The True Cost of Seeing The Northern Lights
Earlier this year, I decided to visit Tromsø, Norway in an attempt to view the Northern Lights. I had heard it was going to be one of the best years because the sun is reaching solar maximum and is more active than usual. As I would soon find out, it all comes down to luck and timing.
Months prior to my trip, I scoured Northern Lights Facebook Groups for all the tips I could gather and the best tours to book. I decided to go with a smaller group tour, one that was more nimble and would drive 3-4 hours into Finland if skies were unfavorable in Norway.
Since I was working at night due to the timezone difference with the US, my night for seeing the lights was on a Saturday. I arrived on a Thursday and while the skies were in perfect condition on Friday, I had work and stayed indoors (which I would soon come to regret).
A storm came in and my chances of seeing the lights did not seem high. With a small glimmer of hope and most big tours cancelled for the evening, we set out on our hunt. The guide continuously checked his phone for weather updates and we changed course as the night went on.
After driving all the way into Finland, we finally found clear skies. This turned out to be Tromsø’s biggest storm in 30 years so finding any sort of clearing was an accomplishment already. We set up a campfire and had dinner on the side of road while we waited for the skies to light up.
…but they never did. There was zero solar activity that night.
Clear skies, but no lights
I’m not sure if I can accurately describe the disappointment that I felt. The time and money spent on this tour, and the months spent excitedly waiting, all came down to this. I also want to be clear — this was beyond the tour’s control and I do not blame them one bit.
Refusing to give up, I decided to book another tour the following night. I went with a bigger tour group this time and honestly, this was mostly due to the price. The big tour groups are cheaper but you’re on a bus and it’s less personal. However, they still get the job done and that’s the most important factor.
To no surprise, the skies in Tromsø were still stormy so once again, we headed to Finland. We found a few small openings in the clouds and waited patiently in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights.
Suddenly, very faintly in the sky, we could see a small green hue through the clouds. Now I’m sure we’ve all seen impressive images and videos of the lights, but something I quickly learned is that the camera can pick up the colors better than the naked eye. So while I felt that I could barely see anything, the camera picked up this image.
So I guess you could say I saw the lights! But I don’t know if I was fully satisfied since the view with the naked eye was nowhere near as vibrant.
As luck would have it, my flight was cancelled due to the storms. I had been toying with the idea of going to Rovaniemi, Finland to try and see the lights one more time and the cancelled flight felt like the sign.
A couple days later, I was on a 10-hour bus ride to Rovaniemi. I had booked a night in an igloo hotel and I could not wait to go on more snow adventures. Without even knowing it, this town happened to be known as the ‘Official hometown of Santa Claus.’
I booked yet another tour. This was my last attempt at viewing the Northern Lights and I wasn’t too optimistic at this point. This was the cheapest of the three and if I’m being completely honest, probably had the lowest probability of seeing them based on how it was set up.
This time, luck was on my side! We saw them from the viewpoint at the top of the hill and on the ride back to town. I finally felt satisfied.
As you can imagine, this turned into a costly adventure but I would say it’s worth it. I’ll list the price of the three tours below:
Small, 8-person tour group in Norway: $245
Big bus light chase in Norway: $130
Small van viewing in Finland: $125
Total: $500
My biggest piece of advice for Northern Lights hunters. Be flexible and open to things not working out. I would also suggest finding other activities wherever you’re traveling that would make your trip enjoyable regardless of seeing the lights.
Seeing the Northern Lights was a huge part of my decision to visit the north, but I also enjoyed dog sledding, feeding reindeer, snowmobiling and other fun snow activities. The lights were just the cherry on top!