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.

The age question, answered straight

The first thing parents ask is how young is too young. The operator’s tour page lists the Arctic Snowshoe Hike as recommended for ages 10 and up, and the same recommendation applies to the private version. That is a recommendation rather than a hard legal limit, and we would not tell you to ignore it. Snowshoeing is walking on deep snow, in cold, for several hours, and children below that age can tire fast or get cold in ways that are hard to fix in the middle of a trail.

So the honest answer is yes for ages 10 and above who like walking and being outside, and no for the youngest children. For them, other tours in Tromsø are a better fit, and we cover those below. We live in Rovaniemi, where we have done plenty of snow walks with friends’ children, and the pattern is consistent: the child’s mood matters more than their age on paper.

What four hours actually feels like

The tour is listed as 4 hours, and the operator notes that the duration includes transfer time. In practice that means the walking part is shorter than four hours, with the rest spent in the vehicle and at stops. The group is 2–8 guests, so the guide can adapt the pace.

Snowshoes are not hard to use. If your child can walk, they can snowshoe, because the shoes are simply wide frames that keep you on top of the snow. The trickier part is the effort: lifting your feet a little higher, dealing with uneven snow and keeping warm when you stop.

A typical structure is a short drive, a briefing, fitting the snowshoes and poles, then a guided walk with pauses to look around and to rest. We would not describe it as a race. It is more a moving picnic without the picnic, so bring your own snacks and a flask.

Is it too cold for children?

The honest answer is that it depends on how well you dress them. Tromsø’s coastal climate is milder than many people expect, but wind and damp make it feel cold, and children lose heat faster than adults. The tour does not list a winter suit as included for the snowshoe hike, so bring proper layers.

• Base layer: wool or synthetic, not cotton.
• Mid layer: fleece or a thin down jacket.
• Outer layer: windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Boots: insulated, waterproof and roomy enough for thick socks.
• Hands and head: a hat that covers the ears, a neck warmer, and two pairs of gloves so one can dry.

A spare pair of socks and a snack in your pocket can rescue a cold, grumpy afternoon. If your child is the sort who complains within ten minutes of being outside, the hike may be a stretch.

Shared hike or private hike for a family

The shared Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 1,500 per person, and the group is 2–8 guests, which means you may walk with strangers. The Private Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 12,000 per group of 2–8 guests, so the guide and the vehicle are yours.

The break-even is easy to work out. A family of four on the shared tour pays NOK 6,000. A family of six pays NOK 9,000, and eight people pay NOK 12,000, the same as the private price. So the private hike is worth it for groups of about eight, or for families who want the guide to themselves and the timetable flexible for children.

Better options for younger children

If your children are under 10, there are alternatives that are all-ages. The Private Ersfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 12,000 per group, takes 3–4 hours, and includes coffee or tea and a cinnamon bun, with a local guide in a Mercedes minivan. The Private Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 15,000 per group for 5–6 hours, with lunch. For a longer, culture-focused day, the Private Reindeer Farm Visit with Reindeer Feeding & Sámi Culture5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is NOK 35,000 per group for 6–7 hours.

These are driving tours with stops rather than a physical walk, so they suit children who tire easily. The northern lights tour also has a private version, the Private Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at NOK 15,000, which is open to all ages.

Timing the hike around Christmas holidays

The Arctic Snowshoe Hike leaves at 10:00, which makes it a morning activity, and it ends around early afternoon. In December, the light is blue and soft rather than bright, so the walk happens in a quiet, dim landscape. That is atmospheric, but it also means the outdoors feels like evening earlier.

For a family trip over the holidays, we would put the hike on a day that does not follow a long northern lights night. Children do better with an early night before a morning outdoor activity. If you are also planning a chase, book the hike on a different day, or choose the evening version, the Aurora Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at NOK 1,500 per person, which leaves at 18:30 and includes snacks and a hot drink.

A family-friendly way to spread a Tromsø week

Children cope better when the days have a rhythm, and Tromsø in winter is easy to over-schedule. A pattern we like for a family of four on a four-night trip is one active outdoor morning, one quiet day, one big evening and one flexible spare. The snowshoe hike is the active morning. It is physical enough to tire children out gently, short enough to leave the afternoon free, and it ends before the early dark makes everyone grumpy.

The quiet day can be as simple as a museum, a swim or a long lunch. The big evening is the northern lights tour, ideally on night two so that a cloudy night still leaves a second chance. The spare is for weather, tiredness or the fjord tour if the group is still full of energy.

If your family has teenagers, the same plan works with the advanced option in mind, although the Arctic Snowshoe Adventure (Advanced)5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed for ages 16+ and runs 6 hours including transfer at NOK 2,100 per person, with a meeting point at Kaigata 6 rather than a hotel pickup. For most families, the standard hike is the better match.

One more practical point: keep children fed. A small bag with nuts, fruit and something sweet, plus a flask of something warm, has saved more outdoor days than any piece of expensive kit. And let them carry something light, such as their own water, so they feel part of the expedition.

What we’d book

For a family with children aged 10 and over, we would book the Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 on a quiet morning, or the Private Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 if there are six to eight of you. For a trip with younger children, we would choose one of the private fjord tours. For the wider list of options, see our Tromsø activities guide.

All of these are booked on the operator’s own page, which is where HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 gives 5% off.

How to book direct with the Hungrytravelfamily discount

1. Open the tour from our link and pick your date.
2. Choose the number of guests, checking that every child meets the age recommendation.
3. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field before payment.
4. Confirm the 5% is applied and complete the booking.

The discount works on Legendary Adventure’s own booking page. If you have seen the same hike elsewhere, switch to the direct page before paying. We are Legendary Adventure’s partner and may earn a commission; it never changes your price. For shared tours, cancellation is free more than 48 hours before departure.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

Snowshoeing is a gentle, memorable way to be outside in Tromsø, and for children of 10 and older who like walking it is a good family choice. Dress them well, keep the pace easy and be honest about their stamina. For younger children, choose an all-ages private tour instead and save the snowshoes for next time.

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

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø family 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 →Private · 4 HoursPrivate 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 · 3-4 HoursPrivate Ersfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord TourFrom 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.