Aurora Safari Chase by big bus, free Photos, toilet onboard

Chase the sky, not a guaranteed show. This Aurora Safari takes you from Tromsø by comfortable coach to a viewing base chosen for the night’s weather, then keeps moving if clearer skies offer a better chance. I like the heated lavvo or campfire setting and the onboard toilet, two small comforts that matter during a five-to-eight-hour winter outing. I also like that guides help with camera settings and provide free photographs, though the large-group format can feel less personal.

The experience costs about $128.16 per person, with a paid meal upgrade. That is fair for transport, a warm base, hot drinks, guide service, and the possibility of chasing clearer skies across Troms County. Still, you need to accept the central truth: clouds can win, and one unhappy evening involved hours in snow with no visible aurora.

Key details before you book

• The base station changes with the forecast: The coach can travel around Troms County to seek clearer skies instead of staying beside Tromsø.
• You get a proper winter refuge: A heated lavvo or indoor base, campfire, hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks make the waiting easier.
• The bus is comfortable and has a toilet onboard: This is useful on a long night in remote areas, especially in cold weather.
• Free photos are included, but check the resolution: Low-resolution images are free, while high-resolution photographs may cost 300 NOK each.
• A maximum of 50 people is advertised: On some nights, several buses may use the same base, so the camp can feel crowded.
• The tour starts at 6:15 pm: Meet at the Prostneset Bus, Boat and Hurtigruten Terminal in central Tromsø and return there afterward.

What this Tromsø aurora tour really offers

Northern Lights tours are part science lesson, part weather gamble, and part very cold outdoor waiting game. This one makes the gamble more manageable by using a coach and several possible base stations rather than committing to one fixed roadside stop.

You begin at Tromsø Havn Prostneset, at Samuel Arnesens gate 5. The meeting point is close to central hotels and public transport, and the tour ends at the same place. From there, you board a climate-controlled coach and head away from city light.

The journey can take about 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the chosen base and the evening’s conditions. During the ride, a video explains the science behind the aurora. I consider this a useful touch. You learn why the lights appear, rather than simply sitting through a dark drive and hoping for green streaks.

The outing lasts roughly five to eight hours. That broad time range matters. A short evening may end after a successful sighting, while a longer night can involve moving between locations or waiting for a break in the cloud.

Leaving Tromsø for darker skies

The first part of the tour is not a sightseeing circuit through Tromsø. It is a practical departure from the city, where streetlights and buildings make faint aurora harder to see.

Your guide brings the group into the wider Troms area. The coach can move according to cloud cover and the forecast, and the group may stop at more than one location. This is the main advantage over simply walking outside your hotel and looking up: the team has room to search.

The tradeoff is speed and flexibility. A big coach carries up to 50 people, but it cannot turn and stop as easily as a small car. One rating specifically noted that the coach size restricted the route. If you want a nimble vehicle that can make quick decisions on narrow roads, a small private tour will suit you better.

For many people, the coach is still the sensible choice. You stay warm during the drive, receive an explanation of the aurora, and avoid the high cost of a private vehicle. The onboard toilet is another practical advantage, especially when the evening stretches toward midnight.

The base station: fire, lavvo, and a snowy pause

At the chosen base, you can sit inside a heated lavvo, a teepee-style tent, or gather near an outdoor fire. The setting varies by location. Some evenings use a Sami reindeer herder center or another private heated camp, and the base stations can sit among snowy mountains and fjord scenery.

This is where the tour feels more like a northern Norwegian evening than a simple bus transfer. You can warm your hands by the fire, drink hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, and eat local snacks such as cookies. The atmosphere has been praised for its fires, benches, homemade bread, and friendly hosts.

The Sami connection can add real interest when the selected site includes a reindeer herder center. You may have the chance to speak with a Sami host and learn about the place. That part depends on the base used that night, so I would treat it as a possible bonus rather than a fixed feature.

Do not expect the camp to be quiet and private. A single coach can already place about 50 people around one fire and one heated shelter. On some nights, two or three buses have shared a base, creating queues and making it harder to find a seat near the fire. If a calm, small-group evening matters most to you, this is the clearest weakness of the experience.

Chasing the aurora for up to six hours

The middle of the night is divided into long stretches of waiting and movement. The group may spend around two hours at the first Troms location, then continue to another viewing area if the weather calls for it. After the meal or snack break, the coach can move again and stop for photographs or aurora sightings.

This approach can work very well. One evening began under poor conditions, yet the group reached clear skies about an hour from Tromsø and saw a good display. On another night, the lights appeared on the journey back, and the driver pulled into a safe layby as soon as possible.

That flexibility is valuable, but it has limits. A cloudy forecast can remain cloudy. One disappointing outing involved a long drive through rain and snow, a wait in a field, and no visible moon or aurora. The guide may choose to keep trying, but no route can create clear skies.

You should bring patience as well as warm clothing. The tour operates in cold conditions, and waiting outdoors can become uncomfortable even when hot drinks and a heated shelter are available. Wear your warmest layers, not just a fashionable winter coat. The company also says thermal suits and tripods may be available, but you should confirm availability rather than rely on them.

Photography help and the free photo promise

The included photography service is one of the strongest reasons to consider this tour. Guides have helped with camera settings, used tripods, and taken photographs of people beneath the aurora. Names praised in the supplied comments include William, Alexandre, Ricardo, Paolo, Jeanne, Suzanna, and other friendly guides.

