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Northern Lights in Tromsø

Northern Lights & Whale Watching

(4 days / 3 nights)

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Come whale watching in the Arctic

Treat yourself to a short yet action-packed getaway in Northern Norway. Travel to Tromsø, the largest city in Arctic Norway and the country’s aurora borealis capital. Here you’ll go on guided excursions like whale watching and northern lights hunting. You’ll also have a choice to add more activities to your itinerary depending on what you’d like to do. As well as enjoying the wintry scenery, you’ll have some free time to explore the cultural highlights of this fascinating Nordic city.

4 days / 3 nights

Price p.p. from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1377 EUR

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— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Seamless travel experience
  • Handpicked hotels and routes designed by local experts
  • Trusted Norway tour operators and tour guides
  • Comprehensive itinerary & travel guide
  • 24/7 helpline during your tour
  • Service from local travel experts in Scandinavia
  • Great customer reviews
  • Carbon offsetting included

Read more

— Cancellation Protection

  • Rebook your tour on one occasion, or
  • Cancel for any reason and receive a partial refund and travel credit

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Cross the Arctic Circle into Northern Norway for a Nordic escape
  • Hunt for the northern lights on a guided bus tour
  • Explore beautiful Tromsø, the “northern lights capital” of Norway
  • Spot a variety of marine animals and whales on a whale-watching tour
  • Hop on the Fjellheisen cable car to admire the incredible views
  • Relax in the tranquillity of the winter season in Northern Norway
  • Experience top highlights such as the Arctic Cathedral and the Polar Museum
  • Take advantage of free time and expertly guided excursions
  • Choose to add more activities to your itinerary depending on your interests

Travel style

Partially Guided i

Interest

Active i, City Break i, Family i, Honeymoon & Romance i, Northern Lights i, Whale Watching i

Season

Oct - Jan

Departure

Daily

Interest

Active i, City Break i, Family i, Honeymoon & Romance i, Northern Lights i, Whale Watching i

Attractions

Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

  • Day 1: WELCOME TO TROMSØ

    Upon arrival at Tromsø Airport, collect your luggage and make your way into the city centre. We recommend taking the airport bus (“Flybussen”) or a taxi directly to your accommodation. After settling in, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the charming city of Tromsø, also known as the "Capital of Northern Norway". There are many restaurants in the city centre to start your trip with a taste of the Arctic.

    You have the evening at your leisure. If you don’t mind staying up late, you might be interested in adding a northern lights* tour to your evening. There is a variety of tours you could pick from, including a snowmobile excursion, a small bus tour and a cruise.

    Spend the night in Tromsø.

    * Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions

  • Day 2: ARCTIC WHALE-WATCHING ADVENTURE

    Start the morning early as you’ll be joining a whale-watching tour in the Arctic Circle. At this time of year, humpback and killer whales migrate to feed on the Atlantic herring in this part of the country. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot some orcas. The duration of the tour is flexible and it could take as long as 8 hours to search for the whales off the coast of Tromsø.

    Once you return to the city, you have the rest of the day at your leisure. We recommend going for a hearty meal to warm up and celebrate your whale-watching tour.

    Spend another night in Tromsø.

    Attractions Attractions

  • Day 3: EXPERIENCE TROMSØ & THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

    Take the full day to enjoy the cultural highlights of Tromsø. We recommend a stroll along Storgata, the main shopping street of the city. Then stop to visit the Polar Museum nearby. Or travel across the water to take in the striking Arctic Cathedral.

    Other highlights include Polaria and the Northern Norway Art Museum (“Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum”). For views of the city and some more outdoor adventures, take the cable car Fjellheisen up Storsteinen mountain. If you’re looking for an action-packed getaway, you could also book optional activities.

    Tonight, you leave the city lights behind on a guided tour. This time you’ll be hunting the magical aurora borealis.

    Spend another night in Tromsø.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day

  • Day 4: DEPARTURE FROM THE NORTH

    After an incredible winter getaway, it's time to say goodbye to Norway. Your tour will conclude in Tromsø, from where you will make your way back home.  We recommend taking the Flybussen, an express coach to the airport.

    Note: If you need assistance with flights to/from Tromsø, or would like to book additional nights in Oslo before and after your holiday, please contact us for details.

View full itinerary

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

What's included

Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.

Included

Not included

Optional Extras

4 days / 3 nights

Price p.p. from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1377 EUR

Find your price
Request info

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this partially guided tour in Norway. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Norway Travel Guide.

The minimum age for this tour is 8 years old.

On this tour, you’ll get to experience both independent travel and exciting excursions led by local guides to see the best of the Norwegian Arctic. All with the support and 24/7 helpline of Nordic Visitor.

You’ll be able to explore the vibrant “capital of Northern Norway”, Tromsø, at your leisure.

In between your own exploration, you’ll join some thrilling guided excursions to experience the variety of Arctic life. You’ll always be led by a local, knowledgeable guide, and all the details of your adventures will be included in your itinerary.

Due to the nature of this tour and the activities included, it’s not recommended for families with young children. That said, it is suitable for active children of 8 years or older. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Please wait to book flights to Scandinavia until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities on services included in this package. 

After making a booking with Nordic Visitor, it might take a few weeks to confirm your travel arrangements. We recommend booking your flights once your personal travel consultant gets in touch to confirm your itinerary.

If you have any questions about your flights and itinerary, please contact us for more details.

Yes, you should have moderate to good physical fitness to take part comfortably in this tour. This is because packages set in the Arctic are considered adventure travel due to the specific conditions you’ll experience. Arctic travel can sometimes involve extreme weather conditions as well as vigorous activity and animals (like huskies and reindeer) on many excursions.

