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 is an evening walk on snowshoes through snowy terrain, with the chance, never the promise, of seeing the northern lights. The operator describes it as a night adventure on trails that feel very different from the same terrain by day. Pickup is at 18:30 and the tour lasts 4 hours, with a local guide, transport in a Mercedes minivan, snowshoe rental, snacks and a hot drink included. It is recommended for ages 10+.

The big difference from the bigger northern lights chase is scale: it is shorter, quieter and cheaper, and you do not drive across the region to find clear sky. The trade-off is that you have fewer options if the weather is poor. Our guide to the honest guide to the Aurora Snowshoe Hike explains in more detail.

The Maths: Shared Seats Against a Private Group

That is our arithmetic from the published prices. The private hike never costs less than the shared version for the same number of people, so the question is not how to save money but whether privacy is worth the premium. For a group of eight friends it costs the same, which makes it an obvious choice. For a couple, it is a premium experience, and we would only recommend it for a special occasion.

How the Evening Runs

On the shared hike you meet outside Clarion Hotel The Edge at 18:30, where you look for a black Mercedes, and travel by minivan to the snowshoe terrain. On the private version, you choose your pickup location during checkout, so the evening starts at your door. Either way, the guide fits you with snowshoes and poles, explains the basics, and leads the group out onto the snow. The walking is guided and unhurried, and the pauses are for looking at the landscape and, if conditions allow, the sky. Snacks and a hot drink are included, and the 4 hours include the transfer, so the actual walking time is shorter. You return in the late evening, usually with enough time for a late dinner.

We would plan a light afternoon, eat a solid early dinner or a late lunch, and pack a layer more than you think you need. Standing still in the dark is colder than walking, and the hours when the lights might appear are often the quiet, cold ones.

Private Hike or Private Northern Lights Tour?

This is the question many readers ask. The Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 15,000 per group, runs for 5–8 hours, is listed for all ages, and covers a wider area, because the vehicle can drive wherever the sky is clearest. The private hike is NOK 12,000, takes 4 hours, requires ages 10+, and stays within one area. If your priority is the highest chance of seeing the lights, the chase is the better tool. If your priority is a quiet walk in the snow with a chance of a display, the hike wins and costs NOK 3,000 less. Our decision guide sets out the factors in more detail.

A group of six, for example, would pay NOK 2,000 per person for the private hike and NOK 2,500 per person for the private chase. For eight, the figures are NOK 1,500 and NOK 1,875.

Cancellations, Weather and What We Would Check

Private bookings carry the same cancellation rule as other tours: a full refund more than 48 hours before departure, and the full amount charged inside 48 hours. Because a private booking is a large sum, we would read the booking page carefully, check the pickup location option at checkout, and confirm the date against your flights. If the weather looks threatening, contact Legendary Adventure directly with any questions about how conditions are handled. We cannot speak for their policies beyond what is published, and we would never invent one.

Finally, think about who is coming. The hike is for ages 10+, so a younger sibling cannot join. If your party includes a child under 10, the private northern lights tour, which is listed for all ages, is the closest alternative.

What You Actually Get for the Premium

You get a guide and a group that is only your party. In practice, that means your own pace, your own timing, and a pickup location you choose during checkout. You can linger longer if the lights appear, turn back sooner if someone is cold, and speak freely without worrying about strangers. If you want to celebrate something, whether a birthday, a proposal or a family reunion, a private group is a natural fit. Our guide to private aurora snowshoe or private northern lights compares it with the larger option.

The private hike is still a 4-hour tour with the same inclusions, so the extra money buys flexibility and privacy, not a longer or more elaborate programme.

Who Should Choose the Private Hike

Groups of six to eight: the premium shrinks or disappears. Families with children aged 10 and over: the age minimum is the same for both versions, but the private hike means you can go at the pace of the slowest walker. Anyone with mobility concerns or a nervous first-timer: a private guide can adapt. Celebrations and surprises: privacy matters. Photographers: a private group means nobody is waiting for you to finish a long exposure. For other private ideas, see our private tours ranked by price.

If you are two adults with no special requirements, book the shared hike and spend the difference on the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 or a second night.

A Quick Word on the Lights

The aurora is never guaranteed, on any tour. The snowshoe hike takes place in a specific area, so its chances depend on the local weather. If you want the maximum number of looks at the sky, the larger chase covers more ground. If you want a quiet walk in the dark with a decent chance of seeing something, the snowshoe version is lovely. The operator describes the lights as green, purple and pink in colour, moving across the sky. Our cloudy-forecast guide is honest about the downside.

What to Wear and Bring

You wear warm waterproof boots, wool socks, thermal underwear, a fleece, a windproof jacket, a hat and gloves. Snowshoe rental is included, so you do not need to buy any equipment. Bring a power bank, because cold drains phone batteries, and a small snack if you get hungry between meals, though the tour provides snacks and a hot drink. Our complete packing guide goes into detail. For ideas on what else to do while you are in town, see our overview of activities in Tromsø.

Shared or Private: Our Decision Rule

If your party is under six, book shared unless you have a specific reason to go private. If your party is six or more, price both. If you have a celebration, a nervous walker or a photographer, go private. If your children are under ten, neither snowshoe option applies; see our family plan for children under ten for alternatives.

How to Book With the Hungrytravelfamily Discount

1. Open the booking page from any Private Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 or Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 link and choose a date.
2. Select your pickup location during checkout for the private tour and enter the number of guests.
3. Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field at checkout and apply it for 5% off.
4. Cancellations more than 48 hours before departure are refunded in full; inside 48 hours the full amount is charged.

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 private hike is a premium product for people who value privacy or have a group close to eight. For most couples and small parties, the shared hike is the sensible purchase, and the difference is better spent on a second tour. If you do decide to go private, you are buying quiet and flexibility, not a longer programme.

Book the Private Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 or the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 and use HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 for 5% off.

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø aurora picks

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

Private · 4 HoursPrivate Aurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 12 000 per group (private)Book with 5% off →Small group · 4 HoursAurora Snowshoe HikeFrom NOK 1 500 per personBook with 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 →

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.