The 9 Best Northern Lights & Hot Spring Nights

1.Expert Aurora Hunt – Thermal Gear, Food, Campfire

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,722 reviews · 7 hours · from $241Our pick

Join a small group of up to 15 people for a seven-hour aurora hunt from Tromsø. Guides such as Max, Harry, and Hermann track weather and solar activity, drive toward clear skies, provide thermal suits, and photograph you beside the lights before a campfire meal.

“The pick‑up point was easy to find, and our guide Harry welcomed us onto the minibus. He was friendly, informative, incredibly skilled at astrophotography, and very passionate about the northern lights. We had a small group and a great driver, Peter. After a 50‑minute drive we reached a fjord beach with clear skies, and the aurora appeared almost immediately. We were given snow suits, and Harry took photos throughout the night. We were out for around 7–8 hours and happened to be there during the biggest solar storm in 20 years—an unforgettable sight that no tour can guarantee, only chase. When fog crept up the fjord before the storm peaked,…”

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2.Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,278 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $250

You’ll drive from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for the Aurora Ice Museum, a 106°F mineral soak, optional dinner, and late-night aurora watching. Guides such as Savvy, Jessica, Tyler, Shannon, Gina, and Kathy have helped visitors find clear skies and safe viewing stops.

“Although the northern lights weren’t visible, we had a lovely time at the ice museum, restaurant and hot springs. It was a magical and very cold night. Savvy did a great job as our tour guide.”

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3.Tromso Aurora Chase by Minibus with Thermal Suit, Snack and Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 641 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $189Best value

Leave Tromsø by small-group minibus and follow clear skies toward fjords, mountains, and valleys. Guides such as Hans Eric, Dimi, Oscar, and Sokratis may adjust the route as conditions change. Thermal suits, hot drinks, snacks, two selected nature photos, and accommodation drop-off are included.

“We had originally booked the experience for a day later but the tour operator got in touch the day before to ask if we wanted to do the tour this night instead as was a clearer night and better chance to see the aurora which we gladly accepted. We set off around 8pm a group of 7 with Oscar our tour guide who was very friendly, knowledgeable and chatty. He stopped at a few locations to check visibility before taking us to a remote location around an hour from Tromso city centre, the stop was to a cosy grilling hut which we could sit in for some warm drinks, hot…”

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4.Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 245 reviews · 15 hours · from $345

You’ll visit Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Kerið crater, and the Blue Lagoon before heading into the dark for an aurora hunt. English-speaking guides such as Siki, Addi, Monica, and Michael have led outings, with Wi-Fi, hot chocolate, and a free rescheduled Northern Lights tour if the sky stays cloudy.

“We had Monica for the first part of our trip exploring the golden circle and sky lagoon. She was an excellent guide, she was very knowledgable and made the information fun. The trip itself was incredible and it was a bucketlist moment, made even better by monica being our guide. We then had Peter for the northern lights part of our tour and he made sure it didn’t disappoint and we ended up seeing the northern lights. He shared his knowledge with us on what to look for and it ended up being the perfect night to end an incredible trip on. Would highly recommend the tour.”

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5.Luxury Northern Lights Yacht Cruise with Hot Tub from Tromsø

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $344Top rated

Cruise Tromsø’s waters aboard the 12-person yacht Stella Oceana with Captain Kenneth and Sachi. Search for the aurora, warm up with reindeer soup, and enjoy a scheduled hot-tub session, with cozy indoor space when Arctic weather turns rough.

“This was hands down the best experience of our Nordic. From start to finish, the Northern Lights yacht tour felt truly special. We were incredibly lucky, the Northern Lights were visible for most of the nearly four-hour journey, and we even witnessed the dancing lights, which was absolutely magical. Being out on the water, surrounded by silence, sky, and sea, made the experience deeply immersive and genuinely rejuvenating. The hosts were exceptional, warm, kind, and deeply passionate about what they do. The captain’s excitement when the Northern Lights appeared was contagious; he was genuinely thrilled for us, celebrating the moment alongside us, which made the experience feel even more joyf...”

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6.Luxury Northern Lights Cruise with Hot Tub & Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 129 reviews · 4 hours · from $309

Join Captain Kenneth and Sachi aboard Stella Oceana, a 32-meter yacht limited to 12 people. Over four hours, cruise the Arctic fjords, warm up in the saloon, eat reindeer stew, and spend 30 to 45 minutes in the hot tub while watching for the aurora.

“Captain Kenneth and his First Mate (his lovely wife) put on a 1st Class Experience on their luxury yacht. This was hands down our favorite experience in Tromsø. Being out on the water, seeing the northern lights dance from a hot tub on board, it was simply amazing. We also liked that it was more intimate with not too many people. Cozy cabin below to keep warm. Yummy dinner of reindeer stew!”

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7.Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · from $215

Travel 60 miles from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with an English-speaking guide and a group of up to 14. Tour the ice museum, eat at the resort, soak in 106°F mineral water, and search for the aurora before returning around 2 to 3 a.m.

“100% recomendado!! Los guías Dave y Ruby son excelentes y de lo más amables. Dave estuvo haciendo paradas en varios puntos para intentar observar las luces”

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8.Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $240

Ride from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for an Ice Museum visit, a warm soak, and a late-night aurora watch. Guides such as Ed, Jake, Paul, and Randy have helped make the long ride engaging, but the resort portion can feel self-guided. Bring swim shoes, dinner money, and serious cold-weather clothing.

“Northern lights tour experience had great potential. The ice museum was amazing. Unfortunately, with snow, the northern lights could not be seen. And because of having to close the Hot Springs didn’t get a chance to experience them at all. Awaiting a refund from Viator for partial on our experience.”

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9.Northern Lights Hunt with Forest Lagoon Entry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 5 hours · from $235

You’ll spend two hours at Forest Lagoon with a towel and drink included, then join an English-speaking guide for a three-hour Aurora hunt around Eyjafjord. Pickup and drop-off cover nine Akureyri locations. Bring swimwear, warm layers, and a camera.

“They did a great job with transportation and Aurora hunting. Friendly, fun guides and we saw some pretty good lights! Forest lagoon is my new favorite in Iceland. Easy, beautiful, drinks were good, food too!”

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