Can I see the Northern Lights in Autumn?
If you don’t fancy the sub-zero temperatures associated with Northern Scandinavia in winter, consider an autumn tour.
Enquire
Our staff will respond to your query promptly and provide detailed information to your questions.
6 days - Tromsø and Coastal Norwegian Northern Lights tour
Experience the incredible wilderness of Norway and take in the amazing beauty of Norwegian coast. Considered the best season by locals for visiting Scandinavia, autumn delivers up the first Auroras of the new season. Without snow on the ground, you can enjoy this quieter, milder season for kayaking, berry picking & beach foraging and in the evening, wait patiently for the streaks of Northern Lights against the pale blue, not quite dark, Arctic sky.
Spend time in the high Arctic Norwegian town of Tromsø before heading out of town to a small traditional Norwegian fishing village. Fingers crossed, you can watch the Northern lights in a new custom-built glass pavilion on the water's edge. This is an independent tour, that can be modified to suit your requirements.
Highlights include
- Guided day tour in Tromsø and in the evening, a guided Aurora Chase by minibus, led by an experienced local guide.
- Instruction on camera settings and use of a tripod during the Aurora Chase plus a link to download guide images.
- Stay in a remote fishing village away from artificial light
- Beach comb during the day along pristine white beaches, enjoyed included dinners and meeting the locals in this small village
- Day 1
- Welcome to Tromsø, the capital of Arctic
- Day 2
- Tromsø & Northern Lights
- Day 3
- Transfer from Tromsø to Sommarøy with Husky Farm Visit
- Day 4
- Sea Kayaking around Sommarøy, a world class destination
- Day 5
- Sea Eagle Boat Tour then an evening Northern Lights Hunt
- Day 6
- Transfer back to Tromsø
- Start/End Place
- Tromsø, Norway
- Country Visited
- Norway
- Duration
- 6 Days
- Start Date
- Flexible
- Travel Style
- Independent
- Suitability
- Independent holiday with moderately active activities and no luggage handling included
- Code
- 50DN0095
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Details
Transportation
Return transfer from Tromsø - Sommarøy
Included
- All accommodation in a shared double/twin room, single supplement available
- Daily breakfast
- Private guided Tromsø city walk
- Two included Aurora Chases - 5 - 7 hrs
- Guided Sea Kayaking Tour
- Sea Eagle Safari
- Husky Wagon Ride
- Return transfer from Tromsø - Sommarøy
- 24-hour emergency service
- Taxes and service fees
Not Included
International flight tickets, meals other than described, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, travel insurance, visas, gratitudes and any items of personal nature.
Lunch can be organised through the hotel, otherwise head to the local restaurant and supermarket.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Tromsø, the capital of Arctic
Tromsø is a city packed with culture, polar history and fresh locally sourced food in its numerous restaurants. Mountains, fjords and islands also surround it, making it a great base for exploring the winter landscape.
If it is a clear day, experience Tromsø’s best view! On the outskirts of Tromsø (it is a very small town) a cable car runs from Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level) in just four minutes. From the viewing platform at the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Tromsø and the surrounding islands, mountains and fjords. At the fully licensed Fjellstua restaurant, you can enjoy a delicious dinner based on local produce or select light meals from the café menu, while you take pleasure in the view.
Accommodation
Superior RoomDay 2 - Tromsø & Northern Lights
After breakfast, explore Tromsø on a walking tour including a visit to the Polar Museum. In the evening join a guided Aurora Chase by minibus, led by an experienced local guide. This trip is in a small group, with a minibus (15-16 seats), which makes it a more personal experience. The guides use the weather forecast, current weather reports from the district around Tromsø, and their experience to bring you to the best spots to view the magic Northern Lights.
Duration: 5 - 7 hours, inclusions: transport by comfortable minibus, knowledgable English speaking Northern Lights guide/driver, thermal suits, tripods and advice about camera settings and how to take Aurora photos, free access to link to download pictures (if) taken that night, local sweet snack and hot drink.
Meals
1 BreakfastAccommodation
Superior RoomDay 3 - Transfer from Tromsø to Sommarøy with Husky Farm Visit
With beaches reminiscent of the Riviera, fantastic coastal views and vibrant fishing villages, the islands of Sommarøy is a great getaway destination from Tromsø, a short transfer away.
With its 300 inhabitants, Sommarøy is one of the busiest fishing villages in the county of Troms. The main produce here is herring, which is processed and packed in a state-of-the art processing plant where it is frozen for global export. This fishing community is thus an important contributor to the national economy, and the export value per capita is substantial.
On your way to Sommarøy, you will visit a local husky farm and do a wagon ride through the wilderness. You will sit in one wagon driven by one of our professional mushers. Each wagon has two seats, which is excellent for enjoying the experience with a friend or family, children are to be accompanied by adults. During the ride we will take you trough our husky trail in beautiful landscape. Afterwards you get time to greet the dogs of your team, show them love and ask any question to our workers.
From the husky farm, you will transfer onto Sommarøy. On arrival, check into your room and explore the village. Dinner is included tonight at this small, local hotel.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Dinner
Accommodation
Day 4 - Sea Kayaking around Sommarøy, a world class destination
Sommarøy is a world class destination for sea kayaking and a hotspot for local paddlers. Amongst the islands you will find hidden gems of sandy white beaches surrounded by 3000 foot peaks.
