4.5kBook one Tromsø northern lights package holiday instead of stitching together hotels, day tours, and night chases. Sleep under a glass roof in the Lyngen Alps, chase the aurora by snowmobile or expedition ship, and let a single reservation handle the transfer, meals, and guiding. Pick your itinerary and lock it in.
you feed the lavvo fire yourself
The packages on offer differ in one main way: some keep you in Tromsø and chase by vehicle, while others carry you out to wilderness camps, a ship at sea, or a glass-roofed lavvo and let the lights come to you. The chase suits travelers who want the guide to drive to clear skies, and the overnight options suit those who want to stay under them. Pick the pace that fits your trip.
Best if You want a chase that keeps driving until the skies clearTromsø: Northern Lights Chase - We Drive Until We Find Themfrom $282
Best if You want a bonfire, reindeer sausage and a pro photo⭐Tromsø: Small Group | Northern Lights Chase + All-Inclusivefrom $174
Best if You want to sleep at sea and wake to whales and lightsTromsø: Whale Expedition | 99% success rate | All-Inclusivefrom $454
Best if You want to drive a snowmobile and sleep under a glass roofTromsø: Snowmobile Tour & Aurora Crystal Lavvo Stayfrom $612If anyone in your group falls under these limits, book the Crystal Lavvo overnight without the snowmobile leg instead, or ask the tour operator before booking about a chase with a lower age limit.
lavvo cabins fill up months ahead
A glass-roofed lavvo in the Lyngen Alps with meals, a guided walk and the whole night at camp; rated 4.8 by 240 guests.
Ten hours of dog sledding and snowmobiling from Camp Tamok with a two-course dinner and aurora portraits; 4.8 from 174 reviews.
Twenty-four hours aboard a small expedition ship with a private cabin, whale watching and a wake-up call if the lights appear; 4.9 from 58 reviews.
crew wakes you if the lights appear
The lights come first. On this overnight whale expedition you sail out of Tromsø for a full day at sea on a small expedition ship with private cabins, and the crew keeps watch through the night, waking you if the aurora appears over the water.
Whales, fjords and the northern lights share one booking, with all meals, guiding and photography included.
The route runs through the fjords north of the city, past Grøtsundet and Kågsundet, to the whale grounds off Skjervøya. You spend the night in your own en-suite cabin, watch the sky from the deck or the Panorama Lounge, and the ship's photos reach you digitally within 48 hours of returning.
lavvos sleep 4, book 2 to 4 months ahead
Green marks the lowest price. Prices per person.
inland stops run 10-15 degrees colder
Amazing trip and activities. Great food and a great way to meet people.
Beautiful ride to the location in a small minivan, nice driver. We had clear weather. Snowmobile trip was tough, heavy steering with the wind, but stunning views.
Fantastic experience with great, fun, knowledgeable guides who made everything better. A must do in Tromsø.
Such a lovely night! A beautiful aurora show happened that night which made it even more spectacular. But it's physical, you should be in good shape.
Lovely trip after a few nights in the city.
Great experience! Sadly no aurora due to bad weather, but Jose, his team and family made it amazing. Traditional lavvos, room to roam, great coastline views. Recommended for adrenaline plus nature. A must!
Unforgettable experience. The ship sails through a beautiful winter landscape, and at night we watched the northern lights with very few people.
Many reviewers had guides who drove hours, even into Finland, to find a clear gap in the clouds.
Several travelers went out expecting little and came back with orcas right beside the boat and lights overhead.
Many wished the night had lasted longer, wanting more time just watching the lights.
lyngen lavvo nights need you feeding the fire yourself
Choose your travel window first, then lock the overnight stays. Glass-roofed lavvos and arctic domes around Tromsø are limited and fill up months ahead for December through February, so December and February trips need the earliest booking.
Compare the options on the same booking: a snowmobile tour plus Crystal Lavvo stay, a husky and snowmobile night at Camp Tamok, or the whale expedition with a private en-suite cabin on board. Each one bundles transport, meals, gear and the aurora part under one reservation.
Have your passport or ID card ready before checkout, because chases that cross into Finland require it. The snowmobile and lavvo package has a minimum age of 7, the husky and snowmobile night requires 16, and drivers need a valid licence shown to the guide.
Complete the booking and the confirmation arrives by email with the meeting point, the cancellation terms and the operator's messages. Cancellation up to 24 hours in advance gets a full refund on these packages. The whale expedition takes dietary requirements at booking time, so mention vegetarian, vegan or allergy needs there.
Daytime coaches depart from Samuel Arnesens gate 5 at the Prostneset terminal, from Kaigata 2B behind Enter Amalie Hotel, or in front of the Radisson Blu. Be at the Prostneset terminal by 11:30 am for an 11:45 am departure. Expect the lavvo night to begin after dinner.
feed the lavvo fire before you sleep
The lavvo portion of the Aurora Crystal Lavvo experience begins after dinner, and the stay is designed as a nighttime Arctic experience rather than a hotel. Each glass-roofed lavvo sleeps up to four guests, is private to your group, and you keep an eye on the sky from bed.
You add wood to the lavvo's fireplace yourself, and the stove gives strong heat that fades quickly once the fire is not fed. Bathroom facilities are shared: one indoor bathroom and one traditional outhouse. Bring indoor slippers and keep the fire going before you sleep.
The overnight packages bundle transport, meals, and a guided activity in one booking. The Lavvo stay covers expedition meal, dinner, breakfast, snacks, snow suit and winter boots, plus tripods and cross-country skis. Check what each listing includes, because transfers to the meeting point and drinks beyond coffee and tea are often left out of the price.
