It would be easy to oversell a night snowshoe tour, and we do not want to. We think it is lovely, but only if you know what it is and what it is not. This guide sets expectations so you choose the right evening.

What You Are Booking

The operator describes the tour as a snowshoe adventure under the night sky with the opportunity to witness the northern lights. The trails that feel ordinary by day take on a different character in the dark. You are outside, moving gently, in a small group of 2–8 guests, with a guide who sets the pace.

It lasts four hours, starting at 18:30 outside Clarion Hotel The Edge, where you look for a black Mercedes. Snowshoe rental, a guide, transport in a Mercedes minivan, snacks and a hot drink are included.

How It Differs From a Northern Lights Chase

A chase is built around finding clear sky wherever it is, and it runs 5 to 8 hours so there is time to drive. The aurora snowshoe tour is shorter and activity-based. The walk is the point, and the lights are the bonus if the night cooperates. That affects odds: a longer, more mobile tour has more freedom to move, while a four-hour walk has less.

We would never claim they are equal in aurora chances. If seeing the lights is the main goal of your trip, the Northern Lights Tour is the stronger bet. If you want to walk in the dark and enjoy a quieter evening, the snowshoe tour fits better.

Who It Suits

It suits active travellers aged 10 and over, families with older children, couples who prefer doing something to sitting in a vehicle, and anyone for whom a long bus-like journey sounds tiring. It is a good second aurora evening after a chase, or a gentler first. People who feel cold easily should note the long stretches outside, though the operator advises layers and good winter shoes.

What a Typical Evening Looks Like

You are collected at 18:30 and driven to a suitable area. The guide fits the snowshoes, explains the basics and sets off. The pace is easy and the stops are frequent. When there is aurora activity and clear sky, you will see it from the trail; when there is not, you still get a quiet walk in the dark with snacks and a hot drink. The tour then returns to town, finishing around the four-hour mark.

Cloudy Nights and Plan B

If the forecast is cloudy, think about what the evening is to you. If a quiet walk sounds good anyway, go. If you need the lights, adjust expectations or add a second tour. A good combination is the aurora snowshoe tour on one evening and the Northern Lights Tour on another, so you have both formats and two separate chances.

Cost and Value

At NOK 1,500 per person, it is the cheaper of the two aurora-linked evening options. A couple pays NOK 3,000, versus NOK 4,600 for the chase. The private version, the Private Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5, is NOK 12,000 per group, which only makes sense for families and groups who want the walk to themselves.

Practical Tips

Dress in layers, wear insulated waterproof boots, bring a hat and gloves, and carry a charged phone. Eat before pickup. If you wear glasses, bring a cloth, because breath and cold fog them fast. Keep your camera battery warm.

How to Pick the Right Evening

If you have only one evening in Tromsø and the lights are the whole point, book the chase. If you have two or three, put the chase first and decide the second evening after you see how the first went. A four-hour walk is a nice follow-up if you saw the lights and want a gentler night, or a second attempt if you did not and the forecast has improved.

Do not book the aurora snowshoe tour for the evening you fly out the next morning if you can avoid it. Returns are around the four-hour mark, but you will want to sleep. Pickup is at 18:30, so you can be back at a reasonable hour, and that is one of the real advantages of the shorter format.

Families and Teenagers

With ages 10 and over recommended, many families with older children can join. A four-hour evening finishes at a more sensible time than a long chase, which suits teenagers and parents who prefer fewer very late nights. If you are a family of four or more, price the private option, because the NOK 12,000 per group becomes comparable to the shared per-person price as the group grows, and you get the trail to yourselves.

What We Would Not Promise

We will not say you will see the lights, that they will be green and bright, or that the sky will be clear. We will say that a quiet, well-guided evening in the snow is worth doing in its own right, and that the lights add something special when they show. That is how we would frame it to friends, and it is how the operator itself describes the tour: a chance, not a guarantee.

How to Book With the Hungrytravelfamily Discount

Book on Legendary Adventure’s page, pick a date for the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 into the promo-code field at checkout for 5% off. We are the operator’s partner and may earn a commission, which never changes your price. More ideas are in our Tromsø activities guide.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

Book the aurora snowshoe hike because you want a night walk with a chance of lights, not because you expect a chase. Used that way it is one of the nicest evenings in Tromsø. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off, and pair it with a Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 if the lights are the priority.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø evening 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 →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 →Private · 4 HoursPrivate Aurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 12 000 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.