The aurora belt · NORTHERN LIGHTS DINNER TOURS
A hot meal is the difference between waiting two hours and waiting five. The 15 below serve dinner in a lavvu, a camp or a boat cabin while the guide watches the sky, each priced with the menu and the shelter described.
Leave Reykjavik by bus with guides such as Barbara, Darren, Kristi, or Pierre, then follow the weather toward darker skies. Expect a four-hour search with several outdoor stops, aurora facts, photo help, and hot cocoa. If the lights stay hidden, you can join one free retry tour.
“Mesmerising! Very informative tour guide. We were very lucky to see such a brilliant show of the lights.”
From Tromsø, you’ll visit a Sami reindeer camp, feed a herd of about 300 animals, ride a nighttime sled, and eat a three-course dinner in a traditional gamme. Guides such as Anna, Luona, and Thea share Sami stories, beliefs, and joik songs before you step outside to watch for the aurora.
“really great experience, well organised, never any down time between activities, highlight was definitely feeding the reindeer, closely followed by the Sami hosts, very knowledgeable and friendly”
Leave Reykjavík by minibus with up to 19 people and chase clear skies using aurora and weather forecasts. Guides such as Baldvin, Michaela, Devin, and Simon combine folklore, science, photography, hot chocolate, Icelandic pastries, and wool blankets. Sightings are not guaranteed, but an unsuccessful tour can be repeated free when space allows.
“Our guide Devin was knowledgeable, entertaining and went above and beyond to ensure we had an opportunity to view the northern lights! He provided historical and cultural background about Iceland as well as scientific information concerning the Aurora as he drove us all over, north of Reykjavik, stopping several times at different spots, each time setting up his camera to try to find them. Finally, at around 1 AM, he said that it didn't look promising, and was time to turn back. We were advised to immediately email the tour company to reschedule a second trip, per the contract. As we drove back to Reykjavik, though, we couldn't help notice…”
Leave Reykjavik by bus with guides such as Darren, Simon, Eva, or Barbara, then chase clear skies around Thingvellir and nearby countryside. Expect about four hours, several possible stops, hot chocolate when conditions allow, and one free return trip if the aurora stays hidden.
“Although I didn’t get to see a lot of northern lights, the experience was amazing and the guide was lovely and very entertaining.”
Meet outside Magic Ice Bar Tromsø for a 6 to 9 hour aurora chase with a small group of up to 15. Your guide may drive into Finland for clearer skies, then provide thermal suits, campfire sausages, hot drinks, tripod help, and portrait photos.
“To be honest I though it was imposible to see auroras last night, but it was incredible. Im absolutely in love (and jelous) with the energy of Max. He was so nice with us, told us a lot of info about the auroras and he found a place magical together with Dominic (our talented driver ✨). I travelled alone and both of them were good not only in auroras, but also talkative and making people feel integrated. It was perfect, thank you so much!!!!”
Travel 30 minutes from Tromsø to Tromsø Villmarkssenter, where you can meet Alaskan huskies and puppies, warm up in a Sami lavvo, eat bacalao, and watch the sky for the Northern Lights. Guides such as Zoe, Bram, and Linda have led informative, friendly evenings.
“meeting the huskies was amazing!! the food was really good too, we also saw the northern lights at their best!”
Sail from central Tromsø at 8 p.m. with Polar Adventures, searching the fjords and Arctic sea for the Aurora Borealis. Your English-speaking crew, including guides such as Ken, Holly, Thomas, and Hans, helps with camera settings while you warm up with hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and indoor seating.
“Real 10 out of 10. super friendly guides. The atmosphere was cosy and happy.”
Meet NordicUnique Travels in central Rovaniemi for a three-hour evening search for the Aurora. Your English-speaking guide, such as Matthias, Oscar, or Gigi, takes you to a dark forest or lakeside site, serves salmon soup, sausages, Lappish bread, and blueberry tea, and helps with aurora photography.
“guide can be a little more informative otherwise the tour was fun. the camp fire was really good and keep u warm. the food they served was great. definitely recommend it. thank God I didn't cancel it and I experience it at Kiruna. but this was truly a different experience. you don't have to go to many spots to see the aurrora lights only one spot outside the campfire 🔥”
Leave central Tromsø with an English-speaking guide such as Kristian, Nick, or Spiros and chase clear skies toward Norway or Finland. Expect an 8 to 10-hour night with thermal suits, campfire sausages, marshmallows, hot drinks, and free aurora photos.
