Northern Light Photo Cruise

This tour is conducted by Arctic Explorer. When the sky is clear and starry around Tromsø city, you don't need to travel far to watch the northern lights. Joining an evening cruise by boat can offer all of this.

The right settings to experience the Aurora Borealis are a dark location, starry sky and previous solar storms while being comfortable outdoors. Watch as the city lights fade into the distance and enter the serene darkness of the fjords.

Our boat departs from the harborside of Kystens Hus in Tromsø city center. Once we have left the harbor, the guide will give you safety instructions and show you around the ship. During the tour, we will continuously be on the lookout for any signs of northern lights as well as sharing some interesting facts about them with a short presentation. Of course, we can't offer any guarantees since the northern lights are a natural phenomenon. Still, we promise to use all our experience to maximize our chances of a successful chase in this comfortable setting for observing them. The course we set will depend on the weather forecast, and the cloud-free sky will define if you are going to see the northern lights. Once the conditions are right, the captain will slow down the boat, slowly drifting along with the current. The guide will help you set up your camera, and when the northern lights start to dance, he will offer to take photos for you.

What to know in advance:
Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, and we cannot guarantee if, when and in what strength they will show on the evening of your tour.

For this tour, we can use any of our three boats available:
MS Aurora Explorer (max. 145pax), MS Leone (max 12 pax), MS Strønstad (max 30pax).
Keep in mind that the weather in the Arctic can be rough.
If becoming seasick is your concern, we recommend taking seasickness medicine half an hour before the tour starts.

Possibility of Jacuzzi and Sauna:
In case you wish to use the jacuzzi, please email us beforehand (not earlier than a day in advance) so we can have it ready for you and reconfirm if it will be available on your tour and don’t forget to bring your swim wear (towels are provided free of charge).

Availability:
September 15th-October 24th Duration: 21:00-23:00 Departure: 21:00 Meeting place and time: 8.45 pm (20:45) at the harborside of Kystens Hus, Stortorget 1, Tromsø.

October 25th-February 28 Duration: 19:00-23:00 Departure: 19:00 Meeting place and time: 6.45 pm (18:45) at the harborside of Kystens Hus, Stortorget 1, Tromsø.

March 1-March 25 Duration: 21:00-01:00 Departure: 21:00-01:00 Meeting Time: 8.45 pm (20:45) at the harborside of Kystens Hus, Stortorget 1, Tromsø

Physical difficulty level: Easy.
Restrictions: no wheelchair access or elevator, but the crew will be happy to help a wheelchair user as long as it is not a power wheelchair (due to it being heavy)

Included in the tour:
Scenic transport by boat
Safety instructions
English-speaking guide
Short presentations and explanations about the phenomena of the northern lights
Photos/ portraits taken onboard by our guides and sent within 72 hours
Thermal winter suit (S to XL)
Life jacket
Hot coffee, water, tea and biscuits
Towels (in case you wish to use the jacuzzi or sauna)

What to bring:
Dress according to the season and in layers so you can adjust your clothing to the weather conditions (incl. boots, hat, scarf and gloves)
If you need an extra layer, we can offer you a winter overall suit which we have on board of the ship.

Note: If you don't see northern lights on your tour, you can book a second tour for free (subject to availability on the next tour).