Excursion provider recommendations - Chasing the Northern lights small group tours in Alta and Tromso. Also seeking opinions

[Aussie lost in space]

Hello brains trust

I am aware that a few people on here have completed independent small group (i.e 8 -12 people) excursions in Alta and Tromso to 'Chase the northern lights'.  I am seeking any recommendations for service providers/excursion companies based upon direct positive experience.  I have done some individual research and a number of prior reviews have talked about companies, who unfortunately (possibly due to covid) either no longer exist or no longer conduct excursions for these areas.  Could anyone please recommend, hopefully based on current experience/review any fantastic providers I can explore.  We are on Viking's Ocean tour in January 2023.  No information, as yet, on our roll call of anyone with this information.  Whilst I am asking for reviews - how easy is it to get from Oslo to Bergen via train, with a side trip for the flam railway?  We are considering an overnight in either Flam or Mrydal if this is going to be best, to break up the trip.  However do not want to do the 'add on' excursion pre sailing offered by Viking.

TIA.

Stephanie

[Azulann]

Have you   posted on Port of Call  forum: Northern Europe/ Baltic ?  There are some great experts from these Scandinavian countries that answer  questions on a regular basis. 

I have  gotten lots of detail info posting questions for  my trip in 2023, Scenic Scandinavia.

Good luck.

 

. 

[Frenchberet]

For the northern lights, check out GLOD Explorer.  This company handled our Viking excursion in Feb 2019.  I think you can make your own reservations to do a small group excursion (recommended). 

 

After the cruise ended, we took the train from Bergen to Oslo.  It was very easy to book our own train tickets (Komfort class).  We stayed at the Thon Opera Hotel for a few days.  Lots to see in Oslo. 

 

Enjoy your trip!

[Cleopatra99]

5 hours ago, Aussie lost in space said:

 Whilst I am asking for reviews - how easy is it to get from Oslo to Bergen via train, with a side trip for the flam railway?  We are considering an overnight in either Flam or Mrydal if this is going to be best, to break up the trip.  However do not want to do the 'add on' excursion pre sailing offered by Viking.

TIA.

Stephanie

 

We did Oslo - Bergen by train in 2017 prior to our Homelands cruise. We booked the trip ourselves through the Norway in a Nutshell website;

 

https://www.norwaynutshell.com/original-tour/

 

The trip involved 3 trains (including Flam Railway), a bus and boat ride and whilst it was a long day it was very worthwhile. We didn't stay overnight in Flam etc.

 

We also stayed at Thon Opera (which is right next to the railway station). The hotel was fine and the location perfect.

 

To avoid dragging luggage we used a luggage forwarding service. They met us in the lobby at the Thon and took our suitcases. We traveled with a backpack.

 

Our luggage was waiting for us at the hotel in Bergen when we arrived (at the Radisson Blu Royal - for us it's a good hotel in a good location).

 

Good luck with the planning, and eventually with the cruise (and the lights).

 

 

[kcpvwill]

 

• I posted this from our NL cruise in February 2022 about the difference of the Viking optional cruises in Alta and Tromso.  Other 

• #88   

Posted March 1

We’ve just returned from the previous  cruise today.  We had 4 sea days at the end (2 were scheduled and 2 missed ports, Bodo and Lerwick), because of the hurricane speed wind and waves of up to 30 feet.  We both used seasickness tablets on the first two of these  days plus I used wrist bands, green apples  and crystallised ginger.  After that the last 2 days were OK , waves down to about 6-10 feet, winds still strong, it was bracing on deck!  
 

Just a heads up on the Chasing/Searching for the Northern Lights in Alta and Tromso.  Although the descriptions are the same the excursions are not.  The one in Alta has facilities, loos, shelter, campfire etc for the minus 16C temperatures, (sorry not to know the equivalent in Fahrenheit) whereas the one in Tromso is in a forest near a road with no facilities.  When we heard this at the port talk we realised it was not suitable for us and cancelled.  As it happened the night was cloudy and there were no sightings, so we were not too disappointed.  
 

As usual, we really enjoyed being back on a Viking ship ( we have done 6 River and 8 Ocean with 3 more this year postponed from 2020 and 2021) 

 

I hope you all get better sea conditions than we did and get to see the lights and all the ports.  