Plan one main activity per day. A midday husky or reindeer outing runs about four to four and a half hours and leaves the afternoon free, while a six-hour chase can run well past midnight. Booking an exhausting morning excursion right after a long chase leaves you tired on day two.
Every package on this page can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The snowmobile and lavvo stay also cancels only in extreme weather, road closures, or unsafe travel conditions, and if that happens you are offered a full refund or a different date.
The overnight stays, including the whale expedition and the Crystal Lavvo nights, book out weeks or months ahead for December and February. Reserve your lavvo and cabin as soon as your dates are set, and keep the tour's free cancellation window as a safety net if the weather turns.
Under the provided thermal suits, wear a merino or synthetic base layer, never cotton, plus a fleece or wool mid-layer and warm socks. Pack a fleece or down jacket for inland nights, where temperatures can sink to -20°C to -30°C. A phone battery can die within 30 to 45 minutes at -15°C, so carry a power bank in an inside pocket.
On the snowmobile and lavvo package, drivers must be at least 16 and hold a valid car, moped, or motorcycle license, which they show to the guide. Snowmobiles run in pairs, one driver and one passenger, with chances to swap. The package is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, people over 287 lbs, or guests over 80, and children under 7 are not permitted.
Bring a passport or ID card on the whale expedition and the small-group chase. Some routes cross into Finland, where a valid travel document is required even though the border is usually not checked. Wear winter boots for walks on ice and leave large bags behind, since most chases allow no luggage.
Most chases and overnight packages meet at a central downtown spot, often near the Prostneset terminal or the harbourfront, and hotel pickups are not standard for group tours. The Crystal Lavvo trips include round-trip transport from Tromsø, with a short ferry ride across Ullsfjord on the way to the Lyngen Alps basecamp. Arrive at the meeting point a few minutes early.
Once a chase reaches remote viewing locations, there are no built facilities, and you may have to use the outdoors. Some tours stop at gas stations along the drive, and a stop can take twenty minutes or more when other tour vehicles arrive ahead of you. Use the restroom before departure on remote routes.
The whale expedition includes onboard photography delivered digitally within 48 hours of returning to Tromsø. The all-in-one night at Camp Tamok shares professional northern lights portraits within 48 hours after the tour. Bring your own camera or phone for the lavvo nights, since tripods are provided there.
add wood to the fire overnight
The questions travelers ask before booking a northern lights package holiday in Tromsø, answered plainly.
Tromsø2026Three nights is the minimum that turns the weather gamble into a strong probability. Mobile chases can reach an 85 to 90 percent cumulative chance within three nights, and a four to five night stay lets you chase selectively on the evenings with the best forecasts.
The Crystal Lavvo stay at a basecamp in the Lyngen Alps includes round-trip transport from Tromsø, three meals, a snow suit and winter boots, a guided snowshoe walk, and a private cabin with a glass ceiling. You sleep under the sky, add wood to the fireplace yourself, and share one indoor bathroom and an outhouse.
Daytime excursions like dog sledding run in the morning or around midday, typically taking about four hours, which leaves the afternoon free before evening chases of roughly six hours. Plan one main activity per day, and avoid booking a heavy morning excursion right after a long night chase.
December temperatures average between -8.1°C and -3.2°C, and it is one of the busiest months for tours. Operators run excursions throughout the month and equip guests with thermal suits, insulated boots, campfires, and hot drinks. Book ahead, since tours operate at peak season and the lavvo stays are limited.
Wool base layers, an insulating mid-layer, insulated winter boots, a warm hat, and mittens or gloves. Most small-group and minibus chases provide heavy thermal suits and sometimes boots, but large bus tours typically require you to bring your own coat and boots or rent a suit separately.
Tromsø ranks as one of Europe's pricier destinations, and transport and tours are the most expensive elements of a winter trip. Packages often exclude soft drinks and alcohol, plus the cost of getting to the meeting point, so check what is included before booking.
A glass-roof lavvo puts you under dark skies with no late commute back to town, but your viewing chances depend on the sky overhead. A city hotel base with mobile chases gives guides the freedom to drive inland to clear skies, so many travelers pair the two.
Well ahead. Arctic domes and glass igloos around Tromsø are limited and fill up months ahead, while small-group minibus tours sell out 2 to 4 weeks in advance during peak December and January, and 4 to 8 weeks ahead for the Christmas and New Year period.
February and March balance long dark nights, reliable snow, and 7 to 12 hours of daylight for daytime activities. November through January give maximum darkness, but December through March are also the busiest months for guided tours.
Your eyes switch to low-light cells that see only in shades of grey, while camera sensors keep their color sensitivity in the dark. Cameras also use long exposures to build up light, so the aurora often appears far more vivid in a photo than to the naked eye.
lavvo sleeps 4, book 2 months ahead
How often the lights show up, what cloud cover does to a short stay, and how to stack the odds.
Tromsø or Abisko? Compare the two Arctic destinations on cloud cover, dark nights and travel style.
Pick the right month for your break, with season dates, dark hours and daylight for daytime trips.
If you want a small minibus chase instead of a package, this page compares the small-group options.
On a budget? See how the big bus tours work, what they include and how long the night runs.
Prefer the lights over water? Compare catamaran, yacht and fjord cruises with heated cabins.
Want the whole car and your own pace? See the private and luxury chase options in Tromsø.
Worried about a cloudy night? See which tours offer a second chance or retry if the lights stay hidden.
the crew wakes you if the lights show
One booking covers your cabin, meals, and the aurora wake-up call on a 24-hour expedition at sea, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
