NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR FROM REINE
Imagine spending a calm Arctic evening on a quiet sandy beach, listening to the sound of the waves, watching the stars appear above you, and gazing up at the northern horizon in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights.
Our small Northern Lights tour from Reine, limited to a maximum of 7-8 people, offers an intimate and relaxed way to experience the magic of Lofoten at night.
ABOUT THE TOUR/EXPERIENCE
On our Northern Lights tour, we’ll pick you up from your accommodation in the Reine area (anywhere from Å to Hamnøy) and head toward the northern coast of Lofoten.
Why the northern coast, you ask? Because having a wide, open view of the northern horizon gives us the best chance of spotting the aurora — especially on nights when the activity is low.
Before and during the trip, we closely follow the weather and cloud forecasts to choose the most promising location. However, Arctic weather can be unpredictable — and sometimes, once we arrive, the conditions turn out different from what the forecast suggested. If that happens, we won’t just stay and wait; instead, we’ll keep chasing clearer skies, adjusting our route as needed to give us the best possible chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Once we stop at a suitable spot, we’ll settle in to watch the sky. We’ll take photos, keep monitoring the clouds and aurora activity, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of a quiet Arctic night while we wait for gaps in the clouds or signs of aurora.
We bring hot chocolate to keep you warm, and there’s plenty of time for photography, stargazing, and simply soaking in the moment — whether the aurora appears boldly in the sky or only faintly on the horizon.
Depending on the weather and Northern Lights conditions, we’ll pack up around 11:30 p.m. and drive back to Reine.
ABOUT NORTHERN LIGHTS IN LOFOTEN
In Lofoten, Northern Lights chasing is a bit of an adventure — and it’s important to set realistic expectations. Unlike Tromsø, where guides can drive in several different directions (and sometimes even cross into Finland), in Lofoten we mainly have one practical direction for aurora hunting: east.
But don’t worry — the weather in Lofoten is highly local. It may be cloudy in Reine while Ramberg is clearing up, or the other way around, so even a short drive can make a big difference.
Seeing the Northern Lights depends on two things:
clear skies or cloud gaps, and
some degree of aurora activity.
Some nights, you’ll experience bright dancing lights across the sky. Other nights, the aurora appears only as a faint glow on the horizon — and yes, sometimes we wait, and the lights simply don’t show up at all.
When the forecast looks hopeless and the sky is completely covered, we’ll cancel the tour before departure and give you a full refund.
If we do go out and the aurora doesn’t appear, we’ll still do our best to give you a meaningful experience — enjoying the calm Arctic night, the sound of the ocean, the stars above, and the feeling of being far from light pollution.
ABOUT GUIDE TO LOFOTEN
We spent almost a year living in Fredvang, running an accommodation close to the trailhead to Kvalvika and Ryten.
Ivar has summited Ryten countless times—in summer and winter, under shining sun and raging storms, on foot, skis, or snowshoes.
In addition to his extensive knowledge of the mountain, he is also an educated nurse, certified climbing instructor, and licensed taxi driver, so you’ll be in good hands for the whole adventure. He has quite a sense of humor for a Norwegian so that you won’t get bored either!
CHECK OUR REVIEWS
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
We’re a small, family-run local company, run by two people, offering intimate tours for up to 8 guests. We don’t operate big buses where it doesn’t matter if one person joins or not — for us, every single booking counts.
We also run tours in Arctic Norway, on weather-exposed islands where conditions can change quickly and play a major role in whether a tour can safely run. Our goal is to operate sustainably and responsibly, which also means trying to keep our schedule as predictable as possible.
At the same time, we want to be fair and transparent with you. Even when a tour is cancelled, there are still costs on our side (payment processing and booking fees) that are non-refundable for us. This is why our cancellation policy works the way it does.
👉 Life happens, we get it!
Guests can cancel up to 48 hours before departure and receive a refund minus a 5% transaction fee, which covers payment and booking costs we can’t recover.
👉 From our side, if the weather turns too rough to safely run the tour, we may need to cancel it. In that case, we will offer to reschedule, suggest an alternative plan, or issue a full refund.
👉 Life happens on our side too.
Sometimes a car breaks down, a guide gets sick, or we’re unable to reach the pick-up point due to a road closure, accident, or closed bridge. If the tour is cancelled for these operational reasons, we will of course offer a full refund.
👉 We require a minimum of 4 participants to run this tour. You can still book as a solo traveler, but if nobody else joins, we may need to cancel the tour. We’ll notify you at least 12 hours before departure, and you will receive a full refund.
⚠️ If you’re not able to join the tour because your flight was cancelled, roads were closed, you got sick, or something similar happened — we completely understand. We’re happy to provide any paperwork you need for your travel insurance. Please note that these situations are not covered by our cancellation policy and should be claimed through your insurance (make sure it includes trip interruption or cancellation coverage).
Thank you for your understanding and for supporting a small local business ❤️
WHAT IF WE DO NOT SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?
