Natural phenomena across the globe have a way of captivating us with their raw beauty and power. From the glowing auroras of the Arctic to the thunderous roar of volcanoes, these awe-inspiring events remind us of the Earth’s extraordinary forces. They stir a deep sense of wonder, often evoking feelings of insignificance and reverence. And yet, at the same time the immense power behind these phenomena, whether it’s a lightning storm, a massive tidal wave, or an earthquake, remind us of nature’s unpredictability and sometimes terrifying strength. It’s a delicate balance between admiration and respect, as we witness the Earth’s beauty and the quiet fear of what can happen when its forces are unleashed.
But well, this post on just the Lady Aurora, which is awe-inspiring! And Tromsø, Norway, is one of the best places to witness this breathtaking spectacle. Nestled above the Arctic Circle, this charming city offers the perfect mix of adventure and tranquility, with pristine wilderness and dark skies that create an ideal backdrop for chasing the Northern Lights.
In this post, I try and take you through (hopefully almost) everything you’d need to know to make the most of your northern lights adventure in Tromsø – from the best time to visit to essential tips for maximizing your chances of seeing the lights in all their glory. Let’s dive in!
Why Tromsø?
Tromsø is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Arctic” and is renowned for its high latitude and clear skies, making it an ideal spot for northern lights viewing. The city is nestled between dramatic mountains and the fjords, which creates the perfect backdrop for this mesmerizing natural phenomenon. What makes Tromsø particularly special is its accessibility. Despite being in the Arctic, the city is easy to reach with regular flights from Oslo and other European cities, and it has all the modern amenities you could need while you’re on your aurora chase.
Best Time to See the Northern Lights
Tromsø is situated in the aurora zone, meaning you can see the northern lights here from late September to early April, with the peak season falling between October and March. During this period, the city experiences long, dark nights, giving ample opportunity to catch the northern lights.
However, the best chances of seeing the aurora come during the winter months, especially from November to February, when the nights are the longest and the skies darkest. While you can spot the auroras on any clear night, the phenomenon is most visible between 6 pm and 1 am. For an added bonus, visit Tromsø during the new moon phase to reduce light pollution for even better visibility.
Let’s go through some Important Tips
1. Plan enough number of days in Tromsø
Just 2 nights in Tromsø is not enough! Spend at least 4 to 5 nights to maximise your chances. Remember the Northern Lights depend on multiple factors and are not guaranteed, but if you plan for a longer stay, you have multiple nights to try out your luck. Plus, you can enjoy all the Arctic experiences without feeling rushed!
2. Book your tour for the first night
You plan to reach Tromsø, and chill out for a couple of days and do other sightseeing before heading out for the chase – NO!
Book a trip on the very first night itself, so in case you end up not viewing the lights, you can still book last minute tours for the upcoming nights. Most guided tours offer a discount on a rebooking if you don’t get to see the northern lights on your first tour.
3. Do combo tours
Combo tours basically means combining a nighttime activity like a reindeer farm or husky farm visit with the chance to see the aurora. There are also multiple options of Aurora dinner cruise which will take you far out into the fjords.
But why do I recommend combo tours – coz this way you head out into the wilderness, far away from city limits which maximises your chances of viewing the lights. But in case Lady Aurora isn’t in the mood to make an appearance, you’ve still had a very Norwegian experience to return home with instead of sulking sad faces seated in a packed bus. Check out the below options to understand better what I mean!
Aurora Dinner Cruise
Experience the Sami life with reindeer feeding and Northern Lights
4. Don’t self drive
Unless you’re a native of the Nordics. One could argue on self-driving as it offers better chances of exploration. Well, Tromsø receives heavy snowfall during the season. While the roads are cleared out, the sides are still multiple layers of fresh snow and old black ice. It’s impossible to figure out how deep it goes or how slippery it is! Instead, do guided tours, it’s safe, you get to meet new people and you can happily sleep off during the return journey instead of having to drive.
Plus, local guides are experts at reading the aurora forecast and know the best spots way outside city limits, to get the most spectacular views.
5. Join Guided Tours
There are so many options to choose from and Get Your Guide is your best friend for this. Guided bus tours, photography tours, snowmobile to more personalised experiences with camping and hot home cooked Norwegian dinner served at the site, there are a plethora of options to choose from and it’s all out there.
Lookout for the options where the guides provide thermal suits as that is very helpful.
And added bonus of joining guided tours, the guides know the best tricks to capture the best photographs.
