This guide is built from our own winters in the Arctic and from the live Legendary Adventure tour pages in Tromsø — prices, pickup times and what is included come straight from the operator, never invented.

What the Aurora Snowshoe Hike Is

The Aurora Snowshoe Hike combines two things Tromsø does well: snow and dark sky. Legendary Adventure describes it as a night snowshoe adventure with the opportunity to see the northern lights. The idea is that you leave the city lights, walk on snowshoes through a quiet, snowy landscape, and spend the evening outdoors in the dark with the sky above you. If the aurora shows, you have a view of it from a spot with no glare. If it does not, you have still had a walk in the Arctic night.

That honesty matters. The operator itself says the hike offers a chance of the aurora. It is not a chase that drives for hours to find clear sky, and it cannot promise what the sky will do. For many guests that trade-off is perfectly fine: a shorter evening, a lower price and a physical activity to fill the waiting time.

Why does this format exist at all, when the chase is the obvious northern lights product? Because a four-hour hike answers a different question. Many visitors do not want a night that ends at 02:00. Some are travelling with teenagers who will not last that long, some want to be active rather than sit in a vehicle, and some simply want to spend less. The hike gives them a structured, guided evening with a sensible end time and a real activity at its heart.

The Facts From the Operator

That is a complete evening for NOK 1,500. Compare it with the shared Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at NOK 2,300, which runs 5 to 8 hours and includes a winter suit and a warm meal. The difference is not just price, it is the style of the evening: a hike versus a long drive.

Hike or Chase? The Honest Comparison

We wrote a separate guide on this question, and here is the short version.

If cloud covers Tromsø, the chase has the better odds because it can move to where the sky is clear. The hike’s route is closer to the city, and the operator does not describe cross-border driving for it. If the weather is good, both can give the same sky. If you want to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora, book the chase. If you want a shorter, more active, cheaper evening and you accept a lower chance, book the hike.

What an Evening Is Like

The operator does not publish a programme, so we describe the shape of the evening in general terms, based on the listing and on similar evening hikes in Lapland.

You meet at 18:30 outside Clarion Hotel The Edge and ride in a Mercedes minivan to a snowy area away from the city. The guide fits the snowshoes and poles, explains the route, and leads the group. The trails that are familiar by day change completely in the dark: the snow looks blue, the mountains are black shapes and your headlamp or the moon is the only light. The group stops from time to time to look at the sky, have a hot drink and a snack, and see whether the aurora is developing.

If the lights appear, the guide helps with photos and tells you where to look. If they do not, the quiet walk is still the point of the evening. You are back in Tromsø after about four hours, usually before the late-night crowds.

On photography: the aurora is easier to photograph than most people expect, but it is not easy in the cold. A phone on night mode can capture a decent image if you rest it on something steady, and a camera on a tripod does better. Ask your guide for advice at the first stop, because they will have seen the conditions many times. And if the lights are strong, put the camera down for a few minutes. The memory is better than the file.

It is also worth planning what happens after the hike. You will return to Tromsø around 22:30, so dinner is possible if you book somewhere that serves late, or you can eat at the hotel. Do not schedule an early morning the next day if you can avoid it.

Who It Suits

We think the Aurora Snowshoe Hike suits these groups well.

• Active couples and friends who want something to do while they wait for the sky.
• Budget-conscious travellers who want an aurora option below the chase price.
• Families with children aged 10 and over, who can manage a walk but not an 8-hour night.
• First-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to snowshoeing and the Arctic night.
• Travellers on a short stay, who can fit a 4-hour evening into a tight schedule.

It suits less well anyone with serious mobility limits, children under 10, or travellers who are only in Tromsø for one night and want the best odds. For them, the chase is the better call.

One more group deserves a mention: travellers who have already done a long chase and want a second, gentler night. If your first evening was a late, cold, eight-hour expedition, the hike on your next evening is a comfortable change of pace and a second chance at the sky. The same logic works in reverse for people who start with the hike and then upgrade to a chase if the sky stays quiet.

What to Wear

The listing does not mention a winter suit for the hike, so you should wear proper winter clothing yourself. Layer thermal base layers, a warm mid layer and a windproof, waterproof outer shell. Wear waterproof insulated boots with good grip, thick socks, a hat, a neck gaiter and warm gloves with liners. Hand warmers help, and a headlamp is useful if the guide does not supply one; ask the operator. Because you will be walking, you will warm up, so dress in layers that you can open. When you stop to wait for the sky, add a layer. Our guide to what to wear in Tromsø in winter explains this in detail.

Bring a charged phone and a power bank. Cold drains batteries, and you will want to take photos. A small rucksack for water and a snack is also a good idea.

If the guide offers to lend or arrange extra gear, take it. Cold feet are the single most common reason people cut an evening outdoors short, and a spare pair of dry socks in your rucksack is the cheapest insurance you can bring.

Private Aurora Snowshoe Hike for Groups

For families and groups, the Private Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 12,000 per group for up to 8 guests, with a pickup location chosen at checkout. The recommended age is the same, 10 and up. The maths are simple: at eight people it is NOK 1,500 each, the same as the shared hike; at six it is NOK 2,000 each; at four it is NOK 3,000 each. Private makes sense from about six, or when you want a flexible pace and door-to-door pickup.

If you want more of the daytime, the daytime Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is also NOK 1,500, with a 10:00 pickup, and some visitors book both on different days. Our beginner’s guide to snowshoeing explains what to expect from the day version.

How to Book With the Hungrytravelfamily Discount

Book online with FareHarbor.

1. Open the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and choose your date and group size.
2. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field for 5% off.
3. Check the cancellation terms: full refund more than 48 hours before, and the full price inside 48 hours.

Book early in your stay so that you can change plans if the weather is poor. Our our full guide to activities in Tromsø shows how the hike fits with the other tours.

Transparency: we are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a commission on bookings made with our code. It never changes the price you pay.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

The Aurora Snowshoe Hike is a good-value evening that is honest about its limits. It is not the best way to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora, because it does not drive to clear sky the way the chase does, but it is the cheapest, shortest and most physical of the options, and it fills the waiting time with something to do. We have not yet joined it ourselves, so we have kept to the operator’s published details. If you only have one night, book the chase. If you have two or three, the hike is a good second evening, or a first one if the weather is clear.

Book the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø aurora and snowshoe picks

Tap a tour to see live dates and prices. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field at checkout for 5% off.

Small group · 4 HoursAurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →Private · 4 HoursPrivate Aurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 12 000 per group (private)Book with 5% off →Small group · 5-8 HoursNorthern Lights TourFrom NOK 2 300 per personBook with 5% off →Small group · 4 HoursArctic Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →

Code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 works on every Legendary Adventure tour booked online. We are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a small commission — it never changes your price.