Northern Lights & Cozy Bonfire Evening

 

Imagine spending a cozy evening on a sandy beach, gathered around a crackling bonfire, listening to the soothing sound of waves, and gazing up at the Arctic sky in hopes of catching the Northern Lights. 

Our small-group tour, limited to a maximum of 7 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 to the northern coast of Lofoten.

Why the northern coast, you ask? It’s because having a wide, open view of the northern horizon gives us the best shot at seeing the northern lights, especially if the aurora activity is low.

Once we arrive, we’ll set up a cozy bonfire on a sandy beach (assuming the weather is playing nice). Picture this: sitting around the fire, swapping stories, watching the stars, listening to the waves, taking pictures of the night sky and just enjoying the peacefulness of a Lofoten night. 

We’ll sip hot chocolate, take pictures, and even barbeque marshmallows and classic Norwegian hotdogs (a vegan option is available).

Whether the Northern Lights decide to show up or not, we’ll make sure you have a warm, relaxed, and memorable evening filled with laughter, good food, and great company.

Depending on the weather and Northern Lights activity, we’ll pack up around 11:30 p.m. and drive back to Reine.

aurora borealis in Lofoten, 360 degrees photography by Martin Kulhavy

ABOUT NORTHERN LIGHTS IN LOFOTEN

In Lofoten, northern lights hunting is a bit of an adventure, but it’s important to set the right expectations. Unlike Tromsø, where you can head off in four different directions—and even make a dash to Finland if the weather’s being stubborn—in Lofoten, we’ve got just one main route to chase the auroras: east.

But don’t worry, the weather in Lofoten is super local, so while it might be cloudy in Reine, you could find clear skies just a short drive away in Ramberg, and viceversa.

Now, catching the northern lights isn’t just about clear skies (though that’s the most important thing). We also need some good northern lights activity.

Some nights, you’ll be treated to a spectacular display of green and red lights swirling above—though keep in mind that your camera will always see those colors more vividly than your eyes.

Other nights, the aurora might be a little shy, just faintly glowing on the horizon. And yes, sometimes we wait and wait, but the lights do not show at all.

On those nights when the weather looks hopeless and the clouds aren’t budging, we’ll cancel the tour. 

But if we head out and the aurora plays hard to get, we’ll still do our best so you have an amazing time. I mean, how often do you get to cozy up around a bonfire on a stunning Arctic beach, far from any light pollution, roasting marshmallows, sipping hot chocolate, and soaking in the peace of the polar night? Not too shabby, right?

 
weak northern lights in Lofoten Islands, picture taken by Martin Kulhavy
Example of a faint aurora © Martin Kulhavy
Strong aurora borealis in Lofoten, picture taken by Martin Kulhavy
Example of a strong aurora © Martin Kulhavy
The night without aurora is not too shabby either © Martin Kulhavy

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

Benjamin Orthner
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Our recent hike up Ryten with Ivar was a great experience. His knowledge of the mountain and its ever-changing weather conditions made us feel completely safe and at ease. Ivar's friendly and fun personality made for wonderful conversations throughout the trek, and his patience was much appreciated. We never felt rushed and could stop take all the photos and videos we wanted. Ivar went above and beyond when he gave us invaluable advice about a road closure. This information likely saved us from missing our flight the next day. I can easily recommend Ivar to anyone looking for an experienced guide.
Ross Robertson
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We had a fantastic day out hiking with Ivar. He was super friendly, knowledgeable and well organised, going out of his way to make our day exploring the spectacular Lofoten scenery extra memorable. This included taking some incredible photos for us which we’d never have managed to achieve alone. We would thoroughly recommend this service to anyone looking for a special day out to make the most of a trip to Lofoten.
Jorn Verheggen
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Ivar is an amazing guide; he’s both very friendly and experienced. During our magnificent hike we have had pleasant conversations while Ivar made sure to look after us properly. By doing this trip with Ivar, we’ve seen spots we’d otherwise had missed. We enjoyed it very much and will definitely come back! Thanks Ivar!
Matt Harrison
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Ivar was our guide during our hike up Ryten and he was so patient, helpful, and most importantly we had fun! It was the highlight of our trip, and we highly recommend it. We will be in touch again when we visit Lofoten in the near future. Thank you so much!
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CANCELLATION POLICY

Life happens, we get it! Guests can cancel for free up to 48 hours before departure. After that, you’re stuck with us! 

If the weather decides to throw a tantrum, we might cancel the tour. In that case, we can offer to reschedule or give you a full refund.

We require a minimum of 2 people to run this tour. You can still book the trip if you are a solo traveler, but if nobody else joins the trip, we will need to cancel it.

If this happens, we’ll notify you at noon on the day of the tour. Thank you for your understanding! ❤️

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.

If we believe there’s almost no chance of seeing the aurora (think heavy clouds or storms), 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. 

However, here’s a little something extra: as a thank you for joining us, all of our returning customers receive a 15% discount on their next tour—any tour from our portfolio, not just the Northern Lights tour. We’d love to have you back for another adventure!

PRICE

💰 1850 NOK/ adults

💰 1650 NOK/ children

 

*Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the departure, minimum 2 participants

 

DURATION

⏰ 4 hours

 

PICK UP TIME

20:30

* We can adjust the pickup time (if everybody agrees) 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 with red light

👉 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!

Yes, we offer vegan sausages, which are also halal, as an alternative. If you have any food allergies or specific dietary requirements, please contact us in advance so we can make sure to accommodate your needs!

HAVE A LOOK AT THE PICTURES!