“Great Tour. The very nice guides cannot switch on the northern light, but they make all what its possible to drive you to a place where you have clear skys and you can sea the northern lights when they appear. I can highly recommend this tour and would do it again.”
You’ll ride for about two hours on a shared snowmobile through dark Arctic forests and across open winter scenery, with a campfire stop for hot berry juice and cookies. English-speaking guides such as Arto, Tamam, Lauri, and Selina have been praised for clear instruction and careful support. A class B license is required to drive.
“This activity was great, there was a lot of people but it was very well organised with around 5 guides in total co-ordinating the trip. The forest is absolutely stunning covered in snow and travelling through it at night time is beautiful. I would recommend this trip to others.”
Join a small group of up to 15 for a 6 to 8 hour Aurora chase from Tromsø. Guides such as Martin, Kirsten, Luis, and David adjust the route for clear skies, then set up a campfire with hot food, drinks, and photos. You may travel as far as Finland.
“Davis was an excellent guide. His passion and enthusiasm was great! We were blessed with an amazing Northern lights show. It was spectacular. The reindeer soup was good. We had plenty of tea and hot chocolate and cookies. This was a highlight of our trip.”
Travel by comfortable bus from Tromsø to a candle-lit Sami camp, where you feed a herd of around 300 reindeer, meet herders, and eat salmon, bidos, and chocolate cake. Guides such as Inga, Ulle, Isat, and Thor share Sami stories and perform joik. Aurora sightings are possible but never promised.
“After a busy day, this was the perfect trip to unwind and feed some reindeer. We were welcomed by the Northern Lights and had a brief introduction along with safety tips before seeing the reindeer. It was magical feeding the reindeer until the lights. There were many hot drinks available whilst eating salmon salad, bidos and chocolate cake in a warm hut. We finished the trip with a wonderful talk around a fire where we learnt about Sami people, the reindeer, and joined in on Sami joik. It was an absolutely wonderful time!”
Leave Reykjavik’s city lights behind and search for the Aurora Borealis with an English-speaking guide such as Atli or Rachel. Expect a warm coach, several possible photo stops, practical camera tips, hot chocolate, and a free retry or reschedule when conditions prevent a sighting.
“Beautiful aurora❤️ We had a wonderful time taking many photos while the shape changes. Actually the activity of aurora was low on the day we saw it and at times it was cloudy. But we still saw it because the guide found a good place with good timing. We had a very good experience. It contrasted with what I saw at Rovaniemi, where there were high activities of aurora when I went there. They were just different, which increases my experience and knowledge. The only thing is that we went to 3 spots, and the last 2 we didn't see anything. We wanna return and got to bed earlier as…”
Settle into a heated, panoramic catamaran for a three-hour evening around Tromsø. You’ll enjoy a three-course Arctic meal, hear local stories in English, and step outside when the sky clears. Seafood is central, with a vegetarian option available if requested at least 24 hours ahead.
“The crew was great and very supportive. They informed us as soon as they noticed some activities in the sky and helped with the camera settings when needed, so that we could see the lights on the way back to Tromsø. One thing, some of the guests were really annoying as they focused on drinking and became louder and louder. Therefore, it was hard to understand eachother or the crew‘s instructuctions or announcements. Nevertheless, great experience !”
Leave Reykjavik with an English-speaking guide such as Baldvin, Devin, or Simon, then follow the clearest skies in a minibus of up to 19 people. You’ll stop at dark viewing spots, learn how auroras form, warm up with cocoa and kleina, and receive free professional photos if the lights appear.
“Incredible night seeing the best solar rays hitting the atmosphere the sun had to give that night. Einar the guide is definitely an aurora borealis enthusiast and he drove to the darkest places away from the city lights. It was always safe and comfortable in the bus. He managed to provide his own pastries and home produced hot chocolate for the people on the tour. The only time we didn’t see the northern lights is when we went through the tunnel in the mountain. Safe and comfortable tour. I recommend for sure. Not sure how Einar would be with the aurora australis though.. there are no Icelandic elves down that…”
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