Northern Lights Photography Tour with Tripods & Campfire Tromso
- DurationAbout 6 hours (6–9 hours depending on aurora activity)
- Daily in the aurora season, evening departure
- Group
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Overview
This evening tour from Tromsø is built for people who want to see the Northern Lights and come back with great pictures of them. You travel by minibus in a group of up to 15 with a guide who is also a photographer. Each night the route is chosen from the forecast: a short drive to the coastal islands outside Tromsø, or a longer journey inland towards Finland when the coast is cloudy. Once you find clear skies you set up camp by a fire, wrapped in a thermal suit, with soup, cookies and hot drinks. Tripods, headlamps and coaching help you shoot with your own camera, and the guide’s photos are shared with you after the tour. It ends with drop-off in central Tromsø.
Highlights
- Aurora chase to the clearest skies of the night
- Guide who is also an aurora photographer
- Tripods and headlamps provided, plus camera coaching
- Thermal suits, hand warmers and heated insoles
- Campfire with locally made soup and hot drinks
- Professional photos of your night shared after the tour
- Group of up to 15 by minibus
- Drop-off at your accommodation in central Tromsø
Full Description
Tromsø, the Northern Lights capital
Tromsø lies about 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, right under the auroral oval, which is why so many travellers come here to see the Northern Lights. From late September to early April the nights are long enough for aurora watching, and from late November to mid-January the sun does not rise at all. The city itself is bright, though, so the best aurora tours in Tromsø drive out to darker ground.
Your evening starts at the harbour in the centre at 17:30. The guide checks cloud maps and solar data before departure and decides on the direction for the night. This flexibility is the main reason to choose a guided Northern Lights tour from Tromsø over a self-drive: you go where the sky is clear, not where the map is easiest.
The coastal islands outside the city
On many nights the first choice is the coast west of Tromsø, where large islands such as Kvaløya rise straight from the sea. Here you find frozen beaches, quiet fjords and peaks that make a dramatic foreground for aurora photos, only a short drive from the city lights.
The coast is especially rewarding for photographers: open water reflects the lights, and snowy mountains stand out under a bright moon. Your guide knows sheltered spots where the group can set up tripods safely, away from traffic. If the weather is clear here, you spend more of the night photographing and less of it driving. The sea also keeps the coast a little milder than the inland valleys, which makes long waits outdoors more comfortable.
Inland valleys towards the Finnish border
When clouds sit on the coast, the tour heads inland, where the climate is drier and colder and the skies are often clearer. Some nights this means a long drive through valleys and forests towards the Finnish border, part of the adventure of an aurora chase.
The landscape changes as you go: fjords give way to frozen rivers, pine and birch forest and open snowfields. These quieter places are perfect for wide shots of the whole sky. The tour has no fixed length; it usually lasts 6–9 hours, depending on how far you travel and how active the aurora is that night. Take a light snack and eat well before departure, and remember that on the longest drives you may return to Tromsø well after midnight.
Campfire camp and aurora photography coaching
Once the guide finds promising skies, the group sets up camp. A fire is lit, thermal suits keep you warm, and hand warmers and heated insoles help on very cold nights. Locally made soup, cookies, tea, coffee and hot chocolate are served while you wait for the sky to come alive.
This is a photography tour, so the guide helps you set your own camera for long exposures, focus on the stars and frame the landscape. Tripods are provided for cameras (they do not hold phones). Even if you only want to watch, the guide photographs the group and the sky, and these photos are shared with you after the tour at no extra charge.
Itinerary
- Meet at Tromsø harbourMeet the guide at 17:30 by the tourist shop at the harbour and board the minibus.
- Drive to clear skiesHead to the coastal islands or inland valleys depending on the forecast, from a short drive to a few hours.
- Set up campPut on thermal suits, light the campfire and set up tripods at a dark viewing spot.
- Aurora watching and photographyWatch and photograph the Northern Lights with coaching from the guide, over several hours if the lights are active.
- Soup and hot drinksLocally made soup, cookies and hot drinks by the fire.
- Return to TromsøDrop-off at your accommodation in central Tromsø, usually 6–9 hours after departure.
What's included
- Transport by comfortable minibus
- Aurora guide and photographer
- Instructions on photographing the aurora with your own camera
- Tripods (not for phones) and headlamps
- Thermal suits, hand warmers and heated insoles
- Campfire with locally made soup, cookies, tea, coffee and hot chocolate
- Professional photos of the night in web resolution
- Drop-off at accommodation in central Tromsø
Not included
- Hotel pickup (meet at the harbour)
- Child car seats (required under 120 cm)
- Luggage or large bags
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You need hotel pickup — you meet at the meeting point
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Children under 8 years
- People with mobility impairments
- People under 135 cm (4 ft 4 in)
Meeting point
Meet at 17:30 outside the tourist shop at Tromsø harbour, a white house with blue lettering. Stand on the corner facing the city and your guide will find you there. At the end of the night the minibus drops you at your hotel or apartment in central Tromsø on the main island.
Important information
- Bring a passport or ID card
- Wear warm layers, gloves and warm waterproof boots; thermal suits are provided
- Luggage and large bags are not allowed on board
- The tour usually lasts 6–9 hours and depends on aurora activity
- Bathroom facilities are limited during the night
- A general level of fitness is needed for deep snow and slippery ground
- Cameras often show the aurora more clearly than the naked eye
- Child car seats are required by law for children under 120 cm and are not included
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared group tour by minibus with up to 15 guests.
How long does it take?
Usually 6–9 hours. There is no fixed length: it depends on how far you drive for clear skies and how active the aurora is.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pickup is from the meeting point at Tromsø harbour. At the end of the tour you are dropped at your accommodation in central Tromsø.
What is included?
Minibus transport, a photographer guide, tripods and headlamps, photo coaching, thermal suits, hand warmers, heated insoles, a campfire with soup and hot drinks, and digital photos of the night.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is per person. The booking panel on this page shows the current price.
Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?
It is not suitable for children under 8, for people under 135 cm or for people with mobility impairments, because of deep snow and long hours outdoors.
Do I need a professional camera?
No. Any camera with manual settings works best on a tripod, and the guide shows you how to set it. The tripods do not hold phones, and the guide shares their own photos with you.
What should I bring?
A passport or ID, gloves, warm clothing and warm waterproof boots. Bring spare batteries, as cold drains them quickly.
Will I see the Northern Lights?
No tour can guarantee them. The guide uses forecasts to find clear skies, and sometimes the lights are faint to the eye but strong in photos.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
From late September to early April. Nights around the new moon are darkest; a full moon lights up the landscape for beautiful photos.
What happens in bad weather?
The guide drives to the clearest area within reach, sometimes towards Finland. If conditions are unsafe, we contact you to rebook or arrange a refund.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date on this page and send your booking. Our team confirms it on WhatsApp within minutes.
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