Tromsø is 300km north of the Arctic Circle in Norway. It’s additional north than Iceland, Finland and Sweden, making it among the finest locations on the planet to see the Northern Lights.
I’ve heard tales from so many associates about their unsuccessful searches for the Northern Lights, so I nervously deliberate this journey to Tromsø anticipating the worst however hoping for the very best. Happily, I used to be one of many fortunate ones!
In case you are planning a winter journey to Norway for these elusive however wondrous Northern Lights, then go into it realizing that you just could be unfortunate. However even if you’re, the Tromsø area is gorgeous and has rather more to supply past the lights too.
Northern Lights in Tromsø
When are you able to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
The very best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø is between October and March and normally after 6PM till the early hours when it’s darkest. Northern Lights excursions in Tromsø are bookable from fifteenth of September till fifteenth of April, so this can be a good indicator of when a sighting is feasible.
What are the probabilities of seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
This isn’t simple to reply as a result of there’s by no means a assure of seeing the aurora borealis. Nevertheless, Tromsø is among the finest areas on the planet on account of being up to now north and sometimes having secure climate circumstances. In February 2019, our information mentioned the climate had been much less secure which means solely round 50% of individuals caught a glimpse of the lights.
What’s most necessary is to go on a transparent, darkish night time and get away from mild air pollution. Clouds massively intervene with seeing the auroras and excessive winds additionally make it troublesome. Even on the clearest of nights although, you could possibly be unfortunate if the lights aren’t lively.
How can I verify the aurora forecast for Tromsø?
It’s not very subtle, however I checked the Aurora Forecast for Norway to get an thought of the probabilities every day. It’s very troublesome to foretell the climate forward of time, so regulate it throughout your keep. The tour guides use numerous apps for checking however they’re by no means absolutely dependable and are fairly difficult to grasp.
The place are you able to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø?
While I do know Tromsø locals would have the very best aurora-spotting areas up their sleeves, if you happen to’re an beginner like me and also you aren’t assured renting a automotive and driving on the icy roads, then there are two good choices for seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø: becoming a member of a Northern Lights tour and going up the Fjellheisen cable automotive.
To maximise my probabilities, I booked a Northern Lights tour and did a DIY journey up the cable automotive. I used to be extremely fortunate to see lights on each nights and liked each choices. Should you’re on a funds, it’s price attempting to catch a sighting from the cable automotive first. That mentioned, a Northern Lights tour is an expertise in itself and the guides are extraordinarily expert find the very best areas on the night time.
Picture by Maximilian Wernerson
My Northern Lights Tour in Tromsø
Chasing the Northern Lights was a spectacular expertise. At 6PM, we jumped in a van with our information Max from the Northern Horizon group to start out our search. It was a small group tour with a minibus of 8 individuals.
Max drove us out to a secluded coastal half on one other island close by the place he predicted winds could be decrease and the skies clearer. Relying on the climate circumstances, guides will drive out so far as they should go to maximise the probabilities of seeing the lights.
While we solely needed to drive out for round 45 minutes, Max mentioned he usually chases lights throughout the border into Finland or Sweden.
Picture by Maximilian Wernerson
We suited up within the outrageously attractive thermal fits (see pics) and Max arrange a campfire. We felt like actual explorers! We roasted (veggie) sausages on the flames and wrapped them in lefse, a conventional Norwegian bread like a tortilla produced from potato. Max defined that with the intention to see the Northern Lights, you first want to have the ability to see the celebs. If you’ll find a spot the place the sky is evident and the celebs are shining, you then’ve obtained an opportunity of seeing the lights.
Then, we waited. When looking for Northern Lights, you want endurance (that, and to have the ability to face up to the chilly). You’ll usually want to attend for hours earlier than seeing a glimmer of sunshine. The -15°c was biting, regardless of being clad in layers of cumbersome thermals and snow gear. I pulled my woolly hat as far down over my ears as it could go and seemed to the sky.
By 8PM, we obtained fortunate and noticed some very faint, wispy lights. They started to stretch throughout the sky slowly. Max caught a number of pics for us (his images abilities are insane!) What you see within the images is about 25x extra vibrant than what our bare eye may see. The deep inexperienced color to us seemed extra like a wispy white and the lights have been truly extraordinarily faint. It’s frequent that lights seem extra white to the bare eye than they do on digital camera.
Picture by Maximilian Wernerson
Picture by Maximilian Wernerson
Picture by Maximilian Wernerson
The lights began to fade and we gathered across the campfire as soon as once more. A lot of our group have been hopeful that the lights would possibly make an look once more and we waited it out for one more few hours. Max saved us repeatedly up to date, checking in on the Northern Lights prediction apps and together with his associates and colleagues who have been additionally out on the chase. That was it for our night time, however I used to be elated that we’d seen even the faintest of lights.
What to Count on on a Northern Lights Small Group Tour:
- An skilled information who is aware of the entire area and tries their damnedest to get you a glimpse of the lights. Guides drive you to the situation they deem to have the very best likelihood of the Northern Lights being seen. Our information Max was so expert and so passionate that it actually made the expertise for us.