A camera clinic has even been offered during the evening for people struggling with settings. That can be a lifesaver when you are trying to photograph a dark sky with moving light and cold fingers.

You should not assume your phone will capture what your eyes see. One assessment noted that mobile phones did not record the full spectrum as well as a proper camera. A tripod and a camera with manual controls give you a better chance, but the guide’s help is useful even if you bring only a phone.

The free photograph arrangement needs careful reading. Low-resolution images of about 300K are available without charge, while high-resolution photographs may cost 300 NOK per image. Ask the guide how downloads work and what quality is included before the tour gets busy. The free option is a nice extra for social media, but a collection of full-size files can become expensive.

Food, drinks, and the meal upgrade

All participants can expect hot drinks and snacks, with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and local treats available at the base. These are not minor extras. After standing in snow and cold air, a warm cup gives you a reason to stay outside a little longer.

The optional hot meal may be reindeer stew, fish soup, or another local dish, depending on the evening and base station. Fish soup and homemade focaccia received especially warm praise, while another meal was described as tasty but too small for the added price.

I would view the meal as convenient rather than essential. If you choose the upgrade, you may receive a light bowl of soup rather than a full dinner. You may also find yourself reluctant to sit inside and eat when the aurora begins outside. The meal makes more sense if you want a warm pause and do not mind missing a few minutes of sky-watching.

Vegetarian and non-fish options are available if requested at booking. Use the special requirements field in advance. Do not wait until you arrive, especially if the base is remote and the food has been prepared for the group.

The return to Tromsø after midnight

After the final viewing stop, you board the coach for the ride back to Prostneset. The return drive is a welcome chance to warm up and rest, particularly after a long night outside.

The advertised final stop is the same central terminal where you started. It is within a short walk of many hotels, which keeps the end of the evening simple. Since the tour can last five to eight hours, you may return late, so plan your next morning gently.

The coach is a major part of the value here. You do not need to drive on icy roads, navigate unfamiliar routes, or decide when to give up on the forecast. The price also covers the guide-led search rather than a single fixed viewing point.

Is $128.16 good value?

At about $128.16, this is much cheaper than a private aurora chase and more structured than going alone. You receive round-trip transport, an English-speaking guide, the science video, access to a heated base, hot drinks, snacks, and the chance to use more than one viewing site.

The value depends on what you want from the night. If your main goal is simply to see the aurora at the lowest practical price, the big coach makes sense. The multiple sites and guide support improve your odds compared with staying in town, though they cannot overcome thick cloud.

The cost feels less attractive if you add the meal and expect a substantial dinner. Some meals have been hearty and delicious, while others have felt too light for the surcharge. The photograph policy also affects value. Free low-resolution images are useful, but high-resolution files can add 300 NOK per picture.

A private tour may offer more control and fewer people, but it will normally cost more. This coach trip is best understood as a shared, weather-dependent search with decent comforts, not a personal expedition.

Who should choose this tour?

I would point this tour toward first-time aurora hunters who want help with the basics. You get transport, an explanation of the science, a warm place to retreat to, and guides who may assist with camera settings.

It also suits you if an onboard toilet, a heated coach, and a campfire matter. Those details can make a long Arctic night far easier.

You may want another option if you dislike large groups or need the fastest possible response to changing weather. The bus can carry up to 50 people, and several buses may share one site. Families should note that children aged four and under are not accepted, while most other participants can take part.

The tour is offered in English. Students pay the same rate as young people, according to the booking information. Bring warm clothing regardless of the forecast, since the experience continues in cold weather and may involve extended outdoor waits.

Cancellation and weather rules

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 6:15 pm start time. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and the local time in Tromsø controls the cut-off.

The company can cancel if weather makes the outing unsafe or if too few people book. In that case, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. This is helpful, but it does not mean the tour will end early simply because the aurora forecast looks weak. If the trip operates, you may still spend much of the night waiting under cloud.

Should you book the Aurora Safari by big bus?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, well-supported attempt to see the Northern Lights from Tromsø. The heated base, hot drinks, onboard toilet, camera assistance, and ability to move between sites give you more comfort and structure than an independent search.

Book with realistic expectations. The aurora is never guaranteed, the coach is not intimate, and the paid meal may be modest. Ask about the photo download quality, request any special meal in advance, and bring serious winter clothing.

For a first aurora night, I think the balance is good. You are paying for a careful search, not a promised display. When the sky clears, the experience can be extraordinary. When it does not, the warm shelter and capable guide make the disappointment easier to bear.

FAQ

Where does the Aurora Safari start?

It starts at Tromsø Havn Prostneset, Samuel Arnesens gate 5, 9008 Tromsø, Norway.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 6:15 pm.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the Prostneset Bus, Boat and Hurtigruten Terminal, close to many central hotels.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to eight hours.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. English is the listed tour language.

Is there a toilet on the coach?

Yes. The experience includes a toilet onboard the coach.

Are photographs included?

Free photographs are available in low resolution, listed as about 300K. High-resolution photographs may cost 300 NOK per image.

Is food included?

Hot drinks and snacks are included. A hot meal such as reindeer stew or fish soup is available as an upgrade.

Can I request a vegetarian or non-fish meal?

Yes. You need to advise the company at booking through the special requirements field.

Can young children join the tour?

The tour is not suitable for children aged four and under. Most other participants can take part.

How many people can join?

The advertised maximum is 50 travelers.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.

Can I cancel for free?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.