Northern Lights Big Bus Chase with Chasing Lights

The best part of this Tromsø excursion is that you do not simply wait in town and hope. The driver follows weather and cloud conditions, taking you wherever the sky looks most promising, sometimes far into Finland. I especially like the free professional photos and the guides’ mix of aurora science, astronomy, Sámi culture, and old northern stories.

I also like having a warm bus as a base during a five to nine-hour chase, plus hot drinks and, on some outings, a campfire with cookies or warm berry juice. The tradeoff is real: you may spend many hours on the road, return as late as 3 am, and still see no aurora.

Key points to know before booking

• This is a real chase: The route changes according to cloud cover and conditions, and may include a long drive into Finland.
• Free photos are included: Guides such as Soraia, Bailey, Taylor, Alex, and others take night portraits and aurora shots for you.
• Expect a large group: The advertised maximum is 50 people, though some departures may use a minibus when numbers are lower.
• The bus is your warm refuge: USB and USB-C charging ports have been reported, and some buses have a toilet usable while stopped.
• Dress for Arctic cold: Clothes, tripods, and meals are not supplied. Bring serious layers, warm gloves, and extra socks.
• Late returns are normal: The tour leaves at 5:20 pm and can bring you back any time from about 10:30 pm to 3 am.

Chasing clear skies beyond Tromsø

Northern Lights tours around Tromsø are weather games. The aurora may be active above the city, but a bank of cloud can hide it completely. Chasing Lights deals with this by keeping the route open. Instead of staying at one fixed viewing site, your driver and guides check the conditions and head toward clearer skies.

That plan has produced some memorable results. One outing went roughly two hours south of Tromsø before reaching a broad snow-covered field. The lights began faintly in the distance, then spread overhead in waves for around two hours. On another night, the group drove into Finland because the sky there offered a better chance.

This is the main reason to choose a chase rather than a fixed camp. You have a moving search team, not just a reserved patch of snow. It cannot guarantee success, but it gives the staff more options when clouds close in around Tromsø.

The route may also change after you leave town. You could stop once, or you could visit several places while the guides wait for activity. One successful outing included three viewing spots, with the final stop offering a fire and hot drinks.

What happens after the 5:20 pm meeting

You meet at Samuel Arnesens gate 5, outside the Tromsø bus terminal near Tromsø Havn Prostneset. The start time is 5:20 pm, so I would arrive early and look for the correct bus parking area. The directions can feel vague because the meeting point refers to gate 5, not a hotel lobby or a clearly marked office.

Once everyone is aboard, the guides explain the plan and begin the drive. The exact order of events depends on the weather. You might leave cloudy Tromsø and find a clear break soon after, or you might spend several hours heading south before stopping.

The group size can reach 50 people. That makes the tour easier to book and helps keep the price lower than a private outing, but it also affects the feel of the evening. At a popular viewing spot, people may crowd around the best photo positions, and a large coach cannot reach every narrow or remote road.

Sometimes a smaller departure is used instead. That can create a friendlier, less crowded outing, but you should not book this tour expecting a small-group experience every night. The stated maximum remains 50.

The long road is part of the experience

The phrase Northern Lights chase should be taken literally. This can mean many hours of driving, not a short transfer followed by a guaranteed show. The return window is about 10:30 pm to 3 am, and some outings have lasted close to 11 hours.

That makes the tour a good fit if you are willing to trade sleep and comfort for a better chance at the aurora. It is less suitable if you have an early flight, a morning excursion, or a full day of plans afterward. Getting back at 2 or 3 am can affect the next day, especially if your accommodation is not within easy walking distance of the bus terminal.

The coach gives you a useful indoor base while the guides assess the sky. Still, the heating can become very strong during the return journey. You may need to remove several layers once you are back inside, so wear clothes you can adjust easily rather than one bulky outfit.

A few departures have had USB and USB-C charging ports. Some full-size buses also have a toilet, but it can only be used while the vehicle is stopped. Do not count on every vehicle having the same facilities, especially if your group is moved to a minibus.

Waiting under the aurora

When the sky clears, the guides lead you outside for the main viewing period. The exact setting could be a field, a lakeside area, or another open place away from Tromsø’s city lights. Snow may be deep, and paths can be uneven or slick.

That last point matters. One viewing site required a walk down a snowy hill to a lake, followed by the same climb back up in darkness. Ruts, ice patches, and hard-packed snow can make the route difficult if you are not steady on your feet. The tour information says most people can take part, but it does not promise flat ground or easy walking at each stop.

Bring a headlamp if you have one, though the supplied information does not list it as an inclusion. More important, bring warm clothing and footwear suited to snow. Clothes are not provided, and the cold can be severe even when the bus feels comfortable.

The guides do more than point toward the sky. They explain the science of solar particles and the aurora, identify stars and planets while you wait, and add stories about Sámi and Norwegian culture. Guides named in the feedback include Soraia, Alex, Bailey, Taylor, Owen, Marius, Meda, Irene, Mark, Brian, Nick, and others. Staff changes by departure, so you should not assume a particular person will be leading your date.

Free photos, campfires, and hot drinks

The included photography is a major part of the value. Guides use their cameras to capture you beneath the aurora, then send the professional images to you free of charge. Several outings also produced candid photos, not just posed portraits.

