Search for the Northern Lights from Hammerfest with a local Sámi guide. Join a shared tour by heated minivan, minibus or bus, or choose a private tour exclusively for your group of up to 7 guests.
Travel away from the town lights, hear stories about Sámi culture and life in the Arctic, and stop for Northern Lights viewing and photos when conditions allow.
Both options start and end at the Hurtigruten pier in Hammerfest town centre. The tour lasts approximately 4 hours, including transport and stops.
Choose Your Tour
Shared Northern Lights Tour
Join other guests on the same departure. We normally use a heated minivan for departures with up to 7 guests in total. For 8 or more guests, we arrange a minibus or bus.
The vehicle depends on the total number of guests booked on your departure and may change as more guests book.
Private Northern Lights Tour
Enjoy a Northern Lights chase with a Sámi guide and a heated minivan reserved exclusively for your group of 1–7 guests.
Only your group joins this private departure. The private tour is priced per group.
At a Glance
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Season: October 1st – March 1st
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Duration: Approximately 4 hours, including transport and stops
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Meeting point: Hurtigruten pier, Hamnegata 3, 9600 Hammerfest
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Arrival: Please arrive 10 minutes before your booked departure time
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End point: Return to the same pier
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Shared tour: Minivan, minibus or bus, depending on the total group size
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Private tour: Exclusive heated minivan for 1–7 guests
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Difficulty: Easy, with time outdoors in winter conditions
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Languages: English and Norwegian
What You Will Experience
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Leave the town lights behind and explore the Arctic night around Hammerfest
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Search for the Northern Lights at viewing spots chosen according to conditions
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Hear Sámi stories and personal insights from a local guide
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Learn about reindeer herding, seasonal life and the surrounding landscape
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Discover how weather, cloud cover and local knowledge shape each evening’s route
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Stop for viewing and photos when conditions allow
The Experience
Your evening begins at the Hurtigruten pier in Hammerfest town centre, where you meet your guide before heading out into the Arctic night.
The route changes from evening to evening. Your guide considers weather, cloud cover, visibility, wind and road conditions when choosing where to go. Some nights, suitable viewing conditions are found close to town. On other evenings, we travel farther into darker areas around Hammerfest.
Along the way, your guide shares stories about Sámi culture, reindeer herding and life in this part of the north. You hear about seasonal movements, grazing areas, cabins, crossings and the places where families have worked and travelled through generations.
When conditions allow, we stop at suitable places where you can step outside, watch the sky and take photos. The number and length of stops depend on visibility, temperature, wind and safety.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Each departure offers a guided journey through the Arctic winter night, shaped by local knowledge, storytelling and the conditions of that evening.
After approximately 4 hours, we return to the same pier in Hammerfest.
+ What’s Included
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Local Sámi guide and storytelling
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Guided Northern Lights search with a route adapted to conditions
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Shared option: Transport in a heated minivan, minibus or bus
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Private option: A heated minivan and guide exclusively for your group of 1–7 guests
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Stops for Northern Lights viewing and photos when conditions allow
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Return to the meeting point in Hammerfest town centre
+ What to Bring
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Warm winter clothing and wool or thermal base layers
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Warm winter boots
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Hat and gloves
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Phone or camera, if you would like to take photos
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Small tripod, if you would like to take night photos
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A camera and tripod are optional.
Important to Know
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Northern Lights sightings cannot be guaranteed.
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Shared departures may operate by minivan, minibus or bus. The vehicle is determined by the total number of guests on the departure.
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The private option is exclusively for one group of 1–7 guests.
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All guests meet at the Hurtigruten pier. Hotel pickup is not included.
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Please arrive 10 minutes before departure and check your booking confirmation for the meeting-point details.
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The route, viewing stops and time outdoors depend on weather, road conditions and safety.
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The tour may be adjusted or cancelled if conditions make it unsafe to operate.