[Mountain Traveler]

My wife and I travelled with another couple on Viking's "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise in Feb/March of 2020.  It was the last cruise before COVID shutdowns.  I looked up the websites of the tour providers we used and both appear to be up and running now.

 

In Tromso, we booked a northern Lights tour with Tromsø Friluftsenter, (info@tromso-friluftsenter.no).  We were very fortunate to have a clear sky with lots of aurora activity.  It was, however, bitterly cold.  We met their bus by the hotel right outside where the ship was docked.  They take a maximum of 16 people.  Although they will drive all over to get a clear view of the sky, this night did not require that and we drove to their "base camp".  Inside the lavvu (a round, native Sami shelter) we sat around the fire and roasted marshmallows waiting for the light to appear.  They provided tripods for the photographers in the group, warm snowsuits to go over your clothes.  An outhouse was available for those needing it.   The location is along a small lake with a small community on the other side.  It made for wonderful northern lights photographs, as I think having some foreground in the photo is preferable to just green  lights up in the sky.  Their web site provides an accurate description of the tour.  They were very good to work with and I recommend them highly.

 

In Alta we had booked with Luuso Northern Lights Tours.  Unfortunately, the lights did not cooperate.  Here is my Trip Advisor review of the night:

 

We boarded the beautiful Lusso bus on a cold and overcast night. Per greeted us in his Sami costume. He said things did not look good. He showed us sky cams from all over the area and also the Aurora forecast. He volunteered to go, but told us we had a very slim chance of seeing any lights. We agreed that cancelling was the best choice (especially since the previous night in Tromso had been so wonderful).

They have several 4 minute films about the northern lights and Sami reindeer herding, which he showed us on the bus. He answered questions and gave us a sample of reindeer jerky and then a small package of jerky to take home. Luuso is Per's family name and the reindeer film was shot by his uncle. After a very enjoyable 45 minutes on the bus in the parking lot, we got off and took a photo with Per.

 

You can read all about the tour inclusions, etc. on their website.  I really wish we had been able to actually see lights that night.  

 

Good luck with your Northern Lights chase!

[Aussie lost in space]

On 5/16/2022 at 1:55 PM, Cleopatra99 said:

 

We did Oslo - Bergen by train in 2017 prior to our Homelands cruise. We booked the trip ourselves through the Norway in a Nutshell website;

 

https://www.norwaynutshell.com/original-tour/

 

The trip involved 3 trains (including Flam Railway), a bus and boat ride and whilst it was a long day it was very worthwhile. We didn't stay overnight in Flam etc.

 

We also stayed at Thon Opera (which is right next to the railway station). The hotel was fine and the location perfect.

 

To avoid dragging luggage we used a luggage forwarding service. They met us in the lobby at the Thon and took our suitcases. We traveled with a backpack.

 

Our luggage was waiting for us at the hotel in Bergen when we arrived (at the Radisson Blu Royal - for us it's a good hotel in a good location).

 

Good luck with the planning, and eventually with the cruise (and the lights).

 

 

Thank you for your reply Cleopatra99.  Could I inquire further, if you can recall, the name of the luggage forwarding service?  Did you have to pre-book this online and where do you 'hand over your luggage' if you are not staying in Oslo? We are staying prior to our Oslo - Mrydal - Bergen leg in Stockholm, then flying to Oslo and planning to complete the train journey over 2 days between Oslo and Bergen.  So we could potentially 'send' our luggage on from Stockholm to Bergen direct and just keep an overnight bag for this small leg.

Appreciate your time to post and information.

[Aussie lost in space]

On 5/23/2022 at 6:07 AM, Mountain Traveler said:

My wife and I travelled with another couple on Viking's "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise in Feb/March of 2020.  It was the last cruise before COVID shutdowns.  I looked up the websites of the tour providers we used and both appear to be up and running now.

