Northern lights tours: what to check before you book

Last reviewed 24 October 2026.

You can see the aurora on your own with a car, a dark spot and luck. A good tour improves the odds: guides know where the clear gaps in the cloud are likely to be, drive you there on winter roads, and know when it is worth waiting. A bad one is a long night on a bus. These are the questions that tell them apart.

A bright green spiral of northern lights above bare birch trees and snow
The northern lights on Ringvassøya, near Tromsø, Norway. Photo: Svein-Magne Tunli - tunliweb.no, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Before you book

  1. Do they chase or stay put? A “chase” goes wherever the forecast is clearest that night, sometimes a long drive. A fixed camp or cabin is more comfortable but cannot move if clouds roll in. Both can be right; know which you are buying.
  2. How big is the group? A minibus and a coach are very different nights, especially when everyone wants the same photo spot.
  3. What if there is no aurora? Ask directly whether you can come again for free or at a discount, and for how long the offer lasts. Policies differ a lot.
  4. What if the weather cancels it? Ask about refunds and rebooking when the tour is called off for storms or road conditions.
  5. Is warm clothing included? Some operators lend thermal suits and boots. If not, plan for long hours standing in deep cold.
  6. Are photos included? Many guides photograph guests under the aurora. If you want your own photos, ask whether they help set up phones and cameras and whether tripods are available.
  7. How long, and back when? Chases can return well after midnight. Check before booking an early start the next day.

When to go

Places we cover

Sources