Below are the two guided tours we chose:
Northern Lights Big Bus Chase Tour with Norwegian Travel – A budget tour but definitely a fantastic first experience with guides Bana and Ana (team Banana). A great first experience made complete with bonfire, hot chocolate and marshmallows
Northern Lights Adventure with Local Guide and Transportation Tour with Rise Adventures (Instagram ID – rise.adventures) –
This one was a winner. In spite of Lady Aurora being quite moody that night, in terms of a very faint light after a very long wait, it was a great experience. The guide, Jørgen, drove us to Ringvassøya, and then we walked through knee deep snow to setup camp right next to a fjord (Skogsfjord). Bonfire, hot home cooked Norwegian food and beverages, lots of friendly banter and even political discussions followed by faint sightings of the Aurora. But we returned happy and rejuvenated!
6. Be Flexible and Patient
The northern lights are unpredictable, so one of the most important tips is to stay flexible with your plans. Cloud cover and weather conditions can affect visibility, so it’s essential to keep an eye on the aurora forecasts. Check apps or websites dedicated to northern lights predictions, like AuroraWatch or Yr.no, to give yourself the best chance of success.
7. Dress up in layers
Tromsø can get extremely cold, especially at night. Freezing is an understatement really! Wear multiple layers including thermals which should be the first one hugging your body tight. Invest in a good winter jacket and cap, gloves, thermal socks (Uniqlo has really good ones), insulated boots. It’s ok to overdress and yes you will look like a goofball, but that’s so much better than getting caught in the cold while waiting for the aurora to make its appearance. And you can really enjoy better when you’re warm.
8. Bring a good camera and tripod
The northern lights are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you’ll want to capture the moment. And a good camera which allows manual settings is a blessing. Phone cameras work fine but I must I was quite jealous of the pictures taken on the DSLR (I don’t have one 🙁). Carry a tripod if possible as it really helps with long-exposure shots. Set your camera to a high ISO and a slow shutter speed to get the most vibrant shots of the aurora. And the guides will help you out with the settings and even take pictures for you, so chill 😎 But here are some settings to keep in mind.
DSLR
- Shutter – 2 to 5 secs
- Wide angle lens 8 to 24 mm, f/2 to f/1.4
- ISO – 800 to 1600 and more if needed
- Timer – 5 secs
- Use a tripod
Phone camera
- Use night mode
- Exposure – 10 secs
- Timer – 3 secs
- Use a tripod
But remember:
- To capture the moments through your eyes and into your heart and soul, rather than just through a camera lens!
- In reality, Auroras look softer and a lot less intense. It’s because of the long exposure used in cameras that they look brighter than to the naked eye.
- Most Aurora pictures seen on social media are edited.
9. Head Outside the City
If you’re doing guided tours, you wouldn’t need to worry about choosing a spot. But if not then remember that while Tromsø is fantastic for viewing the aurora, getting away from the city’s lights is ideal. You can choose to venture out to quieter, darker spots such as Fjellheisen, Telegrafbukta, Prestvannet or go further to Kvaløya Island, the Lyngen Alps, or nearby villages of Ersfjord or Sommarøy for a more magical and isolated experience. It’s also possible to drive till Kilpisharvi in Finland and a lot of guided tours actually drive all the way till Finland to find the perfect spot on cloudy nights in and around Tromso.
You could even book an AirBnB in these remote places and stay put!
Whether you’re a seasoned aurora chaser or a first-time traveler hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, Tromsø is the ultimate destination for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
10. Aurora Forecast apps
There are many Aurora forecast apps out there on the internet and it’s very confusing. The one which guides use is Space Weather Live. Spend some time learning about how to understand the forecasts and use this to plan your Northern Lights chase trips.
Other very famous apps are :
Lookout for these major factors when checking forecasts:
- KP Index: This indicates the geomagnetic activity on a global scale. For a good view of Northern Lights in Tromsø, a KP Index of 2 is enough as it’s directly under the auroral oval.
- Solar Wind: This determines how much energy enters the Earth’s atmosphere. The more negative the value, the stronger the lights.
- Some apps show the Viewing Probability and even if that’s a 25%, you’re good!
So, that’s all the Knowledge Transfer from your brown girl! I wish for each and every one out there chasing the Aurora to return home happy and having witnessed the awesomeness of Her Majesty.
Read more about my experience witnessing the Aurora Borealis in this exclusive blog post below:
Happy Reading and Travelling!
Discover more from thatbrowngirlinblackboots
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