Tromsø is ideally located within the “Northern Lights Belt” and this excursion is a great opportunity to witness a spectacular phenomenon.

This small northern lights bus tour is likely to last approximately 5 hours. You’ll be picked up from Tromsø around 7:30 PM heading out of the city to an ideal spot for hunting the lights. This location will depend on the night’s weather and aurora forecast.

Your professional guide will provide hot drinks and snacks and help you set up your own camera to capture the moment. They will also take high-resolution photos during your excursion, which will be shared after the tour.

Make sure to wear appropriate warm layers for this excursion. Read more about the northern lights in Norway in our helpful guide.

During your visit to Tromsø, you’ll enjoy a thrilling time at sea on a whale-watching cruise.

It goes without saying that wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed as it depends on the marine life activity. That said, if you don't see any whales on your tour, you can book a second tour free of charge (subject to availability during your stay). Head directly to the Norwegian Travel sales shop, Sjøgata 16.

This tour is also weather dependent. Please do keep in mind that if your tour goes ahead, you should dress according to the weather. The whale-watching company can also offer winter overalls.

Please note that the Arctic Sea in winter can be rough. If seasickness is a concern, we recommend you take medicine ahead of your cruise.

Coffee and tea will be served on board. You’ll also be able to buy snacks on the ship, but you could bring your own if you prefer.

The total duration of this excursion is flexible and could be up to 8 hours depending on the day.

On your Norway tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience. 

During the booking process, you can select whether you want Comfort Plus or Superior accommodation. Comfort Plus usually consists of standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels. Superior is standard rooms in 4-star hotels combined with Superior rooms in premium 3-star hotels.

You will also be able to choose between single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Norway room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America. 

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra single bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you have a passport from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Norway. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.

Visiting from another country? You can find out whether you require a visa to enter Norway on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Select your home country to view details. If you do require a visa, you will be directed to your local embassy website to learn about the visa requirements.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months from your departure from Norway. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

Because of its northerly location close to and inside the Arctic Circle, Norway has limited daylight in winter. 

In the south, you can expect more daylight than in the north. For example, in Tromsø, you’ll have less than 7 hours of daylight from late October. Then from late November to mid-January, the sun never rises. This is called the “polar night”.

In Oslo and Bergen, you’ll get 5–10 hours of daylight across the winter. 

The beauty of these extended hours of darkness in Norway is that you’ll have a better chance of seeing the northern lights.

Find out what the daylight hours will be during the month of your visit in this guide to time and daylight in Norway.

Yes! Wintertime is the right season to visit Norway if you want to see the northern lights (or aurora borealis). You can experience the northern lights in the north of Norway between October and March, with peak visibility from December through February. 

For the best chances of seeing them, head into the Arctic Circle, to locations such as Tromsø, Kirkenes and the Lofoten islands. With Nordic Visitor, you can also pick from a selection of Norway northern lights tours.

Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. Even if you go out on a specific northern lights excursion, you might not see them, depending on the conditions or cloud cover. 

Read our Norway northern lights guide to learn more.

Visiting Northern Norway in the winter season will reward you with snow-blanketed landscapes and a festive, cosy atmosphere. There’s not much sunlight at this time of year, so the places you’ll visit will have the enchanting atmosphere of deep winter.

You’ll probably experience temperatures below freezing, around 0 to -7°C (31 to 19°F). This means you’ll want to come prepared with warm, insulated clothes and outer layers. You can read more about the weather conditions and what to pack on our Norway travel guide.

Please note that sightseeing and excursions depend on weather and road conditions. Your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.

During Norway’s winter season, you can expect temperatures below freezing. For that reason, you’ll want to pack and dress with plenty of layers to keep yourself warm and dry.

Here is an essential winter packing list for your trip to Norway:

  • Insulated and waterproof jacket
  • Cosy wool or fleece jumpers
  • Snow or waterproof trousers depending on your destination
  • Warm gloves, hat and scarf
  • Insulated boots
  • A few pairs of thermal socks
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Electronic gear such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • and don’t forget your camera!
     

If you’re heading north and plan on taking part in winter excursions, you could also bring glove liners and heat packs for extra warmth.

Some day tour operators will provide you with thermal suits for your comfort. To find out if equipment is provided check the details of each activity before you leave for Norway, or get in touch with your personal travel consultant.

For more information, check out this Norway packing list.

When you travel with Nordic Visitor, breakfast at your Norway accommodation is always included.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

That said, we recommend budgeting between 100–400 NOK for lunch per person, each day. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between 500–1,000 NOK. Meanwhile, at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay 1,500 NOK or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages. 

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

We recommend waiting for a confirmation from your travel consultant to ensure your travel dates are available. You’ll then be able to purchase your flights with confidence.

If you like to plan well ahead, you’ll find that it’s possible to book many tours for the following year. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

If you have any questions before your trip, you can get in touch with our Norway travel experts. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Norway Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. 

Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents. This will include your personalised itinerary, our Norway Travel Guide and your service vouchers. We recommend printing your tickets and vouchers to bring with you to Norway.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect when you land in Norway?
 
After picking up your luggage, you’ll make your way to your accommodation. Public transport is easy to access and convenient in Norway. Or you could catch a taxi.
 
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. 
 
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel until check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your trip if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will usually need to check out from your room around 10–11 AM. If you’re staying in town longer, you will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before making your way to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Price per person from

EUR

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1377 EUR

Request info

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