Tromso Arctic North
5
Day Itinerary •
Norway
Five days in Tromso and the Arctic North give you the full extraordinary sweep of Norway above the Arctic Circle, from the world capital of northern lights and the extraordinary Fjellheisen panorama to two northern lights chases in the Lyngen Alps, a husky safari on the Finnmarksvidda plateau, the extraordinary Arctic island of Sommaroy, and the extraordinary North Cape at 71 degrees north, the northernmost point of mainland Europe. This route covers the complete Arctic North experience. Tromso's old town, Arctic Cathedral and Polar Museum, two evenings of northern lights chase, the Lyngen Alps by day, the extraordinary Sommaroy Arctic beach, the remarkable reindeer herding Sami experience, and the extraordinary North Cape plateau with its globe monument above the Barents Sea.
Best Time To Visit
Nov to Mar for northern lights and husky. Jun to Jul for midnight sun.
Getting There
Direct flights from Oslo, Copenhagen and London to Tromso
Getting Around
Car hire essential for Day 3 onwards. Tromso Card for city.
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,300 to 2,500 NOK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Northern lights tours by minibus.
DAY 1
TROMSO OLD TOWN
MORNING
TROMSO OLD TOWN AND THE ARCTIC CATHEDRAL
Tromso's extraordinary Arctic Cathedral across the Tromsoysund bridge from the city island has the most extraordinary stained glass window in Norway, 140 square metres of mosaic by Victor Sparre. The old town on Tromsoya with its extraordinary collection of 19th-century wooden houses is the finest in northern Norway. The Tromso University Museum tells the extraordinary story of Sami culture and northern lights science. The extraordinary Polaria museum with its panoramic Svalbard film is outstanding. Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
THE POLAR MUSEUM AND THE HARBOUR
The Polar Museum tells the extraordinary story of Arctic exploration from Tromso, Roald Amundsen's extraordinary expeditions to the Northwest Passage, the North Pole and the South Pole, and the remarkable trappers who spent years alone on Svalbard. The extraordinary original equipment and the remarkable photographs of Arctic conditions are outstanding. The harbour district around the museum has the finest collection of historic wooden warehouses in northern Norway. Entry approx 140 NOK. Travel: 20 min cable car
AFTERNOON
THE FJELLHEISEN CABLE CAR
The Fjellheisen cable car rises 421 metres to the Storsteinen summit in 4 minutes, giving the most extraordinary panorama over the Tromso city island, the Tromsoysund strait and the Lyngen Alps across the mainland fjord. The extraordinary alpenglow on the Lyngen peaks in the late afternoon from the cable car platform is the finest light phenomenon in northern Norway. The extraordinary Summit cafe at the top gives the finest coffee with a view in the Arctic. Cable car approx 230 NOK return.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden at 69 degrees north is the northernmost botanic garden in the world, its extraordinary collections of Arctic and Alpine plants from across the circumpolar world entirely free. The midnight sun light on the garden in June is extraordinary. The most overlooked attraction in Tromso.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kaffebrenneriet, Tromso Outstanding Arctic coffee. Finest flat white north of the Arctic Circle. | Lunch: Mathallen food market Outstanding Arctic food market. Local reindeer sausage and northern Norwegian delicacies. | Dinner: Fiskekompaniet Outstanding seafood. Local Arctic king crab and northern Norway halibut.
DAY 2
NORTHERN LIGHTS NIGHT ONE
MORNING
SAMI CULTURE AND REINDEER EXPERIENCE
The Sami reindeer camp above Tromso gives the most extraordinary cultural experience in the Norwegian Arctic, a traditional lavvu tent where Sami reindeer herders serve extraordinary hot bidos reindeer stew and explain the remarkable relationship between the Sami people and their reindeer herds over thousands of years. The extraordinary reindeer are fed by hand. The camp can be visited independently or as part of a combined northern lights and Sami tour. Approx 500 to 800 NOK. Travel: Evening tour EVENING FIRST NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASE 4 hours The first northern lights minibus chase from Tromso drives into the Lyngen Alps or across the Ullsfjord seeking clear sky and strong aurora activity. The extraordinary experience of the green aurora above the Arctic fjord landscape is the finest natural spectacle in Norway. The tour operator drives to the best available sky. The extraordinary Sami lavvu camp on the tour gives hot reindeer stew while watching the aurora. Approx 700 to 1,200 NOK. NIGHT OPTIONAL HUSKY SAFARI 2.5 hours Some northern Norway operators offer husky safaris in the mountains above Tromso at night, the extraordinary experience of driving a dog sled through the Arctic landscape with the possibility of northern lights above. The extraordinary Alaskan huskies and the remarkable silent Arctic landscape are outstanding. Add-on to the northern lights evening. Approx 1,200 to 1,800 NOK.
