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 December light actually looks like

Many visitors expect darkness in the polar night and are surprised by how much light there is around midday. The sun stays below the horizon, but the sky glows with blue, lilac and pink for a few hours. Snow reflects it, so the mountains and fjords look luminous.

It does not feel like a short day because the quality of light is unusual. It feels like an extended sunrise.

Why a 10:00 pickup works

The tour leaves outside Clarion Hotel The Edge at 10:00. That means the coastal driving and the scenic stops fall into the brightest part of the day. A tour that left at noon would spend half its time in the dark. The 5–6 hour length gives you time for stops, a lunch and a relaxed drive back.

What you see: fjords, beaches and mountains

The tour crosses Kvaløya and reaches Sommarøy, an island community known for white-sand beaches and clear water. Along the way there are fjords, snow-covered mountains and coastal roads. The tour description also mentions the chance of seeing wildlife such as reindeer, foxes and sea birds, but nothing is guaranteed.

Lunch and stops

A local lunch is included in the price. Your guide chooses the scenic stops based on the weather, and the vehicle is a premium Mercedes-Benz. Group size is 2–8 guests.

December weather: wind, snow and rain

Weather changes quickly on the coast. Dress in layers, with a windproof outer layer and insulated waterproof boots. The guide adjusts the route for road conditions, and the tour runs year round. If weather is rough, read our guide to bad-weather days on the tour.

Pairing it with a night chase

A common plan is a fjord day followed by a northern lights tour on another night, not the same night. The Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 leaves at 19:00 or 18:30 and can finish in the early hours, so give yourself rest. Our pairing guide explains how.

Photography tips

The best light is low and soft. A phone works well. Stop and look at the water; reflections of the pink sky are a favourite. Keep your phone warm inside your jacket between photos.

How to book with the Hungrytravelfamily discount

Open the booking page for the tour you want, choose your date and number of guests, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 into the promo-code field at checkout. Check that the 5% shows in the total before you pay. You are booking directly with Legendary Adventure, so the terms are theirs, including the full refund when you cancel more than 48 hours before departure.

We are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a commission on bookings made with the code. It never changes the price you pay. The Sommarøy tour is NOK 2,100 per person.

A sample day on the tour

Pickup at 10:00 outside Clarion Hotel The Edge. The vehicle leaves town and heads west along the coast. In December you start in deep blue morning light that gradually lifts to a soft pink as you reach the outer islands. Scenic stops come at fjord viewpoints and on the beaches near Sommarøy. A local lunch is part of the day. The return drive happens as the light fades, so the last hour is often the most atmospheric, with lights in villages and a dark blue sky.

Total time is 5–6 hours. If your hotel is outside the centre, factor in extra time to reach the meeting point.

Who the tour suits in winter

The shared tour is recommended for ages 7 and up and runs with 2–8 guests, so it suits couples, friends and families with school-age children. There is no strenuous activity, but you will be stepping out into cold wind at the stops, so you need to be comfortable standing outside for short periods. The private tour is for all ages and lets you choose your pickup location at checkout, which suits families with younger children and groups with mixed needs.

Comparing it with the shorter fjord tour

The Ersfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is 3–4 hours at NOK 1,500 per person, recommended for ages 7 and up. It sees the nearer fjords. The Sommarøy tour is longer, goes farther and includes lunch. If you have only one daytime slot, think about how much time you have and how much you want to see. In the short December days, the longer tour uses the full light window; the shorter one leaves more of your afternoon free.

Why we would not choose the same day as a chase

A 5–6 hour fjord day followed by a 5–8 hour chase is a lot. People do it, but they tend to be tired on the aurora night. If you can, split them across different days and keep the evening before a chase light. The northern lights tour leaves at 19:00 or 18:30 and can run past midnight.

What we would book

For a daytime tour: the Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5. For a shorter day: the Ersfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (3–4 hours, NOK 1,500). For a family or group: the Private Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at NOK 15,000. See our Tromsø activities hub for context.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

December on the coast is quieter, softer and more colourful than people expect. A day tour at 10:00 gets you the best of it, and lunch is part of the deal.

Book the Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 or the Private Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø daytime picks

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

Small group · 5-6 HoursSommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord TourFrom NOK 2 100 per personBook with 5% off →Private · 5-6 HoursPrivate Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord TourFrom NOK 15 000 per group (private)Book with 5% off →Small group · 3-4 HoursErsfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord TourFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →Small group · 5-8 HoursNorthern Lights TourFrom NOK 2 300 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.