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 January Is a Good Month for the Fjord Tour

Most visitors plan around December, so January feels like the month everyone forgot. That is its charm. The Christmas rush has gone home, the town is calmer, and the coast roads of Kvaløya have a stillness that you do not get in the summer crowds. If you are travelling after the holidays, or you are planning a trip roughly four to eight weeks from now, January is a month that works for the daytime tour.

The tour itself is the same year-round experience described by the operator: a guided drive across Kvaløya and out to Sommarøy, with scenic stops, wildlife watching, a local lunch and stories about island life. What changes in January is the light and the landscape around it, and that is what this guide covers.

The Light: Blue Hour, Pink Sky and a Returning Sun

Tromsø is deep in the polar night at the start of January, which means the sun does not rise above the horizon at midday. You get a long, soft twilight instead: blue snow, pink bands low on the southern sky, and a gentle glow that photographers love. Late in the month the sun begins to return, and the days lengthen quickly week by week.

For a 10:00 start this works well. You leave town in twilight, and the best of the light usually falls between late morning and early afternoon, right when you are at the viewpoints and beaches. It is not bright daylight, so plan on slower camera shutter speeds and warm layers, but it is the kind of light that makes fjords look painted. We recommend not rushing the stops; stand still for a minute and let your eyes adjust.

If you want brighter days, February and March are better; we cover those in our guides to the season. For atmosphere, January wins.

What You See on the Road

The route runs along winding coastal roads past fjords, snow-covered mountains and small villages. The operator’s description highlights white-sand Arctic beaches, and in January those beaches are edged with snow and sea ice, which makes them look nothing like the postcards from summer. Your guide makes several scenic stops so you can step out and take photographs.

Sommarøy is a small island community connected to the mainland by a bridge. In midwinter the island feels remote, and the low light makes the rocks and skerries glow. This is the part of the tour people tell us they remember most: standing on a beach at 69° north in winter, with the sea breathing slowly beside you.

Roads in winter are cleared and the guides drive them daily, but conditions can change. The operator runs the tour when it is safe to do so, and a good guide will sometimes alter the order of stops to suit the weather.

Wildlife in January: What Is Realistic

We would rather under-promise. The tour description mentions reindeer near the road, moose in the forest, white-tailed sea eagles over the fjords, seabirds along the cliffs and seasonal whale sightings, including orcas and humpbacks during migration periods. Not all of that will happen on a given day, and the operator itself says every day is different.

In January the most likely sightings are reindeer, birds of prey such as sea eagles, and seabirds on the water. Whales are a bonus rather than a promise. Treat any sighting as a gift and the scenery as the guaranteed part of the day.

Lunch at Sommarøy Arctic Hotel

Midday brings the stop that many guests remember: lunch at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, set right by the sea. The operator describes it as a high-quality Arctic lunch with fresh local ingredients, and vegan and vegetarian options are available. If you have other dietary needs, mention them when you book or contact the operator early so that the kitchen can plan.

On a cold January day, a warm table by the water is exactly what the itinerary needs. It also gives you time to warm up, charge a phone, and look through your photographs before the second half of the drive.

What to Wear and What to Bring

Unlike the northern lights chase, this tour does not list a winter suit among the inclusions, so you dress yourself. January coastal air is damp and windy even when the thermometer is not extreme, and you will be standing at viewpoints for photographs. Our list:

• Warm thermal base layers and a fleece or wool mid-layer
• A windproof outer jacket and insulated trousers
• Winter boots with grip, thick socks and a spare pair
• Hat, gloves (plus thin liner gloves for the camera) and a neck gaiter
• A small daypack with a thermos, phone power bank and sunglasses for bright snow

You will be in a heated vehicle between stops, so layers that are easy to remove are better than one huge coat.

Is It Worth NOK 2,100 in January?

Think about what the price covers: a guide who knows the roads and the light, a premium Mercedes-Benz vehicle for 5–6 hours, a sit-down local lunch and the logistics of reaching an island two hours’ worth of scenery away. A rental car in winter would cost you the car, fuel, the stress of icy coastal roads in the dark, and no one to tell you what you are looking at. For a couple the total is NOK 4,200 before the reader discount, with lunch included. With the 5% reduction it is NOK 3,990.

Where the value drops is if you are travelling with very small children or you hate being in a vehicle for long stretches. In that case, the shorter Ersfjord & Grøtfjord tour (3–4 hours, NOK 1,500 per person) may suit better.

Making January a Two-Tour Day

Because the fjord tour returns in the afternoon and the Northern Lights Tour starts in the evening, many couples book both on separate days or even the same day. If you do both on one day, plan a proper rest between: a hot shower, a light meal and a short sleep. The chase runs 5–8 hours and ends late.

If you have three or more nights, we suggest the chase on your first or second night, the fjord tour on a day with decent weather in the forecast, and a spare night in case the sky stays cloudy. Read our companion planning guides on our Tromsø activities hub for more combinations.

How to Book With 5% Off

Open the Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 page on Legendary Adventure’s booking system, choose a January date and the number of guests, and continue to checkout. Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 in the promo-code field and apply it before you pay. The reduction works when you book on the operator’s own booking page, and it applies to any other tour in your basket too.

For families or small groups, check the Private Sommarøy & Kvaløya Scenic Fjord Tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 (NOK 15,000 per group, all ages, 5–6 hours, pickup location chosen at checkout). With six to eight guests the per-person cost is close to the shared tour, and you get your own guide and pace. Free cancellation applies until 48 hours before departure.

FAQ

Our Honest Final Word

January will not give you midsummer light or beach weather. It gives you quiet roads, blue twilight and a coastline that feels remote in the best way. If you want one daytime activity that shows Northern Norway rather than just Tromsø, this is the tour we would recommend, and the included lunch makes the price easier to justify.

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 fjord picks

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 · 3-4 HoursErsfjord & Grøtfjord Scenic Fjord TourFrom 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.