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.

Why the Australian Holiday Calendar Fits Tromsø So Well

Australian school holidays run from mid-December to late January, which puts a family trip squarely in the Arctic’s deepest winter. Late December and early January in Tromsø means polar night: the sun does not rise, but the middle of the day brings a long blue twilight, and snow lies on the ground. For anyone from a hot Australian summer, the contrast is the point.

We live in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, and many visitors we meet tell us the same thing: the novelty is not just the cold, it is how different daily life feels. Darkness at 15:00, a hot drink in a warm room, and a walk through snow that squeaks underfoot.

A snowshoe hike is the most hands-on way to enjoy that, since you are walking in it rather than looking at it through a window. It also needs no previous winter experience.

What Is the Arctic Snowshoe Hike?

According to the operator, the Arctic Snowshoe Hike is a guided snowshoe adventure through the Arctic landscape around Tromsø, with views of snow-capped mountains and fjords and possible encounters with reindeer, foxes and seabirds. The tour lasts 4 hours, and the page notes this includes transfer time. It departs at 10:00 from outside Clarion Hotel The Edge, where a black Mercedes waits.

Included are a local expert guide, transport in a Mercedes minivan, and snowshoes and poles. The price is NOK 1,500 per person, and the group size is 2–8 guests, with larger groups on request. Ages 10 and up are recommended.

It is a walk, not a race, so it suits people of average fitness who are happy to be outside for a couple of hours. If you are unsure, ask the operator about the distance and pace before booking.

What You Might See and Feel on the Trail

It helps to know what a morning on snowshoes is like before you commit. You walk on packed or fresh snow in a small group of two to eight guests, led by a local guide who chooses the route on the day. The pace is steady, with stops to look at the view, to take photographs and to listen. In December and January the light is soft and blue, with long pink and orange edges at midday, and the snow reflects it.

The operator mentions snow-capped mountains and fjords, and lists reindeer, foxes and seabirds as possible sightings. We would treat any animal as luck, never as a promise. What you can count on is quiet: the snow absorbs sound, and the Arctic outdoors in winter is calmer than most Australians expect.

Physically, snowshoeing feels like walking with slightly wider steps, and the poles help with balance. You will warm up quickly once you move, so layers you can open or remove matter. Keep a spare pair of gloves in your pocket, because dry hands decide whether you enjoy the morning or not.

Dressing for Snow if You Have Never Seen Any

Australians visiting Tromsø often ask what to pack, and we understand why: most of us do not own a winter wardrobe. The snowshoe hike includes snowshoes and poles but not clothing, so you need to arrive prepared. Our advice is to layer and not to buy anything extreme.

• Base layer: merino or synthetic top and leggings, never cotton.
• Mid-layer: a fleece or thin down jacket.
• Outer layer: a windproof, waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Feet: warm waterproof boots one size larger, with wool socks.
• Hands and head: a hat, neck warmer, and two pairs of gloves.
• Extras: sunglasses for snow glare in the twilight, and a small daypack.

Many travellers hire winter clothing in Tromsø or buy one good layer in Norway rather than carrying a full kit from Australia. We cannot quote rental prices here, so check locally. The tour page itself asks for good winter shoes and warm layers, which is the minimum.

A Classic Winter Day: Snowshoe by Morning, Aurora by Night

The most popular winter structure in Tromsø combines a daytime tour with an evening aurora chase. For a family from Australia it works well because the long nights make the aurora tour comfortable, and the morning hike uses the short bright window.

We would only do both on the same day if the group is rested and the next morning is free, as the chase returns late, typically between about 23:30 and 02:30. Two separate days are kinder to jet-lagged travellers.

Jet Lag and Timing: Which Night First?

Coming from Australia, you will be tired. The journey to Tromsø usually involves long-haul flights and a connection through Oslo or another hub, and the body clock is a long way from local time. We would never plan an aurora chase or a four-hour hike on the day you land.

Our suggestion is to give yourself arrival day to recover, schedule the snowshoe hike for the first or second morning, when jet lag means you will probably be awake early anyway, and book the aurora tour for a night when you feel more alert. Keep one evening free as a buffer for cloud.

Avoid booking a 10:00 tour after a late aurora night, and avoid an early flight out on the day after a chase.

Money Matters for a Family Budget

An Australian family counting Norwegian kroner for the first time will find Tromsø expensive, and we will not pretend otherwise. Tour prices are quoted in NOK, and your card will convert them at your bank’s rate on the day, so we do not quote dollar figures here. What we can do is show the structure of a family budget using the operator’s prices.

For six or more travellers, the private options start to compete with shared prices, so price both before you book. Note that children must meet the age recommendations: ages 10 and up for the snowshoe tours, and ages 7 and up for the shared Northern Lights Tour. If you have a younger child, the Private Northern Lights Tour accepts all ages.

Shared, Private, Aurora or Advanced: Which Snowshoe Tour?

For most Australian families with children aged 10 and over, the standard Arctic Snowshoe Hike is the right choice. The private hike makes sense for six to eight people: NOK 2,000 each with six, NOK 1,500 each with eight, the same as the shared price. The Advanced adventure is for fit travellers aged 16 and up who want a longer day.

How to Book the Snowshoe Hike with 5% Off

Book directly on Legendary Adventure’s calendar: choose your date, select the number of guests and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field at checkout. The code takes 5% off tours booked online. For a family of four on the Arctic Snowshoe Hike, that is NOK 300 off NOK 6,000.

Hungrytravelfamily is Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a commission, which never changes your price. Shared tours can be cancelled free more than 48 hours before departure and are fully charged inside 48 hours, so wait until your flights are confirmed. See our Tromsø activities guide for more ideas.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

For Australian families, the snowshoe hike is the tour that turns a long flight into a proper winter memory: you walk in the snow your home country does not give you. Spread your tours across several days, dress in layers and keep one evening free for the aurora.

Book the Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 online and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field for 5% off, then add a Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for the evening.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø snowshoe and aurora 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 HoursArctic Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →Small group · 4 HoursAurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 5% off →Private · 4 HoursPrivate 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 →

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.