Northern Lights Big Bus Chase with Free Photos

The most useful thing about this Northern Lights bus chase is its willingness to keep moving. If clouds cover Tromsø, your guides may drive toward the coast, inland valleys, or even across the Finnish border in search of clearer skies. That can mean a long night, but it gives you a better chance than staying beside the city.

I like two things in particular: the guides work hard to keep the group outside and engaged, and the free professional photos give you a chance to enjoy the aurora without spending the whole night behind a camera. Campfires, hot drinks, biscuits, and marshmallows also make the waiting easier.

The tradeoff is simple: this is a large bus tour, with up to 55 people, and a successful chase can run until 3 a.m. The Northern Lights are never guaranteed. You may spend hours under clouds, even with a determined guide and a long drive.

Key points to know before booking

• The route can reach Finland: Guides have driven as far as the Finnish border and beyond the usual Tromsø area when cloud cover made local viewing poor.
• Free photos are included: Guides such as Petra, Georgi, Iris, and Angel have taken memorable aurora portraits, though photo delivery and quality may vary.
• Expect a very late return: The advertised duration is about 7 to 9 hours, but some outings have returned after 3 a.m.
• Campfire comforts soften the wait: Hot drinks, snacks, biscuits, marshmallows, and fires may be part of the evening.
• The big bus keeps the price down: At $118.77 per person, this is cheaper than many small-group chases, but you give up space and intimacy.
• Dress for Arctic weather: Warm clothing is not included, and a tripod is not supplied. Bring proper layers and camera support if you need it.

Chasing clear skies from Tromsø

The tour begins outside Fiskekompaniet on Killengreens gate in central Tromsø. You meet the guides there, board the bus, and receive an idea of the night’s plan. That plan can change quickly because clouds, snowfall, and aurora forecasts matter more than a fixed sightseeing schedule.

The bus is the main tool of the evening. Instead of waiting in Tromsø for the sky to improve, the driver can carry you toward areas with better conditions. On difficult nights, the group has gone north along the Norwegian coast, driven inland, or continued toward Finland. One outing spent about three hours on the road before reaching clearer skies.

That long drive is both the strength and the weakness of the experience. It can rescue an otherwise cloudy night, but it also means many hours seated on a coach. You should book this with the mindset of a night chase, not a quick photo stop.

The route has no series of formal attractions. The scenery comes through the bus windows: dark fjords, snowy roads, open Arctic country, and small settlements fading into the night. Much of it will be hard to see in the darkness, but the travel itself helps you understand the scale of northern Norway.

What happens at the viewing stops

The guides stop when forecasts, cloud gaps, or visible aurora suggest a better chance. Sometimes you may leave the bus, check the sky, and move on after a short wait. Other times, the first stop becomes the final base because the lights appear strongly overhead.

One group saw an excellent display within an hour and a half of leaving Tromsø and stayed in the same place for nearly two hours. Another group made several stops in poor weather before a green swirl finally appeared near midnight. These different outcomes explain the value of a flexible route.

You may see the aurora as a faint smudge, a green arc, or a moving ribbon that fills the sky. The guides cannot control its strength, and a camera may show brighter color than your eyes. Still, several outings have produced strong displays visible to the naked eye, including long dances of green light.

Your guides also help you know where to look. They may call everyone outside when the aurora begins, point out changes in the sky, and stop the bus when a better display appears. Guides named Iris, Georgi, Angel, Petra, Tomas, Vera, Jeremias, Jere, Jessica, and others have been praised for staying positive during long waits and poor conditions.

The guide quality is one of the tour’s best features. Iris is described as cheerful and encouraging, while Angel kept searching despite clouds and low aurora activity. Petra helped with camera settings and posing, and Tomas was singled out for treating the group with unusual care. Personalities vary, of course, but the operation appears to depend heavily on guides who care about the result.

Campfires, hot drinks, and the Arctic wait

Aurora chasing involves a lot of standing around in the cold. Arctic Explorers breaks up the wait with campfires, warm drinks, biscuits, and marshmallows. In some outings, people sat on reindeer skins around the fire while guides explained the lights and shared Norse mythology.

This is more than a nice extra. A cloud-covered sky can become tedious after an hour, especially for children. A fire gives you something to do while you wait, and hot chocolate or tea helps you stay outside long enough for a sudden break in the clouds.

Snacks are included, but dinner is not. Some people have received or mentioned more substantial food such as reindeer soup or Thai curry, yet you should not plan on a full evening meal. Eat beforehand and bring a small personal snack if you need one.

Comfort around the fire may not be the same for everyone. One person wished there had been something to sit on, while other groups used reindeer skins. Conditions and equipment can vary by stop. The bus has a restroom, which matters during such a long excursion, but you should still use facilities when the group makes a planned stop.

Taking your own pictures and receiving free photos

The tour encourages you to take your own aurora photos, and the guides can help you get people and lights in the same frame. That is especially useful if you are new to night photography. Petra, Georgi, and other guides have been praised for camera help and for taking portraits that show the aurora behind the group.

The included photos add real value to the $118.77 price. You can put your phone away, watch the sky, and still return home with photographs of yourself beneath the lights. Several groups received their images within about an hour of returning to Tromsø.

There are limits. Professional photos are not guaranteed to be perfect. Some images may come out beautifully while others miss the best light or have less impressive color. One person also reported never receiving the promised photos despite sending an email, so keep your own camera ready and check the delivery process before leaving the tour.

