Northern Lights Husky Camp Visit with Traditional Dinner Tromso

Leaving Tromso for the Arctic countryside

Your evening starts at Sjogata 7 in central Tromso, a few steps from the harbour. Tromso, at almost 70 degrees north, is famous as the Gateway to the Arctic and as one of the most reliable places in the world to see the aurora, because it lies right under the auroral oval and has long, dark winter nights.

From the meeting point you travel out of the city, leaving the street lights behind as the road follows the fjords into the snowy countryside. Your English-speaking guide shares facts about the Arctic winter, the polar night that lasts from late November to mid-January, and what makes the northern lights appear. On arrival at the camp you are given a warm thermal suit and winter boots, so even on very cold nights you can stay outside comfortably.

The husky camp, the dogs and the puppies

The camp keeps a large team of Alaskan huskies, the hardworking sled dogs bred for speed, endurance and a love of running in the snow. Unlike the fluffy Siberian huskies of pictures, they are lean, athletic and incredibly friendly, and most of them love attention from visitors. Dog sledding has a long tradition in northern Norway, where teams once carried mail and supplies across the winter landscape.

During your visit you can walk among the dogs, stroke them, take photos and, when there are litters, cuddle the puppies. The handlers tell you how the dogs are trained, how teams are put together and how they live and rest between runs. A husky visit in Tromso like this one is perfect if you love animals but prefer not to drive a sled yourself; dog sledding is not part of this evening.

Campfire and a traditional bacalao dinner

After meeting the dogs, you gather around a crackling campfire under the open sky. Dinner is a warm portion of bacalao, a much-loved Norwegian dish made with stockfish, cod dried in the cold northern wind, cooked slowly in a rich tomato sauce. The recipe reflects centuries of trade between northern Norway and southern Europe, where dried cod became a staple.

To finish, you enjoy hot coffee and a slice of freshly baked chocolate cake, the perfect comfort in the Arctic cold. The fire is also where conversation flows, as your guide answers questions about life in the far north, the dogs and the aurora. Please tell us about any dietary requirements when you book so we can check them with the camp before your visit.

Northern lights over the camp

The camp lies away from the light pollution of Tromso, with wide open views of the sky in several directions, which makes it a great place to watch for the northern lights. The season in Tromso runs from about September to early April, and the best time to see the aurora is on clear, dark nights, often between 20:00 and midnight.

When the lights appear, you may see anything from a faint green glow on the horizon to bright curtains moving across the sky. Your guide helps you spot them and shares tips for photographing the aurora with a phone or camera. This is a stationary watch from the camp rather than a northern lights chase by vehicle, so sightings depend on local weather and cannot be guaranteed. Transport returns you to central Tromso about 4 hours after departure.