- Thermal fits! I cannot understate the significance of those. It’s beneath freezing on the market and with the intention to spot the lights you’ll be out within the chilly for lengthy intervals of time. The thermal fits are invaluable and normally solely given on small group excursions.
- Campfire and snacks. Campfire, scorching chocolate and reindeer (or veggie) sausages have been all a part of the expertise for us. They assist heat you up too.
- Images. If the Northern Lights do seem, capturing them on digital camera isn’t simple. The guides on these excursions are skilled at Northern Lights images, and if you happen to’re a eager photographer they’ll assist you get the appropriate settings too. Make sure to verify if images are included as a part of your tour, as some excursions whack a further price ticket on for the images after. With Northern Horizon, images are included.
- Choose-up and drop-off at your lodge or Airbnb. Northern Lights chasing begins round 6PM and may go onto the early hours of the morning, generally as late as 4AM.
- Should you’re out in a minibus after which within the wilderness, this implies there aren’t any bathrooms aside from the skin. It was so chilly that the considered taking the thermal go well with off, not to mention attempting to get out of all my layers was not interesting. I made a decision to not drink an excessive amount of earlier than going out so I didn’t must wee!
Ebook a Northern Lights Small Group Tour:
Our Northern Lights tour was this tour with Northern Horizon and I couldn’t advocate them extra. The tour will be booked instantly on the Northern Horizon web site or on Get Your Information.
Northern Horizon additionally present a full refund for bookings cancelled up till 48 hours previous to tour begin and can reschedule or refund any journeys that can’t go forward on account of unhealthy climate.
Northern Lights from the Fjellheisen Cable Automotive in Tromsø
The following day the climate was so clear, that we tried for a second time to see the Northern Lights. This time we caught the cable automotive up the mountain to the Tromsø viewpoint (210 NOK return). The day we went up was so stunning that the sky had seemed like a continuous dawn all day. We headed up early at 2:30PM so we may see the sundown over Tromsø (the solar units at round 3PM).
The highest of the cable automotive is among the finest locations in Tromsø to go aurora searching. There’s a restaurant on the high of the cable automotive the place you’ll be able to hold heat and toasty. There are attractive views out over town, so it’s definitely worth the journey up even if you happen to don’t see the lights (dinner and a glass of wine, sure please – costs are the identical as within the metropolis).
We waited within the cafe for five hours, hopping outdoors each half hour hopeful to see one thing and frequently checking the celebs have been there. Finally at 8PM, some lights began to look!
The faint inexperienced beams stretched throughout the sky, proper overhead. After quarter-hour of some low-level exercise, whoops and cheers began coming from the mountain aspect behind the constructing. We ran by the hut to the opposite aspect, out into the deep snow.
Right here the aurora was getting actually robust. On the base, it was twirling pink and white, releasing inexperienced beams skidding throughout the sky. As we waited it began shifting, as if vibrating (many individuals name it ‘dancing’). The lights pulsated all the way in which throughout the sky overhead in green-ish, white hues.
It was mesmerising and surreal. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it! After one other quarter-hour or so, the lights calmed down once more and darkish night time set in once more.
Norway Winter Equipment Record
You can be freezing your butt off out right here in Norway, so come ready. The way you costume in Norway throughout winter is so necessary. Temperatures within the winter months can go as little as -25°c. It’s particularly chilly if you’re out on a northern lights tour. The excursions occur at night time and drive out into rural areas the place there’s deep snow and little shelter from the wind. Should you’re not ready for the chilly, your Northern Lights expertise actually gained’t be very enjoyable.
How one can Gown in Norway:
- Put on layers. You’ll be a lot hotter if you happen to layer your clothes. A number of skinny layers of clothes will hold you hotter than one thick layer.
- Insulators. Locals advocate merino wool base layers. Helly Hansen’s insulating jacket above was developed with the Swedish Ski Workforce for optimum heat and minimal bulk.
- Snow boots. Be sure you have an honest pair of research snow boots which are heat and waterproof. They need to be a dimension larger than your standard shoe dimension as you’ll want to slot in two pairs of socks.
- Thermal socks. Two pairs of thermal socks will do the trick. Be sure there’s house inside your boots for them with out crushing your toes.
- Foot heaters. Slip a pair of foot heaters in your sneakers earlier than you set out on a northern lights chase. These little secret toes heaters make a large distinction if you’re standing out within the snow for therefore lengthy!
Me getting kitted up in my thermals and Helly Hansen gear
Are you going to see the Northern Lights?
Ask any questions on seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø within the feedback and I’ll do my finest to reply. Should you’re heading on a visit, or if you happen to’ve simply been, let me know the way it goes. I’d like to listen to about your experiences — good and unhealthy!
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Disclaimer: I used to be generously hosted by the Northern Horizon group, however my critiques are sincere and I’d 100% advocate them. I used to be additionally gifted the Lifaloft Hybrid Insulator by Helly Hansen and I used to be rattling glad to be carrying it!