We totally understand that seeing the Northern Lights is the highlight everyone hopes for, and we’ll do everything we can to make that happen. But since we’re at the mercy of Mother Nature, we can’t promise the lights will always make an appearance.
It’s important to know that no one can accurately predict the Northern Lights days in advance. Long-range aurora forecasts are only rough estimates. The most reliable information becomes available about an hour before a potential display, when the solar wind is measured by satellites near Earth’s orbit — and even then, conditions can still change quickly.
If we believe there’s almost no realistic chance of seeing the aurora (for example, heavy clouds or severe weather), we’ll cancel the tour and offer you a full refund or the option to reschedule.
If we head out and the Northern Lights decide to take a night off, we won’t be able to offer a refund — but we’ll still focus on giving you a safe, meaningful, and memorable Arctic night experience.
PRICE
💰 2150 NOK/ adults
*Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure (minimum of 4 participants). Refunds are issued minus a 5% transaction fee.
DURATION
⏰ 4 hours
PICK UP TIME
20:00
* We will adjust the pickup time based on the season and potentially based on the weather.
ADDRESS
📍We will pick you up at your accommodation (between Å and Hamnøy)
WHAT IS INCLUDED
👉 Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation
👉 Local guide(s)
👉 Headlamps
👉 Norwegian hot dog, hot chocolate/tea & marshmallows
👉 Microspikes
👉 Photos
WHAT TO BRING
👉 Warm clothes
👉 Winter boots
👉 Camera gear & tripod (optional)
👉 Good spirits and patience
FAQ ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR FROM REINE
Is the Northern Lights guaranteed? The short answer is, we can’t promise anything. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and they don’t always show up on cue. We’ll do our best to find them, keeping an eye on the aurora activity and taking you to the best spots, but the geography of the islands can sometimes make it a bit challenging.
That said, even if the lights don’t appear, we’ll still make the most of the night. We’ll have a cozy bonfire on the beach (if the weather cooperates), take some beautiful night photos, and enjoy a great evening together. So, while we can’t guarantee the Northern Lights, we can guarantee a memorable experience!
Not quite. The photos you see online often look more vivid and colorful than what you’ll experience with your own eyes, and there are a few reasons for that.
First, our eyes use night vision in low light, which means we’re better at seeing movement and shapes than bright colors in the dark. So, when you look up at the Northern Lights, you might see them as soft green glows or faint colors, rather than the intense hues you see in photos.
Cameras, however, have a big advantage. They can use long exposure times—sometimes up to 30 seconds—during which the camera’s sensor collects all the available light. This allows it to capture much more detail and color than our eyes can in real-time.
Additionally, the vast majority of Northern Lights photos you see online are post-processed. This means that after the picture is taken, the contrast, brightness, and colors are adjusted to make the image even more striking. So, while the photos are beautiful, they don’t always represent exactly what you’ll see with the naked eye.
That said, witnessing the Northern Lights in person is still an unforgettable experience.
Absolutely, you can bring a camera to capture the Northern Lights! If you don’t have a dedicated camera, don’t worry—newer smartphones, like the iPhone 14 Pro, can take pretty decent photos of the aurora, and if the lights are strong enough, they can even capture some nice videos.
For those serious about getting the best shots, we recommend bringing a camera with a few key accessories: a tripod to keep your camera steady, an external shutter release (or use the timer function on your camera), and a wide-angle lens—we use a 14mm lens for our shots. The wider the lens, the more of the sky you can capture in your photos.
We’ll also have our own gear with us, including an Insta360 camera for time-lapse videos and a professional camera to take photos of you with the Northern Lights.
Most of the time, we’ll head to a big sandy beach on the northern coast of Flakstad island, which is one of our favorite spots for Northern Lights viewing. The beach is absolutely stunning, with a wide open horizon facing north—perfect for watching the aurora. It’s also one of the best places in Lofoten for photography, thanks to its minimal light pollution and the way the sea and wet sand create a beautiful mirroring effect in your photos.
The good news is that the beach is located right next to a parking area, so we won’t be trekking for miles to get there. However, you should be prepared to walk about 200-400 meters on an uneven surface to reach the best spots on the beach. The terrain is generally easy to navigate, but it’s not perfectly flat, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
Absolutely! Unlike the traditional Northern Lights chases where you spend long hours driving around, our tour is much more relaxed and family-friendly. We’ll drive from Reine to the northern coast, because there are no mountains blocking our view of the northern horizon. Our main location is a beautiful sandy beach where, weather permitting, we’ll set up a cozy bonfire, grill some hotdogs, and roast marshmallows—perfect for kids to enjoy.
That said, please keep in mind that the weather in Lofoten can be chilly, especially in the evening, and the wind can be brisk. Make sure to dress your children warmly so they can fully enjoy the experience without getting too cold. We’d love to have your whole family join us for a magical night under the Northern Lights!
HAVE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES!