This solves a common Northern Lights problem. Your phone may show a faint green smear where your eyes saw a huge moving arc, while a proper camera can capture the people and sky together. You do not need to bring a tripod, and tripods are specifically not included, so do not expect to borrow one.

The photo process can take time in a large group. You may wait for your turn, and popular viewing areas can become crowded as people gather for their pictures. Even so, the inclusion is useful enough that I would count it as one of the strongest reasons to consider this operator.

When conditions and timing allow, the guides may light a campfire. Warm blackcurrant or lingonberry drinks, hot water, and sometimes cookies make the wait more pleasant. The standard inclusions list a hot beverage and hot water, but meals are not included. Bring food if you need a proper dinner during a long night.

What the $151.15 price buys you

At $151.15 per person, this is not a cheap evening bus ride. The price makes more sense when you add up the moving route, driver, guide team, long operating hours, hot drinks, and professional photos.

The strongest value comes from the chase itself. A fixed viewing site may be closer and simpler, but it cannot respond in the same way when cloud cover shifts. Here, the operator is paying for fuel and staff time to keep searching, and that search may take you across the border.

The free photos also reduce the need to pay separately for a photographer. If you were already planning to hire someone for aurora portraits, this inclusion could make the package more appealing. If your priority is a quiet, intimate night with few people, the price may feel less attractive because the group can be large.

One important price note comes from the supplied booking information: a direct booking through chasinglights.com was reported at 1,200 NOK, compared with about 1,500 NOK through some tourism websites. Prices change, so check the company’s current rate before paying a higher reseller price.

The guides make or break a long night

A long chase needs more than a driver. You may spend hours in a bus, then stand in the cold while the sky decides what to do. The guide team sets the tone, explains delays, organizes photo turns, and helps people stay safe outside.

The strongest staff examples include Alex, described as energetic and passionate about aurora science, and Meda, who kept searching across several stops and explained stars and planets during quiet periods. Soraia has been praised for taking strong photographs, while Bailey and Taylor have been described as organized, lively, and skilled with a camera.

Other guide and driver teams named include Jefta and Soraia with Rafael driving, Marius and Ivanka, and Irene and Mark with Lorenza. These names show the range of staff attached to the company, not a fixed promise for your date.

The tone appears to be friendly and active rather than silent and formal. That suits you if you want explanations and conversation. If you prefer to watch the sky alone without group announcements, you may find the social side less appealing.

Comfort, clothing, and the small print

You need to supply your own outdoor gear. The operator does not include winter clothes, tripods, or meals. Pack multiple layers, warm gloves, extra socks, and something to protect your face. Several successful outings were described as extremely cold, even when the aurora display made the discomfort worthwhile.

The bus can be warm, sometimes too warm. Dress in layers that you can remove quickly, and keep your outerwear within reach rather than buried under luggage. The tour runs in all weather conditions, and the company notes that poor forecasts can sometimes accompany the best displays.

There is a small tension in the operating information. The tour normally operates in all weather, yet the booking terms say that if the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The practical point is simple: the company decides whether to operate, and seeing the lights is never guaranteed.

There is no refund or free replacement trip if the aurora does not appear during an outing. You also lose the booking if you miss the meeting point or arrive too late. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the maximum group size is 50.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure, when you can receive a full refund. Inside 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this Tromsø aurora chase

I would choose this tour if seeing the Northern Lights is one of the main reasons for your Tromsø visit and you want staff actively searching for a clear sky. It also suits families who want the bus available as a warm refuge, provided children can handle a late night and the cold outdoor stops.

It is a strong choice for photographers who want people-in-the-frame images without arranging a separate photo session. The free files give you a lasting record of the night, even if your phone struggles with the darkness.

I would think twice if you need a firm return time. The tour can run until 3 am, and the route may include several hours on the road. I would also reconsider if you have difficulty walking on snow or ice, or if a group of up to 50 would spoil the experience for you.

For the best odds, schedule the chase early in your Tromsø stay. The aurora is unpredictable, and leaving yourself another possible night gives you a second chance if clouds win the first time.

Should you book Chasing Lights?

Book it if you want a serious, flexible search with guides who explain the sky, take professional photos, and keep trying when conditions are poor. The long driving time is not a flaw hidden in the details. It is the central tradeoff for a tour that can follow clear skies into Finland.

Skip it if you want a short outing, a quiet small group, supplied thermal clothing, or a guaranteed early return. For everyone else, the combination of route flexibility, free photographs, hot drinks, and committed guide teams makes the $151.15 fare reasonable, provided you accept the cold, crowds, and uncertainty that come with chasing a natural event.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights tour start?

The tour starts at Samuel Arnesens gate 5, 9008 Tromsø, outside the Tromsø bus terminal near Tromsø Havn Prostneset.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 5:20 pm.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Tromsø.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately five to nine hours. The return to Tromsø is expected between about 10:30 pm and 3 am.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must reach the meeting point at the Tromsø bus terminal.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 50 people. On some departures, a smaller group may be placed in a minibus instead.

Are professional photos included?

Yes. Professional photographs taken during the tour are sent to you free of charge.

Is warm clothing provided?

No. You must bring your own clothing. Tripods and meals are also not included.

Is the Northern Lights display guaranteed?

No. The aurora is a natural event, and there is no refund or free trip if you do not see it. The company chooses the route to improve your chances.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, and the company notes that strong displays can occur on nights with poor forecasts. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Are children allowed?

Yes, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English and includes a mobile ticket.