From Narvik: The Northern Lights Arctic Train Guided Tour

The Arctic night starts on rails. I like the way this three-hour train trip combines the historic Ofoten Railway with a campfire stop, and I also like that you leave Narvik’s city lights behind for darker skies. The main drawback is simple: the Northern Lights are never guaranteed, and the first stop can have enough platform light to make viewing and photography difficult.

From Narvik, you ride north toward Bjørnfjell and Katterat, two remote mountain stations near the Swedish border. An English-speaking guide provides a documentary, photo advice, warm drinks, pastries, and a fire in the snow. Guide Anajolie earned especially warm praise for her presentations, though boarding can feel a little untidy and refreshments may run short if you are last in line.

Key things to know before you book

• The route reaches Katterat at 373 meters: This remote station is the main outdoor stop, with a fire, snacks, a museum visit, and time to look for the aurora.
• Bjørnfjell is a short photo stop: You have about 15 minutes there, followed by another 10-minute train ride to Katterat.
• The campfire is a real highlight: Hot drinks, fresh pastries, and marshmallows make the wait more comfortable when the sky is slow to cooperate.
• The train gives you a darker setting: The route moves away from Narvik’s lights, improving your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
• Bring serious winter clothing: Hats, scarves, warm socks, thermal clothing, and weather-appropriate layers are advised. Thermal suits are not supplied.
• This is a viewing adventure, not a promise of aurora: Clouds and solar conditions control the show, so value the railway journey and Arctic setting as well as the lights.

Leaving Narvik on Norway’s northernmost railway

The tour begins at Narvik station, where you board for an evening ride along the historic Ofoten Railway. The train ride itself takes about an hour before the first planned stop, giving you time to settle in, listen to the guide, and watch the town lights fade.

This railway is part of what makes the experience different from a standard Northern Lights minibus trip. You are not simply driven to a roadside pullout and asked to stare at the sky. The train carries you through a remote Arctic setting, and the journey becomes part of the evening.

The train is decorated with subtle lighting, which is useful for two reasons. It gives the carriage a cozy feel, but it also avoids flooding the windows with bright light. That matters when your eyes are adjusting to darkness and when you are trying to spot a faint green glow outside.

You should pay attention to where you sit. One person found that changing sides meant missing some of the first aurora views. Since the best view can depend on the direction of the train and the curve of the railway, keep an eye on both sides when possible. If you bring a tripod, use it only where it will not block seats or aisles.

The guide also presents a Northern Lights documentary during the experience. That adds useful context while you wait, especially if this is your first attempt to understand what causes the aurora and why it can appear suddenly after a cloudy start.

Bjørnfjell, a brief border-country pause

After roughly one hour on the train, you stop at Bjørnfjell for about 15 minutes. This is a Swedish border town, and the short stop gives you a chance to step out, take photographs, and get a feel for the remote mountain setting.

Do not treat Bjørnfjell as the main campfire stop. Fifteen minutes passes quickly, and platform lighting can make the sky less impressive than you hoped. One useful lesson from the experience is that a weak first stop does not mean the evening is lost. Cameras may fail to record faint aurora that your eyes can detect, and the lights may appear much stronger farther along the route.

This stop is best used for a quick photo, a breath of cold air, and a look at the railway environment. Keep your hat and scarf close, and do not wander far from the group. The schedule moves on after a short pause.

From Bjørnfjell, the train runs for another 10 minutes to Katterat. That brief ride shifts the focus from a platform photo stop to the central outdoor portion of the evening.

Katterat at 373 meters, the heart of the outing

Katterat is the most distinctive stop. At 373 meters above sea level, this remote station feels far removed from Narvik, even though the train brings you there with little fuss. You spend about an hour here on a guided visit and photo stop.

The experience includes a visit to the old mountain village and a museum at Katterat. These additions give the evening more substance than a simple sky-watching trip. If clouds cover the aurora, you still have a place, a railway story, and local mountain culture to explore.

Then comes the campfire. The guide serves a pastry and a warm drink while you gather around the fire. Marshmallows are also part of the outdoor atmosphere, and the flames provide welcome heat while you wait under the Arctic sky.

This is where the tour earns much of its appeal. Northern Lights chasing can involve long stretches of standing around in the cold. A hot drink, something fresh to eat, and a fire turn that waiting time into a pleasant social break rather than a test of endurance.

The guide can offer photo tips and help you make sense of what you see. That matters because aurora photography is not always as easy as pointing a phone at the sky. A tripod is specifically recommended, and you should bring a camera if images are important to you.

Katterat also offers the best chance to get away from city light pollution. One successful evening began with cloud over Narvik and little to photograph at Bjørnfjell, then improved dramatically at Katterat, with snow, stars, and dancing aurora. That change is a good reminder to stay patient.

The Northern Lights are a bonus, not a guarantee

The tour is built around chasing the Aurora Borealis, but no operator can promise a sighting. Weather, cloud cover, darkness, and aurora activity all have to line up. You may see a bright display, a faint glow, or nothing at all.

That uncertainty affects the value of the $142 price. If you are paying only for a guaranteed Northern Lights photograph, the cost may feel high. If you count the round-trip railway journey, guide, documentary, museum and village visit, campfire, pastry, drinks, and photo help, the price makes more sense as a complete Arctic evening.