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tromso Ice Domes, a different form of snow hotel built fresh each winter near the city, is the most extraordinary temporary architecture in northern Norway. Even non-guests can visit for the extraordinary interior ice sculptures. The aurora visible from outside the domes on a clear night is the finest single scene near Tromso.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Tromso Coffee and preparation for the Sami camp and northern lights evening. | Lunch: Sami lavvu reindeer stew Outstanding hot bidos reindeer stew in the extraordinary traditional Sami tent. | Dinner: Arctandria, Tromso Outstanding traditional northern Norwegian. Local stockfish and reindeer with cloudberries.
DAY 3
LYNGEN ALPS AND AURORA TWO
MORNING
THE LYNGEN ALPS BY DAY
The Lyngen Alps on the mainland across the Balsfjord are the most extraordinary alpine landscape in northern Norway, their extraordinary glacier-covered summits rising directly from the Lyngen fjord to 1,833 metres. The drive from Tromso to Furuflaten on the Lyngen peninsula takes approximately 1.5 hours through extraordinary fjord and mountain scenery. The extraordinary Storfjord viewpoint and the Lyngen fjord villages have the finest alpine fjord character in the region. Travel: 1.5 hour drive to Tromso EVENING SECOND NORTHERN LIGHTS CHASE 4 hours The second northern lights chase gives the best overall chance of extraordinary aurora across the five days. The minibus drives to wherever the sky is clearest, sometimes crossing into Finland if needed for the finest conditions. The extraordinary variation between two nights gives the finest opportunity to see the aurora at its most active. The Tromso operators track satellite cloud imagery in real time to find the best location. NIGHT AURORA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 2 hours Many Tromso northern lights operators offer photography workshops on the evening tour, giving hands-on instruction in long-exposure aurora photography with a professional Arctic photographer. The extraordinary photographs achievable with basic camera settings in the right conditions are outstanding. The workshop runs alongside the standard northern lights tour.
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Lyngseidet village on the inner Lyngen peninsula gives the most extraordinary Lyngen Alps view from below, the extraordinary glacier faces of the Jaekkevarre massif directly above the village visible from the harbour. The extraordinary Lyngen ferry from Lyngseidet to Olderdalen gives the finest on-water view of the peaks. Ferry approx 100 NOK return. The finest hidden viewpoint in the Lyngen Alps.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Tromso Recovery coffee before the Lyngen drive. | Lunch: Restaurant in Lyngen village Outstanding fjord restaurant. Local reindeer and Lyngen fjord fish. | Dinner: Emma's Drommekjokken Outstanding farewell Tromso dinner. Local reindeer, Arctic char and cloudberry.
DAY 4
SOMMAROY AND ALTA
MORNING
SOMMAROY, THE ARCTIC TURQUOISE ISLAND
Sommaroy is the most extraordinary island in the Tromso region, its unexpected turquoise water and white sand beaches entirely extraordinary at 69 degrees north. The extraordinary Sommaroy bridge view from the mainland gives the finest approach to the island. The village has an authentic Arctic character entirely different from Tromso. The extraordinary kayaking from Sommaroy through the island channels gives the finest water perspective of the outer island coast. Travel: 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
HILLESOY COASTAL WALK
Hillesoy island beyond Sommaroy gives the most extraordinary coastal walk in the Tromso region, its extraordinary rocky headland above the Arctic Sea and the remarkable Hillesoy lighthouse giving the finest views of the outer island coast. The extraordinary skerry landscape stretching to the horizon is the finest seascape in northern Norway. The walk from the car park to the lighthouse takes approximately 45 minutes. Entirely free. Travel: 2.5 hour drive to Alta
AFTERNOON
DRIVE TO ALTA VIA THE FINNMARK COAST
The drive from Tromso to Alta along the E8 and E6 through the Balsfjord, Skibotn and the Finnmarksvidda plateau gives the most extraordinary Arctic road scenery in Norway, the extraordinary transition from the fjord landscape of Troms to the open tundra of Finnmark the finest single drive in the Norwegian Arctic. The extraordinary Reisadalen valley crossing and the wide Finnmarksvidda plateau are outstanding.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Reisadalen National Park between Tromso and Alta is the most extraordinary river valley in Finnmark, the extraordinary Reisa river running through a remarkable 20km canyon with the finest salmon fishing in Norway. The Mollisfossen waterfall at the canyon head drops 269 metres, the tallest in Norway. Accessible from the Storslett valley. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Sommaroy departure Early start for the Sommaroy and Alta day. | Lunch: Sommaroy island cafe Outstanding fish soup on the extraordinary Arctic beach. | Dinner: Alfa og Omega, Alta Outstanding restaurant in Alta. Local reindeer and Arctic char.
