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 This Week Is Different

Between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, Tromsø fills with visitors from all over the world. Flights are full, hotels set their highest prices and tour calendars tighten, especially in the evenings. If you are planning this week roughly six to eight weeks ahead, which is exactly where we are now, you are in the right window to secure what you want.

The daytime tour is easier to get than the evening chase, but it is not unlimited. Shared vehicles take 2–8 guests, and popular dates sell out first. We suggest deciding which two or three activities matter most to you, booking those first, and filling the gaps with rest and food.

What the Tour Is

The Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour is a guided day trip by premium Mercedes-Benz vehicle across Kvaløya island and out to Sommarøy, a small island community. According to the operator, the route passes fjords, snow-covered mountains, small villages and white-sand Arctic beaches, with several scenic stops for photographs. Lunch is at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel by the sea, with vegan and vegetarian options. Pickup is at 10:00 outside Clarion Hotel The Edge, and the full tour takes 5–6 hours.

The price is NOK 2,100 per person and includes the guide, transport and lunch. Ages 7 and up are recommended, and groups are 2–8 guests.

The Light in Christmas Week

Christmas week falls in the heart of the polar night. The sun stays below the horizon, and the day offers a long blue twilight with colours that range from deep indigo to pink and orange along the southern horizon. With the 10:00 departure, you leave in the dark blue morning and reach the beaches and viewpoints in the best of the twilight. Expect photographs that look as though they were edited, and expect to need warm hands for your phone.

If this is your first polar night, the tour is a gentle way to understand it: you are not in darkness, you are in a different kind of light, and the coastal drive shows it off beautifully.

What Will Be Running and What to Check

We do not publish the operator’s holiday schedule because it can change, and we will not guess it. Before you plan around a particular day, such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, open the live booking calendar on the tour page and look at which dates are available. If a date is not listed, it is not bookable. If you need a day that does not show, contact Legendary Adventure directly through the booking page.

The same applies to restaurants, shops and public transport, which keep reduced hours on Norwegian holidays. Pre-book dinners for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and buy snacks in advance if you need them.

Families and Groups: Private or Shared?

In a holiday week, a private tour is often easier to organise than several seats in a shared vehicle. The private version costs NOK 15,000 per group for 5–6 hours, lists all ages, and lets you choose the pickup location at checkout. With six to eight guests the cost per person is close to the shared tour, and with a smaller family you pay more but gain flexibility on timing, stops and pace. This matters for grandparents or for children who need a break. We discuss the break-even point in our other family guides on our Tromsø activities hub.

Pairing With Other Christmas-Week Tours

The fjord tour works best on a day when you have a free evening or a late start the next morning. Many visitors pair it with the Northern Lights Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 2,300 per person, 5–8 hours) on a different day. If you have more days, the Arctic Snowshoe Hike5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 1,500, 4 hours) adds an active morning. Do not stack three big tours in a row; the chase ends late, and you will want the next morning to rest.

The Day Hour by Hour

10:00 Pickup outside Clarion Hotel The Edge. Look for the black Mercedes. Late morning Coastal drive across Kvaløya with scenic stops at fjords and beaches; your guide chooses where to stop based on light and conditions. Midday Lunch at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel by the sea, a warm and unhurried stop. Afternoon A second drive and more stops, with stories about fishing traditions, island life and the region’s history and folklore. Mid to late afternoon Return to Tromsø after 5–6 hours in total. Because Christmas-week daylight is limited, the guide usually orders the stops so that the best light falls on the best views, and you may be driving back in darkness. That is normal in the polar night and part of the atmosphere.

Wildlife in Midwinter: What Is Realistic

The operator mentions reindeer by the road, moose in the forest, white-tailed sea eagles, cormorants and guillemots on the cliffs, and seasonal whale sightings including orcas and humpbacks during migration periods. In Christmas week your best chances are reindeer and sea eagles, with seabirds along the shore. Whales are a bonus if conditions allow. Every day is different, and the guide will point out anything worth stopping for.

Cost for a Family of Four

For two adults and two children aged 7 or older, the shared tour is 4 × NOK 2,100 = NOK 8,400, which becomes NOK 7,980 with the 5% reader discount. The private tour is NOK 15,000 per group for up to 8, so for four people it costs more per person but gives you your own guide and schedule. If you are six to eight, the private tour per person is NOK 1,875–2,500, which is close to or even below the shared price. Do the sum for your group size before choosing, and remember that lunch is included in both.

Weather, Roads and Flexibility

Winter weather on the coast can be windy and snowy. The operator runs the tour when it is safe, and guides adapt the order of stops when conditions change. Keep your schedule flexible on the day, avoid booking tight flights straight after the tour, and read the cancellation rule carefully. If you are in town for several days, schedule the tour early in your stay so you have a spare day if the weather turns.

What to Wear and Bring

Dress as you would for a winter day: thermal base layers, a warm mid-layer, a windproof outer layer, insulated trousers, winter boots with grip, hat, gloves and a neck gaiter. A winter suit is not listed for this tour, so bring your own warm clothes. A power bank, a thermos and a small snack are useful. Sunglasses help if the sun returns, though in Christmas week that is unlikely.

How to Book With 5% Off

Open the Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 page, choose your date in Christmas week and your number of guests, and continue to checkout. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field and apply it before you pay. The code also works on other Legendary Adventure tours you add to the same booking. Free cancellation applies until 48 hours before departure; inside 48 hours the full amount is charged, so make sure your plans are firm before you commit.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

Christmas week is busy, but the fjord tour is one of the most relaxed ways to spend it. The coast is quiet, the light is soft and lunch is included. Book early, check the calendar for your exact day, and give yourself a rest day after any long chase.

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

5% off · code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5

Our Tromsø picks for Christmas week

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 · 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 →

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.