Small-Group Northern Lights Tour in Tromsø, or the Big Bus?
Small-group northern lights tours in Tromsø against the big-bus chases: group sizes, toilets on board, thermal suits, range and price (Oct 2026).
A small-group chase in Tromsø means a minibus of up to 15 guests; the big-bus chases carry a full coach. The small group gets off the vehicle faster, fits into lay-bys a coach cannot use, and usually lends you a thermal suit; the big bus has a toilet on board, often runs longer and costs less. For a first night we would pay for the small group; on a budget, or with someone who needs a toilet close by, take the big bus. The small group we would book is Snow-travels’ chase with no limit on time or distance, into Finland if needed: from $195 a person in current promotion (usually $205), rated 4.9 from 1,997 reviews (checked October 2026).
Group size, toilets and clothing
| Chase | Group | Toilet on board | Warm clothing | Time out | From, per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow-travels, no limits | Up to 15 | No | Thermal suit and foot warmers | 5 to 8 h | $195 in current promotion (usually $205) |
| Northern Horizon, adults only | Up to 15 adults | Not listed | Thermal suit and boots | About 7 h | $110 in current promotion (usually $219) |
| Arctic Breeze minibus | Minibus | No | Thermal suit | About 6 h | $139 in current promotion (usually $214) |
| AGM Norway, across borders | 8 to 20, vans and minibuses | Not listed | Thermal overalls | 5 to 8 h | $162 |
| Northern Lights Safari | Bus or minibus | Yes | Suit to rent | About 6 h | $99 in current promotion (usually $162) |
| Arctic Explorers big bus | Big bus | Yes | Bring your own | 7 to 9 h | $101 |
| Jeshua coach chase | Coach | Yes | Suit to rent | About 6 h | $80 in current promotion (usually $123) |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
Groups, toilets, clothing, times and prices from the GetYourGuide listings (checked October 2026); operators change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote. Several were on promotion when we checked.
What the small group buys
Speed at the stops, mainly. A minibus of 15 empties in a minute and can pull into a small lay-by off a dark road; a coach needs a bigger space, and a bigger group takes longer to get its tripods up. The small groups also tend to include the warm clothing: Snow-travels lends thermal suits and foot warmers, Northern Horizon a suit and boots, Arctic Breeze a suit. On the big buses you rent a suit or bring your own, and Arctic Explorers asks you to come in wool layers and winter boots.
The other thing is range. Snow-travels, Northern Horizon and AGM Norway all say they cross into Finland, and Northern Horizon and AGM into Sweden, when the sky is clearer there (the drive to Finland). Arctic Explorers’ big bus says the same, so range is not only a small-group thing, but it is written into more of the small-group listings.
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What the big bus buys
A toilet. Snow-travels and Arctic Breeze both tell you to use the toilet before you leave, because there may be none at remote stops; the Safari, Arctic Explorers and Jeshua coaches have one on board, which matters on a night of six to nine hours. The big bus is also cheaper: at the usual prices, Arctic Explorers’ seven to nine hours come to roughly $13 an hour, against about $30 on Snow-travels’ small group. And the coaches take younger children: the Safari and Arctic Explorers from age 5, where Snow-travels starts at 8, Arctic Breeze at 10 and Northern Horizon takes adults only.
Which one to book
Snow-travels, No Limits
Up to 15 guests, into Finland if needed, thermal suits, foot warmers, a bonfire and tripods. From age 8.
Check dates →Northern Horizon
Up to 15 adults, a suit and boots, a bonfire with reindeer sausages, and Finland or Sweden if necessary.
See the chase →Big-Bus Chase
Arctic Explorers: a toilet on board, free portraits, Finland or Sweden if needed; bring your own winter clothing.
See the big bus →Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026); operators change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Photos on either
Every chase in the table includes photos of some kind, from Snow-travels’ portraits delivered within 10 hours to Arctic Explorers’ free downloads; what the small group adds is a guide with time to help you with your own camera and a tripod to put it on. If you want to take the pictures yourself, tromsonorthernlightsexcursions.com covers camera settings for the aurora in depth.
Group sizes, toilets, clothing, ages, times, inclusions and prices from the GetYourGuide listings, read in US dollars on 29 October 2026; prices per hour are our arithmetic on the usual prices.
Book the Small-Group Chase
Snow-travels' minibus chase for up to 15 guests, with no limit on time or distance and into Finland if needed: thermal suits and foot warmers, a bonfire, tripods and professional photos. On GetYourGuide in October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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