DAY 5
NORTH CAPE
MORNING
ALTA AND THE NORTHERN LIGHTS CATHEDRAL
Alta is the extraordinary northern lights capital of Finnmark, the city where the first recorded observation of the aurora borealis was made and where the Northern Lights Cathedral, designed by Inger Helene Urbanowicz and opened in 2013, spirals upward in an extraordinary reference to the aurora itself. The extraordinary Finnmark coastline seen from Alta in the morning light is outstanding. The Alta Museum and its extraordinary World Heritage rock art are nearby. Travel: 3 hour drive to North Cape
MIDDAY
THE FINNMARK PLATEAU DRIVE TO NORTH CAPE
The drive from Alta to the North Cape via the E6 through Honningsvag crosses the extraordinary Finnmarksvidda plateau at 310 metres, the largest mountain plateau in Norway, before descending to the extraordinary island of Mageroya. The extraordinary coastal scenery of the Tana river valley and the remarkable Barents Sea coastline are outstanding. The Nordkapphallen visitor centre at the North Cape plateau is 307 metres above the sea. Travel: On the plateau
AFTERNOON
THE NORTH CAPE, NORTHERNMOST EUROPE
The North Cape at 71 degrees 10 minutes north is the northernmost accessible point of mainland Europe, its extraordinary plateau 307 metres above the Barents Sea giving the finest open Arctic panorama on the European continent. The extraordinary globe monument on the cliff edge and the remarkable North Cape Hall with its panoramic window over the sea are outstanding. The extraordinary midnight sun at North Cape from May 13 to July 29 is the finest natural phenomenon in Norway. Entry approx 280 NOK.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Knivskjelodden headland beside the North Cape is the actual geographical northernmost point of mainland Europe at 71 degrees 11 minutes north, more northerly than the tourist North Cape itself. Accessible by a 9km return hike from the North Cape car park. The extraordinary clifftop walk to the actual northernmost point is the finest hidden hike in northern Norway.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Scandic Alta Outstanding hotel breakfast before the North Cape drive. | Lunch: Cafe in Honningsvag Outstanding fish soup on the Mageroya island approach to North Cape. | Dinner: North Cape Hall Restaurant Outstanding farewell dinner at the northernmost restaurant on the European continent.
Where To Stay
Tromso, Nights 1 to 3 Clarion Hotel The Edge or Radisson Blu. Waterfront. Approx 1,200 to 2,500 NOK. Alta, Night 4 Scandic Alta or Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. Near the Northern Lights Cathedral. Approx 1,000 to 2,500 NOK. Budget Option Tromso Activities Hostel. Central. Approx 600 to 1,100 NOK per night.
Top Tips
1. Book two northern lights tours on different nights. Cloud cover can disappoint. The second chance is essential.
2. The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta is the most extraordinary accommodation in northern Norway. Book a year ahead.
3. North Cape in a snowstorm is extraordinary. The globe monument above the Barents Sea in a blizzard is extraordinary.
4. Check yr.no and spaceweatherlive.com for aurora forecasts. Clear skies plus KP index above 3 gives the best odds.
5. Dress in extreme cold weather gear for northern lights tours. Minus 20 is possible in January in the Lyngen Alps.
6. The Sami reindeer experience near Tromso is the most extraordinary cultural experience in the Arctic. Book ahead.
Total Budget
1,300 to 2,500 NOK/day