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 You Get With the Private Tour

The Private Northern Lights Tour is the same idea as the shared chase, with the vehicle reserved for your party. The listing says 5–8 hours, a pick-up at 19:00, and all ages. The price is NOK 15,000 per group, for 2–8 guests, and larger groups can enquire.

Included are a local expert guide, transport in a premium Mercedes-Benz, a winter suit, a warm meal, snacks and hot drinks. You select a pick-up location during checkout, so you do not have to walk to a meeting point. For anyone with children or mobility limits that detail alone can be decisive.

The Cost Maths: When Private Beats Shared

Private tours look expensive until you divide by the number of guests. The table below compares the group price with the shared tour’s NOK 2,300 per person.

At six guests the private tour is only slightly more per person than the shared one, and at seven or eight it is cheaper. For a family of five you pay NOK 3,000 each, but you get your own vehicle, timetable and guide. Before you decide, check the live calendar for the exact price at your date.

Who Should Choose the Private Chase

We suggest the private tour to four types of travellers. Families with children, because pace, bedtimes and snack breaks are yours to set. Groups of friends of five or more, because it becomes good value. Multi-generational trips with grandparents, because you choose a calm schedule and a pick-up that suits everyone. And couples marking a special occasion, who want the night to feel unhurried.

It suits less well a pair of independent travellers who like meeting others and want the lowest price. The shared tour is friendly and cheaper, and many people enjoy the company on the chase.

Shared vs Private: What Actually Changes

The route logic is the same: the guide follows weather and aurora activity and picks the destination that evening. What changes is who decides when to move on, how long to stay at a stop, and whether to wait for a break in the cloud. In a shared group, the guide balances eight guests’ preferences. In a private group, it is only yours.

You also lose nothing in terms of equipment: the winter suit, meal, snacks and hot drinks are included in both listings. The main trade-off is price, and with it the absence of other guests.

Private Tour With Children

The listing says all ages, whereas the shared chase recommends ages 7+. That makes the private tour the only option for younger children. The evening is long, with 5–8 hours in the vehicle and outside, so think about naps, snacks and what your child will tolerate.

A flexible schedule means you can stop for a break, warm up in the car and keep going. Many families like to start with a rested child after an afternoon nap. Dress children in more layers than adults, and bring a favourite blanket or toy for the drive.

The Timeline of a Private Night

The listed pick-up is 19:00, from the location you choose when booking. The guide drives to the chosen area and may stop several times if the sky is not right. When you reach clear sky, you step out in the winter suit and watch, eat the warm meal and have hot drinks.

The tour can last up to eight hours, so you could be back after midnight. Protect the following morning: do not book a 10:00 tour the next day unless you are happy with a short night.

Honest Caveats Before You Pay NOK 15,000

A private tour does not change the sky. Cloud, weak activity or a quiet night can still end in disappointment, and the same cancellation terms apply as for the shared tour. We would not describe the private tour as a guarantee, because there is no such thing in aurora hunting.

It also does not add more darkness or a better horizon on its own; what it adds is control. If you are the type of traveller who would rather spend the money on a hotel upgrade or an extra daytime tour, the shared chase will satisfy you perfectly well. Spend where you will notice the difference.

Choosing Your Pick-Up Location

Because you select the pick-up during checkout, think about it before you book. Pick the place where your whole group will actually be at departure time, whether that is a hotel, an apartment or another address in the Tromsø area. If you are unsure, check with the operator through the booking page and confirm before the day.

A door-to-door start is a quiet luxury in January, when walking across town at -10 °C with children adds stress. It also makes it easier to be ready on time, since the vehicle comes to you.

Special Occasions and Surprises

Some travellers want something special: an anniversary, a milestone birthday or a proposal. A private vehicle means you can talk to the guide beforehand, within the operator’s terms, and plan the evening around what matters to you. We cannot promise specific extras, so contact the operator for anything beyond the listing.

Keep the plan flexible. The aurora will not follow your script, and the best moments are the ones you do not stage. A warm drink, a clear sky and the people you love are enough.

What to Wear on a Private Night

The winter suit is provided, which helps with warmth, but you still need a good base layer, warm socks, a hat and gloves. Keep your phone and any camera batteries in an inner pocket. For children, add an extra layer and a spare pair of gloves.

Because the private tour is long, bring a small bag with snacks you know your family will eat, and a power bank. The tour provides a meal, snacks and hot drinks, so you do not need much more.

Pairing It With Daytime Activities

If you like the private format, the same operator offers private daytime options. The Private Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 15,000, 5–6 hours, lunch) and the Private Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 12,000, 4 hours) both follow the same logic. You do not need to book all of them; one private evening and one shared daytime tour can be a good balance.

Our wider guide in our Tromsø activities guide shows how we mix shared and private options for different groups and budgets.

What We Would Book

For a family or group of five or more we would book the Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 on night one or two. For couples, the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is our default. Whichever you choose, use HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout and keep one flexible evening in case of cloud.

We would also read the cancellation rule in the confirmation: a full refund more than 48 hours before, and the full price inside 48 hours. A group booking is large enough that you will want to decide with the forecast in mind.

How to Book With the Hungrytravelfamily Discount

Open the Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 on Legendary Adventure’s own booking page, choose your date, group size and pick-up location, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 into the promo-code field. The 5% discount shows before you pay.

Full 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, and the 5% is a genuine reader discount.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

We think the private chase is the best-value northern lights product for groups of five or more, and the most comfortable choice for families with children of any age. For couples it is a luxury that needs a reason: a proposal, an anniversary, or someone who does not cope well with shared groups. The nature of a chase means no tour can guarantee the aurora, but a private vehicle gives you the most control over the search.

If it fits your group, book the Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and use HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off. If you are a couple on a budget, the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is the one to book.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø private-tour picks

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

Private · 5-8 HoursPrivate Northern Lights TourFrom NOK 15 000 per group (private)Book with 5% off →Small group · 5-8 HoursNorthern Lights TourFrom NOK 2 300 per personBook with 5% off →Private · 4 HoursPrivate Aurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 12 000 per group (private)Book with 5% off →Private · 5-6 HoursPrivate Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord TourFrom NOK 15 000 per group (private)Book 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.