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Northern lights tours: Alaska, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland
If you want the best realistic odds of seeing the aurora, go somewhere under the auroral oval in the dark season, and consider letting a local guide do the driving and the cloud-dodging. Below are tour options in Alaska and the Nordic countries, with notes on how to choose one.
How to choose a northern lights tour
- No tour can guarantee the aurora. Activity and cloud decide every night. Plan several nights in one place rather than one night in several. Be wary of any promise of a guaranteed sighting.
- Read the weather and "no aurora" policy. Some operators rebook or partly refund you if they cancel for weather or see no aurora. Check exactly what applies, and the cancellation deadline, before you pay.
- Prefer small groups that chase clear skies. A tour that will drive to the clearest area often beats one that stops at a single fixed spot. Long chases can mean many hours in a vehicle, though.
- Check the forecast before booking a particular night. Our Aurora tonight page reads NOAA's next-24-hour outlook, and the Kp index guide explains what the numbers mean. Under the oval, as in Fairbanks or Tromsø, aurora is common even at modest Kp; clear skies matter more.
- Timing. The dark season runs roughly from late August or September to March or April at these latitudes, with a boost near the equinoxes. See best time of year.
- Cold and comfort. Ask what warm gear is provided, how much time is spent outdoors versus in a vehicle or cabin, and whether photos are included or you need your own camera. Our photography guide covers phones and cameras.
Book a guided aurora tour
A guide does the driving, the forecast-watching and the hunt for clear skies, which helps most if you are visiting and don't know the area. It does not change the physics: you still need dark, clear skies and some geomagnetic activity.
- No tour can guarantee aurora. Plan more than one night if you can. Treat any promise of a guaranteed sighting with caution.
- Prefer tours with a clear weather, cancellation or "no aurora" policy, and read it before you pay.
- Check the forecast first: our Kp index guide and NOAA SWPC's 3-day forecast and 30-minute aurora forecast.
- Arctic winter nights can be extremely cold. Check what clothing or gear the tour provides.
Affiliate links: some links below go to Viator and GetYourGuide. If you book through them, Solar Evidence may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We don't run or vet these tours; check reviews, cancellation terms and the forecast before booking. Commissions never affect our evidence ratings. Affiliate policy.
Fairbanks (under the auroral oval)
- Aurora chasing with photography Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 4 hours. A shorter evening chase, with help taking aurora photos.
- SkyChase Northern Lights Experience Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 5 hours. A mid-length night chase around the Fairbanks area.
- Northern Lights Lodge & Chase Tour Viator · From Fairbanks · about 9 hours. Combines waiting at a lodge with driving to clearer skies.
- Arctic Night Tours aurora tour with photos Viator · Fairbanks, Alaska · about 8–12 hours. A long overnight outing for people who want to stay out through the late-night peak. Same operator also listed on GetYourGuide.
- Fairbanks northern lights tours (search) Viator · Compare aurora trips from Fairbanks side by side.
- Fairbanks northern lights tours (search) GetYourGuide · A second marketplace to compare Fairbanks aurora trips.
- All Fairbanks tours Viator · Browse everything bookable in and around Fairbanks.
Anchorage
- Anchorage Northern Lights Tour Viator · Anchorage, Alaska · about 6–9 hours. A night drive out of the city lights to look for aurora.
- Anchorage northern lights tours (search) Viator · Compare aurora trips that start in Anchorage.
If you are going abroad: Nordic options
Northern Scandinavia and Iceland lie at similar magnetic latitudes to interior Alaska. The practical viewing season is the dark half of the year, roughly September to March. Bright summer nights near the Arctic Circle make aurora effectively impossible to see, even when it is active.
Norway: Tromsø
Tromsø sits at about 69.6° N, usually beneath the auroral oval, so modest activity can be enough. The coast brings changeable weather, which is why many tours drive inland looking for gaps in the cloud.
- Small-group minibus aurora chase GetYourGuide · Tromsø, Norway. A small group drives toward whichever area has the clearest forecast.
- Minibus aurora chase with a local guide and photos GetYourGuide · Tromsø, Norway. A guided evening chase with photos taken for you.
- Tromsø northern lights tours (search) GetYourGuide · Compare aurora trips that leave from Tromsø.
Sweden: Abisko
Abisko, at about 68.4° N, lies in the rain shadow of the surrounding mountains and is known for clearer skies than much of the region. Clear skies are still not guaranteed.
- Evening hike with huskies and a campfire GetYourGuide · Abisko, Sweden. A slower-paced evening outdoors while you wait for aurora.
Finland: Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is right on the Arctic Circle, about 66.5° N, and often near the southern edge of the oval on quieter nights. A modest rise in activity usually improves the odds.
- Rovaniemi northern lights tours (search) GetYourGuide · Compare aurora trips that leave from Rovaniemi.
Iceland: Reykjavik
Reykjavik, at about 64° N, is easy to reach, but Iceland's weather changes fast and cloud is common. Tours usually head away from the city lights toward the clearest forecast.
- Small-group northern lights tour with photos Viator · Reykjavik, Iceland · about 3–6 hours. An evening small-group chase from the capital.
- Reykjavik northern lights tours (search) GetYourGuide · Compare aurora trips that leave from Reykjavik.
Tours are listed on Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and GetYourGuide. Latitudes are approximate. Durations, where shown, are approximate and come from the operators. Prices, availability and reviews change, so check them on the booking page.
Want to go on your own instead? Our best US places and times guide covers where to look in Alaska and the northern US, and how to see the northern lights in the US walks through forecasts and timing.