The strongest experience can happen even when the lights stay hidden. One particularly positive account described the guide as informative, the carriage as nicely lit, and the campfire refreshments as lovely despite no aurora appearing. That is the right way to judge this trip. The lights are the hoped-for finale, but the railway and Katterat visit need to carry part of the evening.

You should also manage your camera expectations. At Bjørnfjell, platform lights and weak activity may leave your camera with a blank-looking sky. Human eyes and camera sensors do not respond in exactly the same way. At Katterat, darker surroundings can help, but you still need a steady setup and suitable settings.

Returning through the Arctic darkness

After about an hour at Katterat, you board the train back to Narvik. The return ride lasts roughly 45 minutes, making the whole schedule about three hours from departure to arrival.

The trip back gives you another chance to watch the windows. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire ride staring at a screen. The point of the train is that you can enjoy the dark railway, the snow, and the changing sky without constantly packing and unpacking beside a roadside vehicle.

The timing also makes this practical for an evening in Narvik. You are not committing to a full night outdoors, and the train provides warmth between the short outdoor sections. Still, you need to dress for the stops, not just the carriage. A warm indoor ride does not make light clothing suitable for an hour beside a fire.

What to wear and pack for Katterat

There are no thermal suits included, so your clothing choice matters. Pack:

• A warm hat
• A scarf
• Warm socks
• Thermal clothing
• Weather-appropriate outer layers
• A camera
• A tripod

The instructions specifically call for thermal clothing, and that is sensible advice rather than a minor suggestion. You will spend time outside at night, possibly standing still while looking up. Cold feels stronger when you are waiting instead of walking.

Wear shoes and clothing that can handle winter conditions, though the supplied details do not specify a particular footwear type. Keep your camera and tripod easy to reach, but make sure they do not make boarding awkward.

The campfire helps, but it is not a substitute for proper layers. You may also want to keep your gloves accessible even though they are not specifically listed among the required items.

Guides, boarding, and the small practical flaws

The guide is a key part of this tour. The best feedback focused on clear presentations, helpful photo advice, enthusiasm, and the ability to keep the fires going. Anajolie was singled out for excellent presentations, making her a memorable part of the evening.

The tour is conducted in English. If you want background about the railway, the old mountain village, the museum, and the aurora, the guide adds real value. You are not left to guess what you are seeing or why the stops matter.

Boarding may be less polished. The process has been described as a little disorganized, and refreshments can run out for people at the end of the line. If the fire snacks matter to you, arrive ready to board promptly and do not assume the pastries and drinks will be unlimited.

This is a small issue, but it is worth knowing at $142 per person. The campfire treats are part of the appeal, and getting to them late could make the experience feel less generous. The overall score of 3.9 from 58 ratings suggests a generally enjoyable outing with some uneven practical details, rather than a flawless premium tour.

Who will get the most from this $142 evening?

I would choose this trip if you want more than a quick aurora transfer from Narvik. The railway setting, remote stations, museum visit, village visit, guide, and fire give the evening a clear sense of place.

It suits you especially well if:

• You like historic railways and remote stations
• You want an organized Northern Lights outing
• You enjoy a warm drink and shared campfire more than standing beside a van
• You want help with photography
• You can accept that the aurora may not appear
• You are comfortable outdoors in winter clothing

It may suit you less if your only goal is the strongest possible aurora forecast. The itinerary follows a fixed railway route, so it does not offer the same road-based flexibility as a vehicle that can change location quickly.

It is also not suitable for children under three or wheelchair users. Those limits should be part of your decision before booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your winter schedule is still changing.

Should you book the Northern Lights Arctic Train?

Book it if you want the Northern Lights hunt to feel like a proper Arctic evening rather than a single uncertain viewing stop. The train ride, Bjørnfjell pause, Katterat museum and village visit, campfire, warm drinks, and guide create a full experience for the $142 price.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed aurora or dislike cold outdoor waiting. I would also think twice if you are not prepared to bring thermal layers, since thermal suits are not supplied.

My practical advice is to book this for the railway and Katterat experience first, then treat the Northern Lights as the reward. With that mindset, a cloudy sky can still leave you with a worthwhile night out. If the aurora appears over the snowy station, you may get the magical ending that makes the whole journey memorable.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Lights Arctic Train tour?

The experience lasts three hours, including the train rides, stops at Bjørnfjell and Katterat, the guided visit, and the return to Narvik.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Narvik stasjon and returns to Narvik stasjon after the evening journey.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $142 per person.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The experience offers chances to see the Aurora Borealis, but weather and aurora conditions can prevent a sighting.

How long do you spend at Bjørnfjell?

The scheduled photo stop at Bjørnfjell lasts about 15 minutes.

How long do you spend at Katterat?

The guided visit and photo stop at Katterat lasts about one hour.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a round-trip train ticket, a snack, beverages, a bonfire, photo tips, an English-speaking guide, a Northern Lights documentary, a visit to the old mountain village, and a museum visit at Katterat.

Are thermal suits provided?

No. Thermal suits are not included, so you should bring thermal clothing and other winter layers.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English, and the listed tour language is English.

Is the tour suitable for young children or wheelchair users?

The tour is not suitable for children under three or for wheelchair users.