling something important the next morning with zero buffer. Even with good conditions, winter evenings can be unpredictable.
Also, since this is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, double check your dates before you lock it in. This is one case where being extra sure pays off.
Who should book this Tromsø northern lights VIP tour
Book it if you want:
- A private-group aurora night with structure
- Pickup and drop-off so you can focus on the sky
- Photo help, including a professional photoshoot and guidance for phone shooting
- Comfort upgrades like specialized clothing, hot drinks, and a warm meal
Skip it or think twice if:
- You are very sensitive to vehicle comfort and long rides while waiting for aurora
- You do not care about photos, since part of the value is the capture process
- You cannot afford a non-refundable booking if your plans change
This tour also feels well-suited for couples, small families, and birthdays. One named guide, Martin, has been praised for making a birthday feel special while still prioritizing the main goal, seeing the lights.
Should you book this Aurora Borealis VIP tour in Tromsø?
If you want your aurora night to feel managed, warm, and photo-supported, I think this is a strong choice. The blend of pickup, specialized clothing, campfire warmth with food and drinks, and a professional photoshoot gives you more ways to succeed than tours that only promise a viewing spot.
Just go in with clear eyes: aurora nights are weather dependent, and comfort can vary depending on how pickups and driving work on your specific evening. If you are prepared for that, you will enjoy the experience far more.
FAQ
FAQ
What time does the tour start in Tromsø?
The tour starts at 7:00 pm in Tromsø, Norway.
How long is the northern lights tour?
It runs for about 4 to 6 hours, with the itinerary describing a 6 hour duration.
Is pickup and drop-off included?
Yes. Pickup is offered, and you are picked up and dropped off at the designated/requested address.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It is a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.
How many people are in a group?
The price is per group, up to 4 people.
Do you include a professional aurora photoshoot?
Yes. There is a professional photoshoot under the dancing lights, and you take home top-quality photos.
What kind of food and drinks are provided?
You can expect regional snacks, hot drinks, and a warm meal. Wine is included as part of the experience, along with items like hot chocolate, tea, coffee, water, sweets, fruit, and a warm dish.
Do you provide specialized clothing?
Yes. The tour includes specialized clothing to help you stay warm outdoors.
Is the tour dependent on good weather?
Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
Is there a mobile ticket?
Yes. The tour uses a mobile ticket.
Is the booking refundable if I cancel?
No. It is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or request an amendment, the amount paid is not refunded.
Newly marked on the map for Tromso
- Tromsø: Big Bus Fjord Tour with free photos and wildlife★ 4.5 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø: Northern Lights Chase — Small Group Experience★ 4.6 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø City Walking Tour with Sámi History & Mythology★ 5.0 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø: Fjords & Sommarøy Tour with Warm Local Lunch Option★ 5.0 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø: Whale Safari by RIB Boat with Transfer★ 5.0 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø: Midnight Sun Fjord Adventure with Seaside Lunch★ 5.0 · 7 reviews
- Tromsø: Tromsø Snow Dome Entry Ticket★ 2.7 · 7 reviews
- Small Group Snowshoe Hike in Tromso★ 5.0 · 7 reviews
Northern Lights Chases, compared.

Northern Lights Safari with Expert Guides and Photos
Read our review →
Northern Lights Pioneer Tour with Photos Included
Read our review →
Northern Lights Chase with Photos and Bodysuits
Read our review →
Reindeer Sled, Dinner, and Chance of Northern Lights
Read our review →
Northern Lights Chase in a Mercedes Benz with Photos
Read our review →
Northern Lights Tour with Local Stories & Photos
Read our review →
Tromso Aurora Hunt with Bonfire, Soup, Winter Gear & Transfers
Read our review →
Chase Aurora in Minibus and Free Aurora Portrait
Read our review →Browse the lists this tour appears in



