Have you ever wanted to see the Northern Lights? Book a trip to the Arctic Circle!
Tromso is the perfect winter getaway! Book Northern Lights tours with companies, go cross country skiing, try snowshoeing, go whale watching, book a tour of the fjords, take a cable car up a mountain… the options are endless! Keep reading for our recommendations.
When booking Northern Lights tours, make sure you go with a company that does a Northern Lights Chase to ensure that you actually get to an area with clear skies. There are many companies that may try to scam you, so be aware. We went with Arctic Explorers, which drove us to remote parts of Norway with little light pollution. They had a heated bus for the cold nights, professional photographers that made for some amazing photos, and some smores and tea/hot chocolate to help pass the time. The guides were also super friendly – highly recommend. Click here for the link.
Another advantage of Tromso is the lovely lake a few kilometers uphill from the main city, where you can get some amazing northern lights spectacles on clear nights with good activity.
During the day, the trail by the lake stretches north and south along the island and is perfect for hiking, classic and skate cross country skiing, or running. The trail is also very well lit at night with floodlights so you can exercise at any time of day.
If you visit during the winter months, you also get a glimpse of the lovely polar nights, where the sun never truly rises but you get a beautifully colored sky.
If you’d like to try winter sports, many stores allow you to rent cross country skis and snowshoes. We went with Tromso Outdoor for skis and then did a day tour with Wandering Owl for snowshoeing where they provided us with shoes (and snacks!), but there are plenty of options to choose from.
Another note on the snowshoeing – Wandering Owl makes sure you can enjoy the hike without disrupting nature, really caring about the environment, and their guides are friendly and knowledgeable, pointing out animals and sharing local facts along the way.
We didn’t have enough time for boat tours, but we did check out the pier and it was lovely! There are so many cruises leaving, so book according to your preferences.
And if nothing else, make sure to enjoy the views, such as taking the Fjellheisen to the top of the mountain to see the city! Or, if you’re feeling brave and have crampons, you may choose to hike the way up.
There are so many more things to do in Tromso, but this is just our highlight list. Make sure to check out the restaurants in the city center and just walk around – it really is a charming city, with connections to and from the airport easily available by local bus. And of course, you can always venture out to other parts of this lovely country while you’re there.
Check out Norway for your next winter adventure!
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