vikamgoyal

Hello there,

This might sound like a real newbie question about Northern Lights, so I apologize in advance.

We are planning to visit Tromsø in mid Dec-early Jan with family to see the northern lights.

However, I cannot figure out as to why I need to hire a guide to "chase" the lights.

I thought that the northern lights is a natural phenomenon that can happen anytime, anywhere as long as you are in the right zone. So if I am staying in Tromsø city centre, I have as good a chance as viewing them, as I would, if I were to hire a guide to run me around the area.

Could I not just stay around my hotel and look up in the sky to see them?

Any other info that you can give will be helpful.

We plan to be there for at least 3-4 nights.

Kallio

You can stay at your hotel, but you get better show away from town and its light pollution.

klew97

Light pollution is the main reason. The tour guides know good viewing spots and can track the weather, so if clouds will come over Tromso, they know and have driven as far as Finland and Sweden to see lights. Since you mention traveling with family, joining tours can be expensive, you might want to do research on good viewing areas and rent a car for a few nights, to go wherever and whenever you want. If you are staying long enough and don't get a good show on your own early in the trip, consider paying for a tour to increase your odds. I did two tours over three nights because I didn't know if I would ever return.

vikamgoyal

Thanks. Is driving difficult in snowy conditions. Like do you have go off-road or something like that?

WilcoRoger

If you never did it before, it can be difficult. The car behaves quite differently on snow or ice than on tarmac or dirt.

manneca

You really need to get out of town. The lights are unpredictable and can come and go. I did a tour from Fairbanks and we didn't see anything until after midnight and then they can for a while, died down and returned around 4 am.

oldtirednbusy

Am hoping to go in November. Planning to spend 3 nights. Thinking of mid November to avoid full moon Nov 27.

amaroo

We've got 6 nights in Norway early Jan 16 ... but only 2 of those are in Tromsø. Just booked a car/guide to go chasing for one of the nights. It's a long way from AUS to Tromsø - so we're not going to depart wondering!