 

In Tromso, we booked a northern Lights tour with Tromsø Friluftsenter, (info@tromso-friluftsenter.no).  We were very fortunate to have a clear sky with lots of aurora activity.  It was, however, bitterly cold.  We met their bus by the hotel right outside where the ship was docked.  They take a maximum of 16 people.  Although they will drive all over to get a clear view of the sky, this night did not require that and we drove to their "base camp".  Inside the lavvu (a round, native Sami shelter) we sat around the fire and roasted marshmallows waiting for the light to appear.  They provided tripods for the photographers in the group, warm snowsuits to go over your clothes.  An outhouse was available for those needing it.   The location is along a small lake with a small community on the other side.  It made for wonderful northern lights photographs, as I think having some foreground in the photo is preferable to just green  lights up in the sky.  Their web site provides an accurate description of the tour.  They were very good to work with and I recommend them highly.

 

In Alta we had booked with Luuso Northern Lights Tours.  Unfortunately, the lights did not cooperate.  Here is my Trip Advisor review of the night:

 

We boarded the beautiful Lusso bus on a cold and overcast night. Per greeted us in his Sami costume. He said things did not look good. He showed us sky cams from all over the area and also the Aurora forecast. He volunteered to go, but told us we had a very slim chance of seeing any lights. We agreed that cancelling was the best choice (especially since the previous night in Tromso had been so wonderful).

They have several 4 minute films about the northern lights and Sami reindeer herding, which he showed us on the bus. He answered questions and gave us a sample of reindeer jerky and then a small package of jerky to take home. Luuso is Per's family name and the reindeer film was shot by his uncle. After a very enjoyable 45 minutes on the bus in the parking lot, we got off and took a photo with Per.

 

You can read all about the tour inclusions, etc. on their website.  I really wish we had been able to actually see lights that night.  

 

Good luck with your Northern Lights chase!

Thank you so much for taking the time to post Mountain Traveler.  Truly appreciate your information and review.  Glad you saw the lights in Tromso, sorry you didn't have the same luck in Alta.  

[Aussie lost in space]

Thanks so much to everyone for your responses. 

Azulann - Yes I've posted over in Nth Europ/Baltic.  Unfortunately less replies than here.

Kcpvwill - thanks for your information and review.  Degrees is fine - I'm an Aussie and we too do degrees not Fahrenheit 😆. 

Frenchberet - Thanks for taking the time to post a reply. 

[Cleopatra99]

On 6/24/2022 at 4:21 PM, Aussie lost in space said:

Thank you for your reply Cleopatra99.  Could I inquire further, if you can recall, the name of the luggage forwarding service?  Did you have to pre-book this online and where do you 'hand over your luggage' if you are not staying in Oslo? We are staying prior to our Oslo - Mrydal - Bergen leg in Stockholm, then flying to Oslo and planning to complete the train journey over 2 days between Oslo and Bergen.  So we could potentially 'send' our luggage on from Stockholm to Bergen direct and just keep an overnight bag for this small leg.

Appreciate your time to post and information.

hello again .. we've been to SA for a few weeks and am just catching up. We used ..

 

http://www.porterservice.no

 

I've checked .. they are still in business. There is some information in the website about pickup arrangements / contact details etc. Hopefully they can meet your needs. Good luck.

[JM0115]

On 5/22/2022 at 2:07 PM, Mountain Traveler said:

My wife and I travelled with another couple on Viking's "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise in Feb/March of 2020.  It was the last cruise before COVID shutdowns.  I looked up the websites of the tour providers we used and both appear to be up and running now.

 

In Tromso, we booked a northern Lights tour with Tromsø Friluftsenter, (info@tromso-friluftsenter.no).  We were very fortunate to have a clear sky with lots of aurora activity.  It was, however, bitterly cold.  We met their bus by the hotel right outside where the ship was docked.  They take a maximum of 16 people.  Although they will drive all over to get a clear view of the sky, this night did not require that and we drove to their "base camp".  Inside the lavvu (a round, native Sami shelter) we sat around the fire and roasted marshmallows waiting for the light to appear.  They provided tripods for the photographers in the group, warm snowsuits to go over your clothes.  An outhouse was available for those needing it.   The location is along a small lake with a small community on the other side.  It made for wonderful northern lights photographs, as I think having some foreground in the photo is preferable to just green  lights up in the sky.  Their web site provides an accurate description of the tour.  They were very good to work with and I recommend them highly.