Explore, get close to the local wildlife such as sea eagles and other maritime species and enjoy lunch by the secluded seaside. On this guided tour, you will be taken to the highlights at Sommarøy, only accessible by kayak or boat.
During the day, you can also meander around the white beaches from your accommodation, exploring the many shallow coves on Sommarøy. The water temperature can't exactly be called inviting, so it is much more common to take long, pleasant walks along the beach, picking up shells and just taking in the scenery. You can also visit the new Northern Lights Park, built by recycled materials.
Get to know this small fishing village, visiting the local museum, the handicraft society and the art studio. Be sure to ask directions for climbing the Hillesøya peak. Be on the look out for late autumn berries during your walk.
Today you have an included guided sea kayaking tour.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Day 5 - Sea Eagle Boat Tour then an evening Northern Lights Hunt
After breakfast, join a guided tour to see the sea eagles by boat. On this guided tour you will be taken out in a well suited and heated boat and search the islands and cliffs for this majestic bird. With a wingspan ranging up over two metres, viewing this bird up close is a majestic and unforgettable sight.You may also encounter other wildlife such as sea otters, harbour porpoises, tysties and other sea birds. At the same time you will explore the wild exposed coast of Senja when weather permits and go ashore for a guided tour of the Hekkingen lightshouse. The guides will open the lighthouse tower to give you a 360 degrees view of the surrounding area if possible.
In the evening, you will join a Northern Lights Hunt which includes transport, hot drinks and snacks plus a local guide. Open seas to the west, this region is famous for the Northern Lights images that have the lights reflecting on to the sea before speading across the sky. No high mountains are close, so nothing hides the experience, only the small mountains, Haaja, Kvaloy and Senja, framing the shots.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Dinner
Accommodation
Day 6 - Transfer back to Tromsø
After breakfast, transfer back to Tromsø.
Meals
1 BreakfastDates & Prices
All prices listed are per person sharing a room.
Dates
Valid From
Valid To
From Price
Status
Accommodation
1 Sep 2025
31 Oct 2025
31 Oct 2025
1 Sep 2025
31 Oct 2025
NZD 4,547
On request
Standard
1 Sep 2025
31 Oct 2025
31 Oct 2025
1 Sep 2025
31 Oct 2025
NZD 1,782
On request
Extra for Single
Important Information
Read about the weather and the Northern Lights viewing in Autumn in Northern Norway.
Activities included will change according to the weather and availability.
Gallery
Interactive Tour Map
Inspiration
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Travel Safe
Travel Insurance and Safety
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
Practical information about Scandinavian Hotels
Practical information about Scandinavian Hotels
- Hotel rooms in Scandinavia are normally furnished with twin beds, which can be moved together to form a double bed or placed separately. Please note that single rooms are generally smaller than doubles, and are often equipped with a shower instead of a bath. Purpose-built triple or family rooms are likewise unusual in Scandinavian hotels. Whilst it is possible for 3 persons to share a room, this will normally be a double room with an extra bed, with correspondingly less space to move about in.
- It is also unusual to have a porter at hotels to carry your luggage.
- There is free wi-fi in many hotels in Scandinavia.
- Unexpectedly, all forms of Scandinavian accommodation rarely provide tea and coffee facilities in their rooms. If you are lucky, a kettle will be supplied but nothing else. Please ask at reception for some provisions when you arrive or just carry a small selection from home.
- Please also note that in Scandinavia - in particular, during winter - the included lunch will often be a hearty warm soup with bread.
- More remote hotels in Lapland will offer dinner at an additional cost. In some spots, there will be limited choices else where. Generally, you get a very nice home-cooked Scandinavian dinner. However, you may sometimes find only one or two choices only for your main course.
- In Scandinavia, it is normal for washing and laundry facilities to be in the basement. If you are staying in apartment type accommodation, check downstairs or ask for assistance.
Practical budgeting information before your departure to Norway
Practical budgeting information before your departure to Norway:
Budget surprises:
Norway has a few items that typically surprise travellers when visiting Norway for the first time. Alcohol and luxury items are heavily taxed and therefore prices are higher than you would expect. On the other hand, necessities such as bread and milk, are taxed low and therefore are great value.
Alcohol import allowance into Norway:
We recommend that you bring all the alcohol you’re allowed to bring into the country when you arrive. There are many lovely parks and balconies where you can enjoy your duty free. However, be sure not to bring more than you’re allowed!
As of May 2014, the allowances according to Visit Norway are:
Alcoholic beverages:
Minimum age: 18/ 20*
1 litre of beverages with more than 22% up to and including 60% alcohol per volume as well as 1½ litre with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume or three litres with more than 2.5% up to and including 22% alcohol per volume
and
2 litres of beer with more than 2.5 % or other beverages with more than 2.5% up to and including 4.7% alcohol per volume.
This means that you may for example bring with you five litres of beer provided you do not have any other alcoholic beverages with you.
*For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22% alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20.
It’s illegal to bring extra alcohol into Norway and can end up costing you. Another thing you should bring and not buy in Norway is razor blades. Good razor blades in Norway are expensive.