A tripod is not included. If you bring a camera, pack one if you have room, along with a spare battery and a way to protect the equipment from cold. These are practical precautions rather than tour requirements, but they can make your own pictures much better.

Big bus comfort, group size, and timing

The coach can carry up to 55 people. That large capacity helps explain the lower price compared with private or small-group aurora trips. It also means you should expect more people at the viewing stops and less personal attention than you might receive in a minibus.

The bus includes WiFi and a restroom, though WiFi has not always worked. The restroom is a useful feature for a night that may include several hours on the road. Families may appreciate it, but parents should not rely on the WiFi to entertain children.

The listed duration is approximately 7 to 9 hours, with one stated stop lasting about 8 hours and 20 minutes. In practice, the return can be later if the bus drives deep into Finland or waits for a strong display. One successful chase returned just after 3 a.m.

That schedule affects your next day. I would not place an early flight, demanding excursion, or important appointment the following morning. The tour is best booked early in your Tromsø stay, so a cloudy or unsuccessful night leaves you time to try again.

The meeting point is near public transportation, and the activity returns to the same place. Confirmation arrives when you book. Most people can take part, but the experience involves cold, darkness, long waits, and a long bus ride, so think about your own comfort before committing.

Clothing and practical preparation

Warm clothes are not included in the published package. Some outings have provided Arctic suits and boots, and some people have received them at no extra charge, but you should treat that as an occasional upgrade rather than something guaranteed.

Wear several warm layers, insulated footwear, gloves, and a hat. You will likely spend time outside beside a fire or under an open sky, and standing still feels colder than walking. Avoid assuming that ordinary city winter clothes will be enough.

Bring a fully charged phone, extra battery power, and your own camera if photography matters to you. A tripod is excluded, and the guides’ equipment is shared among the group. You may also want a small snack, since dinner is not included.

The tour is offered in English. Guides explain the search, provide information about the aurora, and help people wait through uncertain conditions. The amount of group-wide explanation can vary, so if you want detailed astronomy, ask questions when the bus or viewing stop is quiet.

Is $118.77 good value?

At $118.77, this is a sensible choice if you want a serious attempt at seeing the aurora without paying for a private vehicle. The price covers transport, guide support, warm drinks, snacks, campfire stops, and free photos. The ability to travel toward clearer skies is the key part of the value.

A small-group tour may feel more relaxed, but it usually costs more. Here, you accept a coach with as many as 55 people in exchange for a lower fare and access to an experienced driver who can cover a large area.

The price does not buy certainty. You are paying for transport, search strategy, and a well-managed chance, not a guaranteed green sky. Poor weather can defeat the best plan, and some outings have seen only a faint glow or no aurora at all.

The free photographs are useful, but I would not book the tour only for them. Delivery has generally been quick, yet at least one person did not receive the promised images. Think of them as a bonus and bring your own camera if the memory matters.

The company is rated 4.8 from 174 reviews, with 95 percent recommending it. Those figures fit the practical picture: strong guide effort, good value, and memorable successful nights, balanced by weather risk, a large group, and a very late finish.

Who should choose this bus chase?

I would choose this experience if you have only one or two nights in Tromsø and want the tour operator to handle the route. It is also a good match if you prefer not to drive on icy roads or study cloud forecasts yourself.

Families may like the restroom, snacks, fires, and professional photos, but children need to manage a long night. Couples and photographers should know that the coach may feel crowded, especially when everyone leaves the bus for the same aurora display.

This is less suitable if you dislike long drives, need an early night, or want a quiet private setting. It is also not ideal if you require guaranteed warm suits, boots, dinner, or reliable WiFi. Those features are either excluded or not assured.

The best attitude is patient and flexible. A night with no lights can still include a snowy drive, a fire, hot chocolate, and a glimpse of the Arctic countryside. A night with a strong display can become a memory you will carry for years.

Should you book Arctic Explorers?

I would book this tour if price, persistence, and a wide search area matter more to you than small-group comfort. The guides have repeatedly shown a willingness to drive toward better skies, wait when conditions improve, and help with photos rather than rushing everyone back to Tromsø.

Before booking, make sure you can handle a 7 to 9 hour outing that may run later. Eat dinner first, dress warmly, and leave the following morning open. If clouds cancel the tour, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. For your own cancellation, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before departure.

This is a good-value aurora chase with honest limitations. You may see a spectacular green display, a faint patch, or nothing at all. The combination of mobile routing, committed guides, campfires, and included photos gives you a fair chance and a pleasant way to wait.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights bus tour start?

The tour starts outside Fiskekompaniet on Killengreens gate, 9008 Tromsø, Norway. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is approximately 7 to 9 hours. The stated activity duration is about 8 hours and 20 minutes, but the return may be later if the group drives a long distance or waits for the aurora.

Can the bus travel outside Norway?

Yes. Depending on weather and cloud conditions, the guides may drive toward Finland and have traveled as far as the Finnish border while searching for clearer skies.

Are photos included in the price?

Yes. Photos taken by the tour team are sent to you free of charge. You can also take your own pictures. A tripod is not included.

Are food and warm clothing included?

Warm drinks and snacks are included. Dinner is not included. Warm clothes are also not included in the published package, although some outings have provided Arctic suits and boots.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. If you cancel yourself, you must do so at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.