 

In Alta we had booked with Luuso Northern Lights Tours.  Unfortunately, the lights did not cooperate.  Here is my Trip Advisor review of the night:

 

We boarded the beautiful Lusso bus on a cold and overcast night. Per greeted us in his Sami costume. He said things did not look good. He showed us sky cams from all over the area and also the Aurora forecast. He volunteered to go, but told us we had a very slim chance of seeing any lights. We agreed that cancelling was the best choice (especially since the previous night in Tromso had been so wonderful).

They have several 4 minute films about the northern lights and Sami reindeer herding, which he showed us on the bus. He answered questions and gave us a sample of reindeer jerky and then a small package of jerky to take home. Luuso is Per's family name and the reindeer film was shot by his uncle. After a very enjoyable 45 minutes on the bus in the parking lot, we got off and took a photo with Per.

 

You can read all about the tour inclusions, etc. on their website.  I really wish we had been able to actually see lights that night.  

 

Good luck with your Northern Lights chase!

In Atla, did you tender?  Any issues with having a late night excursion not with Viking and getting back on the ship late at night (like around midnight)?

[donaldsc]

All of this talk about aurora excursions ignores the fact that if you REALLY want to see aurora and not just see them as part of a cruise you have to design a land trip specifically to see them - northern Alaska, Iceland or northern Norway.  Pick a season where the probability of seeing them is good.  Pick a time of the month when there is little or no moon.  Then book a stay at spot with dark skies for a week to hopefully get at least a few days with no cloud cover.  If you want to be totally nuts about it don't book your trip without checking the aurora forecast sites.  When you find a time and place where all the omens align immediately book your trip.  There is still a chance that you will have bad luck but you have done all you can do to maximize your chances of seeing them.  

 

That is what I did except that I booked in advance and did not wait until a favorable aurora forecast - Fairbanks, February, no moon and a week booked at Chena Hot Springs which is ~60 miles away from the lights of Fairbanks.  I did luck out.  I got 4 or 5 days of wonderful aurora.  That was one of my bucket list trips.

 

DON

[Mountain Traveler]

We did not tender in Tromso nor Alta.  In Tromso, we docked right in town.  In Alta, we were a bit further out, but a Viking shuttle ran to the city center where you can walk around.

 

Both nights we overnighted in port and there was no issue getting back on the ship very late at night.

[Aussie lost in space]

On 8/29/2022 at 1:08 PM, donaldsc said:

All of this talk about aurora excursions ignores the fact that if you REALLY want to see aurora and not just see them as part of a cruise you have to design a land trip specifically to see them - northern Alaska, Iceland or northern Norway.  Pick a season where the probability of seeing them is good.  Pick a time of the month when there is little or no moon.  Then book a stay at spot with dark skies for a week to hopefully get at least a few days with no cloud cover.  If you want to be totally nuts about it don't book your trip without checking the aurora forecast sites.  When you find a time and place where all the omens align immediately book your trip.  There is still a chance that you will have bad luck but you have done all you can do to maximize your chances of seeing them.  

 

That is what I did except that I booked in advance and did not wait until a favorable aurora forecast - Fairbanks, February, no moon and a week booked at Chena Hot Springs which is ~60 miles away from the lights of Fairbanks.  I did luck out.  I got 4 or 5 days of wonderful aurora.  That was one of my bucket list trips.

 

DON

Thank you for your comments Don, appreciate your advice and suggestions. I'm glad to hear you had such a wonderful experience and had 4 - 5 days of wonderful aurora activity. 

 

The cruise was one enjoyable way for us (and many others I suspect) to see a number of places in Norway, including northern Norway (with Tromso and Alta being the places with high levels of aurora activity), with the possibility of seeing the lights as part of this trip.  We, hubby and myself, are both professionals and have done our research.  We know that any trip to see the lights is completely based upon mother nature, irrelevant as to whether one is staying inland, cruising along the coast, overnighting (which we do on this cruise) in both Alta and Tromso and seeking out excursions that travel over the Finland border to increase possibilities.   In fact we are about to enter solar cycle 25, with 2023 - 2026 predicted as the best years for solar activity, increased sunspot visibility and thus flares.   Unfortunately/fortunately for us we will be cruising into the area during a full moon.  However, from all the professionals I have spoken to, including aurora 'hunters', a specialist at the observatory in Silsand, Norway and Aurora photographers, the moon cycle does not have much impact on the display, in fact often it can provide much greater photographic opportunities as it lights up the landscape.  The main inhibitor is cloud cover/clear skies.  

 

Fingers crossed for all of us on this cruise.  Northern lights is on our bucket list, however the journey, destinations and the cruise itself are also a big part of the trip for us. 

We all appreciate there are no guarantees with mother nature.  

 

 

[Moonlion]

On our January 2022 NL cruise, we saw the lights on 3-4 occasions with one time being spectacular (our first night in Alta where we did an overnight at the Igloo Hotel).  In following the other CC roll calls, I believe that all or at least most of the other NL cruises in winter 2022 also experienced the aurora at some point on their cruise. No guarantees of course but you can increase your chances if you book the NL hunt/chase tours while in Tromso and Alta. As the above posters noted, you need dark, clear skies along with decent aurora activity in area. The aurora activity doesn't have to be super high to see the lights in the high northern latitudes (e.g., Alta and Tromso).

[jtrdhead13]

On 8/30/2022 at 6:39 AM, Moonlion said:

On our January 2022 NL cruise, we saw the lights on 3-4 occasions with one time being spectacular (our first night in Alta where we did an overnight at the Igloo Hotel).  In following the other CC roll calls, I believe that all or at least most of the other NL cruises in winter 2022 also experienced the aurora at some point on their cruise. No guarantees of course but you can increase your chances if you book the NL hunt/chase tours while in Tromso and Alta. As the above posters noted, you need dark, clear skies along with decent aurora activity in area. The aurora activity doesn't have to be super high to see the lights in the high northern latitudes (e.g., Alta and Tromso).

Question on the Igloo Hotel.  Do you know where on cruise critic I can find more information on both the Glamping in Tromso overnight and the Igloo Hotel overnight.  I have been told that if you need to  go to the bathroom at night, you must get dressed and then go into another building - is this true?  Do you recommend doing the Hotel and did you hear anything about the Glamping?  Thanks.  We are scheduled to go in February 2024. 

[Moonlion]

On 11/4/2023 at 1:12 AM, jtrdhead13 said:

Question on the Igloo Hotel.  Do you know where on cruise critic I can find more information on both the Glamping in Tromso overnight and the Igloo Hotel overnight.  I have been told that if you need to  go to the bathroom at night, you must get dressed and then go into another building - is this true?  Do you recommend doing the Hotel and did you hear anything about the Glamping?  Thanks.  We are scheduled to go in February 2024. 

We only did the Igloo Hotel and thus can't comment on Glamping in Tromso.  We felt our overnight in the Igloo Hotel was a "once in a lifetime adventure," Glad we did it (especially since our best aurora experience occurred that night) but don't feel the need to repeat if we return to Alta.  The hotel itself is truly beautiful and unique, entirely made of ice including the beds.  As such, there are no toilet facilities or electrical outlets in the Igloo.  However, the lodge is very close, maybe 20 feet from the entrance to the Igloo.  I kept my coat and boots near the ice bed when I needed to get up in the middle of the night to use the lodge facilities. The ice beds include a foam and reindeer skin padding and they provide sleeping bags.  They recommend that you wear a base layer (long underwear), warm socks and cap to sleep.  My husband and I shared a double sleeping bag and were quite warm despite the sub zero temperature inside the Igloo. 

[wcGma]

On my guest registration form, it lists tender in Alta. Does anyone have experience with being tendered and returning after midnight from a private excursion?

[Haqdeluxe]

42 minutes ago, wcGma said:

On my guest registration form, it lists tender in Alta. Does anyone have experience with being tendered and returning after midnight from a private excursion?

Been to Alta twice on Viking where we docked both times after the port being listed as tendered/anchored out. You may luck out too.

However... if you do end up tendering ashore, I doubt the ship will run tenders beyond their planned final trip soley to service those out on non-Viking/private excursions. I suspect your excursion operator will coordinate your return with the ship so as to insure you don't get stranded. Won't be their 1st rodeo. 

[wcGma]

Thank you. Good advice to check with tour operator as well as can go to guest services/excursions once on board  for information. They were very helpful on our last cruise.